Signs of Life in Estabrook Park

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.

A couple of interesting new faces…

Despite the noisy thunderstorms late yesterday afternoon, it was a very nice morning in Estabrook Park today with mostly clear skies and very still air. Add to that the parkway closure for the farmers market and the light Sunday traffic at all, and conditions were perfect for hearing any unusual peeps.

As I strolled up the center of the parkway for the narrow stretch north of the soccer fields, I heard my first unusual peep, and it came from this little cutie with black speckles on its head and a white bib, my very first Harris’s sparrow in the park. Woo Hoo! What a way to start the morning.

Long-time readers may recall that I have seen such a sparrow before, when Donna invited me up to Bayshore to see a Harris’s sparrow that had taken up residency in a backyard there last November. That picture was a lot better, but I sure am glad to finally find one in Estabrook.

The next unusual peep came at the river where this stunner, another rusty blackbird, was foraging at the water line. Better yet, this bird was far more comfortable with me taking pictures than the sparrow was, so I took at least 50 as it hopped around and faced one way and then the other. The icing on the cake was that golden morning sun, and the cherry on top was the mixing reflections off the water of the blue sky above and the red radio tower over the far riverbank.

At the north end, it’s wooing season for the great blue herons, and here’s one strutting his stuff.

Meanwhile, several of our recent visitors are still with us, and here’s a gadwall showing white speculum feathers with a black border feather.

In this mashup, the only duck I’m sure of is the wigeon on the right. The one on the left is probably a second wigeon, but the pale blue speculum feather on the one in the middle is giving me pause. I can’t tell if that color is an artifact of the lighting or its “true” color. We’ll have to see what the experts say.

Upstream of the ducks, another great blue heron was taking a nap in the middle of the river.

Back on shore, this little darling hiding in the weeds is one of the last warblers hanging around, an orange-crowned.

As I was heading south, I contemplated the complete lack of raptors today, compared to the glut we’ve been having recently, and I thought maybe they’re all waiting to dry off before coming out to hunt.

I took one last glance north before my view was blocked, and I spotted the one raptor who probably doesn’t care if its feathers are wet. In fact, the osprey thrashed its wings a bit in the water and appeared to be taking a bath.

Finally, while I was standing out in the middle of the river on the bottom exposed by the low water we’ve been having, I noticed something tiny and on the move. Happily, it didn’t move far, and I was able to get my eyes and then my camera on it.

If you think it looks funny, wait till I tell you its name. This is our very first big-eyed toad bug (Gelastocoris oculatus), I kid you not, and once again, fact is stranger than fiction. It was tiny, “about half the size of a thumb nail,” and if it hadn’t moved, I never would have seen it.

Nothing crazy, but a nice little epiphany

The forecast cold front did roll through last evening, and it was cool and blustery in Estabrook Park this morning, with winds out of the ESE and clouds slowly thickening.

Thus, the wood ducks huddled against the eastern shore of the pond instead of their usual place in the northwest corner where they can soak up the sun. Sadly, the leaves have only turned a little yellow here instead of the reds some have at the other end.

The owl was in the same spot as yesterday, even though I took this picture from a different angle. In fact, if you check back through the last four days, you can see that little curly branch under its feet is in every picture. Ha! Even better, if you look at the coloration of the face and breast feathers, you can see that the bird from Thursday has a lot more white than the bird from today and Wednesday. At last, I have a way to tell them apart when I see only one. Yay! Here’s hoping I have a lot of opportunities to use that in the coming weeks and months, eh?

Out on the river, we have a new visitor today, and it appears to be another female or immature male green-winged teal.

Meanwhile, I’m happy to report that our lone wigeon is still around and enjoying our fine Milwaukee River plants.

And here are the two soloists together for a moment. Once again, you can see how tiny the teal is compared to the wigeon, which is itself smaller than a mallard.

Speaking of small birds, the kestrel, “North America’s littlest falcon,” stopped by for another visit. I watched it make a try for a flicker, but I didn’t see it catch anything today.

That’s all I got this morning, but I still have some recent pictures that I haven’t yet used, and here’s another look at the young red-headed woodpecker from yesterday.

Finally, I didn’t see any dragonflies today, and the few sulphurs I did see were fighting mightily against the wind, so let’s go with the fiery skipper sunning itself on the paved path around the pond yesterday morning. Soon enough, I won’t even be able to find one of these for you.

Lots of familiar faces…

It was pretty nice in Estabrook Park at sunrise, but you can tell a change in the weather is coming. The sky now has a thin, white overcast, the breeze is picking up, and I hear rain is on the way.

Until then, however, the critters were plentiful, and my first greeter this morning was this darling young red-headed woodpecker. I’ve seen more of them this year than ever before, and I am holding out hope that a pair will take up residence for the coming year.

On my first visit to the river, I spotted another rusty blackbird perched over the water’s edge.

The pond was quiet, so I headed back to the river where I found this heron preening above the falls.

Upstream of the islands, a young bald eagle flew by just as I was arriving, so all the ducks made themselves scarce. Happily, they eventually trickled back in, and I was thrilled that the wigeon came back with the mallards.

So did the three gadwalls, of which this is one.

As I started to make my way south, I could hear the squirrels crying in the big silver maple at the north end of the wildflower meadow, and I looked for the cause. I had already seen a merlin and a Cooper’s hawk, but I couldn’t find who was upsetting the squirrels until I stepped out onto the exposed river bottom. Then I could see the osprey in its new favorite spot, in the dead tree next to the silver maple.

Farther downstream, I found one of the owls again. I had also seen it on my way north, but it must have shifted a bit because I could see more of its gorgeous plumage on my second pass. It never showed its face, and perhaps it was sound asleep, which may be a good sign.

You may recall that we saw a bunch of does with a fawn one day, then one of three bucks another day, and wondered if they ever met up. Welp, wonder no more. Today I watched them chase each other around on the southern island, and here go a couple of does.

And here comes one of the bucks in hot pursuit.

Finally, there are still skippers, whites, and sulphur butterflies around, but I managed at last to capture an image of what will probably be our final dragonfly of the year, so here you go. This is a green darner, and they really seem to prefer perching on the ugliest plant they can find. Oh well.