I could tell there had been quite a storm in Estabrook Park overnight by the number of trees and branches down, including the last big dead tree over the upstream island. That’s were we saw the osprey perched just yesterday, and I don’t know if the big raptors we get to see there will likeContinue reading “More firsts, and some nice seconds…”
Tag Archives: birding
The fog thickens…
Man, if I thought yesterday was foggy, I hadn’t seen nothin’ yet. Here’s a picture of a least sandpiper, who was kind enough to visit again, that I think best captures the mood in Estabrook Park this morning. Fortunately, the fog eventually dispersed a bit, so I was able to get a picture of ourContinue reading “The fog thickens…”
Not too foggy to see, thankfully…
Sheesh! It was foggy this morning in Estabrook Park. How foggy, you ask? Well, foggy enough to bejewel this spider web beside the soccer fields with dew drops. Sure, the picture would be a whole lot prettier with the sun shining on it, but how do you expect the sun to shine through a blanketContinue reading “Not too foggy to see, thankfully…”
Lots to see, despite the rain…
It was raining this morning when the sun came up, but that wrapped up by around 7 a.m., and I hustled into Estabrook Park soon after that. My first big surprise came early, and I could hardly believe my eyes when I turned my binoculars to a dark shape, which I thought was probably aContinue reading “Lots to see, despite the rain…”
More new developments in Estabrook…
We had the nicest weather of the year, so far, in Estabrook Park this morning, with clear skies, warm temps, and still air, which made perfect conditions for our weekly wildlife walk. Seven folks came out for the 7 a.m. start, and two more joined us at 8 a.m. I started a new checklist atContinue reading “More new developments in Estabrook…”
Lake Michigan delivers again…
In celebration of Mother’s Day, I’m sure, and World Migratory Bird Day, which was actually yesterday, the Milwaukee Birders planned a little show-and-tell event at Lakeshore State Park this morning, and I was ready for a change of pace, so I rode my bike down at sunrise to wait for them to arrive. Just kidding.Continue reading “Lake Michigan delivers again…”
More new faces, and a shorebird trifecta, hurray!
It was much warmer in Estabrook Park this morning, and there was no hint of frost. Plus, the skies were still clear, so I was able to start nice and early, before the wind came up. My first surprise came at the pond, where I spotted our first eastern kingbird of the year. Below theContinue reading “More new faces, and a shorebird trifecta, hurray!”
The wind takes a breather…
The skies stayed clear, and the air stayed cold, but the wind almost stopped, so it was a very nice morning in Estabrook Park, despite the hoar frost on the grass in places. My first big surprise came at the far northwest end, where I had gone to check on the pigeon chicks and seeContinue reading “The wind takes a breather…”
Spring hits pause…
There was a stiff breeze out of the northeast this morning, which reminded me, and anyone else out in it, just how cold the waters of Lake Michigan still are. The windchill temperature was supposed to be 31°F at sunrise. Yikes! Luckily for our resident eastern screech-owl, the opening of its nook faces the southwest,Continue reading “Spring hits pause…”
Some highs and lows…
It has gotten cool and breezy now, but earlier today the weather was as nice in Estabrook as yesterday, so I was crossing the Oak Leaf Trail into the park just after 5:30 a.m. There’s a guy who likes to let his German shepherd run loose on the soccer fields, and some days I getContinue reading “Some highs and lows…”