Many happy returns…

I made it back to Wisconsin safely last evening, after a great week in Connecticut, and ventured back into Estabrook Park this morning, despite the cloudy skies, to see who might have arrived while I was away. Holy Moly! What a difference a week can make at this time of year. I counted 19 species for the first time this year, including 9 warblers, 3 thrushes, 2 orioles, and 1 bunting. Yikes! Best of all, I even have pictures of some.

I was greeted right away by this palm warbler at the south end, and I eventually counted a dozen of them throughout the park.

At the north end, I also grabbed this image of a black-and-white warbler.

The rest, however eluded me today, so let’s move on to the thrushes, and the only one sitting still for a second this morning was this darling veery.

Baltimore orioles are here, and I counted at least 7 males singing from various treetops, but they were too high and against an ugly sky for any pictures. Instead, this one orchard oriole was a bit more accommodating.

Finally, I also spotted my first indigo bunting of the year. Woo hoo!

In other news, a great blue heron is back to fishing at the falls below the beer garden.

A grey catbird seemed more interested in catching some rays while the sun shone for a moment than he was in singing his song or evading my gaze.

I spotted my first baby bunny of the season.

Crane flies have arrived or emerged, as the case may be, and this giant one appears to be a Tipula furca

Here’s my first question mark butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis) of the year.

Lastly, while the sun shone for a bit, and parts of the sky even turned blue, and that made this palm warbler …

sing with joy!