I got to do some birding this past weekend and spent some time, between house-hold chores and work exploring my new local patches. I went to Floyd Bennett Field and Plumb Beach, both pretty close- Plumb just about a 10 minute bike ride.
I am also excited for future endeavors as I now have my kayak living in our garage and look forward to getting a very different look at some of the spaces I have only explored by foot on solid terrain.
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I visited Floyd Bennett Field on Saturday and checked out Archery Road. The beach didn't have a whole lot going on with the exception of a few killdeer and oystercatcher. Terns, gulls, and cormorants frequented the air above the water. It was back near the old building that I saw Baltimore Oriole, yellow warbler, waxwings, and a family of redwing blackbirds. |
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This oriole scored a beetle. |
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This bird looks a bit rough-- maybe molting? |
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One of two of the young redwing blackbirds. |
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The second young redwing. They made such a commotion, and I think I was the cause of it, so I moved along as all the neighborhood birds came out to see what was going on. |
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At the boat launch in Floyd I enjoyed watching a single black skimmer working the shoreline. I love watching them do their skimming- always in awe and wondering how they don't hit a rock, or shell, or the sand and not get hurt. They skim pretty darn close to the shoreline and I'm always wondering how they are so precise. |
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From head on, that bill is like a knife... |
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...and it slices through the waves. I was pretty happy to end on this- I love observing bird behavior, and the skimming always knocks my socks off, it so impressive. |
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A Forster's Tern scanning the waters from above, looking for a potential meal. |
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And now, Great Egrets flying. |
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A pair was working a mudflat, then an off leash dog came and they made off to another flat that was appearing as the tide receded. |
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I was REALLY happy to see three of these-- clapper rails! They are a huge favorite of mine and they were busy calling and chasing off rivals. I adore these swamp chickens- I always forget how small they are, because their voices are so big! |
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Leaving on a snowy egret note as I headed off to work after frolicking through the salt marsh and flats. |
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