Today be like...

     It's grey out there and super wet, I woke up to rain, after a very sleepless night. I heard the rain slow down and figured I'd get out to the farmer's market to drop off our food scraps and pick up some fancy mushrooms from one of my favorite farm stands for gravy this week. The busses I took were perfectly timed and the heavy winter jacket and hat I wore along with my umbrella were not needed. 

     I saw there was a break in the rain for a few hours and figured I'd just go for a quick jaunt in Green-Wood Cemetery, as I am not a sedentary being. Birds were out, found a lot of sapsuckers and red-bellied woodpeckers- the juncos flew in little groups from low bush to low branch, flowing forward in small waves. I got caught in a quick little shower, but remained dry otherwise. The ground was soggy instead of frozen as temperatures were easily in the upper 50's low 60's. The air even had a smell of spring to it, especially around the mulch piles near the Dell Water.

     My favorite find was this guy below, because now that I am home, returned just as the rain picked up again, I'm going to take some cues from him... A nap sounds really great right about now.

Nocturnal by habit, this raccoon found some prime shelter for the diurnal shift. Covered from the rain and shielded from the wind. But perfect for peering out to see what lurks below.

After a walk around the Dell Water, I returned to find that this raccoon has zero interest in the daylight.

Farewell PABU?

     I spent my day working from the zoo in Prospect Park and figured I'd walk to work and do some birding and check in on the Painted Bunting. The Painted Bunting has spent over a months time here in Brooklyn, 36 days, in fact. He was not reported seen yesterday, when temperatures plummeted to the coldest they have been yet this season and I saw no signs of him this morning as I walked and scanned all parts of the LeFrak roof, front plantings, and plantings along the back bridle trail.
     Perhaps the cold snap made him pack his bags and head to warmer climes? Or will he return? Who knows!
     I'm glad he was here for the Christmas Bird Count, brought awareness to the Park and it's amazing Ecology, gave so many opportunities for teachable moments- whether about the bird itself, or that the plants folks were trampling were more than just "weeds." Thanks, PABU for bringing awareness to urban ecology, urban wildlife, and the amazing things one can find in their own backyard!
     Here are my three encounters with the Bunting: First, Second (it's a blurry one), and Third.
     As for the rest of the morning, the rising sun brought a little warmth after a cold night as the birds gathered under its rays and soaked it in within the few unfrozen portions of the lake. Enjoy!

A crowd gathers on the little bit of available open water on the west bank of the lake. Swans, mallards, black duck, ruddy ducks, coots, shovelers, ring billed, and herring gulls swam, bathed, and fed amongst the controlled chaos.

A male shoveler keeps an eye out as others feed and preen.

A ring billed gull goes through his morning stretches as others seemingly snooze...

Sometimes you just have to get up and take on the world, even if it is 20 degrees outside. Stretch those wings, get up and out, who knew gulls could be so inspiring?!

It did make a huge difference whether or not you were in the sun. I found it to be very cold, but much more tolerable in those glowing orange rays. They also make everything look and feel so warm, despite the lack of feeling in your face.

Dapper dabblers, three mature male shovelers swim to join the swirling feeding taking place just in front of them

Like water on a duck's (err, goose's) back, it freezes when it drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Even the common house sparrow looks exotic when bathed in the light of the rising sun. In looking for the Bunting all I found were house sparrow, song sparrow, N. Cardinal, starling, and heard some distant red-bellied woodpeckers. I hope he fares well, wherever it is that he is going, hopefully he is on the right path and doesn't end up off course, again.

Happy New Year!

     I started off my birding new year with a trip to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge with two wonderful friends. While cold, the East Pond proved to be the better half to explore today. I was happy that I got to see snow geese, while afar, there were many. Waterfowl were most plentiful with species including American coots (the most I have ever seen at once), Gadwall, Ruddy Ducks, American Wigeon (no Eurasian...), Black Ducks, Hooded Merganser, Red Breasted Merganser, Canada Geese, Mute Swan, Scaup (was not able to get a Lesser/Greater ID, Northern Shoveler, Mallard, Green-wing teal. Also got to see N. Harrier, brown-headed cowbird, house finch, yellow-rumped warbler, throated sparrow, and robin.
     After braving the cold, but welcoming the sunshine, this is all I have to show for the time we were out, enjoy!

I have never seen so many coots at once, there had to easily be close to 100 or so, with lots of American wigeon and gadwall mixed within. A wigeon male can be seen front right.

A gadwall glides through the coot group.

A male Northern shoveler.

...he is a stunner!

A flock of house finches flying about on the west side, that did not have much to offer in species diversity or numbers, the East Pond was far more lucrative.

We returned to the East side, and found green-wing teal at Big John's Pond.

The gadwall is often considered plain among ducks, but I think he is handsome in his own right. A female leads to the left, with the male behind her.

Happy to see snow geese, wish we got some closer views, but at least we got a view! Happy New Year!

'Tis the Season to be Birding

     I am thankful that I got not only one Christmas, but 4 Christmas' this year, each with a different component of my family. I am also not going to lie, I am also relieved that it is not Christmas for another year, I can cool it on the baking, gift searching, food making, and taking care of life in between it all! I am thankful to have a wonderful family who supports me and that I can support back through the stressful times, especially Tim, my husband, who helped me in some of my biggest baking fits (ever see apples hurled through the air, or bowls thrown out the door? Yeah, he helps me through all that, and has the best ways of doing so, usually with ridiculous humor that makes me more irritated, but also makes me laugh).
     I find it important that when times are stressful that you need to make time for yourself. It's not to be selfish, but it keeps me balanced and clears my mind for a bit. It enables me to be able to be patient and able to support others when times are tough, and for me, getting out for a walk does just that.
     On Christmas eve I made a stop at Jones Beach, leaving early so I would still have ample time to surprise my mom with a clean house (in which I learned that using pledge on a wood floor creates an ice rink-like surface), food prep, and a less stressful evening for herself. The day after Christmas I went on a search for a bird that is not uncommon, but one I have had yet to see here in Brooklyn.
     I hope everyone who reads this-- whoever you are, had a wonderful Christmas, Festivus, or any holiday you may have celebrated this season and I also wish you all a very happy New Year, and a happy 2016 full of nature, wild things, and beautiful scenery! Enjoy!

My first find at the Coast Guard Station at Jones Beach was this little dunlin, totally solo, with a bummed left leg. Clearly still able to find food, as you can see.

Many don't realize most birds at rest, or when trying to keep warm, tuck one leg in, much like a flamingo. Such behavior does not usually indicate injury. This bird, on the other hand, was limping, could barely lift the leg and never put any weight on it. Not going to lie, I tried to see how closely he would let me approach, to assess if he needed help. I got pretty close, and was about to really consider grabbing him up to bring him to a rehabber, but he flew, and flew well, hobbling around might be rough, but he is still able to feed and get away from danger. I wish him luck.

Lots of yellow-rumped warblers among the reeds and brush that grow up to the sand. They were mixed in with a white throated sparrow or two.

I also got to view here many brant (pictured), common and red-throated loons, long-tailed duck, red-breasted merganser, a harbor seal (a nice one to add to my mammal list!), and jet skiiers- did I mention it was in the upper 60's at this point, later making it to 70!

This brant had an exceptionally white throat patch which drew me in for photographing.

Tried to see if a snowy was around, with no luck, but I did get the chance to find some skate egg cases washed up in the sand!

I was also happy to find a flock of 20 or so snow bunting in the west end lot. They are super cute little guys, I love those little cinnamon cheeks!

The day after Christmas, yesterday, I walked the Shore Promenade looking for purple sandpipers. The promenade runs along the Belt Parkway from Owl's Head Park down to the shopping Center at Caesar's Bay. I parked at the Fort Hamilton Exit/Scenic View pull off, just at the base of the Verrazano Bridge and was greeted by many ring-billed gulls.

The rocks along the Promenade provide a place for gulls to rest and preen, like this one, it also traps a lot of icky debris, and oddly provides a perfect habitat for the sandpipers I wanted to find.

After walking a mile from my spot and scanning rocks, just in case, I walked toward an area of the promenade I was told almost always has the sandpipers foraging among the rocks. And right as I got to that area, there they were! I found my first one floofed up, with his bill tucked in resting, with a weary eye on me and the world around him. It's tough being a little bird, always have to keep one eye out for danger- especially with falcons residing nearby.

A group of 7 or so birds were walking and foraging together on the rocks. They are sandpipers, but these birds are much happier on rocks than on sand. They also are not purple, they have a purplish sheen in the winter, but otherwise they are pretty slate-grey.

Their long beak helps them pick crustaceans and snails off the rocks and from in between the algae that grows on and clings to the rocks.This birds spends it summer in the high Arctic and flies South to here, New York and places as far North as Southern Newfoundland! 

I was super happy to spend a good amount of time, observing these birds march up and down the rocks, picking at anything tasty they found, squeaking to one another, all while cars zoomed by along the parkway behind us.

I also had the chance to explore a wonderful little park behind the BJ's Parking lot on Shore Road, spying red-throated and common loon, gulls galore, red-breasted mergansers, and swans. I also ran into one of my birding buddies, Daniel, and we ventured to Calvert-Vaux, where we spied more loons, brant, cormorants, a GB Heron, and  Harbor Seal out in Gravesend Bay.

I also attempted to make a video of two of the birds, this is very zoomed in, so it may be slightly shaky. The noise? That's the parkway behind me. Just another great example of nature carrying on in the most unexpected places!

Winter Birding?

     This past Monday, marked the winter solstice, with the shortest day of the year. I took today off for a day to bake, relax, and get together some last minute things for Christmas. I birded in between chores, and despite the incredible fog, managed to get in some good views, and at times very beautiful views as well.
     Although it is officially winter, I woke up at 2am, battling a mosquito, buzzing irritably in my ear, burying myself in my blankets to avoid bites that I still received. I was sweating in a light jacket this morning with temps in the upper 50's, reaching into the 60's today. Tomorrow we are looking to hit 70! This weather is insane, while I love it, it also irks me. By midday a sweatshirt sufficed to go outside in...

A lovely treat to have this female American Wigeon so close to shore to photograph.

The male is super flashy, but the female is such a natural beauty, with the different shades of brown, mottled together, and a little periwinkle blue bill to remind you that she is a wigeon.

I love capturing the red eyes of the American Coot.These birds are very common in winter, but very beautiful and easy to overlook if you don't take a closer look at their little features.

I was able to spot all 4 woodpecker species in my walk today: This Hairy woodpecker, a downy woodpecker, 2 yellow-bellied sapsuckers, and a red-bellied woodpecker.
This Hairy was busy chiseling away at this branch, insects were probably active in the warm temperatures.

A touch of autumn in December.

Foggy lake scenes with Canada Geese.

Flowers still blooming, when this time last year we already have had snowfall.

I paid a visit to a bird who now seems like a washed up celebirdy (see what I did there?). I found him myself, with only myself observing as he fed. Perhaps he was appreciative of some privacy?

I was appreciative of the quiet myself too.

Definitely a little ray of brightness on such a grey, wet day.

Got some shopping done at Caesar's Bay... thought I'd find purple sandpipers, but only found Brant on the rocks.

I did have fun photographing the ring-billed gulls though.

Endless gulls!