Author Archives: Andrew Dressel

Puddles were frozen over and even the moisture in the top 1/2 inch or so of soil was crystalized and crunchy to walk on, but birds gotta eat, find mates, and stake out their territory, so things were about as busy as usual. No major shake-ups on the pond. The canada geese pair, a few mallards,Continue reading “Crazy cold but sunny morning at Estabrook Park”

Nobody new on the pond this morning. The canada geese pair, bachelor mallards, wood duck pairs, red-breasted merganser, and little pied-billed grebe were all there. The hooded merganser and pair of blue-winged teals were nowhere to be seen. There were plenty of birds in the branches and bushes, but it was far too cold for me toContinue reading “Cold and blustery morning at Estabrook Park, but no snow!”

Oh yeah! I completely forgot to mention that I spotted the amazing activity pictured below on the lawn sloping down to the pond this morning … At first, I thought it was just a weird version of those gummy-worm-type fishing lures (pictured below) because I was already bending down to pick up a couple of fish hooks, whichContinue reading “Easter at Estabrook Park, part two (NSFW)”

No snow, yet, so just a cool, damp, and quiet morning in the park. The usual suspects were on the pond: the pair of canada geese, the little pied-billed grebe, the red-breasted merganser was back but the hooded merganser was gone. The pair of blue-winged teals and a few wood ducks were still there. TheContinue reading “Easter at Estabrook Park”

Busy, busy morning on the pond, despite the frost on the grass! Maybe everyone’s trying to fill up and find a good place to wait out the snow forecast for tomorrow. First up, the new guests. I had heard reports that blue-winged teals had been spotted, but I haven’t had the pleasure myself until this morning. Also,Continue reading “Estabrook Park, calm before the storm”

Despite the cold, it was like “old home week” at the pond this morning with the pair of canada geese, the bachelor mallards, the wood ducks, and the pied-billed grebe. Plus the male red-breasted merganser was back along with one female mallard. A male belted kingfisher stopped by, but went away hungry. Further into theContinue reading “Estabrook Park”

It was a cold and blustery morning at the park, and the canada geese, mallards, wood ducks, and grebe were all going about their usual routine. With nothing new on the water, and upon the suggestion of new reader Donna Miller, I focused on the bushes and finally managed to catch a couple of stillContinue reading “Thirsty Thursday at Estabrook Park”

Big day at the park this morning, but nothing too exciting at the pond: It was very foggy and very still. The mergansers appear to have all moved on. The pair of canada geese might still have eggs in the nest after all. The 3 pairs of wood ducks and 3 mallard bachelors are stillContinue reading “Hump Day at Estabrook Park”

It started out slow, with just a couple of mallards and the pair of geese, and I was just about to move on, when a couple with an energetic dog off its leash came by. The dog may a beeline for the shore and immediately attracted the attention of the goose. Soon after, though, itContinue reading “The Estabrook Park Report, Tuesday Edition”

It as a slow Monday morning at the pond. Just the pair of canada geese, 3 male mallards, and a pair of wood ducks on the water. The red-winged blackbird continued to evade a good photo op, but I did catch a female downy woodpecker. The better show was yesterday afternoon when the sun cameContinue reading “Monday, Monday in Estabrook Park”