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.”

  • More Ducks

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  • Someone is Going to Eat ‘Em

    There aren’t that many birds around, so this sunflower collection is being picked off. Meanwhile, these ornamental cherry buds are just sitting there…

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  • Raptor Wednesday

    Eep! Don’t go into the Sun! Half an hour later, two more Red-tailed Hawks spotted.

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    Raptor Wednesday

  • Ravens From Afar

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    Ravens From Afar

  • Mushroom Monday

    I think the orange fungi is Golden Ear/Naematelia aurntia parasitizing Stereum.

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    Mushroom Monday

  • Superb Owl

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    Superb Owl

  • Ice

    Back in late January, we had a week of winter. The ice on Sylvan Water was doing cool things as it melted.

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    Ice

  • Buffle Shuffle

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    Buffle Shuffle

  • Peregrine Follow-up

    A neighbor seeing me take photos said Peregrines on this church bell-tower cross in Windsor Terrace were a common sight. I don’t pass by here frequently, but I might have to now, especially since a pair of Ps were around last breeding season. She said plucked feathers were often floating down into her backyard.

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    Peregrine Follow-up

  • Raptor Wednesday

    Last Sunday was an epic day for the Brooklyn Raptor Observatory. From the forth floor, I spotted a Merlin and a Cooper’s Hawk during the morning. That’s the Coop above; no pic for the Merlin. Then, over a 3.5 hour walk, I spotted a Peregrine eating atop a Windsor Terrace church. An American Kestrel flying…

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    Raptor Wednesday