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.”

mthew

  • Ravens

    January 3rd. pair over Industry City. January 4th, over Green-Wood Two hours later, a pair over Industry City.

    Ravens
  • Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

    Looks like something is seriously wrong with this bird’s left foot.

  • Fish Crows

    Fish Crows
  • Debonair Duck

    Gadwall/Mareca strepera. The touch of green on the nape and the pronounced neck ring makes me wonder if this one is a mix or cross with Wigeon.

    Debonair Duck
  • Killdeer on the Rocks

    Late December… a late bird, or an early one? Notably, last year was the first year in a while that I did not see any evidence of Killdeer nesting around Bush Terminal Park.

    Killdeer on the Rocks
  • Wigeon On The Rocks

    Female American Wigeon on the rocks at Bush Terminal, before it was taken over for use as a helicopter landing pad for Dumpf’s Maduro show trial/Venezuelan oil cornering. Nice illustration of how big Anas genus Mallards & Black Ducks are compared to most of our other ducks.

    Wigeon On The Rocks
  • Raptor Wednesday

    One of Green-Wood’s male American Kestrels eating something in the nature of a small songbird. Everything but the feathers. I’ve seen this a few times now: even the feet get eaten, swallowed toes-up. 20 minutes later, another male. Some days later, a female. The day after that…. These were the first sightings of females I’d…

    Raptor Wednesday
  • Where The Food Is

    I keep seeing a flock of American Robins around the Persimmon/Diospyros virginiana trees. The extremely ripe fruit must be delicious. (These are incredible tannic until mushy ripe.)

  • Snow Day

    Snow Day
  • Snowy Scenes

    Snowy Scenes