That rain, which we enjoyed for much of yesterday, was gone by sunrise, but it failed to take all the clouds with it, so we had a nice enough morning in Estabrook Park, while the sun dipped out for a bit every now and then.
Young mallard ducklings keep emerging from the woods, if not exactly the woodwork, and here’s a sextet sticking close to Mom on the river just below the falls.
As I was working on the duckling picture, a great blue heron landed on the low island of bedrock, where the falls used to be, and started looking for a good spot to catch some fish.
At the north end, the doe and her fawn waded from the mainland back to their island, just as I arrived, and then the fawn got a good licking.
Back at the beer garden, the common yellowthroat I’ve been hearing there for weeks finally showed its little masked face. Perhaps because it had heard about the showoff at Retzer.
Even better, after deciding that the coast was clear enough, it broke out in song.
Meanwhile, the gravel right below is now covered in dropped mulberries, and this chipmunk, which would normally be pretty shy, appeared to be so enthralled by the taste that I wondered if it would let me scratch behind those tiny ears. I thought better of that crazy idea, however, and just took a picture instead.
Finally, our old pals, the bicolored striped sweat bees, are back, and here’s one on a firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella) blossom in the pollinator garden.
I see that the sun is supposed to be even scarcer tomorrow, so I can’t make any promises, but I’ll do what I can.
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 