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.”

  • 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…

    See more

    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.

    See more

  • Night Heron II

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

    See more

    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.

    See more

    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…

    See more

  • 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.

    See more

  • 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.

    See more

    Mammal Monday

  • A Summer Day’s Butterflies in Green-Wood

    See more

    A Summer Day’s Butterflies in Green-Wood

  • Sign

    The leafcutter bees have gone to town with this shrubby Carpinus. Looks like a couple or more species have been cutting out circles and ovals of leaves to line their nests. I’ve never seen so much of this on one plant before. The plant must have what the bees want: good chemistry for the defense…

    See more

  • Beetles

    This Spined Oak Borer was dead in my building’s stairwell. Check out these eyes.

    See more

    Beetles