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.”

  • Raisin…

    Well dried fruit, anyway.

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    Raisin…

  • More Trumpet

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  • Raptor Wednesday

    American Kestrel drinking melting snow on roof.

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  • Goldeneye

    And crab!

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    Goldeneye

  • More Waterfowl Off the West Coast of Brooklyn

    This year’s calendar is beginning to shape up. A lot of details still to be ironed out, but you can preview things on my Tours and Adventures page.

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    More Waterfowl Off the West Coast of Brooklyn

  • Trumpeter

    A Trumpeter Swan/Cygnus buccinator has shown up in the East River, hard by the Williamsburg coast. Typically found further north and west, this is the largest waterfowl in North America. I’d never seen one before. Here with Mute Swan and Canada Geese. Here seeing off a Ring-billed Gull who was going for the mostly sinking…

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    Trumpeter

  • Scoter in Trouble

    I often only notice things after the fact, while reviewing my pictures. Look at the bird on the right… This female Scoter has unfortunately gotten a ring of something trapped in her mouth and around her neck.

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  • High Tide Ducks

    What have we here? A klatsch of ducks.

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    High Tide Ducks

  • Excavations

    Blue Jays uncommonly interested in an old Bald-faced Hornet nest.

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    Excavations

  • Raptor Wednesday

    Recent Cooper’s Hawk sightings. Above: Sunset Park. The Battery, at the southern tip of Manhattan. Pier 4, Brooklyn Army Terminal. Same Pier 4 bird chased some Fish Crows off this paddle wheel party boat. Sunset Park again, from my window. (This is a regular perch for this adult.) Bush Terminal Park. The following is this…

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    Raptor Wednesday