Trick or Treat!

The wind is back to howling and the sun is breaking through now, but when I finally ventured out this morning, it was dark, damp, and eerily quiet in Estabrook Park, a fitting start to today’s festivities. Plus, it continued to sprinkle from time to time, which people seem not to like much, so IContinue reading “Trick or Treat!”

Most things were blown away today

The unrelenting wind continues today, and perhaps the critters are just exhausted by it, because I saw far fewer than even yesterday, let alone usual. One critter that I really did not expect to see was this little phoebe, perched low over the riverbank, and who feeds by flitting from its perch to catch bugsContinue reading “Most things were blown away today”

Everything hasn’t blown away, yet.

I’m back from the dentist, and man-o-man, has it gotten windy while I was away. I didn’t expect to see much this morning, but at least it wasn’t raining, and I needed the exercise anyway, so I took a walk in Estabrook Park to see who I could see. My first pleasant surprise came asContinue reading “Everything hasn’t blown away, yet.”

Some new behaviors, continued…

My outing was so great yesterday, and I’ve got a dentist appointment first thing this morning, so I’m using the rest of yesterday’s story to fill in today. As you may recall, we got up to the point when I spotted an osprey down the bluff and just north of the soccer fields. Well, IContinue reading “Some new behaviors, continued…”

Some new behaviors…

This morning was one more in a long run of spectacular mornings we’ve been having this fall in Estabrook Park, with mostly clear skies, nearly still air, and seasonably cool temps. Plus, highway traffic in the distance was Sunday-morning light, and the parkway was closed again for the last Shorewood Farmer’s Market of the year,Continue reading “Some new behaviors…”

A couple of breaks go my way…

We kept the clear skies and calm air from yesterday, but the temperature dipped enough for radiant cooling to frost the grass again in Estabrook Park. It was a perfect morning for the Hot Cider Hustle 5k and half marathon. Luckily, the big event had little impact on life along the Milwaukee River. The firstContinue reading “A couple of breaks go my way…”

A new crowd settles in…

The clouds and breeze stayed away, at least for this morning, and the temperature rose a bit overnight, so we had no frost today in Estabrook Park. I bet this little cutie that I found at the north end of the soccer fields didn’t mind that a bit. Beside the river at the north end,Continue reading “A new crowd settles in…”

The crowd gets tough…

The temperature dropped, the clouds cleared out, and the breeze died down, so the frost was back again this morning in Estabrook Park. My visit got off to a nice enough start when I spotted this American tree sparrow foraging in the lawn beside the pond. We don’t get to see them nearly as muchContinue reading “The crowd gets tough…”

The crowd starts to thin…

It sure felt like autumn this morning in Estabrook Park: cool, breezy, and cloudy. Definitely sweater weather. My first treat of the day was this gray catbird lurking in the bushes above the river. They’ve been scarce lately, and I wasn’t sure if I’d get to see one again until spring. Farther north and backContinue reading “The crowd starts to thin…”

Old friends show their faces again…

It wasn’t as warm nor as sunny this morning in Estabrook Park as it’s been lately, but it was still a perfectly nice time for a visit. My first thrill of the morning was spotting this muskrat up near our riverbank and munching on its breakfast. They sure made themselves scarce over the summer, butContinue reading “Old friends show their faces again…”