Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

  • Raptor Wednesday

    Reconnecting with the American Kestrel family from the north end of Green-Wood. The Chapel Gang: two young males, one young female, and the father of them all (well…?) hanging around the Old Chapel recently.

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    Raptor Wednesday

  • All the Fine Young Mimids

    Brown Thrasher Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird. Our Mimidae family birds.

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    All the Fine Young Mimids

  • Shore Birds

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    Shore Birds

  • Birds

    I never spotted the nest, but some strange calls alerted me to young Warbling Vireos in the Quaking Aspen. Another brood for this American Robin? Nearby. The local Ravens abandoned their nest at the beginning of the breeding season, likely due to assholes with fireworks, and I haven’t seen many this summer. But they seemed…

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    Birds

  • PSA

    A Peach Service Announcement: this Cooks Illustrated recipe for peach ice-cream is fantastic. It’s a good bit of work, but the effect is worth it. Wow! Note that I did not use the peaches pictured above, which I found growing on 36th Street.

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  • Night Heron II

    Juvenile Yellow-crowned at Plum(b) Beach. With parent.

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    Night Heron II

  • Night Heron I

    Juvenile Black-crowned at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Scarfed up a giant water bug, genus Belostoma. Licked lips. While an adult hung out overhead.

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    Night Heron I

  • Raptor Wednesday

    A photo from my fellow Kestrel watcher M. This is the third of the Chinatown nestlings to fledge, and for a day he livened up the bar scene here. A male on the antenna at 4th Avenue and 45th (Brooklyn). First time I’ve seen a Kestel up here. And I don’t recognize this one. Starting…

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  • Pipevine Swallowtails

    A couple of the big, fat caterpillars on Pipevine at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Huge leaves of Pipevine nom nom nom. A feeding adult at Narrows Botanical Garden.

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  • Mammal Monday

    An unfamiliar noise caused me to turn around. Then, seeming to notice me for the first time They froze. The pursuer turned around after a bit and went back across the road and up the hillside. This one was more cautious in retreat.

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    Mammal Monday