Happy semiquincentennial eve!

Our recent heat wave continues to wane, but slowly, and the critters in Estabrook Park just keep going about their business as usual. A great blue heron was looking fierce as it fished in the river just above the falls, and this one appears to be in its second summer with a hint of adultContinue reading “Happy semiquincentennial eve!”

Trying to fill a gorgeous setting…

It was about as nice a morning in Estabrook Park as I could ask for, weather wise, with mild temps, still air, and clear skies, but the critters and I seem to be still adjusting to the new, post-migration, normal, because I really struggled to come up with pictures to reflect the pretty day. OneContinue reading “Trying to fill a gorgeous setting…”

Another dry day in May…

The nice weather continued this morning in Estabrook Park, although the breeze did pick back up a bit, but not so much that I couldn’t hear the birds singing. There are still a few warblers hanging around, but none wanted to be in the pictures today. Instead, the red-breasted merganser was still out in theContinue reading “Another dry day in May…”

Enjoying the feel of a freshly-cleaned park…

Sorry about missing yesterday. I did visit Estabrook, but only for a couple of hours, during which time I didn’t see much, and then I had to ditch my camera and grab my gripper for the Milwaukee Riverkeeper Cleanup, which apparently set some kind of record. My buddy Mike joined me again, and we hauledContinue reading “Enjoying the feel of a freshly-cleaned park…”

A ruckus over the far shore…

The weather in Estabrook Park this morning, if anything, was even nicer than forecast. The air seemed nearly still for a while, so I was even able to hear a warbling vireo calling from across the river. The first interesting scene came at the river and across from the two radio towers. There is aContinue reading “A ruckus over the far shore…”

Oh, what a beautiful morning…

I could not believe my string of luck this morning when dawn broke on still air and clear skies yet again. Plus, it looks like the Canadian wildfire smoke has finally cleared out, at least for now, so I hustled into the park just around sunrise. My first treat greeted me as I strolled downContinue reading “Oh, what a beautiful morning…”

A kerfuffle on the river…

The gorgeous summer weather continued this morning with seasonably cool temps, clear skies, and still air. Even the wildfire smoke seemed thinner than usual, and I had a nice and peaceful stroll through Estabrook Park, but the show didn’t really start until I reached the old boat launch ramp at the north end. As IContinue reading “A kerfuffle on the river…”

I can see clearer now…

It felt as though the smoke was thinner this morning in Estabrook Park, and the wind out of the south that has built up since then is supposed to push it back north, from whence it came, so maybe we’ll have a nice and clear day tomorrow. In the meantime, this is who I sawContinue reading “I can see clearer now…”

Failing the sniff test…

In an effort to beat the heat forecast for today, I got out nice and early and was already at the north end by 6:30 a.m. I don’t know if it was my early arrival or we were just due, but I finally found our first black swallowtail in Estabrook. It was waiting for theContinue reading “Failing the sniff test…”

Family photo day…

The beautiful weather we’ve been enjoying in Estabrook Park is starting to look a little rough around the edges today with towering clouds embedded in a hazy sky. Thus, it was a little darker than usual at the pond when I arrived, which made a nice background for the youngish great blue heron we’ve beenContinue reading “Family photo day…”