We had some thunderstorms roll through last evening, but they took all the clouds with them, so it was a very nice morning in Estabrook Park. I stopped by the river on my way to the pond, and I was thrilled to find a family of Canada geese there. I have no way of knowing if they are the same family that started out at the pond three weeks ago, and I could only see seven goslings, but they look like they could be three weeks old, so maybe it is them.
When I did reach the pond, I was greeted by this tranquil scene of three wood duck drakes preening in the warm morning sun.
From there, I continued northwest back toward the river, and along the way I spotted a white crowned sparrow, …
this dazzling Nashville warbler, …
one of the many house wrens belting out their tune throughout the park, …
and this indigo bunting, who almost let me have a portrait, but was just too busy hopping around looking for something to eat.
The next surprise was waiting for me out on the water: this stunning hooded merganser drake with his “hood” fully extended. Sweet!
As I stood on shore and tried to see who else might be on the water, this darling solitary sandpiper landed nearly right in front of me. “Hello, sweetie!”
Meanwhile, the skies overhead were full of swifts and swallows. I estimate at least four dozen birds. They’re small and fast and give my autofocus fits, so we did our best.
This is as close as I got to a closeup, but you can definitely tell it is a chimney swift (Chaetura pelagica), the so-called “flying cigar.”
While I was struggling to capture a swift on film, I saw a large bird, out of the corner of my eye, swoop down toward the water and head toward the islands. Just before it disappeared, I could make out the big, round head of an owl. Could it be? Might our old friend have returned to its roost on the southern island? I hustled right down there to find out, and sure enough, the leaves are already thick on the tree, but right in the middle of this picture you can just make out its belly feathers. Yay! “Welcome back, and how are the owlets?” Man, I sure hope there are owlets, even if we don’t get to see them.
Anyway, I eventually tore myself away and started my walk home along the river. When I reached the bottom, where I had seen the goslings earlier, I checked to see if they were still there, and look who else flew in.
Lastly, as I was taking pictures of the green heron, I could hardly believe my eyes when I spotted our firstsoft shell turtle of the season and in a spot where I have not yet seen them before. Outstanding! Now that’s what I call a great morning.
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 