Every weekend has some rain in it. Either a total wash-out, or a full day lost to a decent showing of wet weather for a full day. This has been a trend in our area for the last SIX WEEKS, as you can imagine, it makes things challenging. I especially am a fair-weather birder. Birding in my time, quiet time, or time with friends who are not 3-years old, and I like doing it all when the weather is dry. It also makes parenting hard too, a weekend goal is to get the kid out of the house, a simple trip like the playground or library counts. But on rainy days it's harder to swing. Today I got to go birding AND go to the playground. A bonus was a stop into the newly re-opened Salt Marsh Nature Center, where there is a kids room, that the kiddo absolutely loved -- so much, we got kicked out at closing time.
Thankfully this weekend, we got one fair-weather day of the two. And, in my new fashion, of being behind on pictures-- some pictures from two previous outings in addition to todays!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeamk1iDwNQuMAB33qKfHJ2dDj3GarqFmat-3AEnDhbGGfJ20KRwQOLEnFRgeyU0ADj99N21Ms-jk3NxJwLTWuTLawi3DFc2e8-BaGNpsCcEROVa1uG7QE_07W8AtSrmxZok41E7K6fQdy-CCl-c45Q9mQ2UbnEFq2VK9RNNlAmGK8XVHPQqKv_lipEAg_/w640-h458/GWC-1.jpg) |
Last week, at Green-wood Cemetery, arrived to this very, not-caring, Great Blue Heron. I love these dagger-faced waders. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmlpvwkIS0V4ncIQ7xeJ7zRQ3NESc8ZWohYMrdzVXwWe7p4S92VuHs3dTjzF3yZHQ7TDJGiuMQMZFX9I19ROS5jgU68towUF3vHpCJEJfbcsrz5nTMHJd9AdlfFmyLqbCKKKMP8vOrfv8e333kURwRFXjFcR_b-njgOOXfZmUaJY4SUXU0vT4fNi0F7AK/w640-h458/GWC-2.jpg) |
A Green-wood specialty, Northern Mockingbird. This one was singing a quiet little song to itself. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBj_syeSbM3gbi7hxs1xpPhBDzUGugjdzSfTz1mM7-C2q9FguJZJeYhwDiIM1gJhUcvMciroPmEpDljvKEjwhvfAFYg2znrI0tQP2_956iaetNLI3-kzgERjAdmJNnNgMYl0GMqPeNrCcbavfgYGbIcdJK8Wuztx9w_1BFplKnQPXBXiM5GU48ixYW9TDP/w640-h458/GWC-3.jpg) |
A Nashville Warbler in the shadows, finding some snacks between the leaves. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuTXo346Qil4Hpe7Q0pK9wU9UvWrCpRi65dM728GqMXTMqM7xWVjiMdEEvejHxYsnZhY0AB9kIZJmsH9eqveAnXf8hYJ5zLVabAHMxSJThnvq4qsZMalCgOkLrBb5N98Ox22T5O20_WpU7Oa-QiE21VgMKE06apiD_7kP9T0bLQkKe42CbOzBZhedD7x7/w640-h458/GWC-4.jpg) |
Got a chance to see the Western Kingbird, they were alright. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yqw0EL05aVPUc_cC230hzHpruprKmzRFniv5FF0rgybnaeNiIItzWA9421p_VnRaB7bwOfR4lB_GXYlVMSSoNfudEgHEGtt9iZ3OZBS71CFjNWfKrVPSjZhqIa6OXrwzCmlbYeKeeXjzJX9bKEyPyuQ5KZkWIrnahvIuTlL0mxBZUZ-YwCuFFP5Au6Wd/w640-h458/GWC-5.jpg) |
Also got a chance to see the great cormorant, the white patch under its chin was fairly prominent, this bird looks like a youngster. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNK49nsZRsCsywBE7Vz-rJzZECivD4Lrt3106oeUFzOScGKxE2y52F1kOPc1kV43h-Ozh2ZXTVxO8YULbAUD99su5SYEEOl2J7YizxtLxwCvHpIzx9r0ohOTihhWzRDFwLovPADK_YHoMER9RVAGKeOPbuTdl5IHH8cNKDp94hQloTpOThm7-Slb0Sqbxd/w640-h458/MPSM-1.jpg) |
Friday, before work, I did a little birding at Marine Park. The place was FILLED with yellow-rumped warblers. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5fZFSNYwhvADNiT29NnMaT9lUvgIdWzqAPI5WAvGTj1d-TzePMnT5vHWJw8iQBKaIEARAw9vYasm_RGY4Rp8YHcSTtMjZz9U5lzQUKEQJ_Lgc76xY33u7J9eCGyvblneU8gpXrJ7csD3pUNp_NAfjwmQpjGBl0WwJqvSoqJiaFBXc85J865bSMAZeLJ0/w640-h458/MPSM-2.jpg) |
All the rumps are switching from insects to winter berries for the bulk of their diet. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWF7Wl7Ghu7R8Y7x6Zq5LbthtG_zs_xF29IkgbzA5guEQjlM6utUSHpYdUb-8XawkrBq7bGIPpykWS7_8fBW7doZFmAAfrlmL__mgQ17pdK11G4W71tplo8PfSBB70323zWDbuWnRj-Q2jiO71K15XZjr8lu2NDTtHxuRMaLeJRAyRR47byHt8V78O5RZC/w640-h458/MPSM-3.jpg) |
Chain-link Song Sparrow. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwu4Ezrv5xbzpJ7_GVUBXmoRWgOocJpz1GOaXQh8xY8o5twgj6yWDeuCwa0fU8BPlWLcBpJbEi4HTh-FQR63xkwxti7G3UZ7TTxMLSviJnmIzHWtyFUUtzvPxshLEZ4N0PNlcBllz6aOKhkDWZwzIq6QVWUndEmva1MKIcPvPZ-zCIvBEdhsob3jFeiPu/w640-h458/MPSM-4.jpg) |
Does this Northern Mockingbird have some evidence of snacking on berries, maybe getting into the ripening pokeweed berries, as evidenced by the purple flecks on its head. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIB3jbiTMAACTdJRJMrKNi1MD_ihpWv-FXf6cTAx9KSZaNv34xf0_wmUgLaKXJOUV4a3LiGHz7taI98J0NRdfTOog4-QF_R-8GdILDR-YtGjVsMwqboyXHCgpnzSao96vAtGib-4sMmInkMZqyZwzy-_EDvKmOmu_ENMOYNog8vnZ3uky9BssmbU7OGUuR/w640-h458/MPSM-5.jpg) |
A young Double Crested Cormorant in the morning sun. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqHXAfuDa-680ygkYd8qm5P_Xktdq1OSs5T9Kd3B5drPyvQPuVjryP2K6dle15uazOrn6bSS-W3rL82F9QuaE-6Ux2YBkT6jie5i9i79JsRQD4u7HKnd9yjCd0TP1OqpJTIZPcZYVdAlmt8YjA-BCu25iyEi-pIa6dbhvYdyYCLkk9j4jMFEfFx3vttDw/w640-h458/MPSM-6.jpg) |
When everyone is making alarm calls, but nowhere to be seen, you take a look around and find what's causing the ruckus. A Sharp-shinned Hawk (and also, two American Kestrels) was patrolling an open area. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Z8vB5n7rYn9ftLLNKKT4Fw9t7anOYyBpSjcegoF7SrkSK9gveejBz17p1TfOK1Z35BTUwoNurIZB6f9TpLqnupIGANE89PjbdG8-Sso-WBjBdAbySRSP0QUVOVPGgPYUyptNEDkurq3tl9ltMSA17iPNYs0xTIACHm21lXtCuUfpFrfEBUmLTphNO7VP/w640-h458/MPSM-7.jpg) |
This hawk was identified originally for me as a Sharp-shinned Hawk because the blue jay dive bombing it originally was nearly the same size as the hawk. Sharpies are quite small. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpwu9jA5mAd1RAXIsnpitwhHJ7rme_LUUzukCPxVY0Rl07WmnshTEMumvyQYww8fz9jyKOEHQ6JFAenhC5HEOsSadRACP-WE0wJqArrugPjF0IzGfGD6l1mLFrptEsO_IMcGcCJq8CXYT-er6uywmoWe-iWwnLHalFw1VqX84Q9GMlfjPWeFRi1kwAif8/w640-h458/MPSM-8.jpg) |
Another Sharpie look is their look. They have great big eyes in comparison to the rest of its face. I also got to see the bird fly, with bent wrists and their head lined up to those wrists. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhi2mlXatKCthXjxPgwBCz3YHh_rJYrNksR5oLURGZ-lFAEFH9jmksr6qY3F_mrMdKE0Q91Fd6WLJ_csoBaD35h-iBEWwIZSdxpU71FRqQs7Xi2UD_pXzjRQLXZRyBPfpT7enTohMBCa1rDyrLwcprZEBFyd8Wi8cOtE8qqv2i1rBpKjwfpE-v10MwU6e/w640-h458/MPSM-9.jpg) |
About those eyes... Forward facing, the better to gauge its approach for the kill. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDuH-F8wmP70D-i9lyO1Q2v0GcZo1y3WHOc6QpQ7PqEufQxkyj2N4X-hNpoFVFobw1oquTy1_q-PxAiZlnZ2KRaBUP0J229SZQvgGgLEWD9-g0r6uMDtp4uYjWRsgQDistm1YUT-JV-_TrrnOwQccuCv6M_f2pTbk8JEY3bJelz_leH0hqqrbwBYDu06q/w640-h458/MPSM-10.jpg) |
I was honestly pretty jazzed that this bird, well knowing of my presence decided to take a stab at hunting and then perch even closer to where I was observing from. And then it stayed there. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlw23qt7t37xFCZdpM-wJjsXkSdhAIuVvTtPHy8qUDR4sNpsbf3GRyserU-oV0waUnz-FlC9tkdARk0qzQoycPrxVDjqAT7Oja4c9fbBoSb2VJYTjwlCpJfPsyw3p57Jw2PN4vMRozPc1wnox-n-mDaNGwzbTiWzEIx712cFcyFiRnoVEpDESaMLJMFXe/w640-h458/MPSM-11.jpg) |
I love looking at birds... and I LOVE when birds look back at me. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxleHT0F5H05hyphenhyphen_jIfyO4lG6LyxChSQmEaq5rJxGiPlgV-sCYhHmRi8SrF1oHH0sFIgkRvzSnhtGYpk48WSzCYmtLE3x5JN01-JRO_zjoB7lTTo9b10y5A2HC9_qkTOqloiF9X3atAHEr3ynkp_WNTBBnPNz3RoY1GmaQtJBY1PtmflYuoThfXw7tLRBpP/w640-h458/MPSM-12.jpg) |
I bid the bird the best- as it continued to hunt, and fail. Hope it got something to eat, enough yellow-rumps and sparrows to go around! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA97Ah7CjDDu2R2ogEx4sHxxhRCCqKuyg6NkreUquhfxN4PBYpTwKEvyHdwgj5gfUKH5i0cMDG_M44u-xsh9Ih_Ty_dbyIWodCv8gVHU2lYvz3j2jIkfJQuOs35ySp5qCNiWvpGf2GVFbIj_NFjNlyHZ4DBNQRrcb6DyUugturvKKFtk8jBPxhySZ5uTm6/w640-h458/MPSM-13.jpg) |
Nearby, a Great Egret roosted in a tree at eye level, with little care about the tiny hawk. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Rf3dhyphenhyphen_odWe-nJ0jjGWmnQqplmT1zReB4FBHqs31-T1ADqW_fbH3sXd6iuMiU-7IgOvtTpREwY3K4dkgIZJy6_MH6Y_ZLpR5Qo-WrFB-vbIal7-_UlZjgO4nrPbDkUr282MPNKqGADnmRlemEqTs0IN_AUJ22AfGOf9lhaLd2RboQnknwPOS34BjmpY0/w640-h458/MPSM-14.jpg) |
I love a back-lit egret. Angelic, fluffy cloud shit, right there. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFqkv3vMnfzyxBLiT3U6DP_a3xroIScsHlyA1zLe2zhFO7Ak7tqDfZ1vCY-1lUaEifJW3DOZPiyT4vCRzyfH6ETsTYGFfctKEXvmzy-YkvC5-7TweRBiP3U-8i8L09_Z08WIgE1fyxT4fPfjbUXVtQMcKM7GXGMqil3NbAqLJUPt-DfKodgAPVz0nyEb1/w640-h458/MPSM-15.jpg) |
A female Downy Woodpecker, meanwhile, kept a touch lower of a profile as she searched for insects. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2nVgYe_4VzO-Pkwh4IIoIY80ZsHeCfkkFCkqvcxshY7CCmnhMHxB8cHbH7pw_0Ty-1PzDQF-ULCWwFFo1tDldozkJjtv5DFPr97pUHV-oJ0SvWw7NeE4GvBEir6kQAxDhuXJTsrUeBcbkQaBHOWF5CW3czNWx9oTV56WLpf_pWNH36qyiKL32naSPgwS/w640-h458/FBF10.15.23-1.jpg) |
Today I headed to Floyd Bennett Field, I wanted to stay close to home and had my mind on sparrows. This is not a sparrow, but a common yellowthroat, a warbler who I never mind running into. I headed to the beach grass nursery - and while I was there, people were finding more exotic sparrows up near Green-wood. Honestly, while I wish I saw those Grasshopper and Vesper Sparrows, I was very, very content and thankful to bird in some peace and quiet surrounded by hordes of the usuals, who I love very much. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTz83iua0e6ZbK2oN88QY36Jqhk0vIbZkBCVpxIwN0Jwx7Aq8SwBiTYgYEDXbwKzy0dIcecGqpBM9iyQNyz5ucXcK7oTOIhqMs27yQBaaZ2XdmoRZA02S_Cona6SvZgkE5ar6wwIYSef6ERzT01Ln0dpW6MfpUD7oehqLjkn62AkMD0p67GrDVxjuurwXf/w640-h458/FBF10.15.23.jpg) |
Swamped with swamp sparrows! These little maple brown nuggets were everywhere. They are very skulky, so when one stops for 3 seconds, you grab a pic. The beachgrass nursery is bordered by a fence, which honestly was my tactic, to catch birds perching on that as they moved back and forth. So here are a lot of birds on fences... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5i4EC4-3HBSsz6_j3JqNYsx474YeVYT5Is3AxKN2b9Ga5GzlyHClBjN-3nXOO9YLH6tPXfuEj8AxWqS1ziD0J125IXNcSdtU_FZtq8S-AllZapJMUS5zlKQEa7JvUHlq_tjRohEtis4WhdhoIBFobh7ptv02UC7nHiPIjkfuy2tkCys5oWIlpXvmmrBM/w640-h458/FBF10.15.23-2.jpg) |
A gorgeous Savannah Sparrow. A lot of these also, they vary in their amount of yellow on them, each one its own degree of beautiful. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0rWFlRRUw8heTVeGxWck4TRZoJWFJNuDxbkIt3xievTx2UmVvY7myiq3m4cQ1gmLwJZ1q-KUCZN9FpdGD_WQDWXMhecBBGrK1C9ndECRhlUFGJJU9FcH8AyTRHVD8f4bMEvpehbsNuPJzmir_JZ-NzuWGufKtqbaGZ7uby69K96X5O4nHGcFV_yRFmay/w640-h458/FBF10.15.23-3.jpg) |
Common yellowthroat matching the goldenrods and yellowing grasses. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdMI4KQkYJBpwZOfVb09hWgCKKAnVyvaJn1ngDgtzesYIKgfQJAoNIooX9ojN7HmufHtk-Gz-TKLMEkW63_MTXdb6zGY0mKm5gSvklRQut6ruUcsrGAtetkyUTd0wmtAroMlXHtZFwcA_GsG-tCIUX6zn7C2ePkXaF0SWTv32yVOHeSVoBRuG4bbrFAjc/w640-h458/FBF10.15.23-4.jpg) |
Arguably the cutest sparrow, field sparrows were numerous. Rather than seeing 1 or 3, I saw closer to 9. At one point, three sat together on the fence. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tnNMExCu_BUijjNvjO1qzFZWCdBaCiWYxajDmadh7enHnAh7-p_SJCJG9mJ9FPyb0ju6DzqEVWRe69sSVj0If2XZ3avCzyPmjLz4klTroNh8FH3qJKDceAGyHU6CxnnNmYkpJD079OKVaEzutQvRtMsEO6QhkO9L7eJ-4aq3p0lE8yWgc8ejTcAAdu-e/w640-h458/FBF10.15.23-5.jpg) |
The combo of the pink beak, cinnamon cheeks, and the white eye-ring, just adds up to adorable. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEB46oTU0HI92JziiRawjLGN3Z_E25XPV-TpYJBQtwmJPI4JZ4tK8FV4mw4W9RTZ_IgjYrrs5l8hHW0mTqxZWGZvtky6UKdlok5S7nsl2Ut-79B1WC0268gwPHZv04KVAc9-qdLHYT7p-INbT3T9kzNCb7JJyQcrx2al11NYq4ktmZ47yacLlMONW9hQ2s/w640-h458/FBF10.15.23-6.jpg) |
In the sparrow mix also were Ruby-crowned Kinglets (pictured/ and Golden-crowned Kinglets. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11DXpFcVYM-5u_GHQmC8SThiE2S2pVjlSWupuAADxbAuARHrn1E8U2X011_9g-vMsrwbGjLHedqfbyMJzRaUhg4D3tktuzO-7ogSmsPdP4fUWYfs7ziQbdtQB7KkVQVUCkf-Fa87eIyCkPjsz2vFlrO36TP-8OnFXJGcUJEKF2-MTTW6EbVm2Wi6b_Wdi/w640-h458/FBF10.15.23-7.jpg) |
Another lovely Savannah Sparrow in a juniper. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJrAAR9EKWOf4RJ08QtKwhh0bM-hJb-GZ7M5xid2qbBwRHhnfVv56nag-xZggvvFgchDTVpki0BUbZAHDlUAWhfLqCD8UVX_ccwDB99XMOQ5nYFk41SQ9jgoJun4tBfA2RdwAhrPdDjWnnLgoojYcPur69xVr-YlrmN1FUsT7AGHF28n8tS5O2uCBR0SU/w640-h458/FBF10.15.23-8.jpg) |
A swamp sparrow in a sumac.
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0MCOeeGFoFIHObEMtJiGG3xxQf7QpU55r8lJxmv3xgkXOLlGeU02UKZoCFm2ZmaqZbqz2UF_N5-OMXmEmsWd6L0ZWKjdIbSzhyp4p0r2L28PmDxnndZOU4r5vdH3RQU_ib44KOyGcITgTpecJ8N2TPn4LHnmRT44_gVozKuw_sR2GKEOMrRezuUnYtUq/w640-h458/FBF10.15.23-9.jpg) |
Serious autumnal vibes. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6Blt7EwqokokWHaxPTqDbE4Wdn-LsU5cF9e-LlwaBrG50Ac12sOcHP97x0Yr9fBN4mtHRylrUTDtODkC9dYV3ekbmz9EZy7oMysg1ojMuXM15AoOYlFAZ124jfcFrvcjyDAxNz_UheIXoYk3f_v0RLwxDxPHzGas2eCJ2wv8V8bIvACn3A8AUU4AGDhl/w640-h458/FBF10.15.23-10.jpg) |
A Song Sparrow to send us off. |