Autumn resumes, at least for a while…

Temperatures are back to normal, the river ice is beginning to break up and drift downstream, and I was even a bit overdressed for my hike through Estabrook Park this morning.

After a brief absence, the great blue herons have returned, and I counted two today. Here’s the one that chose to land closest to our riverbank.

We have a gadwall drake again, dabbling with the mallards on the river above the falls, but I didn’t see a hen with him this time. He was as shy as usual, but he did flash us those pretty white speculum feathers of his for a moment.

At the north end, we had no eagles or osprey today, but our male belted kingfisher was keeping an eye on things in their stead.

Finally, the great horned owl was back, and deeper into the sticks that ever. I wonder where it goes when it’s not on the island. Does it have a secret second family somewhere?

And that’s it for today I’m afraid. I didn’t see a single picture to take at the pond, not even the catbird, but maybe if the ice melts, somebody will show up.