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.”

  • Coot

    Just as I was wondering what the Mallards and Canada Geese were finding to eat atop the ice of Sylvan Water, the persistent American Coot came out of the water and started eating as well.( Seemed too far from shore for broadcast birdseed.)

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    Coot
  • Raptor Wednesday

    Red-tailed Hawks circling each other on various days in the last month. Courting time.

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    Raptor Wednesday
  • Winter Remains

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    Winter Remains
  • Rooftop Scene

    For about 25 minutes, this Coopers Hawk plucked and ate a Feral Pigeon until the next door neighbor scared the bird away, with prey firmly in grip, while trying to get a cellphone photo of the situation.

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    Rooftop Scene
  • Red-crested…

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    Red-crested…
  • Winter Oriole

    Bogarting the suet feeder…

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    Winter Oriole
  • Kestrel Update

    December 29th, female at the 5th Avenue edge of Green-Wood. First sighting of a female in months. January 5, a male across 6th Avenue, from 4th floor window. January 9th, same perch, and same bird, different day. January 10, 5th Avenue next to park. January 12: female again, on Neo-gothic pile of an entrance to…

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    Kestrel Update
  • Raptor Wednesday

    A trio of squawking Monk Parakeets alerted me to this hawk in a London Plane on 27th Street by 4th Avenue. With the low winter sun and the branches, this was the best photo I could get. I didn’t think much of the encounter until I went around the block and started coming up 26th…

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    Raptor Wednesday
  • Other Woodpeckers

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    Other Woodpeckers
  • Red-headed Excavations