The wind was still howling from the storm that passed through yesterday, but the sun was out, and it definitely wasn’t raining, so I was able to get into Estabrook Park nice and early this morning.
My first big treat was finding our eastern screech-owl back in its nook after a couple-day absence. Better yet, it was excited about something off to the left, its right, so we can finally get a peek at one of its big yellow eyes. Until now, it has been doing a much better job of keeping them hidden than the great horned owls do. It eventually did back into the shadow, so I could get by, but when I came through again later in the morning, it had already moved on to its other favorite spot.
I was surprised to find phoebes up and hunting bugs in these high winds, but they were making do by keeping pretty close to the ground, and often striking their prey right on it.
By the looks of the dirt on this hermit thrush’s beak, the wind shouldn’t interfere with their hunting at all.
The brown creepers are somewhere in between, picking bugs out of crannies in tree bark, so they were keeping to the lower half of the trunks, which gave me the chance to sneak a portrait at last.
Finally, a solitary American coot was back in the park, but on the slow water below the falls, instead of near the islands above them. Either way, I wonder if this one saw its reflection and thought to itself, “Man, that is one handsome beak you’ve got there!”
Lastly, I see that the Milwaukee Birders are planning to visit Kletzsch Park at 8am Sunday morning, so if Monday doesn’t fit in your schedule, you can get a look at who’s living on and beside the Milwaukee River on Sunday instead. The forecast for that day looks pretty good right now: “partly cloudy, high 48F, winds W at 5 to 10 mph.”
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 
Fun to see the screech owl’s profile at last! And the crisp shot of the brown creeper is a keeper. All good stuff, Andy!
LikeLiked by 1 person