It was cool, cloudy, and windy in Estabrook Park this morning, so yeah, spring in southeast Wisconsin. At least it wasn’t raining again, because we’ve had just about enough of that for a while.
Anyway, look who chose today for its big first outing at the pond for the year.
Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the size spectrum, we still have at least one winter wren hanging around, but they won’t be here for much longer, so get your looks in while they last.
When I arrived at the river, there were ten double-crested cormorants in the water or up on the island drying out. Here’s one, on the left, showing off its namesake “double crest”, which I read is “only visible on adults during breeding season.”
The bigger surprise at the river, for me at least, was our first batch of swallows busily hunting lake flies over the water. Sure, it would’ve been nice if they were all posing calmly on branches beside the river, as they did in April 2022, but I’ll take what I can get and like it! Here’s a barn swallow, with its forked tail.
Here’s a tree swallow, which I just showed you yesterday on a nesting box at Lakeshore State Park.
And here’s a northern rough-winged swallow, looking a lot like an immature female tree swallow, but with a “dingy-brown breast” instead of the “clean white breast” on a tree swallow. All we’re missing is the cliff swallows, which I hope return to nest again under the eave of the Holliday Inn.
Finally, back at the pond, the look on the face of this female belted kingfisher seems to be saying “that’s enough already with all those fuzzy pictures!”
Lastly, if you skipped my presentation on the wildlife in Estabrook at North Shore School for Seniors a couple of weeks ago because you’ve already seen it three times, have I got great news for you! The big boss there asked me, “Andy, isn’t there anything else you can talk about?”, and I replied, “Hmmm. I do have a few pictures of wildlife from my travels with Anne. Would anyone want to hear me talk about capturing those?” Well, we’re gonna find out soon because that’s what she’s got me presenting at 1pm this Tuesday. Come on out, if you’ve got the time.
The forecast for tomorrow is a little cooler, a little less windy, a little sunnier, and no rain, so woo hoo! I can’t wait to see who I’ll see next.
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 