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.”

  • Chilly Scenes of Winter

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    Chilly Scenes of Winter

  • Mammal Monday

    Plump with cat/rat food, a Raccoon runs across my path. And… Really? Yes, really does manage to fit between these slats.

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    Mammal Monday

  • Winter’s Ruins

    Just some comb left on this one. This one is still largely intact. This one came down in the storm. There was still some of the paper covering up in the tree. A closer look at the paper comb. Lost some larvae at the end of the season…. These nests are only used for one

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    Winter’s Ruins

  • The Snowy Side

    That would be northward…. It’s definitely snowier than last winter.

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    The Snowy Side

  • Elm

    The Sunset Park elm isn’t the same without its great horizontal branch, cut off a few years ago, but it’s still an impressive survivor.

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    Elm

  • Geese Down

    Snow Goose and Canada Goose corpses on Rockaway beach.

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  • Raptor Wednesday

    Merlin. Here as four (4) Red-tailed Hawks cavorted overhead. Two of the quartet. One of them chased the falcon off this perch… But the feisty little one came back and zoomed the big buteo.

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    Raptor Wednesday

  • A Mess of Clams

    And scollops and oysters and…

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    A Mess of Clams

  • On 37th Street

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    On 37th Street

  • Even More Raptor News

    January 12: first time I’ve spotted the male American Kestrel on the nest cornice this year.

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    Even More Raptor News