It was a perfectly fine morning in Estabrook Park, but we seem to have entered some new phase. The spring migrants have mostly settled down or moved on, but the cool weather is keeping the colorful summer bugs from putting on much of a show.
Thankfully, we do still have ducklings, and here’s a mallard hen with ten on the river. The tenth has its head down a bit, so you’ve gotta count heads and rumps to find them all.
I was surprised to find this least flycatcher appearing to nap in the tall weeds just off the paved path. At least I hope it was just napping. It was breathing for sure, and I didn’t want to disturb it, so that’s all I know.
Other good news is that the female ruby-throated hummingbird was on her nest again this morning and looking as fresh as ever. I guess if you flew here all the way from Central America under your own power, then handling the little shower we had yesterday would be a piece of cake. Right?
This chipmunk, on the other hand, looks like it has been foraging in the mud and could use a little freshening up. “You’ve got a little on your nose, Sweetie.”
We still have a few straggler warblers, who have only recently arrived, or who just haven’t pushed on yet, and here’s a fairly shy magnolia, …
and here’s a not-shy-at-all chestnut sided who looked like he was still drying out a bit from yesterday and didn’t seem to mind me at all.
I didn’t see a new blossom to show you today, I’m sorry to say, and I did glimpse a monarch butterfly, but it was on a mission and kept right on going. Perhaps we just need a little warm up to get back on the right track.
In the meantime, I’m skipping town again tomorrow, but I’m bringing my gear, so I hope to have something new to show you in a day or two, and I’ll post a few never-before-seen pictures to tide you over. Oh, and while I’m gone, feel free to continue the weekly wildlife walks without me. I’m sure you know the drill by now. John might be able to host one or two, but he thought he had a conflict with at least one.
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 