Maiden Voyage!

Yes, we have goslings! I counted eight.

Here’s proud Papa right after chasing away some poor little dog whose owner obliviously walked it waaaay too close.

In other news, check out this hefty kitty…

Here’s an uncommon sight for Estabrook, a rusty blackbird just passing through.

This majestic beauty, a turkey vulture, must have smelled something tasty on the river bank below because I couldn’t believe how close it let me get without budging.

Here’s a herring gull, later in the morning, gobbling down what the vulture didn’t want. It smelled like fish from where I was standing.

Another infrequent visitor this morning was this eastern towhee. It did not stick around for a second shot.

I had been a little bummed that we didn’t get to see any buffleheads this year, and look who finally decided to grace us with their presence just this morning.

Lastly, the American painted ladies are still plentiful, and here’s one sipping nectar from some creeping Charlie blossoms.