The doldrums that seemed to have settle on Estabrook Park lately reached a climax today, and I didn’t even get a single picture, let alone see anything I would have liked to capture on film. Fortunately, it is only a few days until the end of 2025, so it’s a perfect time to start reviewing the highlights of the past year, and let’s start with the bird species we saw in Estabrook for the first time.
Back in April, I finally got a decent picture of sandhill cranes flying over. Perhaps some will land one day, but this will have to do until then.
In May we finally got a good look at a common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor), which I had glimpsed soaring over Shorewood, but never even tried to photograph.
Also in May, our first prothonotary warbler stopped in, twice, so I got some nice shots.
In July our very first broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus) stopped in to say hi.
Then things settle down for a while, bird wise, until just this month when we finally got a look at the Carolina wren I’d been hearing for a while.
Well, maybe I’ll have better luck in the park tomorrow, but if not, we’ll continue more highlights of 2025.
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 