Signs of Life in Estabrook Park

The crowd starts to thin…

It sure felt like autumn this morning in Estabrook Park: cool, breezy, and cloudy. Definitely sweater weather.

My first treat of the day was this gray catbird lurking in the bushes above the river. They’ve been scarce lately, and I wasn’t sure if I’d get to see one again until spring.

Farther north and back along the river, I checked up and downstream for great blue herons, but didn’t see any, and then thought to myself, “better check in the trees,” but immediately chuckled because “no heron’s gonna be standing on a branch high in a tree in this wind.’ Happily, I looked up anyway, and look who I found, even standing on one leg, as if to show me just how wrong my assumption was. “Thanks for the reality check!”

At the far north end, I was pleasantly surprised to find a few orange-crowned warblers that haven’t flown south yet.

Out on the water, the pair of wigeons appear to be learning from the mallards and just kept on foraging as I took my best pictures of them yet. Here’s the hen, with the drake behind her.

And here’s the drake really showing off its hint of a green eye stripe.

Finally, as I made my way back south, this female cardinal called from the bushes on the side of the bluff below the beer garden, as if to say, “soon enough, it’ll be just you, me, and some chickadees.” Oof. Anyway, if you click on the image so you can zoom in to full resolution, you can see that she has pretty dark brown eyes.

Old friends show their faces again…

It wasn’t as warm nor as sunny this morning in Estabrook Park as it’s been lately, but it was still a perfectly nice time for a visit.

My first thrill of the morning was spotting this muskrat up near our riverbank and munching on its breakfast. They sure made themselves scarce over the summer, but here’s hoping we get to see more of them now.

Another critter that hasn’t let me get close lately is the kingfisher, but this one chased away the flicker I was aiming for, so I took its picture instead.

The gadwalls we had earlier in the month had orange on their bills, so were females, but the gadwall today has an all-black bill and more-distinctive plumage, which mark it as a male.

Speaking of males, I believe the wigeon hen we’ve been seeing lately has been joined by a young or eclipse drake today. Females only have a “dark smudge around the eye“, as the bird on the right has, and males have “a wide green stripe behind the eye and a white cap“, hints of which the bird on the left appears to have.

On my way back south, the raccoon we saw last week showed its cute little masked face today. Yay!

On my way to the pond, I spotted this gorgeous red-tailed hawk eyeing the rodents on the disc golf course. There was also a second hawk, and I suspect they were already acquainted because when the second flew by, this one merely watched it go.

Finally. as I was checking for butterflies at the southern soccer fields, I found yet one more last dragonfly of the season, and this one also appears to be cherry-faced meadowhawk, but I have since learned that “veins in leading edge of wing are orange, stigmas orange, [and] legs not completely black,” all mean that it is our very first saffron-winged meadowhawk (Sympetrum costiferum). Woo Hoo!

A pause on fall…

I know it can’t last, nor should it, but in the meantime, this warm, dry spell sure is easy to take. We had clear skies, nearly still air, and about 60 °F at sunrise in Estabrook Park this morning.

I spotted this darling little eastern phoebe beside the river just as the sun started reaching down over the bluff, and it seemed more interested in the sun’s progress than in worrying about me taking pictures.

At the pond, I noticed a light shape in the bushes, and I excitedly snapped this picture. When I realized that it was a goldfinch in its drab winter coat, I actually thought to myself, “oh, it’s you,” which reminded me of that old song. If you’ve been searching for a good earworm today, you’re welcome.

There are still plenty of wood ducks on the pond, but I liked the lighting for this little cutie, the first one I’ve seen on the river in a while.

Farther north, I was pleasantly surprised to find a yellow-bellied sap sucker still kicking around. They were hot and heavy for a moment, closer to the first of the month, but it appears that some are still trickling through. Yay!

Meanwhile, the orange-crowned warblers remain a pretty regular find.

Out on the water, another bird I rarely get to see any more is this dapper-looking killdeer.

The wigeon is still with us, …

and this morning it looked like it had a new friend. I’m not quite sure who it is yet, but it looks a tad shorter than the wigeon, which is already smaller than mallards, so maybe it is a blue-winged teal. Hopefully, the experts will weigh in soon.

Finally, on my way south, there were plenty of sparrows foraging in the grass beside the river, and here’s a sharp-looking Lincoln’s sparrow. It turns out that some folks did see and photograph a grasshopper sparrow yesterday at Lakeshore State Park, and I got all excited once or twice when I spotted a lightly-colored bird today, but none were light enough, yet.

Lastly, with weather like this, the skippers and sulphurs were busy getting their last sips in, and here’s yet one more of the latter.

Lake Front State Park, 2024

Our incredible streak of wonderful weather this fall continued today, and I joined the Milwaukee Birders at Milwaukee’s fabulous Lakeshore State Park this morning to give the critters in Estabrook a break. I even managed to arrive in time to watch the sun rise.

The water was full of mallards and geese, but there were also a few double-crested cormorants, who have stopped in at Estabrook, from time to time, but not yet this year, although we have had some fly-overs.

I was thrilled to spot shovelers, who also visit Estabrook, but even less often.

There were dozens of coots, both in the lagoon, and out in the outer harbor. They also come by Estabrook once in a while, and we had one visit us just last spring.

Back on land, a red-winged blackbird flew in and immediately started calling. Perhaps it is wondering where all the others have gone, but we’re right on the cusp between their breeding and year-round ranges, so probably not too far.

Even a kestrel showed up, and it spooked all the starlings.

The rocky shoreline was mostly full was sparrows. Here’s a song, ….

a young white-crowned, …

a white-throated, …

a dark-eyed junco, which are considered “neat, even flashy little sparrows“, …

and this beauty, which had us all excited. Some thought it might be a vesper sparrow, which I’ve only seen in Waterford so far, or even a grasshopper sparrow, which I have never seen before. Instead, it turns out to be a good ol’ savannah sparrow, which we have even seen in Estabrook Park. Ha!

Finally, in the fruit trees near the entrance, this orange-crowned warbler was rustling up some bugs.

Three-peats…

The weather was amazing again this morning in Estabrook Park, with clear skies, nearly still air, and seasonably cool temps.

Things got off to an exciting start when, just as I was about to reach the river for my first visit, this Cooper’s hawk swooped in, came up empty, and looked around for whatever prey had attracted it in the first place. The picture is so grainy because it was still quite dark down in the river valley, and I was surprised my autofocus was even able to lock onto the bird at all.

As crazy luck would have it, I soon had another chance when a Cooper’s hawk, quite possibly the same one, swooped over the pond, and then made a try for one of the wood ducks there, but had no luck again.

At the north end and back at the river, I didn’t see any owls, eagles, osprey, red-tails, merlins, or kestrels today, but, you guessed it, a Cooper’s hawk swooped in and perched low over the northern island. I ended up seeing a Cooper’s hawk five separate times in five separate locations, but I never saw one have any success this morning. Well, you know what they say, “practice makes perfect,” right?

Closer to shore, I found one last palm warbler, who looks like it might have just taken a dip, so it was not in the usual mood for pictures.

Hopping around on the rocks with the palm were a couple of yellow-rumped warblers.

Back at the pond, there is still quite a contingent of wood ducks, and here’s a sharp looking pair.

On my last visit to the river, where we’ve seen song, tree, and Lincoln’s sparrows recently, all I saw today were swamp sparrows: puffy, round ones, …

slim, sleek ones, …

and excited as all get-out ones. I didn’t even know they could do this, until today, and I even had a hope that this might be a new bird for us. Well, you know what they say, “live and learn,” right?

Less frost and more deer…

It was a super nice morning in Estabrook Park, with clear skies and still air, similar to yesterday, but warmer, so no sign of frost for a change.

I got my first nice picture at the north end when this doe crossed between the two islands. She had a fawn in tow, but it was lagging behind, and then it had to go potty, after which it hustled to catch up, so I never had a good shot.

As I watched those two wade up the west side of the northern island, I could hear a snort from the southern island, and here’s the buck who took exception to my presence. In this picture, he’s just about to stomp that left front hoof to accentuate his displeasure. After this picture, I continued north to leave him alone and check on the owls, who were not in today.

On my way back south from counting the pigeons on the Port Washington Road bridge, I was thrilled to spot a kestrel high above the northern island. Before I could get south enough for a decent picture, this merlin showed up, and the kestrel immediately chased it away. By the time I was south enough, however, the merlin returned and perched nice and low over the river.

And the kestrel chased it right back off again. This act repeated several times at various perches over the river, and it was a fun show to watch, although I’m sure the fierce little birds were taking it very seriously.

I eventually continued south, and stayed along the water again, in hopes that maybe an owl had arrived while I was away. I had no luck with that, but as I rounded a corner, look who was grazing right in the middle of the path. It’s a second buck with a slightly less-developed rack, so that makes three different bucks in the park for sure. We both froze, I apologized and assured him everything was okay, he returned to grazing and didn’t snort or stamp at me, I snuck a couple of pictures, and then he moseyed deeper into the brush. Be still my heart.

Much farther south, were I saw the rusty blackbird and all the sparrows yesterday, I checked again, and this time, I found this gorgeous Lincoln’s sparrow.

And another winter wren teased me.

Finally, back at the southern soccer fields, I was stunned to find a dragonfly, a cherry-faced meadowhawk, I believe, and it appeared to be working hard at soaking up some of that sun, so I was able to get nice and close for what might be our last dragonfly picture of the year.

Even more frost…

The air temperature might have been a smidge warmer at dawn, but the air was a bit stiller, and the sky was just as clear, so there was even more frost this morning in Estabrook Park than yesterday.

I saw four deer in three locations, but it wasn’t until this buck paused in the river between the islands and in a bit of sun that I was finally able to get a nice picture. I wonder if that’s the young buck from Tuesday who has now been informed, or otherwise discovered, that the island just isn’t big enough for him and his muscly elder. Either way, it appears that he is off to visit the Westabrook MATC Trail. “Best of luck, Buddy! The last time I saw a bunch of does, they were at the southern soccer fields.”

Speaking of the last time we saw someone, we haven’t seen an owl since Saturday, so I was thrilled to find one back with us again this morning.

I also found the rusty blackbird again, and it was foraging within 20 yards of where we saw it Sunday.

Just a few steps on shore, this song sparrow was preening in the sun, perhaps after a recent dip.

Between those two birds, this swamp sparrow was really earning its name.

A bit farther inland of the song sparrow, this tree sparrow gave me another chance at a decent tree sparrow picture, and I think this is a step in the right direction, but I hope I still get more chances.

The winter wrens continue to be as elusive as ever, and this little stinker seemed to be making a game of it.

While the golden-crowned kinglets seem to have resorted to foraging on the grass to make things easier for me.

Finally, at the far south end, river conditions must be just right to cause an accumulation of salmon carcasses, and that has been attracting a flock of herring gulls to feast on them.

Lastly, this clouded sulphur perched so nicely in the sun on this sow thistle blossom, that I just couldn’t help myself. Oh, and for the eagle-eyes, I believe that is a spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata) sharing the blossom.

Cold Snap!

I don’t know if they will technically call this our first frost, but there was frost on the grass in Estabrook Park this morning. I don’t believe the air temperature was actually below freezing, but the sky was clear, and the wind was blocked enough in spots, so that radiant cooling was able to do the rest.

Perhaps the critters were reacting to the cold snap, plenty of whom were experiencing it for the very first time in their little lives, because nobody wanted their picture taken today. This sleeping racoon was about as good as I could get.

I probably was able to sneak this one bird picture, of our first American tree sparrow of the season, because the poor little thing had just arrived and was still getting its bearings.

Well, since we’re all here, let me show you another look at the buck from yesterday. I don’t like this pose quite as much, but it really does show off that massive neck of his. Yikes, right?

And just to round out the quartet, here’s another look at the Nashville warbler by the pond on Monday.

Tomorrow is supposed to be just as sunny, but a bit warmer, and with a bit less wind, so let’s hope we can all get back into the recent swing of things.

Nothin’ but raptors and mammals…

Not only did it rain again overnight, but it was still raining when the sun tried to come up this morning. Plus, the winds were strong, so I was tempted to skip my visit to Estabrook altogether. But Anne was undaunted and grabbed her umbrella to go for a walk anyway, so when the skies lightened a bit, I went out to give it a try myself.

Well, the lightening sky was just a teaser, and I was sure glad I brought the rain cover for my camera. By the time I reached the pond, however, things were finally drying out, and I was able to capture this image of another red-tailed hawk, in a tree right over where I saw the Cooper’s hawk yesterday.

It soon made a grab for this squirrel in the next tree over, but it just missed.

I was quite surprised to watch the squirrel inch down that trunk toward the hawk. I wondered what kind of strategery was that.

But then the hawk jumped again, came up empty, and ended up back where it started. The squirrel’s crazy ploy worked, this time. Also, how’s that for a red tail?

Then somebody got out of a car, perhaps to go to the dog park, and I’ve learned that birds might tolerate one person watching them, but two are nearly always one too many, so it took off to look for squirrels elsewhere, and I continued on to the river.

When I got to the southern island, I was thrilled to see one of the bucks again, and this time it was in no hurry, so I could get a nice portrait.

Then I noticed something moving in the bushes behind it, and I couldn’t believe it when this much-more-mature buck emerged. They faced off for a moment, and then the youngster eased itself out of sight.

As if that wasn’t already amazing enough, the mature buck then gave me this gorgeous pose. In addition to those antlers, look at the neck on that guy! I was a little glad to have some river between us.

Anyway, once I got the pictures I wanted, I excused myself and continued upstream. Between the islands, I only saw geese, mallards, and a heron on the far shore, so I kept going until I reached the tree where we’ve been seeing the osprey lately. As I searched through the leaves to see if the osprey was in today, I could see a big bird, but it turned out to be a bald eagle instead. I’ll take it!

It was perched in a slightly different spot, so I couldn’t find a clear shot through the leaves, and I eventually ventured out onto the exposed river bottom for a better look.

Finally, on my way back south, this little cutie on the trail kindly held its ground as I brought my camera to my eye, which let me round out today’s collection of mammals and raptors.

H, b, D, b⁺, H⁺.

Once again, the morning in Estabrook Park was nicer than I expected, given the forecast and the rain overnight. It certainly was cool and breezy, but the clouds soon cleared out for a while, and the sun felt nice and warm if you could enjoy it in a spot out of the breeze.

When I emerged from the woods on my way from the river to the pond, I was just in time to watch this beauty, a Cooper’s hawk, swoop up the little rise and perch on the fence around the dog park. I was probably only 30 feet away, and I know it saw me, but it must have been too intent on catching breakfast to worry about me, because it turned back to check out the squirrels cavorting on the lawn before setting off after one. I was unable to see if it had any luck, unfortunately.

At the north end, the same birds were on the water again, but it was this tiny golden-crowned kinglet that put on the best show as it searched every nook and cranny for something to eat.

This quartet of deer was the first exciting sight I saw this morning, when I saw them back at the southern soccer fields, but I like the symmetry of putting them here in the middle of the story, as I hope you will see. I don’t know if they are the same ones we saw in the river by the islands a week ago, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they were.

On my second visit to the pond, I found this Nashville warbler energetically foraging amongst the plants they let grow in the northeast corner there, probably only because the lawn is steeper there than is comfortable to mow, but we’ll take it. Anyway, as with the Cooper’s hawk earlier, it seemed far too intent on breakfast to worry about me, and I probably took 100 pictures over 10 minutes, as it flitted from perch to perch, in hopes of having a couple turn out to be presentable. If you look closely, especially if you click on it so you can magnify the image, you can see it has just caught a tasty little morsel.

Finally, just as I approached the soccer fields again from the north, I turned the corner in the nick of time to watch this red-tailed hawk swoop up onto a branch right over the paved path about 50 yards ahead of me. As you can see, it has just had a successful catch, and it soon retired to a more-secluded branch to fill its belly.

I didn’t see any new bugs today, butterflies or otherwise, and we might not again until next spring, so it will probably be just warm-blooded critters until then.