Once again, the forecast clear skies didn’t arrive until this afternoon, and with all the snow and ice just about gone now, it was a bit dreary in Estabrook Park this morning. Not all the winter exotics have fled yet, however, and I counted eight common mergansers on the water around the northern island: two drakes and six hens. Luckily, I even have a picture left over from Thursday, when we did have a bit of morning sun, which shows a drake in some nice light.

As for today, I didn’t take a picture until I was on my way back south from the north end, and this red squirrel was being all bold on a branch with a big nut, the way grey squirrels commonly do.

Finally, at the pond, a pair of Canada geese seemed to be checking on the ice situation to see if it was time already to be staking out a nesting spot on the island. The fact that they hiked all the way across the ice from the northeast bay to the west lawn to see if I had anything for them to eat, once I took a seat on the bench, lends credence to my theory that they are the pair that have been regularly nesting there. Talk about a more-likely “sign of spring,” eh?

With the pond ice still pretty thick, almost no open water, and me empty-handed, they soon flew the coop, but I expect they’ll be back to stay soon enough. For perspective, back in 2022, the first time I saw geese on the ice was March 4, and she didn’t start sitting on her nest until March 28. For a fascinating discussion of the various strategies that “northern” geese employ to time their egg laying, check out this paper by Dennis G. Raveling on the topic.

In other news, this happens to be my 1000th post. I might have hoped that the critters would have been more photogenic for such an occasion, but they’ve all got their own agendas, of course, and I’m just happy that I get to see them when I do.

This morning got off to such a nice start. As the sun approached the horizon, and dawn began to break, I could see that the skies were clear, and there was none of the expected fog. Plus, the air was still, and it was a bit colder than forecast, at 31°F, so the muddy path along the river was nice and firm.

In keeping with such a great start, I soon spotted a muskrat amongst the mallards foraging on the flooded bottom down the bluff from the middle parking lot. We haven’t seen one since before the deep freeze.

Before the sun had a chance to light everything up with a golden glow, however, the clouds rolled in, and I didn’t get another picture until the north end, where the red-breasted merganser drake is still hanging around. There were also some common mergansers and a goldeneye hen, but they all kept farther away from shore.

The pond was quiet, and as I swung by the river one last time, this raccoon was kind enough to give me a peek.

Finally, since I have only one bird picture today, here’s one more look at the hermit thrush from yesterday to even things out.

I didn’t get to see either of our two, that I know about, resident groundhogs this morning in Estabrook Park, but if they did poke their heads out they sure would not have seen their shadows here today, which means spring is on its way, and that sure tracks with the weather we’ve been having lately.

Despite the heavy overcast, I did get to continue our wrap-up of visiting winter waterfowl, and here’s a red-breasted merganser drake by the northern island, …

and here’s a common goldeneye hen who was hanging out with him. There was no sign of the drake from yesterday.

Other than that, my visit to the park was pretty uneventful until my walk home along the Oak Leaf Trail. There, not five feet off the pavement, I spotted this darling hermit thrush foraging in the leaf litter. The last time I was able to show you one of these cuties was back in mid-December.

The thaw that began in January continues, but it was cool enough last night, and skies were clear enough to add radiant cooling, so that much of the river trail mud had refrozen, and I could walk on it again this morning.

There are still a few common mergansers around on the river, but who knows for how long, now that most of the ice is gone, so here’s a handsome drake just in case this is our last chance.

Ditto for this common goldeneye drake, even though he refused to let me see the sun light up his face.

I haven’t seen the owls this week, and someone has suggested that they might be tending a nest somewhere nearby, which would be fantastic, so keep your fingers crossed. In their stead, here’s a Cooper’s hawk watching over the meadow beside the river at the north end.

Finally, as I approached the river from the pond, for one last look, I spotted this red-tailed hawk appearing to be drying itself off in the sun. I was lucky enough to find a path around to its south that gave it a nice wide berth so that I could get this picture with the sun at my back to light up its beautiful plumage.

Boy, if the rest of February turns out like today, I’ll wish it lasted for more than just 28 days. 😉

I’m back in Milwaukee, safe and sound, after a great trip out west to visit with my siblings. I saw my first Townsend’s solitaire, but I hadn’t brought my camera along, so there are no pictures to prove it. Maybe next time.

I did visit Estabrook Park with my camera yesterday, but I was so surprised to come home completely empty handed, that I couldn’t even think of anything to post. Sorry about that. I’m not sure what is up with the critters there, but my visit today was going similarly until I encountered a small flock of robins foraging in the leaves beside the Oak Leaf Trail.

Despite the common misconception, not all robins head south for the winter, but they do adjust their diet to the local conditions. Perhaps this group had found a spot just too productive to abandon, and so they let me get a couple of nice pictures, even with the low light. Here’s one on the ground…

and here’s another on a nearby branch.

Here’s hoping that February brings us some nice sights to see.

I’m not due back home until this afternoon, and I’m not sure if I’ll be able to get into Estabrook Park today or not, so here’s an Eastern bluebird from a sunny day last April to tide you over until I can.

I’m flying home tomorrow, but I’m still without my camera, so let me show you this darling golden-crowned kinglet beside the Milwaukee river on a sunny day last April.

While I’m still out of town without my camera, here are three goslings beside the pond last April discovering how the world tastes.

I’m out of town today, and I didn’t have room in my luggage for my camera, so here’s a dapper blue-winged teal drake against Milwaukee river water reflecting a warm sun off the far shore last April.

This morning it’s as foggy as it ever got yesterday, and I’m catching a flight early this afternoon, so let’s find a nice sunny picture to brighten the mood. Here’s a sharp-looking yellow-rumped warbler from last April that we can dream about seeing in Estabrook Park when they return.