This morning in Estabrook was just as cold as yesterday, but the breeze was much lighter, and the sky was just as blue, so it was a very nice morning for a walk in the park.
The common merganser hens are still with us, and either they are getting used to people walking up and down the riverbanks or the sun just felt too good to give up because they stayed parked on the ice for a change.
The surprise guests of the morning where these two Canada geese. Sure, the water around the islands will be full of them in a couple of months, as they vie for nesting spots, but they’ve been staying away for a while, and these are the first ones I’ve seen in Estabrook this year.
The pair of common goldeneye hens are still on the lower river, as well, and I’d love to get a nice picture of the two together, but the best I could manage this morning was one being photobombed by another merganser hen. At least it gives us a chance to see how similar their body plumage is. Fun, eh?
Finally, the biggest surprise of the morning was spotting my first red-tailed hawk in the park of the year. It was perched near the top of a pine tree at the north edge of the southern soccer fields, and I don’t believe I’ve ever seen one there before. Anyway, I’m also glad that somebody finally posed in front of that beautiful blue sky. Yay!
I see that we’re due for some more snow overnight and then it should warm up all the way into the twenties. A heat wave! Plus, the winds should stay light, and the sun might even show its face, so it could be another very pretty morning. Keep your fingers crossed!
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 