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.”

Fall-ish

Yesterday was the first day it felt like fall, more than three weeks past the equinox. And then it dropped to 41 overnight. This morning the radiators were gurgling.

Locally, not many leaves have turned yet, but these, fallen from a Nyssa sylvatica (Black Gum, Black Tupelo), are in the mood.This Eastern Phoebe was a pleasant surprise in Green-Wood, which was otherwise bird-quiet. Two Red-Tailed Hawks circled overhead, a passing airplane between them. Later, walking home down 5th Avenue, I saw a Cooper’s Hawk gliding with the wind, back towards the cemetery.

Radar last night showed a lot of bird movement. Migration ain’t over yet.
Late afternoon.

Just before sunset, I saw a lone Chimney Swift over Sunset Park. The day I’ll see no more for the year is the real beginning of winter. Temps will be in the high 70s again by Thursday…

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Meanwhile, Trump will lie about any and every thing, every single day. What a mendacious piece of shit.

mthew

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6 responses to “Fall-ish”

  1. Ellen

    I am missing Fall leaves. I keep hoping each little “heat surge” is the last.
    I also wish someone would take up Larry Flynt’s offer. And I am by no means a fan of his. Or that others will add to the pot until the bounty on Cheato is so big he has to go into hiding! And is never seen again. (Insert very happy face)

    Reply
    1. mthew

      There will be no impeachment while Republicans control the House. Their long-term assault on democracy has been very good for them: a majority of voting Americans voted for a Democrat for President, but no matter; in Congressional races, a majority of voting Americans choose Democrats, but gerrymandering maintains the minority GOP’s control of the House. The Senate, meanwhile, has always been undemocratic; a compromise to keep the Slave Power happy.

      Amid all the Trump b.s., the Republicans are seeing great advances to their agenda, serving the polluters, the profiteers, the pirates, the billionaire oligarchs above the law, at the expense of the rest of us and future generations.

      Reply
  2. Karl

    Nice shots, Matthew. The bright red leaves remind me of the head coloring of what I think was a Red-Bellied Woodpecker Ellen & I saw Sunday in Inwood Park. Very bright, almost orange’ish head atop a dazzling black & white speckled body/wings.

    Reply
    1. mthew

      Sounds right for a Red-bellied, which is rather poorly named since the red belly is quite hard to see. Red-headed woodpecker, rather rare in the city, is like a color blocked flag: red, black, white.

      Reply
  3. Alan Baratz

    Yes we are in deep Trumpshit.
    Are you and Molly doing a Green Wood walk this season?

    Reply
    1. mthew

      Hey, Alan, there’s nothing scheduled this season…it all crept up on us pretty quickly. Not that its very fall yet: katydids are still scratching away!

      Reply

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