The morning was dark and windy, so I opted to take a break from Estabrook and join Donna’s Sunday morning birding group again, and we went to the South Shore Yacht Club this time. I’m pressed for time right now, but the three fun sightings for me were:
1. A few young or female red-breasted mergansers. On or two usually show up in Estabrook Park eventually, but not yet this year.
2. About a dozen American coots. We also get these once in a while, but the most I ever saw at one time was a single pair.
3. Finally, a “non-breeding adult” horned grebe (Podiceps auritus), which I have glimpsed once or twice before, but never in Estabrook (yet!), and I have never managed a picture before. Check out that eye! Yikes!
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 
Wow never saw these guys from my sail boat at SSYC. John of Estabrook pkwy
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According to their range map they breed in northwest Canada and winter in the southeast US, so we are in their flyover range. Perhaps you just haven’t yet been lucky enough to be enjoying your sail boat when they happen to stop in. Here’s a link to the map: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Horned_Grebe/maps-range
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awesome photography every week !
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Thanks! I enjoy trying.
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This summer I was lucky enough to take a Milwaukee River/Lake Michigan cruise and discovered lots of birds with my binos while listening to John Gurda. This morning I saw a beaver swimming along the shore, the closest I’ve ever seen one. It near the south island. There’s some fresh looking beaver work near the northernmost trash can near the river.
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