Author Archives: Andrew Dressel

The sudden cold snap brought the birds out like crazy this morning, and I believe I saw more blue herons in the park today than I have ever seen before. There was a youngish-looking one having some success on the pond. Another youngish-looking one seeming to take a break on the river below the falls.Continue reading “A change in the weather brings out the birds”

This morning really got off to a slow start, and I’d be tempted to think that the heat had something to do with it, but who knows. I didn’t see anything on my way to the pond, and there I only saw the same regulars that we saw just yesterday, so I headed to theContinue reading “A slow start but a big finish…”

It was a slow morning in Estabrook, after all the noise last evening, and the mammals seemed to be taking the day off. The greatest concentration of firework detritus was by the pond, so I was quite surprised to find all the usual avian denizens going about their morning routine as though nothing had happened.Continue reading “Birds of a feather…”

On my walk to the pond this morning, I had one of those magical moments when a young deer who couldn’t figure out what to make of me. I’ve learned that the spell lasts longer if I sat down, so I did. Once it seemed that I was no threat, hunger called, and the spellContinue reading “Lots of friends and family on the 4th.”

It was forecast to get hot today, so I hit the park early, while it was still cool and dark, and I was happily surprised to run into this crew before I even reached the pond. Sure, the picture’s grainy, but it’s a miracle I managed to get an image at all. The streetlights wereContinue reading “A nice slow start to the holiday weekend…”

This morning was sort of a mixed bag. The weather was beautiful, but the pictures got off to a slow start. There were even a few mallards at the pond, when I arrived, along with the wood duck hen and ducklings, but nobody was feeling very photogenic, so I let them be. There was alsoContinue reading “A cool morning warms up nicely…”

When I glanced out the window this morning, I was thrilled to see not a cloud in the pre-dawn sky, so I hustled out the door. I don’t know where the deer have gone, but I seldom see them anymore, unlike last summer when they seemed ubiquitous. Thus, I made it to the pond inContinue reading “A blue heron day…”

It was a nice enough morning in Estabrook, if a little humid at 87%, but not too warm, no rain for a change, a little bit of sun, and even some patches of blue sky. The critters, however, were not as cooperative as they’ve been lately, and perhaps it was all my gushing about theContinue reading “Success at last!”

That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, at long last my quest has borne fruit, and we now have photographs, such as they are, of a female wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) in Estabrook Park. I have searched high and low for over a year, and once thought I heard their call across the river, but never onceContinue reading “Gobble gobble”

It was cool, still, and dark this morning, but dry for a change, so a perfect time to spot those critters who prefer not to be spotted, and sure enough, our little masked bandits at the pond did not disappoint. I’m guessing that’s fresh crayfish on the menu this morning. Tasty. I only got aContinue reading “The masked bandits are back…”