It sure felt as cold as forecast, but the breeze was light, and the sun was out for a bit, so it was a pretty nice morning in Estabrook Park. The pond was completely frozen over again, and the river was starting to ice up, but I hear it is not supposed to last. Oh well.
Nevertheless, the ice that there was might have been enough to entice these surprise new guests on the river this morning to pay us a visit. They are five common mergansers: four drakes and a hen. Better yet, as I was trying to get their picture one of the drakes caught a big fish.
Here’s a closer shot in which that haze through the middle was caused by a stick that got in the way during all the excitement.
Finally, so you can get a better look at that fish, here’s a zoom-in on the first picture. “Well done, Sir!”
Lastly, a smaller group of cedar waxwings dropped in on the pond again to see if there were any berries that they hadn’t already scarfed down.
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 