As seems to be the norm lately, the air was cold and calm, and the sky was thick with clouds that the sun would poke through once in a while. There is also still plenty of snow on the ground and tree branches to deaden the urban ambient noise, so it was another fine morningContinue reading “The ice birds cometh…”
Tag Archives: Hermit thrush
Now that’s a cold snap!
Brrrr! It was a tad brisk this morning in Estabrook Park. Happily, the forecast lake effect snow stayed south of us, the wind didn’t feel nearly as strong as I feared, and the sky was crystal clear. It was cold enough, for the first time this season, to freeze small puddles solid and form iceContinue reading “Now that’s a cold snap!”
Autumn really starts to settle in…
It was cold, windy, cloudy, and even sprinkley this morning in Estabrook Park, so a classic autumn day in southeast Wisconsin. There were still a few sights to see, despite the weather, but I didn’t see a picture I could take until I was beside the river at the north end. That’s when the doeContinue reading “Autumn really starts to settle in…”
A fine morning, despite the radar picture…
It was another rainy morning in Estabrook Park, but not as rainy as the big green blob on the radar suggested, so I gave it a try after about an hour delay. By then the precipitation had stopped, the air was nearly still, and I just about had the park to myself, people-wise, that is.Continue reading “A fine morning, despite the radar picture…”
Odds and ends…
Despite the rosy forecast, the sun turned out to be the little engine that couldn’t get the job done this morning. Sure, the air was nice and still, for a change, but the clouds were pretty thick, and it has taken the sun nearly till noon to clear them out. Oh well. This picture ofContinue reading “Odds and ends…”
A little luck in Estabrook…
Wow! What a morning! The weather was just as forecast; cold, breezy, cloudy, and snowy; so not great, but the birding was amazing, and eight hearty souls came out to join today’s weekly wildlife walk. All together, we identified 40 bird species, which is a high-water mark for the series. Before we all met up,Continue reading “A little luck in Estabrook…”
The day after the deluge…
The wind was still howling from the storm that passed through yesterday, but the sun was out, and it definitely wasn’t raining, so I was able to get into Estabrook Park nice and early this morning. My first big treat was finding our eastern screech-owl back in its nook after a couple-day absence. Better yet,Continue reading “The day after the deluge…”
No pranks today…
My first big treat of the day was finally capturing this darling pied-billed grebe on film, after only catching glimpses of it for the last couple of days. It has been fishing around the upstream island, and once it has spotted me, it has usually disappeared after just its second dive. Happily, it relented todayContinue reading “No pranks today…”
The floodgates are opening…
It was another beautiful morning in Estabrook Park, though not quite as warm, still, or sunny as yesterday. The parade of new arrivals continues, however, so it was a great time for a visit. The first big surprise came as I approached the islands in the river. I always scan ahead, in an effort toContinue reading “The floodgates are opening…”
The new arrivals pick up their pace…
It did warm up into the low 30s by sunrise, but it also clouded up, as forecast, so the river trail mud was nice and firm for our weekly wildlife walk this morning. There were eight of us, all together, and we managed to spot 25 bird species. The first treat of the morning wasContinue reading “The new arrivals pick up their pace…”
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 