Compared to the heat waves and torrential downpours we’ve had already this summer, the weather was pretty nice in Estabrook Park this morning. The partly cloudy skies even let the sun through once in a while, which lit up this young great blue heron fishing on the pond very nicely. The two hooded mergansers wereContinue reading “Some nice dashes of color after the storm, even if they’re not in a rainbow.”
Tag Archives: ruby-throated-hummingbird
No mammals, some birds, and a few new bugs.
We knew it couldn’t last forever, and today was the day that our recent streak of beautiful weather had a hiccup. The skies were still clear, but there was a stiff breeze out of the south, which added a layer of white noise to the soundscape in Estabrook Park. Oh well. The mammals seemed toContinue reading “No mammals, some birds, and a few new bugs.”
The smoke hasn’t cleared yet…
The Canadian wildfire smoke is still with us, and it was cloudy this morning, as well, so the sunlight took its sweet time filtering down into Estabrook Park. Add to that the fact that the Milwaukee Birders were here just yesterday, and I should not have been surprised that not many folks turned out forContinue reading “The smoke hasn’t cleared yet…”
More rain and less heat…
It was rainy and cool this morning in Estabrook Park: rainy enough to push back my start time by over an hour, but not cool enough to slow down the mosquitoes much. Oh well. At the pond, it appears that our little celebrity guest has finally moved on. Darn. I didn’t catch a glimpse ofContinue reading “More rain and less heat…”
A break in the heat, at last…
Well, the heat wave is starting to break, at least here in Estabrook Park, and it is still only 75°F outside as I write this. The bigger break for me, however, was that the howling wind we’ve had for the past three days has finally subsided, so I can hear myself think out there, forContinue reading “A break in the heat, at last…”
Seemingly stuck on hold…
It was a perfectly fine morning in Estabrook Park, but we seem to have entered some new phase. The spring migrants have mostly settled down or moved on, but the cool weather is keeping the colorful summer bugs from putting on much of a show. Thankfully, we do still have ducklings, and here’s a mallardContinue reading “Seemingly stuck on hold…”
Some good catches…
The clouds were thick, so it never got very light in Estabrook Park this morning, but the winds were light, the rain held off, and the air wasn’t too cool, so it was a pretty good time for a visit. My first treat came at the pond, when I spotted this action at the northContinue reading “Some good catches…”
A chance to catch back up after the long weekend.
The first thing I did this morning in Estabrook Park, of course, was check on the female ruby-throated hummingbird from yesterday, and you’ll be relieved to find out, as I sure was, that she’s still on her nest and looking just fine. She appears to be either laying eggs or incubating them because I’ve neverContinue reading “A chance to catch back up after the long weekend.”
Some hits and a near miss…
It was cool this morning in Estabrook Park, but otherwise about as nice a day as you could hope for to start the holiday weekend, with clear skies and a very light breeze. I found my first surprise at the pond, where this ruby-throated hummingbird was perched beside the paved path about waist high. IContinue reading “Some hits and a near miss…”
More birds than parks, but just barely…
It was a pretty nice morning in Estabrook Park, especially compared to earlier in the week, but it felt as though we might be past the peak of migration. There were still warblers about, but it seemed as though they had thinned out a bit. Anyway, I got to the pond nice and early, andContinue reading “More birds than parks, but just barely…”
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 