With clear skies overnight and the sunrise temperature at 21°F this morning, the pond was frozen over for the first time this season. There was no sign of either the wood duck drake or the mallard hen with no tail feathers that I’ve been seeing all fall. We can hope that they both managed to hike down to the river along the path the goslings take every spring, but in the grand scheme of things, we should admit that an equally good outcome is that they are now warming some predator’s belly this cold morning.
Speaking of predators, here is yet another tantalizing glimpse of the energetic mink, this time prancing across the ice from the island to the far shore.
Less predaceous, but probably just as hungry, here’s the muskrat perched on the ice and munching on probably a root for breakfast.
At the north end, here’s the male belted kingfisher again perched high over the northern island.
And here’s the only great blue heron I saw this morning, warming up in the sun on the riverbank
Farther inland, here’s a feisty red squirrel posing for a portrait after vanquishing one of its much-larger gray cousins.
On my way back south, I was thrilled to see this mature bald eagle sporting some jewelry and cleaning its beak against a branch over the southern island.
Farther downstream and just before I turned left to swing by the pond again, I spotted this hermit thrush perched in the snow and looking as if it was just about to say something.
Finally, back at the pond, there was still no sign of either duck, but I was lucky enough to see this gray catbird lurking amongst the house finches in the berry bushes on the island.
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 