The clouds were thick and dark in Connecticut this morning, but they weren’t leaking, and my sister was game anyway for going to see who might be up, so we headed back to the Broad Brook Reservoir. The herons and cormorants were still congregating in the trees on the island, and here’s a heron bringing in more nesting material.
The huge raft of ruddy ducks was no longer on the water, but there were still a few around, and here’s a non-breeding male just up from foraging on the bottom for a moment to catch his breath.
Baltimore orioles have arrived and are singing from the treetops, and here’s one that came down to my level, if only for a moment. I already mentioned that the skies were dark, right?
We eventually checked on the goose nesting on the causeway beside the road, and look who joined us! We eventually saw three goslings, and I bet there are more eggs still to hatch because Mom was sticking to her nest and keeping everyone under her wings.
The swans were still flying back and forth over the causeway, and here’s one just about to pass low over head, …
while here’s another on the water that got all poofed up in response to the flyby.
Finally, there were plenty of raptors overhead, and we saw a red-tailed hawk soaring, an osprey with a fish in its talons, and three bald eagles flying together. Two of the eagles were mature, and one did not yet have its white head and tail. Later, we watched one or both of the mature birds making a few sorties to haul nesting material.
Best of all, we followed the sound with our binoculars of one calling nearby, and were thrilled to get a glimpse of this sight without even leaving the side of the road.
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 