First, we have a Merlin, which is a type of a falcon. They migrate in October, although some settle in our area for the winter. This guy was one in a family of three, found on a Queens beach one sunny morning.
Purple Sandpipers are northern-most of all sandpipers to winter. They like jetties and rocky coastlines. Sub-freezing temperatures and icy water does not seem to bother them.
This is just a funny picture.
Next we have a partially albino (leucistic) immature Herring Gull. This condition, as you would expect, is extremely rare. Here, the bird's feathers are starting to molt, and the new feathers are lacking in pigment. Notice that the bottom part of the bill is white as well. For some birds leucism is a death sentence, due to not being able to blend in with their surroundings. But I suspect for this gull it'll be much less of a problem.
This immature is still unable to gather food on its own and clings to its parent.
Sunset portrait - Ring-Billed Gull:
Northern Flicker:
A couple of Savannah Sparrows:
Kingfisher's hover:
And to close, a typical winter scape:
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