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Snowy Owl and Snow Goose

2012-01-07T17:44:00.000-05:00

This afternoon I had a little time to look for birds so I headed out east and started on Dune Rd. where a Snowy Owl has repeatedly been reported stationed on Warner Island just east of the Shinnecock Bridge and just West of the Shinnecock Fishing Station. Sure enough, the bird was there - though it was probably the most underwhelming Snowy Owl experience given the significant distance and the average optics I had (Nikon Action Ex Extreme 8 X 40 mm All Terrain Binoculars). Still, it's always nice to locate and see this powerful and beautiful bird and below is the best image I was able to ascertain with my camera at a distance of ~ 1/3 of a mile.

The Shinnecock Inlet held nothing of interest aside from a couple seals who popped their heads up and some loons. Here's a photo of a Red-throated loon I took last weekend at Cupsogue Beach:

Hoping to get lucky and find some wood ducks or other bird of interest I stopped in at Quogue Wildlife Refuge where the first bird I noticed was a Snow Goose (that seems to have a broken wing). The bird was able to get around ok and swim (and of course there's plenty of food at the refuge) but certainly won't be able to fly when the time comes. I'm assuming that the staff there is aware of this and that it will be captured by the Hamptons rescue group soon enough and rehabbed. This was my first encounter with this species - so it's too bad that the bird is injured but still nice to see it and glad to see it at a safe haven like Quogue Wildlife Refuge.

If you are interested in the binoculars I use - check out the link below:

Mountain Bluebird

2011-12-29T20:32:00.000-05:00

This morning I set out to find the Mountain Bluebird that has been present in the Calverton area for approximately a week. There were a few other birders who were out there as well which helped because one of them located it along the fencing at the Haunted House on 25A and alerted me to it. While the bird didn't come nearly as close as I'd hoped, it was still a pleasure to photograph this rare visitor from the West.

Since I was out and about I figured I'd try and see if anything else of interest was around. Some time at EPCAL produced a flock of Eastern Meadowlarks and a handful of Savannah Sparrows - but there were some raptors as well. Two Red-tailed hawks were perched in a tree next to each other, Northern Harriers were hunting near the runways and a couple American Kestrels were seen including this one which was a bit more cooperative than usual.

In addition to the above mentioned birds were a couple male Eastern Bluebirds (which were far more attractive than the drab Mountain Bluebird). Another Red-tailed hawk was spotted on a light pole in Aquebogue, and I had time for a brief visit to the new North Fork Preserve Suffolk County Park which yielded a Red-tailed hawk being chased by a Cooper's. All in all a nice cold winter day with some raptors and a species of bird that's new to me.

For more on birds that can be found around Long Island - check out this book by John Turner: Exploring the Other Island: A seasonal guide to nature on Long Island

Palm Beach County Vacation

2011-11-15T20:19:00.000-05:00

I just returned from a week down in Palm Beach County Fl, and while I only added 1 new species to my photographic tome I got a lot of great photos of species I've seldom seen. More importantly however I was able to really immerse myself in nature and marvel at a pint sized Green Heron fishing feet from my kayak or sit still as a gator basked itself along the banks of a canal soaking up the Florida rays.

I'll start this blog post off with the only new species I nabbed - the Red-headed Woodpecker. While this bird does live in New York and has been seen on Long Island, it's a rare event. I was fortunate enough to have three of these birds actively looking for food in midday at Cypress Creek Park. The photos of course didn't come out too well thanks to that sun but I'm happy none-the-less.

Pelican's were everywhere - as were Osprey. It is funny how a species that is so coveted (the Pelican) in New York as a fall rarity is so prevalent a few thousand miles south and how quickly one becomes bored of photographing them.

While kayaking the Loxahatchee River at River Bend Park, I encountered a Green Heron, Limpkins and a juvenile Little Blue Heron in the white plumage which I'd never had the pleasure of photographing before. It was astonishing how close approach the birds allow. I could have reached out and touched any of these birds - and they were all photographed with my 18-200mm lens instead of the usual 500mm focal length of my other bird images.

At Arthur R. Marshall National Wildlife Refuge (the eastern fringe of the everglades) I was there at midday which wasn't best for birds but there were still a few around including Little Blue Heron, Limpkin, Pied-bill Grebe and some raptors (Northern Harrier and Red-shouldered Hawk of the florida race [lighter colored plumage than other RS Hawks).

The last bird of note was a Cooper's Hawk who I spotted briefly after the Red-headed Woodpecker and whose presence was given away by an incessant Blue-jay alerting the whole neighborhood.

On the non-bird front I was surprised to not see any snakes but there were plenty of other reptiles including Turtles (not sure on the species) and the big and always intimidating, American Alligator whose presence was made known at several spots.

I missed out on River Otters (but hey, they're always tough to find), Spoonbills, Woodstorks and any of the Kite species but there is always next time and it gives me something to really look forward to.

If you are interested in the birds of Florida, or are headed down there in the near future, check out this book: National Geographic Field Guides to Birds: Florida (National Geographic Field Guide to Birds)

Peregrine Falcon

2011-11-05T12:25:00.000-04:00

It was a cold morning at Jones Beach and the birds were few and far between. The "hedgerow" at the Coast Guard Station was all but dead when the sun rose but after a while some birds moved in - though mostly junco's as seen below. I moved on to try and photograph raptors in this favorable wind though I only expected Sharpies and Cooper's Hawks because of how late in the season it is. A couple sharpies went by quickly but didn't hang around long enough for photos then out of nowhere (well, from the West anyway which is unexpected) this Peregrine Falcon came within feet of me. My reflexes weren't fast enough to get "the ultimate shot" but I came away with some good ones none-the-less. (Note the blood that can be seen on the underside and the talon)

And here is the junco that a Peregrine would love to have as a snack:

If you like raptors as much as I do check out this book by Jerry Ligouri: Hawks from Every Angle: How to Identify Raptors In Flight

Injured Northern Saw-whet owl

2011-11-03T17:45:00.000-04:00

This morning my co-worker who lives in Speonk on a wooded parcel told us he found an injured Screech Owl in his garage yesterday after he finished mowing his lawn (the garage door had been open and he finished around dusk). He put it in a crate and brought it to work the next day assuming one of his co-workers would know what to do with it. I went out to view the owl and took a few photos with my cellphone and shared them with Anthony Graves who realized it was not a screech (I've never seen a Screech or a Saw-whet in person) and rather a Saw-Whet which was confirmed by Sibleys. Someone who has experience with injured wild animals offered to take it to a nearby animal hospital where it would be treated for a broken wing and either released or brought to a facility such as Quogue Wildlife Refuge if it could not be properly rehabbed. It seemed to be in good health (aside from the wing) when brought to the vet and was hoping around and readily ate a mouse that was provided to it.

Fortunately the bird was found in the garage and was brought to the right person within a decent time frame and will have a second chance at life. For those of you who don't know what to do when you find an injured animal, never hesitate to contact the Hampton Bays Wildlife Rescue Center (located at Munns Pond Preserve County Park in Hampton Bays). They can be reached at: 631-728-4200. If they cannot pick it up they will be able to tell you what to do with the animal (be it a raccoon, deer, opossum or bird) and where to bring it.

Book Review: A Sea in Flames

2011-11-01T22:35:00.011-04:00

The sun sets a salt marsh ablaze with light

To see the ocean on fire is a harrowing sight - to set the ocean on fire in order to help alleviate an environmental disaster, well that truly is frightening. The image of thick, charcoal colored smoke erupting into the air as black oil burns atop the azure Gulf of Mexico is the image that graces the cover of Carl Safina’s latest book, A Sea in Flames. An apt photo and an apt title for one of the worst environmental catastrophes in human history. We all know the script - On Earth Day, 2010, an oil well owned by BP (Beyond Petroleum) had a pressure build up which exploded, killing 11 people and injuring many more. Then the oil began to flow, or rather spew from the seafloor at a tremendous rate and would continue to do so for 87 straight days.

Soon after the initial explosion, Safina finds himself on a plane headed south. “I did not want to go to the Gulf. It seemed like a good situation to avoid. . . I could not fathom that stopping the leak might require more than a few days.” What he could not fathom he discovered through interviews, countless newspaper articles and listening to weeks of incessant radio and television reporters. This information is laid out expertly in three succinct sections: Part One - Disaster Chain, Part Two - A Season of Anguish, Part Three - Aftermath. If only things had been this organized for BP.

A Commercial fishing boat whose name is betrayed by the black smoke chugging from the engine

BP would like the world to believe that the Deepwater Horizon blowout was a big accident (they refer to it as such on their website). No one to blame, no one at fault, merely a reflection of the odds. With all of those wells and all of those platforms floating in the Gulf, an accident of this magnitude was bound to happen - don’t worry though, it’s just a little oil in a big ocean. The company's initial reaction was like that of the policeman at the scene of a bad accident, “Nothing to see here folks - keep movin’ along”. Of course there was something to see and Safina made sure he saw it. From the bows of fisherman’s boats, from the co-pilot’s seat of tiny single prop planes. From the formerly pristine beaches of Louisiana and Mississippi to the ghost town streets and restaurants of tourist destinations along the Florida Panhandle, Safina saw it. “Blue water turned shiny purple. A bruise from a battering. The sea swollen with oil.”

What the author discovers in the Deep South is that misinformation, anger, un-preparedness, paranoia and naïveté flow like the oil from the deep sea. Unfortunately for Safina, there are no dispersants that can be sprayed on the newspaper headlines, no booms deployed to corral people who proclaim “The sky is falling - the end is near!” Safina pens, “I am deeply distressed about the potential damage to wildlife and habitats - but I find myself becoming uncomfortable with all the catastrophizing. . . Cool heads are not prevailing.”

How does one digest the useless phrases the media and BP come up with? Junkshot. Top Kill. Burn Box. This book cuts through the spin cycle BP and the Government put the spill through and approaches every new solution and press conference with sage skepticism. A Sea in Flames explores the questions posed by the average American, the fisherman whose livelihood has been stolen (hey, it was an accident!) and the scientific community. Will fishing really be affected for years to come? How much oil is spilling out? How long until the Gulf recovers? Who’s in charge? The answers are often surprising, sometimes upsetting and always beg more questions.

A Brown Pelican sits atop the Sea

Carl, an even-keeled and accomplished marine biologist whose dedication to the salt water world is unparalleled, absorbs the onslaught of hyperbole from both sides. He understands the pain of the fishermen who have seen their workplaces converted into wastelands. He empathizes with the scientific community whose research is falling on deaf government ears. But, he also sees that there are bigger issues at hand which aren’t visible. The Gulf Blowout was a weak link in the chain of global climate change. This environmental disaster is literally a drop of oil in the Ocean compared to the unseen disaster we all contribute to daily as we cruise in our cars, jaunt on jumbo jets and heat our homes. “Because we’ve bet the house on burning oil, coal, and gas, our atmosphere’s concentration of carbon dioxide is a third higher now than at the start of the Industrial Revolution. As environmental catastrophes go, that dwarfs the Gulf Blowout of 2010.”

As the author travels throughout the Gulf, he often finds himself looking at wildlife - always prepared for the worst. To him, the Great Egret is the canary in the proverbial coal mine. More often than not, Safina sees only the pure white feathers of this wading bird - a sign that things aren’t so bad. On a trip to Grand Isle where Louisiana dips its toe into the Gulf, Safina writes, “A Forster’s tern dives into a creek. Surprisingly, pleasantly, there are plenty of white, un-oil-stained egrets here.” There is hope where many believe it has been lost. While fishermen have lost their income from shrimp and red drum, they are making a livable income from BP doing PR stunts like towing ineffective booms to sea and playing tour guide to anyone with a press pass. And while the oil bubbles to the surface, the fish and shrimp and crabs beneath breathe a sigh of relief. No baited hooks this season - no trawl nets and tickle chains. If they can survive the dissolved oil, they can survive the season. The fishermen too, will survive, along with BP and its stock price (after all, that’s what’s most important, right?).

A pristine and white Great Egret glides through the sky

A Sea in Flames is an objective look at the Gulf Blowout and what caused it. The book details the shortcuts our government and our oil companies have made that led us to that dreadful day. So many warning signs, so many opportunities to fix what was broken or - I know this is a radical idea - prepare for the worst, and yet it was always full steam ahead. No matter that the compass was broken. Safina understands that while this disaster was preventable, we as a nation have to deal with the aftermath. But he urges the nation to understand the bigger picture. The whole system is broken. The Government, Big Oil, our dependence on fossil fuels - these things are way worse than an oil spill. “The blowout is both an acute tragedy and a broad metaphor for a country operating sloppily. . .a country concerned only about the next little while, not the longer time frames of our lives or our children's futures.”

If there’s anything to learn from this environmental catastrophe, it’s that we better correct our myopic definition of environmental catastrophe. Catastrophes aren’t just oil leaks beneath the sea or tanker spills on barrier reefs. It’s not just the sudden and dramatic disasters we hear about on the news for a few weeks or months until the media finds a new obsession or someone important says the mess is all cleaned up. How quickly we have forgotten about Fukushima which will take another three or four decades to clean up. How soon the mind puts the Love Canal and the infamous Exxon spill on the back shelf. There’s another catastrophe we all contribute to, every minute of each day. Our never ending lust for fossil fuels burns the candle on both ends, leading to changes on this planet far greater than any environmental catastrophe by modern societies' standards.

Oil and Water don't Mix

A Sea in Flames can be purchased by clicking the Link to Amazon.com below:

Book Review: On Feathered Wing

2011-10-24T23:36:00.002-04:00

Note: The images contained in this Book Review were photographed by me, however I was in the company of Richard Ettlinger who has showed me the ropes with respect to photographing birds in flight.

Richard Ettlinger is one of the most talented bird photographers on the planet, as evidenced by his book "On Feathered Wing". Richard's work, along with that of six other incredible photographers (David Hemmings, H.K. Hui, Miguel Lasa, Ofer Levy, Jim Neiger and Rob Palmer) amazes the mind and the eyes at what Nature is capable of and what can be captured on camera. To be able to freeze the action of birds who can casually cruise at speeds upwards of 90 mph (in the case of the Peregrine Falcon) is a task so difficult that many don't try - and for those who do, they quickly wave the white flag.

The book beings with an extremely close encounter the author had with a falcon at a local park near his home. While the bird whizzed past his head at incredible speeds, that fleeting moment of flight stuck with him for years to come. He was determined to have a repeat encounter, to stop that bird in its tracks (digitally, that is). It was this experience that inspired him to always pursue the impossible, to utilize patience and to understand that the bird is the one in control - we are merely witnesses to their extraordinary abilities and evolution. Ettlinger writes, "You can't find the inner bird unless you find the inner you. Doing so will allow you to respect your subjects. Stalking the wild bird definitely won't get you there, so don't think that way. You won't be stalking anything."

Ettlinger begins the book with the written word as a preface for the birds who live up to the cliche about a photograph's worth. He gives a brief breakdown of the birds featured in the book (Killers on the Wing, Wings Along the Shore, Wings of the Wetlands and Songbirds on the Wing) and he discusses the migratory feats of these animals, how they hunt and the different adaptations that fit niches for a diverse group of birds. His knowledge of his subjects is only matched by his photographic skill and determining where the right time and right place will be. A birder with more than 20 years experience, Ettlinger is as good at finding birds in their element as a professional fisherman is at locating the biggest bass beneath the lake or where the motherlode of crabs will be along the ocean floor. That skill is reflected in his images as well as the images of the others who share his love and passion. I'm willing to bet if you took the avian photographers featured in this book to the coldest continent, they would come back with shots of penguins flapping freely through the freezing air.

The bulk of the book, with almost 175 incredible flight images, is accompanied by a brief description of the specific species, where it was photographed and an interesting fact or two about the bird. These narratives are kept short purposely as it takes the eye a long time to move down from the stunning image above. The author points out the influence of birds - and their respective ability to fly - on writers, poets and inventors (where do you think the Wright Brothers got the idea?) through history. He notes how even before the camera, the poet William Blake appreciated the breathtaking beauty of a bird in the sky, effortlessly floating among the clouds and wispy winds. Writes Ettlinger, "This book was conceived and created in celebration of birds' mystical genius - a quality that can only be observed while they are off the ground. Their wings may be made of pretty feathers, but those appendages serve no other purpose than to get them into and through the air." The act of flight, which we equate with magic and which mesmerizes both the smallest child and the most seasoned senior is simply a way of life, or rather, survival. It is evolutionarily the same as a humans ability to walk and talk and yet it's so much more. Man has gone to incredible lengths in pursuit of flight but no matter how hard we try, what contraptions we conceive, what ideas we implement, we still marvel at a bird taking to the sky. If you have ever had the chance to spend an hour watching birds in the air, you will be amazed. If you are short on time - take a flip through this book, because it's the next best thing.

Some of the images in this book were featured in an exhibit (under the same name as the book) at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan from June 2008 - May of 2011 (it was extended many times due to it's immense popularity). If you would like to purchase the book (which I highly recommend) click the link below:

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

2011-10-23T13:51:00.000-04:00

Yesterday morning was filled with Yellow-Rumped Warblers everywhere on the West End of Jones Beach. I had some success with raptors, watching as Merlins chased anything and everything including Sharp-shinned Hawks. I headed home early since the diversity of birds was low but got an e-mail on my phone as I neared Captree announcing the presence of a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Pulling into the parking lot revealed a big group of people and I saw the bird flying from perch to perch. After spending some time trying to get a decent shot, I called it a day for good and passed on trying to locate the Yellow-Headed Blackbird that was still around.

Yellow-Rumped Warbler:

The Hawks were incredibly fast yesterday but I was able to catch up with a few:

Merlins were the real instigators - too bad I wasn't quick enough to get this Merlin chasing the Sharpie:

If you want to see more beautiful images of raptors, heck out this incredible book by my friend Richard Ettlinger:

White-crowned Sparrow

2011-10-10T20:50:00.005-04:00

Jones Beach was warm, sunny and full of birds this morning - but nothing terribly interesting. The raptors were nearly non-existant (though two Peregrine Falcons made an appearance over the Robert Moses Causeway), there were a lot of sparrows and other song sparrows. A little searching around yielded a White-Crowned Sparrow (a new species for me) along with a White-Throated Sparrow.

Other birds seen were Northern Flickers and Double Crested Cormorants.

This Yellow Warbler picked a colorful spot to pose but unfortunately was the most exciting warbler spotted.

If you are interested in raptors and want to better identify them - pick up this amazing book entitled Hawks at a Distance: Identification of Migrant Raptors

Jones Beach Migrants

2011-10-08T12:12:00.001-04:00

This morning I arrived at the West End of Jones Beach just after sunrise anxious to shoot some birds. Due to weather and other factors beyond my control I have been able to do little shooting - and the birds that have been around haven't been terribly exciting. The winds today are not what drives good birds through migration but I figured there would be something around. I cruised around the West End for a few minutes and spotted this Merlin in a tree (one of only 3 I saw this morning).

I then met up with Richard Ettlinger (author of the visually stunning book On Feathered Wings: Birds in Flight)
and we headed into the Dunes to try and get some raptors. The birds we were after were few and far between, but while we waited we were treated to several Osprey returning from the inlet with Fish in their talons, along with plenty of Northern Flickers.

Around 9 AM a Cooper's Hawk that had snuck up on us exploded out of the shrubs and gave us beautiful views and photographic opportunities. I took my success as a cue to leave and headed to the Coast Guard Station in an effort to find some smaller birds - maybe even get a new species, and as luck would have it that's exactly what happened.

I didn't have to look long before spotting this Magnolia Warbler in beautiful fall plumage (I had originally thought Nashville Warbler until looking it up in the book - this bird certainly looks different than when it's in breeding plumage).

A couple other birds were around as seen below (Golden Crowned Kinglet, Song Sparrow, Palm Warbler, Northern Mockingbird, Juvenile Osprey) and I soon packed it in and headed home. I'll be there tomorrow though so let's all pray for Northwest winds.

Wilson's Phalarope

2011-09-15T22:46:00.005-04:00

I had visited Hecksher Park earlier in the week to view the Wilson's Phalaropes that had been reported. When I arrived, the only water present in Field 7 was in the parking lot and aside from some gulls there was nothing. Disappointed, I left the park having only seen a multitude of deer and one raccoon. This evening, however, after leaving work I got a notice from a fellow photographer that the Phalarope was present once again. After getting to Field 7, there it was feeding in the small puddle. The only rare bird easier to photograph than this was the Dovekie which was discovered just to the East at Timber Pointe County Park.

Other birds using this tiny pool of water were Least Sandpipers,

Semipalmated Sandpipers,

and a nearby Killdeer:

If you haven't yet heard, a movie is coming out next month based on the birding adventure book, The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession. This movie is staring Owen Wilson, Jack Black and Steven Martin so it promises to provide lots of laughs. If you haven't read the book yet, you can grab a copy by clicking the link below:

Marbled Godwits

2011-09-11T22:40:00.000-04:00

This afternoon I took a trip to the Cupsogue flats which I have not visited since last year. Marbled Godwits have been reported regularly there but I've never had the chance to photograph them at Cupsogue (or any other location they happen to be at on Long Island during the end of summer/beginning of fall). It took a bit of searching to find birds (any birds that weren't gulls that is) and after scanning through the crowd all I had were a lot of Black-bellied plovers and some Skimmers. A raptor must have flown over because all of the birds took off and settled down in different spots with the Skimmers heading to the north on the fringe of some exposed sand. When I began heading toward them I noticed a few birds a little further off in the water and as luck would have it, they were the Godwits I was after.

Now the hard part was getting close - There was no cover aside from two small patches of saltmarsh cordgrass, so I employed patience and my "stealth" skills to get right up on the birds.

Other birds this afternoon included the Snowy Egret:

Laughing Gull:

Common Tern juvenile which was still dependent on its parent for food (seemingly getting a little late for that behavior):

What I believe to be a Forster's Tern:

A Royal Tern was in the mix as well:

After looking at the photos I noticed the leg band. Here is a major crop showing the numbers. If anyone can make sense out of this let me know please:

These Eastern Willets in non-breeding plumage (with Godwits in the background):

If you like birds as much as I do (or even a little bit) you will love this book by New York's own Luke Dempsey entitled: A Supremely Bad Idea: Three Mad Birders and Their Quest to See It All

Great Kiskadee

2011-09-07T20:57:00.000-04:00

There has been some discussion about Great Kiskadees on the New York Bird Listserv recently after it was mentioned that a birder from the UK photographed a Great Kiskadee in NYC near the USS Intrepid on August 31st, after Tropical Storm Irene had passed by. Unfortunately for local birders, the report did not come out for another week and the bird has not been seen since. Photos of that bird can be seen here: USS Intreped Great Kiskadee

I figured since I've seen and photographed this bird (in El Salvador last June) I'd make a post showing some images and giving my opinion of its probability of being a "wild" bird given the fact that it was found in NYC hanging out. In the three photos you can see the feathers of a native bird which certainly has not traveled thousands of miles, so a comparison can be made between the "ragged" feathers of the one found in NYC and this bird in El Salvador.

There is also some discussion about the bird in NYC and its proximity to humans and behavior in an urban environment which apparently runs counter to some writings about this bird. Based on personal experience, Great Kiskadees in El Salvador were commonplace (so much so that after the first day I didn't bother to photograph them again because the excitement wore off quickly). The photos above were taken at the pool of the Presidential Hotel in San Salvador, which is located on the outskirts of the metropolis adjacent to the mountains. The bird had plenty of native forested habitat to hangout in but chose to lounge around the pool and outdoor dining areas of the hotel keeping a keen eye out for people eating.

Additionally, while John Askildsen reports that the bird is not good for a captive pet because it requires live food, here is a link to a blog in Costa Rica showing a Great Kiskadee eating a banana. Also, here are shots of several Great Kiskadees feeding on fruit used as a photography setup in the South of Texas where the birds natural range is: Alan Murphy Great Kiskadee Photos (scroll down a bit to get to the images of the GK). According to my copy of Birds of Costa Rica, the Great Kiskadee is common throughout Central America and is often found in clearings or gardens.

In my opinion it's entirely likely that the bird hitched a ride from Bermuda where there is an established population - though one would have to wonder why the plumage is so tattered if it was relaxing on a ship for a week.

The book mentioned in this post can be purchased by clicking the image below:

Hurricane Birds

2011-08-29T22:24:00.001-04:00

I was able to get in on the Hurricane Bird fun yesterday after checking on my families homes to ensure there was no damage. I headed to Squires Pond to check out the bay on the off chance there were some birds (since the South Shore/Ocean was impossible to access unless one headed to points East of Southampton). To my surprise there were Terns - a lot of Terns - on the shoreline and feeding in the pond. Gulls were present too and in a far off cedar were several egrets who were roosting away from the wind.

I quickly was able to pick out a Black Tern in full breeding plumage from quite a distance and worked on getting closer to the birds. Unfortunately there were a few trucks running up and down the beach - and that mixed with the still very strong winds resulted in me losing track of the breeding plumaged black tern. I did however pick up on some non-breeding plumage and/or juvenile's of the same species.

Over at the Shinnecock Canal (on the Peconic side) there were lots of Terns but didn't pick out anything too unusual. A couple Royal Terns were hanging on the rocks on the East side and there were more juvenile skimmers (there was one at Squires Pond) were nice to see as well. No Bridled or Sooty Terns but I'll take two new birds in my "backyard".

Anyone interested in helping me ID other terns in these photos can feel free - I'm no expert on these birds and may have missed one or two...

All in all, I think I had at least 10 Black Terns at Squires Pond, 1 Juvenile Black Skimmer, 1 Laughing Gull and at least 2 Sandwich Terns. Not bad for a beach that never has more than a couple Least Terns feeding offshore.

Quogue Wildlife Refuge

2011-08-22T23:00:00.000-04:00

This evening I headed over to Quogue Wildlife Refuge in hopes of photographing some orchids and other flowers. Well, the orchids weren't there and the rest of the flowers were in the shade so surprise surprise I ended up photographing birds - what a pity! Eastern Towhees were abundant, including a juvenile (1st image below). A juvenile Red-winged Blackbird (2nd image below) was also hanging around... While I got a nice look at a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, photography of this quick and tiny species proved impossible (yet again).

A surprise bird (for me) was a "young-of-the-year" American Redstart which unfortunately was quite a distance away from me.

Cedar Waxwings however stole the show - they were numerous and quite active hawking insects. Unfortunately they too kept their distance, but they were a joy to watch.

For more on birds of Long Island and the types of things you can find at a place like Quogue Wildlife Refuge, check out this book:

Grasshopper Sparrows

2011-08-21T21:33:00.001-04:00

While EPCAL was pretty quiet this afternoon (with only a few American Kestrels making their presence known) as I was leaving I spotted a Grasshopper Sparrow near the Rt. 25 entrance. I was able to make a somewhat close approach on foot and I believe (based on plumage) that this is a juvenile. Always a treat to find these birds!

American Goldfinches and butterflies

2011-08-16T22:41:00.000-04:00

This evening I headed to Southampton Village to check out the wildflower meadow that has been installed as part of a subdivision known as "Olde Towne" which is located just Southeast of the Southampton Hospital. This meadow has been filled with thousands of container plants of native wildflower and grasses species which has created an oasis in the Village which is of course overrun with extensive lawns and non-native ornamentals. It seems as though the birds and butterflies have made this place home as there was a significant flock of American Goldfinches present along with at least 5 species of butterflies, Cedar Waxwings and several species of Sparrow.

While Birds of Long Island has traditionally been dedicated solely to birds, I'm allowing a few butterflies to sneak in!

For more about our native Butterflies, check out this book: Butterflies of New England (North Woods Naturalist Guides)

Least Tern Hatchling

2011-08-08T21:26:00.000-04:00

I visited a second Least Tern colony near my home today which can only be reached via kayak. I was disappointed when I only found one nearly fledged chick. I got out of the kayak and searched the spit of land for more birds or eggs (I was asked to do this as part of the colonial waterbird survey that the County is responsible for doing on their lands due to my proximity to the site and the difficulty of getting there). I found this adorable hatchling that may have been born this day. Otherwise there was no real activity which was a bit of a surprise - I hope it means the other birds have fledged and I'm just late.

Least Tern Chicks

2011-08-07T20:56:00.000-04:00

I was able to get out to one of the Least Tern colonies near my house to look for chicks and was not disappointed. While I did find one abandoned Common Tern nest and one deceased Least Tern chick (that was likely only a few days old) there were a dozen or so chicks (and I suspect that some have fledged already) that were active on the island. I'd never photographed chicks of these species before so the results are a great for me.

For more about birds that dot our shores (and yes, I know the Least Tern is not a shorebird) check out Shorebirds of North America: The Photographic Guide

Pikes Beach

2011-08-04T22:26:00.001-04:00

I took a visit to Pike's Beach this evening hoping for a Black Tern - I was unsuccessful on that front but found some non-breeding plumage Plover's (never photographed one of them before) and some other shorebirds and had a beautiful sunset.

A few Greater Yellow Legs were also hanging around

To help ID birds - I use my National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition book

Forster's Tern on the Carmans River

2011-07-24T21:52:00.000-04:00

This morning I kayaked the the lower portion of the Carmans River (from Montauk Hwy [~ Hards Dam] to Squassex Creek in Brookhaven Hamlet and was disappointed in the few birds that made themselves present (though we are in the doldrums of Summer as far as birds are concerned on the island). There were many Purple Martin's near the north end of this stretch and an Osprey managed to nab a fish (out of view) which it promptly brought back to its calling children. A glossy Ibis was briefly spotted flying over the extensive cattail marshes (oddly enough it was alone and not in a flock as would be expected) and Great Egrets seemed to appear around every curve of the river (and there are a lot of curves!). But the further south my girlfriend and I paddled, the more we heard and saw Terns. They were almost exclusively Common Terns but I thought I spotted one or two Forster's - well, by the time we reached the "marina" at Sqaussex I had the confirmation I needed as this first year (a locally born bird perhaps?) Forster's Tern mysteriously plopped down in the river for a few moments. Though I wish I could have gotten more photos of this species I was happy with this addition to my growing collection.

If you would like to learn more about the Carmans River and Brookhaven Hamlet, check out this cool history book, entitled: Bellport Village and Brookhaven Hamlet (NY) (Images of America)

Early Migrants

2011-07-17T21:38:00.001-04:00

This evening I took a challenging kayak trip to Goose Creek against a very strong wind (though the waves remained small). I was rewarded with lots of early migrants feeding on the extensive mud flats including Least Sandpipers and Black-bellied Plovers. While these birds have already nested and raised young, Least Terns remained on eggs nearby and Piping Plovers were also present (though guessing by the number [4] I think they hatched and fledged out young).

To learn more about the birds on the east coast, check out this fantastic ID book National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America (National Geographic Field Guide to Birds)

Green Heron, Grasshopper Sparrows

2011-07-14T22:36:00.000-04:00

This evening after work I visited EPCAL grasslands looking for Grasshopper Sparrows. I was successful in finding quite a few but had a difficult time getting close to them. Interestingly I found some that had been banded - if anyone knows about these birds being banded in New York I would certainly be interested in hearing about it. While there were plenty of Eastern Meadowlarks at the site they proved impossible to get near so I was unable to photograph them.

Upon returning home I got in my kayak and headed into Reeves Bay and the mouth of the Peconic River. Aside from the Least and Common Terns which are nesting, I was pleasantly surprised to find a Green Heron which has been particularly elusive for me on Long Island. This bird posed beautifully in the strong evening light as it hunted for fish along the edge of the marsh. There was also another Green Heron in my canal but by that time there was very little light.

Around the corner was a Spotted Sandpiper, but alas when I got near it was no longer present - a shame because I have never been able to photograph this bird and the conditions this evening were excellent.

For more on Long Island birds and wildlife (and more of my pictures!), pick up a copy of John Turner's Exploring the Other Island: A seasonal guide to nature on Long Island

Common Raven

2011-07-04T22:10:00.000-04:00

The Common Raven is a new species for me (and a new breeding species for Suffolk County - at least in the last few decades, though it's entirely possible no one knew about them) which is always nice to get, especially when it's in your "backyard" and as easy as driving by a big water tower and looking up. I would have much preferred the bird to be closer but maybe in the future I'll get a better chance. Anyway, nothing terribly exciting but this just goes to show that a "rare" bird can turn up literally anywhere, anytime.

If you are interested in the birds that breed in NY and where abouts they breed, check out this incredibly informative book: The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State

Fighting Turkeys

2011-06-28T22:33:00.001-04:00

A visit to EPCAL (where I have not been in awhile) produced over a dozen Turkeys on the runway with the Males displaying. They scattered as my vehicle approached but two of the Toms stood there ground and began fighting with each other - quite interesting! I also found an Eastern Kingbird at the property near the Turkeys.

When I visited the North end of EPCAL (where the RADAR station is) I found a Grasshopper Sparrow with a mouthful of bugs... I missed getting an incredible closeup shot as I didn't have my camera in hand when it popped up next to me but got a shot from an OK distance.

In addition to the bird life - there were 3 foxes spotted at the Radar Station, hanging out on the paved area. The first 2 darted as soon as my vehicle approached but the 3rd hungout a little longer before retreating into the thick vegetation.

If you like birds check out this awesome book by National Geographic: National Geographic Complete Birds of the World