I got out nice and early this morning for a bit to check out the Connecticut wildlife. As you can see, the sky was bright blue, and the air was nice and calm, but the temperature, at 34°F, really surprised me. There was frost on the grass, and I had to borrow a warm coat. 

Anyway, there were some warblers up and singing, and here’s one of at least a half dozen yellow warblers I saw.

The abandoned field I was in is now half filled in with honey suckle bushes and other small trees, also seems to be a favorite of grey catbirds, and here’s one of probably a dozen.

There is a tall pine tree in the northwest corner, and a red-tailed hawk was using it as a perch from which it could scan for breakfast.

The last human use of the field was as a driving range, so there are still some old utility poles that had held up the netting, and this northern flicker found one to be a nice place to warm in the morning sun.

Finally, there are also a few tall cherry trees, black cherry, I think, growing near that pine tree with the hawk in it, and this goldfinch parked in one for a moment.

That’s it for today, and tomorrow I’ll head down to the linear park where I’ve had some luck in the past.

As I mentioned yesterday, I’m traveling today and didn’t get a chance to visit Estabrook before I left. I’ve arrived in Connecticut safely and hope to look for some pretty pictures tomorrow, but in the meantime, here are some recent leftovers, mostly from yesterday, but not all.

Here’s another chestnut-sided warbler singing his little heart out.

A Cooper’s hawk in a tree over the northern island.

Down on the water below the hawk, a hybrid-looking mallard, or a mallard-looking hybrid, perhaps with a Duclair duck, based on that white bib. I read that “the Duclair duck is an excellent forager and are able to fend for themselves in the wild,” so that fits.

A Blackburnian warbler.

A yellow-rumped warbler, and yes, they are still around.

That cedar waxwing in the apple tree again, and this time with its beak on a petal.

Another look at the Swainson’s thrush from Monday.

Finally, a close-up of a couple of those gangly tweener goslings on the river from yesterday. Reminds me of a story, but that was about a swan cygnet. Maybe Mr. Andersen hadn’t seen a Canada goose gosling.

The forecast here looks good for tomorrow morning, if cold for mid-May at 34°F, but the winds should be 0 (zero!) mph, so not much wind chill to speak off. Wish me luck!

It was another wonderful morning in Estabrook Park today. The sky had a little white in it, but it wasn’t cloudy, the winds were light, and the air was 10°F warmer than yesterday morning. The birds responded in kind and were singing while they foraged in droves throughout the park.

As I was listening for warblers down the bluff from where the park gets narrow and there’s a guardrail between the parkway and the path, I spotted this perfectly perched olive-sided flycatcher waiting for the next fly to snatch out of the air.

I reached the river just in time to watch this quartet of gangly-looking goslings, probably tweens, steam by while carefully guarded by their mom and dad.

Farther north along the river, the great horned owl was not quite as well hidden as it has been lately. “Great to see ya, Sweetie!”

The river water is getting low enough again to expose rocks and tree trunks around the northern island, and this green heron was taking the opportunity to fish in a new spot.

Back on shore, I saw a trio of rose-breasted grosbeaks, and two of them weren’t “feeling it this morning”, but this female gave me a stare just long enough for one picture.

I’d gotten a tip about bird density along the river north of the islands, so I continued on up the trail to check it out, and holy moly, that was one hot tip. The trees were literally crawling with birds (especially if you consider the black-and-white warblers who forage along trunks and branches like creepers or nuthatches). Anyway, here’s a blackburnian warbler searching oak tree blossoms for something tasty to eat.

Then a small flock of about 4 birds shot overhead to join the mix, and at first, I thought they looked just like Eurpean goldfinches, with white bellies, dark faces, and bay-colored sides. They didn’t have finch beaks, however, because they are bay-breasted warblers instead, and this is only the second image I’ve ever managed to capture of a bay-breasted warbler. They sure are elusive little devils!

Finally, on my way south, as I passed a beautiful apple tree in full blossom and thought what pretty a picture that could make, a cedar waxwing flew in and began feasting on the blossoms. “Thanks!”

I’ve got some more pictures for you, but tomorrow is a travel day, so I’ve saved a few to show you then. It’s supposed to be a lot cooler tomorrow, anyway, after our pneumonia front comes through.

I was thrilled to see a clear sky when dawn approached this morning, so I hustled into Estabrook Park to see if the sun would bring out anyone new. There was more activity at the pond than there has been in a few days with a green heron, a couple of wood ducks, and a few mallards, but the funnest bird was this male belted kingfisher whom I watched make several unsuccessful diving attempts for fish from the tree over the west lawn.

As I was watching the kingfisher, in hopes that I might catch him as he caught a fish, I spotted this fun little scene steaming west towards shore.

I had to shoot through some brush to get the picture above, so it’s pretty fuzzy, but I didn’t have to wait long before the little cutie headed back east to collect another bunch of leaves. Say “hi” to the muskrat who appears to have taken up residence in the pond.

From the pond, I headed back to the river and continued north where I found a pair of house wrens who appeared to be working on a nest. I read that “the male wren finds dry sticks, which he adds to the nest.”

So perhaps this is the female singing her encouragement.

Speaking of females, it took me a moment to recognize this little darling as a female American redstart.

As I was trying to get good pictures of the redstart, look who came cruising down the river. After a bit of a slow start, the goslings are really coming on strong.

Back on shore, I found another pair, this time of blue-gray gnatcatchers. Here’s the female,…

and here’s the male, with his iconic angry Groucho Marx eyebrows.

I was surprised to read that hermit thrushes, of whom I’ve been seeing so many this spring, are now considered “rare” because they’ve all moved north to their breeding grounds, and in their place, we now have Swainson’s thrushes, which look remarkably similar.

Back at the south end, it was a special treat to catch this brown thrasher at eye level and in the sun.

Speaking of “in the sun” here’s a Baltimore oriole looking pretty against a nice blue sky.

Finally, here’s a shaggy ink cap, lawyer’s wig, or shaggy mane mushroom (Coprinus comatus), as far as I know, and I read that “the young mushrooms, before the gills start to turn black, are a choice edible mushroom, but should be prepared soon after being collected as the black areas quickly turn bitter.” Plus, don’t eat them based solely on my identification! I’m no mycologist!

The thick cloud cover continues in Estabrook Park, so I didn’t see any pictures worth taking until I hiked back down to the river after visiting the pond. At the base of stairway 5, across from the southern island, there was a lone mallard hen standing on the riverbank. I tried to get off the stairs and up the path without bothering her, but she hopped into the water anyway, and I said I was sorry and didn’t think more of it.

A little farther up the trail, however, I spotted a bunch of fishing gear that some kindly angler had left for me, I suppose to fill out my collection, and as I headed to the water’s edge to collect it, I accidently flushed a little bird out of hiding. At first glance, I thought it might be the sora again, but by the time it hit the water, I could see that it was a duckling instead. So could its mom, as it turns out, and the mallard hen was already making a beeline across the water towards us. Happily, the two soon met, I didn’t give chase, and here’s a picture of the little one telling Mom all about its big adventure while she gives me a stern look.

In short order, those two rejoined the other two ducklings waiting on the far shore, and they all started preening themselves as if nothing had happened at all. I suspect it is the same quartet we last saw on Thursday, and I’m glad to see that they are still doing fine.

After all that excitement, I continued on to the north end where I finally found an indigo bunting who was more intent upon announcing his presence than he was worried about hiding from me for a change. The lighting is terrible, but it’s a step in the right direction.

I also got another crack at a redstart portrait, but I don’t think we’re quite there yet. It’s still quite a striking little bird, though, even in a mediocre picture.

And that’s nearly all I managed this morning, so here’s another look at the magnolia warbler from Friday.

Here’s another look at the rose-breasted grosbeak from Saturday.

Here’s another look at the beaver from Friday.

And here’s the last family of geese I’ve seen in the park, beside the river at the north end on Friday.

Here’s another look at the chipmunk we saw on Thursday.

Lastly, eagle-eyed Lisa pointed out that there was a patch of toadshade, aka prairie trillium (Trillium recurvatum) in bloom on the side of the path, so here’s a pretty little flower for all the moms out there. I hope you have a great day.

Our wifi is out, so I’m borrowing some, and I gotta make this short. There were a ton of birds in Estabrook Park this morning, but the clouds were extra thick, so there wasn’t much light, and the good pictures were few and far between.

At the pond, I was stunned to find not a single goose or duck, probably for the first time since the pond was frozen over, but there was one green heron, and it looked no happier for the solitude.

Here’s a goldfinch enjoying some dandilion seeds.

At the north end, the indigo buntings were singing like crazy, but still in no mood for pictures, so here’s a least flycatcher.

Speaking of flycatchers, the eastern kingbirds have arrived, and here’s one perched just off the tip of the southern island.

We’ve seen a lot of warblers and vireos lately, but here’s our first warbling virio (Vireo gilvus) of the season.

Finally, here’s another rose-breasted grosbeak who was too busy stuffing his beak and singing his song to show his beautiful rose breast.

Lastly, after my walk in the park, I took a bike ride north on the Oak Leaf Trail, and look who I found.

The fabulous blue skies are gone for now, but the clouds hadn’t started leaking yet, the temps were mild, and the air was still, so it was a pretty good morning for seeing wildlife in Estabrook Park. 

The deer were back in hiding, so the biggest critter I saw was this beaver on the prowl for some breakfast along the river below the southern playground.

It was about to sample these tasty looking saplings when it must have spotted me, crouching behind some other twigs about 25 yards farther up river, and opted to amble back into the water instead. “Sorry about that!”

As I approached the north end, the geese and mallards sounded excited, and I was thrilled to spot the likely cause high in a tree on the northern Island. I used to see eagles only in winter, when they came south looking for open water, but perhaps their range is expanding southward, and I hope it means we’ll get to see more of them.

After the eagle continued south, I spotted this goose and her goslings swimming north.

At the north end, across from that island, there was a lot of little-bird activity in the treetops. I heard and glimpsed a few indigo buntings, but they evaded my camera today. Instead, this magnolia warbler was more accommodating.

This redstart was a little less so, but we managed to work something.

Finally, little-bird-wise, this Nashville warbler opted for something more artsy.

Back at the pond, I spotted my first baby bunny of the season, and I bet there are more from where that came.

The chipmunks were feisty today, and after this one paused at the far side of the bridge at the north end of the pond, it continued right on towards me and then scampered into the bushes at my end.

Finally, the trillium were open and bright wait in a few spots throughout the park, and here’s a nice little clump right beside the river path.

The stretch of beautiful weather we’ve been enjoying lately has lasted for one more day, and it was just a perfect morning in Estabrook Park. Plus, with sunrise now at 5:35 am and no clouds to block the sun, I started my journey at 5:30 and enjoyed the park all to my lonesome for nearly an hour. What a treat.

It was nice to see the pair of deer again on the southern soccer fields after a couple-week break.

The toads were singing like crazy again this morning, you can even hear them up on the bluff, and it appears to have already paid off for some of them, like the happy couple below. There were hundreds of them in the river along the banks where the water is mostly still.

There was a notable absence at the pond this morning because the goose and gander must have decided overnight that the goslings were finally ready to make their annual march down to the river. If you’re desperate for a fix, you can still see a few families along the riverbanks, and here’s a picture I took on May 7th, but if you need to see them live at the pond, you’ll have to wait until next year.

Anyway, on my hike across the baseball field toward the river, there was a male northern flicker foraging in the grass along with the grackles and starlings, and as I tried to get a decent picture, it must have taken pity on me and hopped up onto this post for a moment, which really made my job a lot easier. He even showed off his namesake “yellow shafts.” “Thanks, buddy!”

Back at the river, the sun was finally high enough in the sky to really light up this darling blue-headed vireo.

On my way back south and back up on the bluff, I finally hit pay dirt when I spotted our first scarlet tanager of the season. If I had a fake bird with little wire feet that I could wrap around any branch in the park, I don’t think I could have come up with a pose as perfect as this one.

Back by the water, I spotted the trio of ducklings we last saw on May 8th.

There’s a new flower blooming on the slope down from the beer garden. Does anyone recognize it?

Over the swampy bottom at the base of stairway 8, which leads down to the river from the southern playground, I spotted this little flycatcher searching for its next morsel, and it appears to be a yellow-bellied flycatcher. By crazy coincidence, the last time I saw a yellow-bellied flycatcher was on May 11, 2022.

Since there’s a little room left on this page, here’s another look at that chestnut-sided warbler from yesterday.

And here’s another chipmunk from yesterday who stayed in the shade.

There was no fog, the sky was clear, and the air was nearly still, so it was a perfect morning for taking pictures in Estabrook Park. With nothing to block the sun, the light came nice and early, and I crossed Wilson Drive at 5:35am in hopes of beating the crowds.

First off, I was thrilled to find that the wild turkey from yesterday is still in the park and has moved down the bluff and a bit north.

The toads have begun singing along the river, but the crèche of seventeen goslings was at the spot on the river where I usually stop before heading up to the pond, so I skirted around them and went straight up the bluff instead. Things were quiet at the pond with just the regulars up and about; the family of Canada geese, a few wood ducks, and a couple of mallards; so I went back to the river.

At the north end, I didn’t see anybody new or especially photogenic on the water, but I heard an unusual song in the trees along the shore, and I could barely believe my eyes when I found the singer. It was a white-eyed vireo (Vireo griseus), and we are just beyond the north end of their usual range, so they are considered rare here. How’s that for a treat!

On my way back south along the top of the bluff, I spotted my first great crested flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) of the season, …

our first rose-breasted grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) for this year, …

and only the second or third chestnut-sided warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) I believe I’ve ever seen.

Back at the pond, there was another unusual call, and this one was being made by the very first orchard oriole (Icterus spurius) I’ve ever seen.

Also at the north end of the pond was this female Baltimore oriole, with a dark but not black head, working on a nest. I usually only see the nests in the fall, when the leaves are off the trees again, but this one is in a dead tree, so maybe we’ll get to see it all summer. One can hope, right?

Nearby was a male Baltimore oriole, with a jet-black head, striking the best pose we’ve seen from one so far this year.

Back down at the river, I finally caught a common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) out in the open, if pretty far away.

Lastly, this chipmunk was in no hurry to give up the nice little spot in the sun it had found for itself.

Wow! It sure was foggy in Estabrook Park this morning. When I arrived, just a little after “sunrise”, I could barely see across the soccer fields. Happily, I could see well enough to spot our first wild turkey of the year, if not capture a very clear image. I’ve only ever seen one in the park twice before, and I sure hope she sticks around.

Meanwhile, on the river, a pair of Canada geese must have heard about the “crèche of thirteen goslings and said, “hold my beer!” Here they are with seventeen (17!) and even conveniently stretched out into a row to facilitate counting.

As I approached the pond, I heard a new call that sounded for all the world to me like an old guy snoring. I kid you not. Go ahead and click on the link to take a listen. I’ll wait.

I wasn’t kidding, was I? Anyway, the generator of the amazing sound was none other than this tiny blue-winged warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera), and it’s the very first one I’ve ever seen.

There wasn’t much new at the pond, and the lighting was bad anyway, so I continued on to the north end, where conditions were pretty much the same. On my way back south, however, the fog finally drifted away, the sun came out, and the sky turned bright blue. That’s when I spotted our first American redstart of the season. I haven’t seen one since last May.

That lone catbird, who had arrived just a month ago, has finally been joined by many others, and you can now hear them singing or meowing throughout the park. This one was meowing when I walked by.

As luck would have it, I soon spotted a second bird for my very first time, and this little darling is a black-throated blue warbler (Setophaga caerulescens). It was quite a hopper, but it stayed mostly in the same tree, and I ended up tooking 90 pictures in an effort to get this one portrait.

After all that excitement, this palm warbler must have thought, “Fine, just take your pictures and then move along.”

The warm sun soon brought out the butterflies, and here’s another red admiral soaking up some rays.

The heavy fog also coated the spider webs, and here’s one by the pond glistening in the sun.

Finally, I met long-time reader Jeff Bentoff in the park yesterday morning, and he agreed to send me a copy of the amazing screech owl picture he took in the Shorewood Nature Preserve last Sunday. Smart Alecs may recall that last Sunday is also when I visited the Shorewood Nature Preserve, but I didn’t come away with such a prize, and that’s why nobody likes smart Alecs.