Author Archives: Andrew Dressel

We finally got some real snow, despite the best efforts of the warm Lake Michigan water directly to our east. Between waiting for the snow to move out, playing with the visiting grandson with the Erector Set my mom and dad gave me for Christmas 100 years ago, and then shoveling the driveway so saidContinue reading “Winter arrives at last in Estabrook Park.”

It’s just 6am, and our next round of snow has already started. This one is forecast to be a doozy and last all day, so I doubt I’d be able to get any pictures for you today. Luckily, I have a couple more from yesterday that I hope can fill the gap. On the river,Continue reading “More Snow!”

We finally got a bit of real snow last night, and the skies were even that beautiful bright blue for a while this morning, but I’m pressed for time today, so here’s the one picture I took this morning that best captures all of that. I thought it was a house finch, but I’ve sinceContinue reading “House finch by the pond…”

We did get some snow, though the wind blowing off the warm Lake Michigan water kept the accumulation here to near the bottom of the forecast range. I’m sure some folks are thrilled, but the silver lining for me is that the strong east wind finally blew a common goldeneye our way. This drake isContinue reading “Striking gold at last…”

The forecast snow has not yet materialized, and all we are getting so far is rain and wind, so I’m gonna give Estabrook Park a break today. Instead, let me show you some more critters Anne and I saw in and around Big Bend National Park this time last year. You have already seen thisContinue reading “Deep cuts…”

I got stiffed in Estabrook Park this morning, and I even tried the lakefront in hopes of showing you one of the loons that folks have been seeing there, but they were much too far from shore for my equipment. Instead, let me show you a couple of pictures from this day last year whenContinue reading “One year ago…”

Donna’s Sunday morning birding group was visiting the South Shore Yacht Club again this morning, so I stopped by to see who might be out on the lake. We could see a few coots out by the breakwater, and someone saw a goldeneye or two, but the big surprise for me were the dozens andContinue reading “Plenty of reds, but no gold today…”

Sure it’s snowing lightly this morning in Estabrook Park and even sticking to the grass and branches a bit, but the big news is that a Mr. Danny Fritz reported “2 GHO in the radio tower structure (WITI TV Tower) up pretty high singing a duet” last evening and even posted a recording for us.Continue reading “Possible signs of a winter romance…”

Well, it’s now official. According to an article in today’s paper, “Great Lakes ice cover was at record low on Jan. 1.” Hence the lack of birds on the river, such as goldeneyes and buffleheads, that I believe only come south in search of open water when they have to. Ice was forming on theContinue reading “Waiting for the snow…”

It was nice to be back in Estabrook Park this morning, even if the skies were cloudier than forecast, and here are a few of the critters who came out to welcome me back. Our surprise gray catbird continues to hang out by the pond, well north of its usual winter range, and poked itsContinue reading “Back among familiar faces…”