Kohler-Andrae 2025, Day 2

A thick cloud deck rolled in sometime overnight, here at Kohler-Andrae State Park, so it was a pretty dark morning, and I gave the cordwalk through the Kohler Dunes State Natural Area a try. I hadn’t even stepped off the pavement yet when I spotted three wild turkeys, who did their best to ignore meContinue reading “Kohler-Andrae 2025, Day 2”

Estabrook Park Report #1500!

You read that right, Campers. This is indeed my 1500th post since this little operation got underway back on March 26, 2020. Since then, we’ve cataloged 322 critters in Estabrook Park on this site and about 450 on iNaturalist, where I feel free to post any recognizable picture, no matter how dark or blurry, andContinue reading “Estabrook Park Report #1500!”

Given the humidity, with a dew point in the low 70s, it was about as nice a morning in Estabrook Park as one could hope for. The temps were also in the low 70s, the air was still, and the sky was clear. For a slight change of pace, I skipped the pond on myContinue reading

Finding what I can on a rainy day…

It was raining when the sun came up in Estabrook Park this morning, and it rained pretty steadily till almost 9 a.m. Since there didn’t appear to be any significant gaps nor heavy downpours, I grabbed an umbrella and headed out. I guess it is a little remarkable that I didn’t get a single birdContinue reading “Finding what I can on a rainy day…”

Keeping cool by the lake…

While the rest of the country broils under the latest heat dome, Estabrook Park and its surrounding communities is enjoying the cooling effect this morning of its own giant misting system, aka a gentle breeze blowing off of Lake Michigan. With all the mist and heavy cloud cover, I didn’t have high hopes for thisContinue reading “Keeping cool by the lake…”

Look who the hot and humid air brought with it this time…

The cloud cover has grown pretty thick, and there was a good breeze for a while, so the heat wasn’t really as bad as the forecast had suggested for this morning in Estabrook Park, although it was already in the 80s by 8 a.m., and the humidity percentage was in the 70. I did seeContinue reading “Look who the hot and humid air brought with it this time…”

Failing the sniff test…

In an effort to beat the heat forecast for today, I got out nice and early and was already at the north end by 6:30 a.m. I don’t know if it was my early arrival or we were just due, but I finally found our first black swallowtail in Estabrook. It was waiting for theContinue reading “Failing the sniff test…”

Feeling the humidity, and waiting for the heat to arrive…

The beautiful weather we’ve enjoyed for the past couple of days is beginning to fray, and by the time the temps hit 75°F this morning, the humidity was still 75%. Soggy! The first picture I thought worth taking didn’t come until I reached the north end, when I spotted this doe wading from our riverbankContinue reading “Feeling the humidity, and waiting for the heat to arrive…”

Just a perfect summer day…

The beautiful weather has returned to Estabrook Park, with cool, dry, and not too breezy air, so we had a gorgeous morning for a wildlife walk. As usual, I stopped by the river on my way to meeting folks at the beer garden, and the air was cool and still enough for a thin blanketContinue reading “Just a perfect summer day…”