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.”

  • Eggs & Memories

    Slug eggs! I think. Quite small. I didn’t notice them at first, as I was photographing this beetle under a log. Some beetles are shy. Only later did I see the spheres in the photograph. I’ve been delving into the archives to see what else has turned up in early Aprils past: 2018: Brooklyn Kestrels!…

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  • Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

    Sapsucker sap-sucking. Previously tapped holes. And even more previously tapped ones seen further to right on this old yew. And this yellow belly we hear tell of? Subtle, and not shown to advantage in this under-tree light. The bird was named with corpse in hand, as used to typically be the case. Sharp-shinned Hawk, anyone?…

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  • Excursions

    I’m not getting out much here in isolation/lock-down/quarantine — all these words are inexact. And is it ever a bummer! For this is a profoundly rich time of year, with life-forms a-popping up all over, just waiting to be ogled. But even in limited excursion mode lately, some of my nature jones is being met.…

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  • Like Buttah

    Jelly fungus on downed tree limbs. Exidia genus-mates here, I believe. On the left, Amber Jelly Fungus, E. recisa. On the right, Black Witches’ Butter Fungus, E. glandulosa. Genus Tremella. I first thought Witches’ Butter, but there are a couple of similar ones in this genus. More Black Witches’ Butter. This downed stick had a…

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  • Magnolias

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  • More Flies!

    February 23 March 1 March 5 March 8 March 14 March 15 (two views of this one). April 1, and one I can actually ID: Black-shouldered Dronefly. Note the pollen on this specimen. Flower flies pollinate, too. Two more from yesterday. The mysteries of Diptera! PS: the answer to yesterday’s mystery photo: it’s the toe…

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  • April Fools Challenge

    What the @#%&! is it? No fooling’.

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  • Raptor Wednesday

    The pair. The female. The male, at twilight.

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  • Bloomflies

    An Edgeworthia something or other, with very small flies. These wee gnats or midges have come out in force on warmish days all month, and even back in February. Something Berberis — a mahonia. This was very active with various flies in the park last week. There was one bee-mimic, one honeybee, and a mess…

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  • Violets

    1. 2. 3. Three varieties or species of Viola here, in flower-size order, smallest to largest.

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