It is a little hazy and breezy now, but earlier this morning, the sky was clear, and the air was still in Estabrook Park. Temps were in the high 30s already by sunrise, but there was enough radiant cooling overnight to frost the grass and firm up some of the river trail mud.
I suspect it was the still air and subsequent quiet that enabled me to find in short order the winter wren that the Milwaukee Birders and I searched for in vain along the river yesterday.
At the north end, all the goldeneyes and mergansers we saw yesterday have moved on already, but I finally was able to get my camera on this handsome kingfisher, for the first time since January. The Milwaukee Birders heard him yesterday, but none of us could spot it, and I glimpsed one earlier in the week as it rocketed past, but I need more time than that.
At the pond, the wood duck has also moved on already, but this white-throated sparrow was kind enough to sit still for a moment.
Another first for the season was this eastern chipmunk by the pond and glowing in the morning sun.
Finally, on my way back south, I could hear squirrels crying overhead as I walked by the entrance to the underpass, and a quick scan of the trees soon found this beautiful Cooper’s hawk on the hunt.
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 