Author Archives: Andrew Dressel

We slept in a bit this morning, and I didn’t get to the park until 7, but wait till you see what that timing did for us. When I got to the pond, I found all the ducks huddled together near the island, and the first thing I thought was “hawk”, so I immediately beganContinue reading “Several new sights to see.”

Beautiful weather has returned to Estabrook, and it sure was nice to see a little sunshine and not feel as if I’m walking through a sauna for a change. I briefly glimpsed 3 raccoons and 1 beaver but failed to capture an image. I didn’t see any sandpipers today, at the falls or elsewhere, butContinue reading “Nothing really comes to mind”

I was treated to that rare and delightful phenomenon this morning when a pair of critters are so interested in each other that they mostly ignore me. This time, it was a pair of spotted sandpipers on the rocks in the river just below the falls, and I was up on the boardwalk partially concealedContinue reading “Dance of the Sandpipers”

It was one of those mornings that remind me that “10% chance of rain” often means “steady rain, but just at 10% intensity.” The good news is that the continuous spritzing didn’t slow down the critters in the park, and there were at least three herons ont the pond, one blue and two green. Here’sContinue reading “Herons are a hoppin’ at the pond.”

With the dark skies yesterday morning and then a trip to campus, I didn’t get to the park until late in the day, but it was a nice change of pace. I saw this little cutie crossing the trail up ahead and thought I’d missed my chance, but he or she waited patiently in theContinue reading “Two reports for the price of one.”

Now that we’re solidly in the Dog Days of Summer, things are starting to slow down in the park, and it’s gonna be a short report today. The weather was pleasant enough, I got to the pond nice and early, a mallard is back to keep the black duck company, but I didn’t see theContinue reading “A slow midsummer morning in Estabrook”

If you have been wondering when and if the mosquitoes would follow the rain we’ve had lately, well, wonder no more because they sure as heck are here now. Zoinks! I had no idea how haphazard my insect repellent application had become during the drought until this morning when the little stinkers let me knowContinue reading “Lots of comings and goings this morning.”

The nice cool temps and calm winds remain, but there wasn’t much sun this morning. A single young deer was calmly grazing on the soccer fields, and I couldn’t even get it to look my way when I called to it, so this is what we’re left with. At the pond, it was a blueContinue reading “Some old friends return”

The forecast was for clear skies, for a change, and so I hit the park nice and early even though it was a bit chilly. I could see a blue heron and both sets of ducklings on the pond, but there just wasn’t enough light yet for my equipment, so I let them enjoy theirContinue reading “The sun returns and so do a few characters.”

Sheesh! It was even cooler and maybe darker this morning than yesterday, if you can believe it, but let’s get right to the main event. There is a new batch of ducklings on the pond, and it’s five mallards this time. They probably just hatched overnight or this morning, and would you look at thoseContinue reading “More cold, more birds!”