Vulture-fest

I got ambushed by a flock of Turkey Vultures on a recent trip to Great Swamp Wildlife Refuge. I was sitting in the bird blind, minding my own business (watching the Wood Ducks), when there was a large plopping sound right outside. I looked out, and saw several of these Turkey Vultures roosting on a tree branch not five feet away:



A little later, the flock took to the air:


What are they circling around?


Coming in for a landing:


How many vultures can you fit into a single shot?

Raptor Trust - 2nd visit

Here are some more cool pictures of hawks and owls from the Raptor Trust:

Great Horned Owl:


Peregrine Falcon:




Eastern Screech Owl:


Broad-Winged Hawk:

2012 Orchid Show

Visiting an orchid show is always a good way to begin spring. These pictures are from the 2012 Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens. A few non-orchids are mixed in as well!

A Scent of Spring

Fool's Day in Meadowlands

Male Great Egret in full breeding plumage:



The plumage worked: female Great Egret joins the party:


Tree Swallows are here:




A squatter is ready to move in into a tree swallow's box:


Ducks on a beach:




What are they seeing there?


A Canada Goose cleanse:


I can see you!


Who is faster?


A flighty American Coot:


Mourning Dove:


This shot is actually from Shu Swamp in Long Island - the Ospreys are here!

March Birds

These pictures are from several trips last month. March was a weird kind of month from birding perspective - the winter birds were leaving, but the majority of the spring birds haven't moved in just quite yet. But there were a few that I was able to catch:

American Robin - always a sign of spring:


Northern Mockingbird - stays here all year:


A Mallard in his iridescent green spring coating:


An angry-looking Northern Cardinal:


A Song Sparrow breaking into its spring song:


A close encounter with a Red-Tailed Hawk:




A seagull working for its dinner:


The result of the entire winter worth of mussel dinners for seagulls:

Signs of Spring