The sun came up on a picture-perfect morning in Estabrook Park today, and I got out there nice and early. So early, in fact, that I caught our last wood duck sneaking a crayfish out of the pond before the sun came over the trees. The light was still dim, but I believe we can make out the crayfish carapace in this image, …
and the tail fin in this image. I could be mistaken, but Woody struggled with it for a while, which the hoodie also did recently. I would guess, more so than with smooth and slippery fish, they prefer to subdue crayfish, with all their claws and legs, before choking them down. Wouldn’t you?
Anyway, on to the river, where I found this doe skulking through the weeds at the downstream tip of the southern island.
Nearer to the other end of that island, the great horned owl was back again, after a brief absence, and flashed me both big yellow eyes this time.
There was almost nobody at the north end, except for a few mallards and geese, so I returned south and stopped back by the pond to see who might still be around, but with better light this time. I was thrilled to see a ruby-crowned kinglet foraging in the low weeds, …
and it even let us have a glimpse of its ruby crown, though not on full display.
A little higher up, a few house finches were feasting on red berries.
Finally, the hooded merganser continues to rid the pond of excess fish stock, and this time, the catch appears to be a little blue gill. At least I’m pretty sure it isn’t a goldfish or a crayfish.
Anyway, that went down quickly, and tranquility soon returned to the pond.
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 