The beautiful weather has returned, and it was a gorgeous Wisconsin winter morning in Estabrook Park. The ice on the river is holding steady and perhaps growing on the lake, so our count of common mergansers is up to 16: 4 drakes and 12 hens. On the flat water that stays open above the falls, 4 hens appeared to be ready for a nap by the time I was making my way south again, and here’s one up on the ice settling in.
At the pond, our stray brown-headed cowbird was back, and striking a nicer pose today.
Finally, the big news is that the goldeneyes have finally found each other. In fact, there were even two pairs: these two by themselves just south of the half-way point, and a second two swimming with the mallards and mergansers at the far north end.
I’d say that’s cause for a little celebration, eh? At least this drake thinks so.
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 