Feels like summer is back…

Don’t blame me if I sound like a broken record because it’s not my fault that the weather just keeps getting a little nicer every day. In fact, it is supposed to get so warm this afternoon that this yellow-rumped warbler, our first of the season, may wonder if it didn’t set out too soon.Continue reading “Feels like summer is back…”

From cottontails to hairstreaks…

It was a gorgeous morning out here in the Constitution State, and my sister and I dutifully set out before the sun crested the horizon, but I didn’t get a lot of pictures to show for it. I did see this little cutie right beside the trail, and we’ve seen plenty of eastern cottontails before,Continue reading “From cottontails to hairstreaks…”

Finally, a turn back towards normalcy…

It was a nice morning in Estabrook Park, and things are starting to look a little closer to normal at the river. The sand bags placed to allow work on our side of the falls are just starting to poke through the water, and it is now possible to walk along the river trail fromContinue reading “Finally, a turn back towards normalcy…”

Kohler-Andrae 2025, Day 2

A thick cloud deck rolled in sometime overnight, here at Kohler-Andrae State Park, so it was a pretty dark morning, and I gave the cordwalk through the Kohler Dunes State Natural Area a try. I hadn’t even stepped off the pavement yet when I spotted three wild turkeys, who did their best to ignore meContinue reading “Kohler-Andrae 2025, Day 2”

It’s not August yet, but these sure feel like some lazy days of summer.

The recent great weather in Estabrook Park continued this morning, the cicadas were already singing at 7 a.m., and this green heron making one of its infrequent visits to the pond was icing on the cake. There was also this trio of wood duck hens there, and they’ve started that mutual preening behavior that we’veContinue reading “It’s not August yet, but these sure feel like some lazy days of summer.”

A morning full of surprises…

Wow, what a difference a day makes! Sure, it’s still cold out there, but the wind has backed off a lot, we’ve got a nice, new layer of fluffy white snow, and the sun was out in all its glory. It was a perfect morning for taking pictures in Estabrook Park, and some of theContinue reading “A morning full of surprises…”

Short, and I hope just sweet enough…

It was plenty cloudy this morning, and just above freezing, but the precipitation held off, so we had a good day for our weekly wildlife walk in Estabrook Park. There were eight of us, all together, and we spotted or heard 26 bird species, including that now-confirmed American black duck from yesterday, and one muskrat.Continue reading “Short, and I hope just sweet enough…”

The freeze deepens…

The recent weather trend in Estabrook Park continued this morning with air temps now down into the teens and a stiff breeze to chill them all the way down to just +1°F. But the sky was still pretty clear again, so the critters could have a hope of catching a little warmth, if they couldContinue reading “The freeze deepens…”