The precipitation that Anne and I heard on our window at breakfast was done by the time the sky got as light as it was going to get, and it was a full 20°F warmer than yesterday, so it was a fine morning to visit Estabrook Park.
The common mergansers and one goldeneye drake were still on the river, but the exciting new visitors this morning where these two American black duck drakes. Part of the fun I have spotting them is their tendency to mingle with the mallards, so they are easy for me to miss if I don’t take the time to check and count them all.
At the pond, someone has been leaving birdseed behind, which attracts a ton of house sparrows and grey squirrels, and this morning even our wayward cowbird joined in the fray.
The seeds were enticing enough to attract even a relatively diminutive red squirrel. In fact, it was so busy feasting, that I had a heck of a time getting it to look our way.
But when it finally did, it was kind enough to strike this irresistible pose for us.
Finally, so many readers liked the female cardinal from yesterday, here’s another one, but without the pretty warm sun and sumac framing, I’m afraid. Sometimes you just gotta take the shot you got, instead of the shot you dream of.
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 