We did get that forecast change in the weather, so it was cool, breezy, and sometimes cloudy in Estabrook Park this morning, but the breeze was out of the north, so much of the river valley was pretty still, and the sun had plenty of opportunities to poke through the clouds, so it was a nice change of pace.
The paths along the river and around the pond were unusually busy this morning, so I didn’t see any critters to photograph until I reached the north end, where this chickadee just kept posing for me, as if daring me to take its picture.
The park is full of robins these days, I counted 58 this morning, so it would be surprising if there wasn’t also a robin, a young one in this case, posing in that same tree.
I didn’t see anybody out on the water that we haven’t already seen plenty of, so I headed back to the pond where I found this blackpoll warbler foraging in the trees at the north end. They haven’t all flown south yet. Yay!
Right next to the blackpoll, this chipmunk might take the record for the highest chipmunk I’ve seen so far, and by “highest” I mean “highest in a tree,” in case some other meaning popped into your head.
A bit farther east, a Swainson’s thrush posed perfectly, and got photobombed by a much larger robin, of course.
The great blue heron on the pond was giving lessons again, but I liked this one on the river better, working without an audience.
As I approached the weeds along the west edge of the southern soccer fields, I caught movement overhead out of the corner of my eye, and look who it turned out to be: our first black-throated green warbler of the fall migration! Fantastic! We haven’t seen one since May.
When I finally did reach the weeds, I found the breeze too stiff for butterflies, but these goldfinches were undeterred. Here’s a male, in all his finery.
And here’s a juvenile.
Finally, I did spot one interesting critter in the river, and it was this giant common carp, but I couldn’t get a better picture than this, so I didn’t want to lead with it. It did turn nicely to give us a side view, but my camera kept focusing on the reflection of the trees across the river. Anyway, I’d bet the thing was 18 inches long, or longer, and 5 to 6 inches in diameter, at its widest.
Lastly, I did find one butterfly, on the goldenrod along the edge of the meadow at the north end, and that’s gonna be your butterfly of the day.
PS. So that you don’t have to search for it, in case you’re looking for it, here’s the link to North Shore School for Seniors again.
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 