Around the turn of the new year, we went to Staten Island over the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. I saw a Peregrine perched on the Brooklyn-side cables. Hey! So I’ve been looking since. Photos from June 4th. There is no mistaking that shouldery profile. As it happens, banding the bridge’s three Peregrine babies this year made a…

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Alectoris chukar is native to Asia but has been introduced as a game bird elsewhere. They turn up on NYC streets every once and a while, presumably escapees of live poultry markets. This one was right across the street in the ramp up into the park. I suppose they taste like… partridge?

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As I approached this dead tern on Plump Beach, I saw something retreat into this hole. The crab within, Ocypode quadrata, would not emerge while I was there. Some yards away were several more holes, but no scavenger’s bonanza beside any of them. (Subscribers seem to have received this post early as a result of…

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Eastern Ten Caterpillar Moth/Malacosoma americana

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Three days after seeing three nestling American Kestrels in their nest cavity, I spotted the male parent devouring a bird atop the main entrance to Green-Wood. A Mockingbird was diving at him and the resident Monk Parakeets were clamoring. The little falcon flew off with the remains of the prey and I followed… toward the…

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Well, tidal salt-marsh flats. Starting tomorrow, Backyard & Beyond posts will be every other day, more or less.

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New to me, that is. Let’s start with this one, barely more than a silhouette. Still, those interesting antennae and orangish palps make this a Little Devil Moth/Dichomeris nonstrigella. So far the only iNaturalist observation of the species in NYC/Long Island. Ash Bullet Gall Midge/Dasineura pellex. Spilodiscus arcuatus. A resident of dunes, which surprised me…

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Pyromorpha dimidiata pair.

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At least three American Kestrel babies in here. This represents a lot of lizards.

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