After the dunnock got me all excited yesterday, we drove farther up the coast to the picturesque little old port town of Dubrovnik in Croatia. Anne and I had been here before, so after a quick stroll and lunch, I excused myself from the group to go visit a nearby park, while they endeavored to hike the town perimeter atop the city walls.
I was still just getting my bearings, and I hadn’t even gotten my camera out, when this gorgeous creature, a red admiral, landed right in front of me to soak up some of that sun we all haven’t seen in a while. Thankfully, it was in no hurry, and it waited patiently while I got all the pieces out of their respective padded bags and assembled in time to capture this sight. Sure, it’s a little roughed up, but it’s a butterfly in January, and we’re farther north than Chicago! We could see snow on some of the peaks we drove by today!
For reasons I don’t understand yet, the black redstarts were thick here, and here’s another male sporting his dashing little black mask and playing coy with me.
Meanwhile, here’s a female, letting me get a nice portrait, but with an expression on her face that seems to ask, “what am I, chopped liver?”
Here’s a female Eurasian blackbird who also has a look on her face and appears to be wondering “doesn’t she look fancy enough for you?”
I was relieved to find this yellow-legged gull with a pretty blank expression on its face.
Finally, before I could get back to the group, one more female black redstart really gave me a good stare, as if to say “seriously, dude, what’s wrong with you?”
Anyway, we’re off to an early start this morning to go see that old bridge in Mostar, so I’m not sure if and when I’ll get any more pictures for you, but who knows, right?
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 