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.”

  • We’re Back!

    Lots of blog-production issues here at the Brooklyn Raptor Observatory. Plenty of raptors, however. Yes, this is the second time now I’ve seen this female American Kestrel on this statue.

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  • All the Woodpeckers

    On a recent midday walk in Green-Wood I came across a Downy Woodpecker/Dryobates pubescens battering away at a dead looking branch of Beech. A Northern Flicker/Colaptes auratus caught me by surprise. Later I saw two more. Although one of them could have been this one. A couple of Red-bellied/Melanerpes carolinus were seen. A Yellow-belied Sapsucker/Sphyrapicus…

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    All the Woodpeckers
  • Raptor Wednesday

    The morning Red-tailed Hawk. Another American Crow came to greet this youngster. This is the third winter in a row that a young Red-tail has been around Sunset Park. This is how December 16th began. Not well-photographed through window and two different trees, but there’s the young RT again at 8:37 a.m. 9:50. Peregrine on…

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    Raptor Wednesday
  • Swaning About

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    Swaning About
  • Parrots

    Parakeets, whatever. Forty-some of them anyway: Monk Parakeet/Myiopsitta monachuss.

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    Parrots
  • Ring-billed

    A first winter Larus delawarensis‘s bill isn’t ringed yet.

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    Ring-billed
  • Cold Beach, Hot Birds

    A couple of wintering-over American Oystercatchers/ Haematopus palliatus. One is an Atlantic Jacknife/Ensis leei -catcher.

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    Cold Beach, Hot Birds
  • Great Blue On The Go
  • Raptor Wednesday

    This female American Kestrel is pretty much the boss of the territory around the Old Chapel in Green-Wood. This male likes the Green-Wood corner of 36th and 5th. About ten blocks separate them. Recently, I saw a second male near the Chapel. Speaking of territory. I noticed the two crows from some distance away, then…

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    Raptor Wednesday
  • Raven Flight

    One of a pair of Common Ravens/Corvus corax circling. Nine days earlier, fit them both in the viewfinder.

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    Raven Flight