Category Archives: Uncategorized

The stunningly beautiful morning got off to a picturesque start when this great blue heron on the pond paused in front of a rose bush on the island, probably the same multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) that we saw last week, instead of behind a bunch of dead and gray sticks. I didn’t see it catchContinue reading “Everything but the kitchen sink…”

The Shorewood Farmers Market season premiere in Estabrook Park is this morning, and man, oh man, did they dial in the weather. Just outstanding. I got to the park a little earlier than usual, and when I visited the pond, there appeared to be nobody home. Oh sure, I could here the frogs and seeContinue reading “Critters on the move…”

It was a spectacular morning in Estabrook and the only critters we seem to be waiting on now are the cicadas. No, not the brood X that that fancy folks get, and everyone’s talking about. Just our humble, yearly, summer singers. Meanwhile, most of the other regulars were out this morning, though this first oneContinue reading “Inching towards peak summer”

I bumped into Lisa, a long-time reader, in the mowed remains of the wildflower meadow at the north end yesterday. I was shooting the monarch and silver-spotted skipper butterflies, and she was looking for the indigo bunting we could both hear singing his brains out. She spotted him and also saw a hummingbird on theContinue reading “Plenty of action this morning…”

It was cloudy, foggy, and dim this morning, plus I had to wait for a delivery, so I got a late start in Estabrook. By the time I arrived, the mammals were mostly laying low, the birds were pretty much done with their morning routine, and kids were playing in the pond. Thank goodness forContinue reading “Back to the basics. No exotics today.”

It was a picture-perfect morning in Estabrook with blue skies, calm winds, and cooler temperatures, and the little wood duck rapscallions were as energetic as ever on the pond. I didn’t see the muskrat this morning, but a beaver swam by when I got to the river. Further north, just about where the owl dramaContinue reading “Lots of little ones”

This morning got off to a pretty inauspicious start with grey skies and hardly a sight to see for the whole length of the river. Near the north end, at least, I did see the mallard ducklings again, but they high-tailed it for the far shore. When I got to the downy and red-bellied woodpeckerContinue reading “Some sights are worth the wait…”

The mourning warbler was in the same tree this morning, by the soccer fields, sending out his call in hopes of finding someone to share Estabrook Park with, and I sure hope he succeeds, don’t you? Under the bright overcast, I think you can see his colors a little better than yesterday. He is aContinue reading “A report with so much variety, I couldn’t think of a title before I pressed “publish”.”

Aaaah. We had an amazing trip, and I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to experience such wonderful places, but it also feels really good to be back in Estabrook. I like what you’ve done with the place while I was gone. Frogs are signing on the pond and on the river. The ebony jewelwingsContinue reading “It’s good to be back…”

It was a great day for mammals in Yellowstone. There were plenty of bison, of course, blocking traffic in several cases, and a few elk about, but the big find, at least for me, was this wily coyote looking for something good to eat along the banks for a stream. Here you can see himContinue reading “Field Trip Report, Day 7.”