I had been wondering when we’d see a rose-breasted grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) in the park, and I just figured that they were all still over at Bonnie and Gary’s feeder. Well, they couldn’t have picked a more-beautiful morning to finally come visit Estabrook. I first spotted a pair at the top of the bluff byContinue reading “Everyone comes out for a perfect morning…”
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Still cold, but the bright sun really helps…
The cold continued this morning, but the sun sure takes a bite out of it these days. The goslings at the pond appear to be doing fine, and were taking an after-breakfast nap when I arrived. In the trees along the east side of the pond, I found a nice and friendly female blue-grey gnatcatcherContinue reading “Still cold, but the bright sun really helps…”
A slow and sleepy Monday in Estabrook
Today started just as yesterday did, cool and dark, but it just stayed that way, and the birds were laying low. I didn’t see a single warbler, and the geese and goslings, mallards and wood ducks, blackbirds and grackles all seemed to be doing fine at the pond without them. By the river, the robinContinue reading “A slow and sleepy Monday in Estabrook”
Happy Mother’s Day!
To all the moms out there, this hug’s for you. Funny thing was that while I was trying to get the perfect picture of this Mother’s Day snuggle, there suddenly was a highish pitched call, a little bit like a hawk, and all the goslings looked to see who it was. It turns out toContinue reading “Happy Mother’s Day!”
Exciting new arrivals at the pond…
The morning started out cold and dark, but soon the clouds drifted away and it become one of the sunny mornings so beautiful that the temperature hardly matters. Plus, it was nice and still and the sun sure warms things up quickly this late in the spring. Anyway, the biggest news probably is that aContinue reading “Exciting new arrivals at the pond…”
Ol’ Blue Returns…
The big news in Estabrook this morning is the return of a great blue heron (Ardea herodias) to the pond. As I was walking across the middle parking lot, I thought I heard geese above, and looked up just in time to see a pair of herons glide overhead. I had a hope that atContinue reading “Ol’ Blue Returns…”
Better late than never, I hope…
Sorry I’m late. There was rain and then school and then blah, blah, blah. The good news is that the sun came out for a bit this afternoon, I was able to make a swing through the park, and the first critter I saw was this common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas), one of the many warblersContinue reading “Better late than never, I hope…”
Solving some mysteries…
It was a perfectly gorgeous morning in the park, though cold enough to frost the grass, and either that or the high water has silenced the toads, at least for now. In any case, I am happy to report that what I did see this morning should clear up a few mysteries. Mystery number one:Continue reading “Solving some mysteries…”
A wealth of warblers
First, the basics. The kids that I saw seemed to be all right on this cool and cloudy morning. The park was relatively empty, and I spotted a couple of wood ducks on the pond, so I sat on the bench to see if they would pay me a visit. It appears they have beenContinue reading “A wealth of warblers”
Toad-a-palooza!
The breaking news is that the American toads (Anaxyrus americanus) are getting busy down on the river! That singing I heard for the first time yesterday and again today is from toads, not tree frogs, as I had mistakenly thought, and they are probably busy in the pond, too. On the little stretch of riverContinue reading “Toad-a-palooza!”
