After a long but uneventful day of travel, Anne and I got home yesterday afternoon and began our adjustment to Central Standard Time. After a week in the relatively balmy Balkans, the latest cold snap in Estabrook Park and the stiff breeze that came with it took a bit of getting used to as well this morning. Happily, the early clouds soon blew away, and the critters willing to go on record as welcoming me back could do so in good light and against a pretty blue sky.
This pair of downy woodpeckers put on quite an elaborate little show of hopping up, down, and around that tree trunk, but I suspect it was not for my benefit, and they might not have even noticed me. Love was in the air.
This mature Cooper’s hawk in the oak tree by the pond let me get nice and close, so long as I crawled on my hands and knees, and it even flashed us its green ankle bracelet.
As I approached the spot where I had seen the screech-owl a couple of times recently, a pair of blue jays began calling and flitting around, and they really got my hopes up. I could not find the owl, unfortunately, and perhaps they didn’t either because they soon reverted to foraging.
At the river, I was thrilled to find a few common mergansers still with us, including this hen, …
and this one goldeneye drake. I’ve heard that ice on the lake extends pretty far from shore these days, and that gives me hope that buffleheads might come to the river to dive for snails in shallower water.
Finally, in case I forget to do so tomorrow, let me remind you today that I’ll be in the parking lot by the beer garden at 8am Monday morning, so come on out for our weekly wildlife walk if you are able. Also, if you’re interested in supporting Estabrook Park, come on out to the Friends of Estabrook Park Annual Meeting on Wednesday, January 22, starting at 7pm in the Blatz Pavilion at Lincoln Park. “All members (current and prospective – bring your friends) are welcome,” and I’m on the agenda to show some pictures.
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 