It was cool again in Estabrook Park this morning, but the sky was clear, and the breeze was lighter than it’s been all week, so I was excited to get out into it. Things got off to a slow start, however. I wasn’t getting any pictures, and then the clouds drifted over again, but I needed the walk anyway, so I kept going, and on my second visit to the pond, I caught my first break. Here’s our first eastern phoebe of the fall migration. “Welcome back, Sweetie, and we hope you had a great summer!”
I didn’t see much else on my way back to the south end, but at least I had one picture, and the clouds drifted away again. Then, in the woods right beside the remaining weed patch, I caught what might be our last eastern wood-pewee of the year. They’ve pretty much stopped singing, and I might see another, but who knows. “Save travels, Darling!”
It was fun to see, on the same day, two of the three flycatchers without “flycatcher” in their name, so instead of continuing on home, I followed the trail back down to the river with a little spring in my step, and I soon came to a thicket that was abuzz with tiny birds. The first one I managed to capture on film was this cutie, our inaugural white-throated sparrow of the season.
Meanwhile, higher overhead, one of the northern flickers, who have been quite antsy all week, sat still just long enough for me to capture this nice image. I don’t think it will be too long before they’re all gone for the winter.
Back in the thicket below, say “hello” to our first ruby-crowned kinglet of this fall. “Eat up, Deary! We’ve got plenty of bugs for you!”
Then, as if on cue, this red squirrel posed as if to ask, “what am I? Chopped liver?” To which I wanted to reply, “Well, no. You’re much too small for that, but where were you yesterday, when I sure could have used this shot?” Instead, I just took this picture.
Finally, when the Village of Shorewood redid Wilson Drive a few years back, they put in some nice bioswales and planted them full of native plants. I believe my favorites are the New England asters, which are in full bloom right now, and here’s a gorgeous painted lady butterfly filling its belly full of their nectar.
I see the winds are forecast to be even lighter tomorrow, but the clouds are due to be back, so we’ll just have to wait and see who’s around.
