Our recent string of pretty days continued in Estabrook Park this morning, but someone must have panicked about the warmth and flipped on the giant AC unit parked just a mile to our east, because we’ve had quite the cooldown compared to earlier in the week. The good news is that the sun is over 90% of its way to the Tropic of Cancer right now, and the clear skies let it keep things from getting too cool around here.
Anyway, the sun was just coming over the horizon when I spotted one of the green herons that I have a hope might be regulars at the pond for the summer.
The next pretty sight came at the far northwest corner of the park, as I checked on the cliff swallows nesting under the Port Washington Road bridge, and I managed to capture this one in flight.
On my way back downstream, I heard a Cooper’s hawk calling from up on the bluff, so I hustled up there just in time to see one fly off, probably a parent, and this youngster, who looked a little more dignified than the last time we saw it.
I’ve shown you a few times the beautiful iridescence that male grackle feathers can produce, and here’s a slightly subdued example. I thought perhaps that it was a female, but my sources believe that I was mistaken. Oh well. Next time.
At least there’s no mistaking that this one is a recent fledgling, which the bird above was noisily protecting.
Farther downstream, my wish for a better look at the wood duck hen and her ducklings came true sooner than I expected.
Finally, with the cool breeze out of the east we were enjoying this morning, I didn’t expect to see much insect life, although I sure did look for it. Happily, conditions were so much more to their liking yesterday, that I captured this image of our first American lady butterfly within a hundred yards of the swallowtail I already showed you.
Lastly, I plan on meeting up with the Milwaukee Birders for their “Birds and Brews” at 5:30 this afternoon in Estabrook Park at the Beer Garden, so come on out and join us if you’ve got the time.
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 