Several promising new signs…

All that finger crossing must have worked, thank you very much, because it was a stunningly beautiful morning in Estabrook Park, and with nice clear skies, I was able to get in the door at 5:40am. Noice! Plus, such an early start allowed me to catch the last of the deer heading to bed. “Sweet dreams, Cutie.”

Our newly arrived bachelor was in the same spot along the river and making the same call again this morning. Man-oh-man, it would be so awesome if he could find someone to raise some chicks with here. We would finally have resident red-headed woodpeckers.

A bit farther north, the family of Canada geese, which I suspect started at the pond, were also in their recent regular spot right at the river’s edge.

I had a hope of finding mallard ducklings at the pond, but today was not the day. Instead, I was serenaded by this shy blue-winged warbler. Such a lovely voice.

If you’re having trouble spotting those blue wings, give the wings of this eastern bluebird a try.

Back at the river, on my way to the north end, I spotted this mink swimming to the southern island.

Finally at the north end, I couldn’t find the merganser again today, but this Wilson’s warbler let me catch a glimpse of its little black cap.

A bit farther inland, I finally got our first picture of a Tennessee warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina). I could hear its distinctive call yesterday, but I couldn’t lay eyes on it, and the lighting was much better today anyway.

Back up on the bluff, and on my way back to the pond for another try at the ducklings, I heard what sounded like a red-eyed vireo with a scratchy throat. Happily, it didn’t take me long to find that the singer was a yellow-throated vireo instead.

Finally, back at the pond, I still couldn’t find the ducklings, but our old friend Tom, the mink whisperer, tipped me off to green herons building a nest. Woo hoo! Here’s one of them collecting sticks for it.

Lastly, it appears that a second set of geese are hoping to make a go at raising some goslings on the pond of their own. Here they are psyching themselves up.