Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, April 8

An April afternoon spent at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge yielded several really good and interesting shots. Like this one - the best picture of the swan I've taken (or probably even seen):


Two Tree Swallows were fighting:


The Osprey was looking the other way:


Canada Goose was protecting the nest:


Belted Kingfisher was working on her dinner:




Little Blue Heron was flying home for the night:


Northern Shovelers were doing their shoveling:


Double-Crested Cormorants (one juvenile) were coming home to roost:


The Ruddy Duck was strutting his stuff:


And the Song Sparrow was preparing to belt out his tune (actually, he was more of a falsetto):


Parting shot:

Dunlins

Dunlins are interesting little birds. I recently had a chance to take a good look at them at Jones Beach. They are compact, energetic, and pushy. And I like their long downcurved bills:


It was in the middle of April, and the birds had just started to molt into their breeding plumage. Here a few birds are already showing the darker spots on their bellies:


They aggregated in huge numbers all along the water's edge:


When they fly, the entire hundred-strong flocks take off at once:

Jones Beach, April 8

If you thought that the only sunbathing that's going on on Jones Beach is between the months of June and August, you are severely mistaken. The beach is in use in all seasons. This past Easter Sunday, there were thousands of sunbathers on the beach. They enjoyed the sand and the salty air, occasionally tried the water (still too cold), chattered to each other and to passers-by. And periodically took to flight.



These sunbathers were Dunlins (the ones with the longer bills) and Sanderlings (the lighter grey ones), taking a rest during their spring migration. Here is a series of closer looks at what their flocks looked like:



There were a few more visitors enjoying the sun, like these American Oystercatchers:





A Black-Bellied Plover (in non-breeding plumage) was contemplating the next leg of his trip:



A shy Semipalmated Plover took its place far apart from the rest of the croud:

 One phlegmatic seagull (2nd-year Herring Gull?) was watching over the entire proceedings:


And when the day was over, it was time to go back home:

Van Cortland Park

Van Cortland Park is the 4th largest park in New York City. (Here's a trick question - what's the largest? If you think it's Central Park, the answer will surprise you. The answer is on the bottom of this post.) It's in the Bronx, right up against the border with Yonkers. The western section is well maintained and has a lot of good trails and two golf courses. The pictures below are from my trip there in early April.

One of the things the park is famous for is its Wood Ducks. Here is a male and a female:




A Great Egret in breeding plumage:


Palm Warbler - really difficult to catch, the fleet around so much:


Look at the iridescent feathers on the Common Grackle!


Mourning Dove:


American Robin:


And a few other relaxing pictures:















And the largest park in New York City? It's Pelham Bay Park, also in the Bronx. Central Park is actually 5th.

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: