birding
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Raptor Wednesday
Always note the anomalies, the bumps.Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) on railing. Showing the “belly band” nicely. Way down in the flatlands, 1st & 40th, Raven country.Another day, another sighting. Big shoulders, relatively short, squared-off tail. The mottled white patches on the back, sometimes a little more clearly in a V pattern, are another good sign…
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Cedar Waxwings Bathing
Day two of winter. Can spring be far behind? (No shadows of the waxwing slain here.) Yes, a little bit of last spring and perhaps a forecast of the next. Now, Cedar Waxwings are not unknown this time of year, but they are irregular, meaning you never know. I’ll be presenting a slide-show lecture on…
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Snow Geese
Amidst perhaps 200 Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) on the Upper Pool, a trio of Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens).The all-white with black wingtips bird (spectacular in flight) in the background is an adult. The varying-degrees-of-gray are youngsters.This is actually one of the most abundant species of waterfowl on the continent, but since we don’t have any…
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Together
A herd of Monk Parakeets eating grass. I did not know they do this. Myiopsitta monachus generally go for fruit and nuts, but of course this time of year the former is in short supply. But boy, give them a backyard Brooklyn apple tree in the fall and they will be there. Some suggestions for…
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Raptor Wednesday
Male American Kestrel, Falco sparverius, on a regular Green-Wood perch. Other recent sightings include Kestrel on the local antenna yesterday afternoon; a beautiful mature Red-Tail right over the apartment earlier Tuesday; two Peregrine at Borough Hall (Friday) and the nearby House of Detention (Monday), site of a long-time nest; Cooper’s here there and everywhere. Actually,…
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Aix sponsa
The Valley Water was the sole preserve of a Pied-billed Grebe recently, until this male Wood Duck came in for a landing. He paddled back and forth a few times as if the pond was a fashion runway and then flew off.What a show-stopper! Those eyes! * The public lands of this nation are a marvel,…
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Podilymbus podiceps
When I first spotted this Pied-bill Grebe in the Valley Water, it was amidst a flotilla of Canada Geese.A week later it was the sole bird on the water.You can see why it’s sticking around. * Trump’s pick for National Security Advisor is a real piece of work: ignorant, power-mad, and conspiratorially deranged. I wrote…
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Ardea herodias
Great Blue Heron.This bird had been hanging out in Green-Wood deep into the autumn. It had got quite used to passersby, in fact several people were concerned about its condition because it was “just standing there.” I last saw it 11/25, when I took these pictures; I haven’t seen it the last two weekends. Perhaps…
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Raptor Wednesday Plus Pellets
This Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) female was flying directly towards me across the Crescent Water when suddenly she freaked out. A Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) sped overhead, arrowing towards her. There was much shouting by the Kingfisher, who loudly went hither and yon as the foiled Coop parked itself in a Sweetgum. I see Cooper’s…
Backyard and Beyond 