I arrived safely in Connecticut yesterday just before noon after a nicely uneventful couple of flights. I did have a little fun on the way, however, because my flights connected at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington DC. I could see the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Capitol Rotunda right out the window as I waited to board my connecting flight. I also walked past Senator Sanders between gates, and Senator Blumenthal was on my flight to CT. Best of all, I could see an osprey hunting over the Potomac River. Sweet!
It was a pretty, if cold, morning here in CT, and my sister joined me for a short walk right after sunrise. The only picture I got from that excursion is of this chipping sparrow, belting out his signature song. As soon as I moved for a better shot, he was having none of that and took off. Darn.
After my sister went to work and I had some breakfast, I tried again, and this time I got a nice portrait of a red-shouldered hawk, who was on the hunt beside the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail.
A bit farther north, this white-throated sparrow let me have a good look while he sang his song.
Even farther up the path, I got about my best picture yet of a Carolina wren. He was singing, too, but none of the action shots were as clear as this one.
As I approached the north end, this female brown-headed cowbird let me get surprisingly close. The ones in Estabrook tend to keep near the top of the trees.
Finally, what’s a trip out east without a glimpse of an eastern cottontail? Well, that’s not really saying much, of course, because we have plenty of these in Estabrook, too.
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 