mthew

Marian the Falcarian, who has been monitoring this American Kestrel couple for two years, calls this the “Mean Church” because of these anti-bird spikes. Highlights of less than 45 seconds of falcon sex. Nest cavity in an old rotting cornice.

There were sightings of an American Kestrel female all winter from the apartment, but in the last month she’s only been spotted once. About 10 blocks and two avenues away, however, I’ve lately come across a pair in courtship. The nest site. American Kestrels are unusual amongst raptors in that they nest in cavities. There…

Eight years ago, I saw my first Brooklyn Ravens at this very spot. They were grooming and cavorting on this building. Last Friday, this one flew towards me down what must surely be called Raven Street by now. The bird turned at 1st Avenue.

Last Monday I saw three Ospreys in a two-hour walk, my first sightings of the year. The bottom two photographed were high over Green-Wood heading northeasterly at the same time. The first pictured was rather lower; the bird circled around 4th Avenue and then headed back water-ward (west) towards the bay. That’s the direction of…

Feb 1st February 12th. March 5th. March 12th. (It takes about 30 days for incubation, so there could be wee tinies in there today.)

I’ll be leading a Snail Safari on Earth Day, April 22nd, in conjunction with artist David Colosi’s Snaileidolia exhibition at Open Source. The exhibition is April 15-May 26, 2023. The snails pictured above are Cepaea nemoralis, the Brown-lipped or Grove Snail. At 3/4s of an inch across, this is the biggest land snail you’ll find…

Pine Warbler/Setophaga pinus hunting insects in a Red Maple/Acer rubrum. The bird was also eating seeds from the bird feeders in the Dell.

Recently, I glanced up at a sidewalk Common Hackberry/Celtis occidentalis I pass almost everyday. I noticed this for the first time. Turned out there were a few others. These are the galls created by Pachypsylla venusta, the Hackberry Petiole Gall Psyllid. This is only the second time I’ve seen this species here in Brooklyn. There…

March 2nd. March 3rd. March 4th March 9th. March 12th. March 19th: circling with another adult as a third Red-tail checks out the romance situation. Not seen by myself, but the group I was with described the bird to a T (or a V): March 26. Going through my picture files I see I have…

My first wild* bee of the season. This is an Unequal Cellophane Bee/Colletes inaequalis. The species is one of the earliest to emerge out of the ground of winter. Reports had them showing up further out on Long Island and in New Jersey in February, but this sighting was March 21. A fast mover, rarely…