We had a gorgeous March morning for our weekly wildlife walk in Estabrook Park. The wind was blowing pretty good, but the temps were mild, and the sun was out, so it was very comfortable. After hitting the pond, which was pretty quiet, we headed down to the river, and the first great sight of the day was our first northern flicker of the year. “Welcome back, you handsome devil!”
The surprises continued once we got upstream of the falls, and here’s a pair of ring-necked ducks between the islands. After seeing my first drake in the park just on Friday, I can’t believe that I got to see my first pair so soon after.
Just on the other side of the upstream island, our first bufflehead of the month, and only our second of the winter, hopped up onto this rock, preened for a bit, and then appeared to settle down for a nap. “Rest up, Buddy. You’ve got a long flight ahead of you!”
Just as we were about to wrap up our walk and were back up on the bluff, look who soared overhead, a mature bald eagle. Woo hoo, and right on cue!
After the walkers headed off, I hiked back down to the river, and I arrived just in time to see a pair of geese land on top of the abandoned bridge abutment across the river. It’s not often that I get to take a picture of a stationary goose with blue sky in the background.
Finally, the song sparrows are still thick on the ground, though not quite as thick as yesterday at Lakeshore State Park, and here’s one that had just been busily foraging in the mud beside the river.
I see that the winds are supposed to be out of the north overnight, so we might not get any new arrivals, but I should have another day to search for ones that are already here and now waiting for favorable winds to return. Wish me luck!
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 