Not just birds and mammals anymore…

It sure is windy out now, but it was pretty nice in Estabrook this morning when the sun finally got high enough in the sky to punch through the clouds.

My first treat of the morning came at the north end when I spotted our first eastern phoebe of the year. I read that they will occasionally eat “small fruits or seeds,” but “flying insects make up the majority” of their diet, so I hope the bugs are not too far behind.

The black-capped chickadees have been with us all winter, of course, but this morning I found a pair busily excavating a nesting cavity beside the river. Note the beak full of wood chips in the fourth image.

My next surprise came at the pond where I found a painted turtle up on a log already and trying to catch some rays. I thought that this was early, but then I looked up last year’s first sighting and found that it was two weeks earlier!

Even better, or at least bigger, the painted turtle was not the only one waking up today. Here’s a medium-sized snapping turtle appearing to stretch its neck for the first time in a while.

By then, the wind was starting to blow in, so I didn’t see much after that. Instead, let me show you another look at the screech-owl from yesterday. A little birdy told me that some folks had difficulty sorting out what parts of its face were visible in yesterday’s picture, so I hope this one is a little clearer.

Finally, I have one last good otter picture from Thursday, and here it is.

Lastly, I see the forecast for tomorrow morning is calling for snow, if you can believe it, and who knows what we’ll really get. If the Milwaukee Birders don’t cancel their outing, I’ll be on the other side of the river with them.