Another winter arrival…

The weather was not too bad in Estabrook Park this morning. Temps were a good 10°F warmer than yesterday, the winds were often blocked by trees or terrain, and the sun even came out for a bit. Best of all, another winter visitor has arrived.

I wouldn’t necessarily call it an ice bird, because it doesn’t look quite as comfortable in icy water as the common mergansers, goldeneyes, or buffleheads do, but I have only seen American black ducks here in the wintertime. They just look more like they’re putting up with it than reveling in it. Anyway, here’s one trying to catch some zzzs.

And here it is again, with a mallard hen who was kind enough to show off the white bars on either edge of her speculum feathers, for reference.

The next big surprise was finding our first kestrel of the month. It was busy working on its breakfast when I first spotted it, but that didn’t take long, and here it is checking me out next.

Apparently, I was neither a suitable second course nor a sufficient threat, because here it is casting that steely gaze to the horizon instead.

Finally, the only other bird more intent on filling its belly than dodging my camera was this American goldfinch mining that catkin for alder seeds.

The annual Santa Cycle Rampage is tomorrow, and festivities kick off between 8:30 and 9:30 here in Shorewood, so it is not clear if and when I’ll be able to show you any new wildlife pictures, but I’ll do my best.