Living in Brooklyn-Longing for Maine

Cape May Late Migrants

2011-11-14T20:50:00.002-05:00

It was my first trip to Cape May to bird. I got up early and was on the road at 4:00 am to make it for a 7:30 birding walk at Rea Farm. So I literally birded from sun-up/moon down to sunset. What a gorgeous day in a gorgeous place. The only down side- hitting a deer on the way down :( . Damages to the car but no injury to me.

Moonset early morning

Turkey Vulture

Black Vulture

I had never seen a black vulture before. I was surprised that when looking at the underside of the wings of the Turkey Vulture they are two toned with the flight feathers being lighter. While the underside of the Black Vulture's wings are black with white fight feathers. Also the Black Vulture's tail is shorter and square compared to the longer, rounded tail of the Turkey Vulture.

I saw 2 American Kestrels (another life bird) but they were a little too far away to get clear pictures. They are a beautiful bird but much smaller than I thought. They were across the field from this vineyard and bluebird. We saw Kinglets, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and Blackpoll Warblers, and heard several Carolina Wrens. The walk around the farm was leisurely and there were many knowledgeable birders along.

After the walk around the farm we found a bathroom at the lighthouse and then went to get some tea. I then walked around the newer birding preserve I believe called The Meadows. I saw Dark-eyed Juncos, an assortment of ducks including Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Gadwalls, Northern Shoveler and Green-Winged Teal.

Next I went back to the lighthouse. I took the late evening Hawk watch. However, since the wind was still up there weren't many hawks to watch. So instead we took a walk around the ponds at the lighthouse. We walked through a variety of habitat. We saw Coot, Pied-Billed Grebe and an Eurasian Wigeon as well.

Pied-Billed Grebe - isn't it the cutest thing

American Coot

Coot in flight

As we walked through the woods we saw a flock of Cedar Waxwings. The sun was setting and as I looked at the pictures I have to say their bodies looked like smooth golden wax.

We got near the end of our walk. We were looking at some ducks and one of the kids on the walk went up to the leader and said there is a different looking swan over there. He has an all black beak. We went to look and sure enough we had a Tundra Swan. The Mute Swans that were swimming with it were actually ignoring it. Apparently they will usually run them out. Another lifer!

Tundra Swan

You can see that not only does it have an all black beak it has what looks like a yellow tear drop called a basal spot. Also this is a native swan where as the Mutes were introduced from England. It was a great way to end the day. And then there was the sunset....

What a great day. I hope you enjoyed the day as much as I did. The ride home was smooth as I didn't hit or even see any deer on the way! Thanks for stopping by.

Sparrows and More, Allen's Meadow with the BwBTC Gang

2011-10-19T21:02:00.000-04:00

To echo what everyone else has said, what a great day with friends and birds! We arrived soon after sun-up to the Community Gardens at Allen's Meadows, Wilton, CT. We saw some great birds and had a wonderful time getting caught up with one another and learning more about new friends.

White-crowned sparrow

Vesper Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Birding and Chatting (in the picture)
Cathleen Voss~BIRDINGGIRL, Daniel Huber ~Nature Observances, Kathie Brown ~ Kathie's Birds, Diana Fruguglietti~Travelling Birders, Catherine Hamilton~Birdspot, Mardi Welch Dickinson~Kymry ~ A look in time…. and Dawn Fine of Dawns bloggy blog.

Diana Fruguglietti, Dawn Fine, and Mardi Welch Dickinson

Black-capped Chickadee, the acrobat seeks a sunflower seed - he entertained us all

I think the wire fence caused the abstractions of the cone flowers

Had to show a couple of flowers from the Community Gardens

Last but not least - the Very Rare Yellow-billed Plastic bird alighting upon Dawns fingers

If you ever get a chance to go birding with this group don't hesitate - its such a fun group of people with a lot of collective birding expertise. I'm already looking forward to next years meet up!

An Evening Walk at Breezy Point

2011-08-11T14:46:00.000-04:00

I visited my friend at Breezy Point, Rockaways, Queens, NY. After dinner we walked along the beach for awhile. There was a beautiful sunset. Nice evening with a friend.

Gray-Headed Gull at Coney Island.

2011-08-07T18:44:00.000-04:00

Last Tuesday after Jamaica Bay we went by Coney Island to see if we could find the reported Gray-headed Gull. It didn't take long. Those around watching, noticed that his flight feathers looked a little ragged as well as a couple seemed to be missing. Still a beautiful bird. So glad we got to see it. I hope the bird will return to the Palm tree sprinkler or be relocated so others can continue to see this gorgeous bird.

The Action at John's Pond, Jamaica Bay

2011-08-06T11:13:00.000-04:00

There wasn't a lot going on in the heat at the West Pond at Jamaica Bay but John's Pond had a lot of action. A fishing Great Egret and 3 juvenile Black-Crowned Herons and an adult Black-Crowned Heron. There were a few foraging assorted shore birds.

Got it

A tasty morsel

Down the hatch

Now for a little preening

When we first arrived there was an adult Black-Crowned Night Heron and three juveniles. The adult took off quickly but the three juveniles stayed around the pond. The juveniles are also Black-Crowned Night herons. The immature Black-Crowned Heron is browner and their spots are larger then the immature Yellow-Crowned Night Heron which is grayer and more finely speckled as well as having longer legs. Two of the juveniles had quite a game over a stick. You can see other smaller shore birds in a few of the pictures.

The other juvenile stayed on this branch and preened the whole time.

Baby, Babies Everywhere

2011-08-01T22:44:00.000-04:00

In Maine, where I try to escape to as soon as school is over, we found a nesting Eastern Phoebe over the kitchen door. It is the perfect place; a small ledge under/protected by a porch. The first day there I could see two little beaks coming up when mom arrived, but mom was also still sitting. A couple days later I could make out three babies. On the last day as I took pictures there were four babies with open beaks!

Mom or dad on the look out for bugs, juicy bugs.

When I returned from Maine I went to Breezy Point to see Common Tern babies. I found babies of all sizes and ages. Those still under mom are 1-3 days old usually. They were so much fun to watch.

Fish please! Down here, don't you see us.

I don't want the grass, I want a fish, please!

Hope you are all enjoying the summer. Shore birds are coming back, Yeah!

Courtship Dance of Least Terns and Marsh Makers at Rocky Point

2011-06-02T17:35:00.001-04:00

All right, it took me more than overnight to put these up. After my morning at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, I went to Breezy Point with my friend Andrea. First we walked along the ocean side of Breezy. There were several black bellied plovers, seagulls and willets. But the best were seeing the 3 American Oystercatcher chicks. Too cute!

After lunch we walked along the Bay from the Bay House toward the bridge. It was a beautiful day. As we were walking along we came to the Marsh at Rocky Point. This was a favorite of ours last year. We would check on the willets that were nesting there. We didn't see any willets but through our binoculars we saw a young man who looked to be cleaning up the marsh: Our hint he was wearing waders, long rubber gloves and hauling wood junk. Now I had heard of a couple of days this spring when some groups helped out to clean up the marsh but I didn't have any idea that someone was volunteering to do this on an ongoing basis. Anyway the young man started toward us so we waited and greeted him. Shervin started the project of cleaning up the marsh in November of 2010. He has a blog that follows the progress of the marsh cleanup. This is very exciting and Andrea and I will be helping out at the next volunteer day you can bet. You can view Shervin's blog at marshmakers.blogspot.com

After meeting Shervan we continued our walk. We saw several Black-bellied plover, ruddy turnstone, great egret, green heron, least terns, brant geese, merganzer, oyster catcher and spotted sandpipers.

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitus macularia)

Semipalmated plover

Herring Gulls (acting like the Doublemint Twins)

America Oystercatcher (Haematopus pallistus)

The best part of the walk was the courtship of least terns that we observed. I wish I had video for the first time, but I think you'll get the idea.

A Day of Birding, Finally... Part 1

2011-05-24T19:13:00.004-04:00

Wow it was so good to be out and about on Saturday. Preparing to job hunt for a teaching position as opposed to a job (I'm in one of those closing schools) and writing and delivering the school history has kept me away from the blog. I have missed it.

West Pond - Jamaica Bay

I started the day at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge about 6:45 AM. The fog was still settled over the refuge. I started with a walk through the woods. I didn’t see as many warblers as I would have liked but got good views of the male and female American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla), White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) a life bird for me and several Yellow Warblers. I continued on to the back side of the West Pond. I had beautiful views of Yellow Warblers (Dendroica petechia), Common Yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas) and a Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) I think. Some fellow birders mentioned that there was a Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) still on the other side of the pond. I had forgotten how small they are but we finally located it. It sat for quite a while and didn’t move, once it started to move it was easier to see this beautiful bird. The bird did some limited spinning but was mostly walking around the edge on the pond. Also saw a White-rumped sandpiper.

Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis

Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis

White-eyed Vireo - Vireo griseus (lifebird)

White-eyed Vireo

Yellow Warbler - Dendroica petechia

Least Flycatcher - Empidonax minimus (I think) Let me know if you don't agree and what it is. I looked at all the flycatchers and this seemed the best fit because of the all white breast and belly

Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus

Female American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla

Red-necked Phalarope and White-rumped Sandpiper

After a couple of hours I headed for Breezy Point with my friend Andrea for a little lunch and some more great birding. A couple of nice surprises awaited us there but I’ll save that for tomorrow.

Breezy...at Breezy Point

2011-02-19T20:03:00.001-05:00

I went with my friend out to Breezy Point last Saturday. It had been ages since I had been out birding or even out much. But boy was it breezy. We walked along the bay side for a bit but there weren't many birds about (they were smarter than us:). Then we walked for a sahorter time on the ocean side. Saw a few sanderlings. The wind was blowing sand which made for some pretty beach sand patterns. I waited for some crashing waves and shot a couple of pictures. Later we walked along the bay beach closest to the gate. I didn't take my camera that time. We saw some common mergansers, american black ducks and buffleheads. It was great to see birds!

Sanderling (Calidris alba)

A Very Happy New Year To All and Thank You

2010-12-31T18:05:00.000-05:00

I want to thank all my blog friends for visiting throughout the year. I wish you a very Happy New Year full of new dreams and old dreams realized.

Happy New Year

Happy New year to you too.

Making Tracks

2010-12-26T18:25:00.000-05:00

It's the first blizzard of the season. There were three white throated sparrows making tracks and picking up seeds in the snow.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T08:51:00.000-05:00

A very Merry Christmas to all ... Wishing you and your families many blessing and very merry holiday.

Call me Crazy... The Lunar Eclipse

2010-12-21T21:55:00.000-05:00

Yes, it was early..Yes, it was cold...but oh what a sight. The lunar eclipse of 2010 was spectacular. Over Brooklyn the skies were clear. This is the first lunar eclipse to fall on the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, since Dec 21, 1638. The moon was at its highest in the sky and I believe it is also closest to the earth at this point as well. I awoke at 2:30 knowing that the total eclipse would occur at 3:17. I used a tripod but the wind was really blowing so the pictures are not real crisp. A couple of my neighbors apparently have wind chimes. However, I had never payed them any mind or do I ever remember really hearing them. But in the cold clear night watching the moon turn orange their tingles, chimes and clangs added to the mystique. Here are a few of the shots. Oh, in case you missed it, the next lunar eclipse on the solstice will be in 2094. Think I'll miss that one...

About 2:53

About 3:15

About 3:25

Two Lifers

2010-11-29T19:27:00.007-05:00

In and around NY, CT and ajoining areas the buzz has been all about the vagrant Fork-tailed Flycatcher. Like everyone else I was hoping to get a chance at seeing this bird. Since my family lives in CT I made the decision to wait until Thanksgiving when I would be passing right by Cove Island Wildlife Sanctuary. However, prior to Thursday I was nervously checking daily to see if the bird was still there. Unbelievably he was. What a thrill to hang out and watch this beautiful bird. I was even able to take my mom to see it on Friday. She had been reading about it in her local newspaper. Thankfully the spot where the bird hangs out is really close to the parking lot which was great for my mom who tires easily. Thanks also to Mardi Dickinson of Kymry~A Look in Time who gave excellent directions. I was able to meet Mardi and her husband on Thursday. I'm just hoping that this little guy can figure out his directions and head south before it gets too cold or snowy.

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

I picked this picture because you can see the different lengths of the tail feathers. As this guy matures his tail feathers will lengthen.

The other lifer for me was a pair of Hooded Mergansers. On the way to my sister's for dinner we passed the old Cobb's Mill Inn that has a pond right behind it. I got a brief glimpse of a bird (since I was driving couldn't look too closely). I remarked to my mom I wonder what that bird is. She said it was one with a funny head. I was intrigued. So the following day I made a point to stop at the place. There was the pair enjoying a swim and dive. Mom says there are usually a whole flock of them, but I only saw the pair. What beautiful birds. While the bird breeds not too far distant from NYC, it does winter here and in CT on wooded lakes, ponds, rivers; and in winter tidal creeks and estuaries.

Just after I snapped this the female gave the male a good jab in the tail feathers. He got out of her way quickly

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The female. She is just beautiful! Her coloring is subtler

A handsome fellow!

Some Fall Birds

2010-11-08T21:10:00.002-05:00

A friend and I went horse back riding last Saturday and then we took a walk around Jamaica Bay. It was a lovely Saturday with a light wind but pretty warm for this time of year. No snow geese yet, though I read they have been spotted. We did see American Coots and American Wigeons both life birds for me. Then we saw Kinglets and sparrows- White throateed, Song and Chipping. The White-Throated Sparrow was the white-striped form. Previously I had only seen the tan striped form.

American Coot and American Wigeon

Chipping Sparrow

Dark Eyed Junco

Northern Shoveler

Nice Fall Leaves

Northern Mockingbird

White-Throated Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

More Unique Backyard Birds

2010-10-25T22:31:00.001-04:00

Since early October I have had several Yellow bellied Sapsuckers, a female Golden-crowned Kinglet and a Yellow-rumped Warbler. It has been interesting observing them.
First there was a female and two juvenile Sapsuckers. One still seemed to want mom to provide food chasing her from tree to tree calling "knit-knit-knit." There is one Yellow-bellied sapsucker left now which flits from tree to tree while the Yellow-rumped Warbler follows.Occasionally the Warbler sees the Kinglet and tries to chase it out of the area, but she returns. Since all three should be migrating it is interesting that they have stayed so long in one place. We have another warmish week so I am wondering if they will head further south after the weather turns. But for now they are providing lots of viewing fun right in my own backyard.

The female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

I think this is the female and the juvenile that was following her around

This is the remaining Sapsucker trying to catch a bug

You can see the red starting to develop on the forehead

You can see the Yellow-rump

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Female Golden-crowned Kinglet

Golden -crowned Kinglet

Notice the broken eye ring. It really makes its eyes look big

Warbler Still in Breeding Plumage in Brooklyn Backyard

2010-09-21T20:24:00.002-04:00

We were hit by quite a storm last Thursday and a tornado touched down not too far from my home. So, I was in the backyard late this afternoon looking at what still needed to be cleaned up. A tree man had come and gotten the top of my neighbor's tree out of the pool and from the branches above. Now if the cable company will come to get the wires out of the pool. Anyhow, my eye caught this flitting among the trees. The bird was so small I immediately thought warbler. He came and went and at a couple of points I saw two of them. At first all I could see was that it's belly was white and it had a black throat and it looked black above except for a white wing spot. I spotted it fly up from the ground once and got the impression that it was blue in it's upper parts. Could it be a black-throated blue warbler still in breeding plumage? I looked in my neighbor's yard and there he was foraging around; definately blue above with black face and throat. I was amazed and thrilled. The pictures are not great because it was so late in the afternoon and I had to run most of them through photo shop but I think you will agree with me that it is a Black-throated Blue Warbler. Two of them at least right here in a Brooklyn backyard. Who would have thought?

I had another small bird in the backyard as well this afternoon which I am trying to identify. I'll post the picture of that one tomorrow. I may need help figuring out its identity.

The Great BwBTC Birding Adventure

2010-09-02T17:36:00.002-04:00

What a gorgeous, weather wise, day we had for the BwBTC outing in RI on Sat. Dan of NatureObservances http://forestal-plantedtanks.blogspot.com/ wrote a great account in detail and Larry of The Brownstone Birding Blog http://brownstonebirder.blogspot.com/ wrote a clever and very funny account. I believe we saw 70 different birds for the day.
My day started by oversleeping (of all days) and thank goodness I was already in Rhode Island and therefore only 15 minutes late. I was the one who fell in the mud, "Baby Steps," Jeff advised afterwards, and it worked. At least it was the mud I fell in and not the water! After that the day went smoothly. Many laughs and good birding and other discussions with old and new friends. Dawn and Jeff of Dawns bloggy blog http://dawnandjeffsblog.blogspot.com/ did a fantastic job of organizing and scouting out the places we birded, Thank You!

"Don't you even think about getting near my fish; somebody already ate half of it."

Western Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper (I think)

Fledgling Black-billed Cuckoo
When we first saw this bird that John (Birdman from Bridgewater) found, the parent was feeding it a rather large green grasshopper. It was amazing to watch. The parent held onto the grasshopper while the fledgling would grab on and chew and then let go. This went on for a good five minutes until the fledgeling got the grasshopper to a point it could swallow it.

Female Ring-necked Pheasant
This particular bird just weaved in and out of the brush and across the path as if non of us were there.

Monarch

American Painted Lady

Up, Up and Away Continued

2010-08-30T19:31:00.001-04:00

Up, Up and Away

2010-08-26T19:30:00.000-04:00

3,000 miles later I am home from my trip. I started out heading for Minnesota to find graves of my gg and ggg grandparents. Then I headed south to Missouri to find the grave of another gg grandmother and finally to a dear friend house in Illinois. While in IL there was a Hot-Air Balloon Festival in Centralia where my friend lives. This was the 21st year for the festival. I took alot of pictures because they were all just beautiful.

They inflated the balloons on Friday night and then lit them calling it "The Glow." They could not fly them Sat morning because there had been heavy rain the night before. Many people gathered to watch the event.

As they were blowing up the balloons Sunday morning I was able to catch a few with reflections in the catfish pond.

Before long the balloon's air is heated enough and off they go into the sky. That is when they are really beautiful. They flew on Sunday morning and Sunday evening. Tomorrow I'll show you some of my favorite shots.

Away Traveling

2010-08-20T15:09:00.000-04:00

Hi friends. I've been traveling in the Midwest - a little birding, genealogy and seeing a close friend.
Went to Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge and saw a couple of Sandhill Cranes and a Trumpeter Swan among others. I'll post some pictures when I return around the 24th.

Looking forward to the BwBTC outing next weekend in Rhode Island. If you live in New England and are interested in a birding outing with other birders hop on over to Dawn's Bloggy Blog for details.

Birds in Reflection

2010-08-10T10:33:00.000-04:00

I love pictures that have the subject of the photo also seen in reflection. (Wasn't quite sure how to word that) Anyhow, these are a few shots I got at Jamaica Bay from the East Pond early on a Sunday morning.

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Lesser Yellowlegs and Semipalmated Sandpipers

Wilson's Phalarope

Glossy Ibis

Lesser Yellowlegs

Cape Cod Memories

2010-08-02T20:20:00.001-04:00

On the first day I was in North Truro on Cape Cod we took a walk on one of the well known trails. This is the Pilgrim's Heights Trail. On one of the side trails you come to a spring where the Pilgrims first tasted fresh water.

We visited the Pilgrim Monument. This is a tower build to commemorate the Pilgrims landing. It was built 100 years ago. I liked this view taken looking down from the winding staircase that you climb to the top. This was about half way.

At the end of the first day we went to
watch the sun set at the end of Great Hollow Road. There were these three cottages. I liked it because it just looked wild, with the long grass at the edge of a cliff over looking the ocean. The sunset wasn't spectacular but the setting was.

However as far as sunsets go the following night's surpassed everything! We ate supper on the beach and drank in the sunset for dessert.

Sunset from Herring Cove Beach Provincetown, MA

Hydrangeas taken in front of Fanizzi's restaurant

Lacecap Hydrangeas

Sunset by the cottage at the end of Great Hollow Road

Lighthouse in Hyannis Harbor

This was the last stop on my trip to the Cape. I have a few more pictures from the Fishing Pier at Chatham and some birds from South Beach..for another post.

Hope everyone is enjoying the weather of August.

Birding N Truro and Wellfleet - Cape Cod

2010-07-30T00:43:00.003-04:00

Feeding a Black-capped Chickadee in Beech Forest Trail.
I spent a few days in N Truro on Cape Cod with a friend last week. It was great fun and we saw a variety of birds. These are just a few for now.

Tufted Titmouse (juvinile I believe)

Chipping Sparrrow

Orchard Oriole

Saltmarsh Sharp-Tailed Sparrow

Eastern Phoebe

Male Northern Cardinal without head feathers - the naturalist who lead our walk said it probably had head mites. Can you see the ear?

Green Heron- This was the first green heron for me, but before the walk was finished we stopped in at the pond again and there were 4 of them!

The birds I saw on the Cape before and not including South Beach - * the ones with the asterick after it were life birds for me:
Wild Turkey with 3 chicks
Carolina Wren *
Green Heron*
Short Billed Dowitcher *
Field Sparrow *'Saltmarsh Sharpe-Tailed Sparrow *
Lesser Yellowlegs
Great Blue Heron
American Goldfinch (male and female)
Blue Jay
Red -breasted Nuthatch
House Finch
Northern Cardinal
Ruddy Turnstone *
Red-winged Blackbird (male and female)
Cedar Waxwing
Chipping Sparrow
Orchard Oriole * (male and female)
Eastern Towhee
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Least sandpiper
Semi-palmated Sandpiper
Willet
Piping Plover
Semi-palmated Plover
Bank Swallow *

I'll post about birding on South Beach in a couple of days. Actually didn't get as many good photos but saw some great migrating shore birds.

Common Tern Study

2010-07-28T12:08:00.000-04:00

American White Pelican, Immature Forster's Tern and Others

2010-07-17T22:11:00.003-04:00

American White Pelican - East side of North Channel Bridge

Below -Immature Forster's Tern West Pond Jamaica Bay

Lesser Yellowlegs-East Pond Jamaica Bay

Snowy Egret

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Wings on Wednesday

2010-07-14T14:09:00.000-04:00

Ruffed Grouse

2010-07-13T20:57:00.001-04:00

The day school let out I was off to Maine with my sister. We stay at a small lake called Songo Pond (the picture above) which is about 5 miles south of Bethel. Bethel is located in the Western hills of Maine. We spent a great week relaxing. One day we were driving around Sunday River area and came upon this chicken like bird. Checking the book quickly I found out it was a Ruffed Grouse. This female stayed in the middle of the road for quite a few minutes before hurrying across the road into the bushes. We went up the road a bit and turned around. As we came back we spotted a smaller grouse in the middle of the road. This was one of the female's chicks. We watched and after the first one was across, a second one came out of the bushes and hurried across the road. We watched as one by one about 5 of them crossed the road. The female stayed in the bushes barely visible and watched and waited also.

Looking into the ruffed grouse a bit there are two morphs; the brown and the gray. Over all this female looks like the brown morph, but her tail looks gray, but perhaps that was the light. Also the book says that the gray morph is more common in the northern parts of their range which is what I would say Maine falls into. They have a tuft of hair at the top of their heads, visible on both this female and the chicks. The males have a ruff usually black around the neck which is seen during display. The male drums by flapping its wings faster and faster to attract a female. After mating takes place the male has no further role;the female rears the chicks. They live in mixed desiduous woods and are not usually seen unless flushed and then they rouse so quickly you don't get a very good view. I felt very priviledged to get as good and as long views as we did.

chicks

Beach Art

2010-06-23T14:19:00.001-04:00

Two Awesome Osprey Nests

2010-06-19T21:29:00.001-04:00

I first saw these magnificent birds while living in Panama. It was around Thanksgiving I saw one sitting on a dead branch that stuck out the top of a tree across from our house. It took me a month before I finally found a bird book that helped me identify it. I've been watching a couple of pairs and nests at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Two weeks ago the chicks were still small but now they are exercising their wings and are a good size. Hope you enjoy! The first nest in the marsh.

The second nest along Cross Bay Boulevard

Aren't They the Cutest!

2010-06-19T11:17:00.001-04:00

I went to Breezy Point a few weeks ago and posted some pictures of common terns and piping plovers nesting. I wanted to get back and get some pictures of the chicks and went Wednesday. One of the things that amazed me is, the chicks are spotted like their eggs! Here are a few of the cutest baby chicks! Common tern chicks

Piping plover chicks. These little guys were hard to photograph; they move so fast around the beach

Wildflowers for Wednesday

2010-06-09T06:00:00.002-04:00

Birds

2010-06-05T16:00:00.002-04:00

Haven't gotten out the last two weekends. So here are a few other shots.

semipalmated sandpipers

Oystercatchers

Tree swallows

Shore Birds: Eggs, Nests and Chicks

2010-05-24T22:03:00.007-04:00

Had a wonderful walk at Breezy Point on Saturday with my friend Andrea. Just to be walking on the beach on a sunny but cool day was so relaxing, and the birds were spectacular!
Nesting Tern

The greeting committee as you enter the beach! They actually are not shy about sh-- on you....

These two Black Skimmers could be Football Refs: Score!!!

Sanderling changing to breeding plumage

Oystercatcher parents and chicks

3 Oystercatcher chicks

The eggs were sometimes just laying on the beach, well out of the nesting restricted area, so you had to watch where you were walking.

Piping Plover

Black Skimmers

A Little More Central Park

2010-05-12T19:17:00.007-04:00

Although we saw a lot of birds, little warblers up in the canopy are difficult to photograph. The light wasn't the best during some of the day either. So, as we wandered so did my camera when I wasn't looking through the bins.

I was told a story about this rather large bullfrog. That once a warbler got a little too close to him; he swallowed it whole.

The streaking in the background of the duck picture is rain. Taken from The Castle, at least we had shelter for the real rain of the day. While we waited it out, we saw male and female Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, a Spotted Sandpiper, a Baltimore Oriole and of course a few warblers.

Here is another view of the Black and White Warbler. It was a fun day with a great group of people.

Central Park Birding

2010-05-08T18:46:00.013-04:00

I experienced birding in Central Park for the first time. Luke Tiller from Sunrise Birding http://sunrisebirding.com/ and http://underclearskies.com/ led again with a little help from Catherine of Birdspot, http://mydogoscar.com/birdspot/. We saw lots of Warblers but they were way up in the trees and I didn't get any pictures except for the Black and White Warbler, which I really wanted to see. The rhodendrons were blooming and provided a lot of color to the park and I got a few shots of them and a few other assorted items, but I'll save those for later this week. It was great to be with so many experienced birders because honestly the warblers are hard to spot, and even when you get them in your bins it's sometimes hard to sort them out. It's a lot easier when someone says, "a Magnolia Warbler at 10:00," and then you can find it. My thanks to all those birders but especially Luke and Catherine.
Oops, these aren't birds! I just liked the color and the symmetry Two Red Umbrellas and Two Trees.
Black and White Warbler

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Robin on a nest. We saw three Robins nesting and those nests were not too far off the ground either.

Puffins

2010-05-06T18:33:00.006-04:00

Puffins on Machias Seal Island

New Arrivals at Jamaica Bay

2010-04-28T19:02:00.007-04:00

Last Saturday I took a walk around the West Pond of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge with a friend. I had not been for a couple of weeks, so I wanted to see what new migrants had come back.
Nesting Canadian Goose

There was so much to see. I love shore birds and Glossy Ibis, Foster's Terns, Boneparte's Gulls, and Oystercatchers were present. There were Northern Shovelers and Green-Winged Teal and plenty of Ruddy ducks. On the back side we saw a male Yellow Warbler, White-Throated Sparrows and I think a Hermit Thrush (picture below-but not too clear).

Oystercatchers (love those orange eyes and bill)

>
I think this is a Hermit Thrush

Foster's Tern

A bunch of Foster's Terns hanging out with a couple of Boneparte's Gulls.

Yellow-Throated Warbler in CT

2010-04-11T19:33:00.002-04:00

It was exciting to be on a bird walk and see a rarity for the area. Luke Tiller from Sunrise Birding www.sunrisebirding.com led our group to several birding spots in Westport, CT. We ended up at Sherwood Island State Park where the good ears of Katie and Luke heard the warbler. We had great views for about half an hour and were able to get a couple of teen girls, who walked over to us, views as well. My thanks to Luke for a great outing.

We saw: yellow-rumped warblers

downy and red bellied woodpeckers

chipping and swamp sparrows

great egret

canadian geese

and lots of the everyday birds from the area

Wordless Wednesday

2010-04-07T17:40:00.001-04:00

Blooming

2010-04-04T21:46:00.006-04:00

Brooklyn is just busting out in blooms. Seems like just yesterday that I was taking pictures of trees laden with snow. Ah, Spring is here....
Star Magnolia Tree
Tulip

Saucer Magnolia Tree

Daffodil

In Flight

2010-04-03T19:08:00.018-04:00

Golden-Crowned Kinglet, Jones Beach Boat Basin

I did a little birding this weekend visiting a favorite place, Jamaica Bay, and trying out some new places, Jones Beach Boat Basin and Oceanside Marine Nature Study area. I saw a pair of Clapper Rails at the Marine Nature Study area. They ran out of the berm and then just as quickly disappeared back under it, not to be seen for the rest of the afternoon, although I heard them once.

Tree Swallows, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Oystercatcher, Jones Beach Boat Basin

Osprey, Marine Nature Study Area
Osprey launch, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Mute Swan, Jamaica Bay Wildlife

Canadian Geese, Jones Beach Boat Basin

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and a Gorgeous Spring Saturday

2010-03-20T16:47:00.005-04:00

What an absolutely gorgeous day. The first birds of the day were woodpeckers cavorting, but it was hard to tell weather they were downy or hairy woodpeckers. Although I didn't get a good enough picture to share I could see spots on the white tail feathers, thus they were Downy Woodpeckers. There were three of them chasing each other among the trees; fun to watch.
Here's one of the snow geese above

A couple of Ospreys are back and there were lots of Brant. The Red-Winged Blackbirds are back as well as Tree Swallows. There were lots of Lesser Scaup and Ruddy Ducks also.

Mute Swan

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-10T21:14:00.000-05:00

common eiders

Exeter, NH in snow

2010-03-03T19:45:00.000-05:00

I went to Exeter, NH the day of the snowstorm, Feb 24th. The old buildings and the buildings on the water were beautiful as the snow fell.

Purple Sandpipers

2010-02-28T15:59:00.000-05:00

I love these visiting birds from the Arctic. Taken at Eastern Point Light - East Gloucester, MA.

Thanks to Steve at Shootingmyuniverse.blogspot.com

for showing previous pictures of these adorable birds and for giving excellent directions to their whereabouts

I got up bright and early to watch the sun come up and to wait for the birds to arrive on the breakwater...and wait ... and wait. Seems they don't want to feed for about an hour and a half after sunup. Can you say human popsical and windburn (LOL) but it was worth it in the end.

Snowy Dreams

2010-02-21T16:22:00.001-05:00

Sunset to Sunset

2010-02-21T15:50:00.002-05:00

Eastern Point Light, Gloucester, MA-
Sunday Feb 14, 2010

From Fort Foster State Park, Kittery, ME - Feb 15, 2010

Shore Birds

2010-02-20T15:51:00.003-05:00

Red-Breasted Merganser - Don't you just love the spiky head feathers?

Red-Breasted Merganser - a little courting action

Bufflehead pair

Herring Gull - third winter (I might be wrong on this-corrections welcomed)

I think the one with grass in it's mouth is a Great Black-Backed gull-1st winter

Trees and Beaches in Snow

2010-02-18T20:36:00.002-05:00

I went on my winter meander earlier this week. These pictures are starting from the end, but it's fun to go backwards sometimes.

I was in Portsmouth, NH for the big snow. The morning after the snow was gorgeous. Sunny and everything was snow covered before the sun got to it.

I love it, the beach covered with snow. This was along 1A south.

Brooklyn in Snow

2010-02-13T21:43:00.002-05:00

During the storm I took a couple of walks. These pictures are from the height of the storm.

More Winter in Brooklyn

2010-02-11T21:51:00.003-05:00

Pigeon on a wire;
trouble balancing buddy?

Winter Finally Came to Brooklyn

2010-02-10T22:41:00.004-05:00

We not only had snow today but we also had a snowday. It was only the 3rd time since 2004 that NYC Schools had a snowday. YEAH!

So I walked around the streets with my camera. I came upon this mallard huddle.

Another Gull Comedy

2010-02-05T17:41:00.007-05:00

"Look what I got"

"No, don't look! Running away, running."

"All mine, outran him."

"Hum, got it, now how do I eat it?"

That's a Mouthful

2010-02-03T06:27:00.001-05:00

Moon and Gull

2010-01-27T20:15:00.002-05:00

Before I walked around West Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, I was sitting in the parking lot having a snack. I looked up and saw the gull on the pole and then I noticed the moon next to it.

Birding Floyd Bennett Airfield and Jamaica Bay

2010-01-24T16:29:00.015-05:00

What a gorgeous day it was yesterday! Yes, maybe a little chilly but blue skies and sunshine. So I headed over to the first (now defunct) airfield in NYC - Floyd Bennett Airfield (FBA). I had been reading one of my favorite blogs http://birdingdude.blogspot.com/ last week and Andrew talked about the horned lark that hang out on the cricket field in the winter. I got there about 9:45 and was joined by two other birders who got there just ahead of me. As we talked and I listened to them talk I soon realized that this might be birding dude himself. Sure enough it was and his friend Pat who he often birds with and is herself very knowledgeable about birds. He remembered me from an email I sent him a few months ago and we laughed and introduced ourselves formally. They went off in search of the King Eider I saw at the other end of the airfield and I hung out with the larks for a few more minutes.

The larks were small and too far away to get an adequate picture but this is them after they were flushed by a dog and his friends.
Some bare trees against the blue sky on FBA
An American Wigeon (I believe) at FBA
Next I headed for Jamaica Bay. A couple of Brant as they fly above.

I also saw snow geese. They sure are beautiful when they fly.

Then there was this little guy. I believe he was a sparrow but I just can't ID it. If anyone has a better sense then I do please leave a comment. I searched my bird books but just wasn't sure. It may be an immature and that is why it is so hard to identify.

Lastly there was this little guy. He was moving among the brush so it was hard to try to get a picture. This was a lucky shot. This is a white-throated sparrow. He kept kicking and scratching through the leaves and if you look closely it looks as if he did find something to eat.

If you're ever in NYC both Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge (Queens) and FBA (Brooklyn) offer excellent places to bird or just take a walk on a gorgeous day.

Backyard birds from the outside

2010-01-17T19:02:00.002-05:00

Saturday was gorgeous so I sat outside for a while. I hoped that if I sat quietly long enough the birds would come to feed. I was not disappointed. It became a feeding frenzy at times. To my surprise I discovered that I had house finches coming to the feeder. I guess the word is getting around the neighborhood about the new feeder.

"Hey wait your turn"

Squirrel, Cat and the Feeder

2010-01-16T17:11:00.003-05:00

One of my cats loves to sit in the window and watch the birds, or a squirrel or even eat a plant. This is Baby Kitty. No one could agree on what to name her so we called her Baby kitty and it stuck.

Backyard Birds

2010-01-12T19:05:00.004-05:00

I got a bird feeder for Christmas and set it up outside the kitchen window. My bedroom is just above it, so I often sit in the window and watch the birds and take pictures from this vantage point.
The birds sit on one of the fences or in the trees next door. Since living in Brooklyn, NYC, the backyards are not that wide, so a tree next door is very close.

Serenading those at the feeder.

A very handsome boy

I think this female Cardinal is just gorgeous. She is more elusive than the male, so it is harder to take pictures of her.

The end of the first decade of 2000

2009-12-31T23:27:00.007-05:00

I can't believe it's been 10 years. My daughter and I were remembering all the crazy fears gripping the world at the turn of the century, but nothing happened. Here we are 10 years later, unbelievable.

I took the dog out at 7:30 and there was no snow but when I awoke again we had about 2 inches. It was so beautiful.

Along the Gowanus canal

Here's wishing everyone a Very Happy New Year and a great 2010

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

2009-12-14T19:31:00.005-05:00

Sometimes the wild life I find in Brooklyn surprises me, especially when it turns up in my backyard. About a month ago I had an immature male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in my backyard.

So Saturday, after an extremely trying week teaching my 7th graders, I was standing in the backyard enjoying the sounds of morning. I said in my head, "I'd love to see another yellow-bellied sapsucker." On cue one came around the trunk of the tree. Wow I thought. Then I saw another one flitting above in the tree tops. The one that is pictured here appears to be a female and possibly an immature one. She has stayed around all weekend. My daughter saw her in the backyard this afternoon.
When I first saw her she pretty much stayed on the same tree trunk. She actually was quite still and low when I started taking pictures.

So I took a few dozen pictures and then left her alone to enjoy the sap.

What is interesting is that the females mostly migrate further south and the males migrate south but will be found further north. So whether she will stay around or head south at some point will be interesting to note. The trees in the back must have some yummy sap.

Last Blooms Of The Year

2009-10-17T15:23:00.006-04:00

One more time; a look at some last blooms...

enjoy

It is hard to let summer go especially since there was little fall to enjoy. These are a few of the final blooms in my sister's and my garden taken over the last month. Some are even still blooming.

Two Immatures

2009-08-24T17:30:00.006-04:00

I was walking the dog in Brooklyn on Thursday night. Just as I was about to leave the dead end street I looked toward the Gowanus Canal. There was a heron sitting there. I ran home to get the camera praying it would still be there. Here it is. Upon checking the bird book it was an immature Black-Crowned Night Heron and a beautiful bird. "Hey Mr. Night Heron don't you know that you are sitting on the most polluted body of water on earth! Please don't drink or fish in the canal!!

Saturday I joined some blogging birders (Bev from Behind the Bins organized this event and Corey of 10,000 birds led us around) at Jamaica Bay Wildlife refuge in Queens, NY. There were lots of shore birds. In the afternoon we walked up to a birdblind on Big John's Pond (on East Pond side of the road) and just on the other side was sitting an immature Yellow-Crowned Night Heron.

Peacocks in Shakespeare?

2009-08-05T10:58:00.007-04:00

I went with my sister to see, "A Midnight Summer's Dream," performed by CT Free Shakespeare. A friend of mine, Abbie, who is also a founding member of the group played Helena. It was a great show. So how do the Peacocks fit in? Well, they were the comic relief!!

The show was at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, CT. There were several peacocks roaming the area. You practically had to step on them for them to get out of your way. During the show there was 1 peacock who roosted on the top front edge of the stage roof. He appeared to be watching the show and would comment screeching three times at the appropriate points. It was hilarious. I wonder how much he got paid?

If you get a chance they are appearing in Guilford, CT on the Guilford Green at 7:30 from tonight, Wed 5 August, thru Saturday night. Take a chair or a blanket and a picnic and enjoy! For more information and a review go to:

http://www.bridgeportfreeshakespeare.org/

Wordless Wednesday

2009-07-29T09:33:00.002-04:00

Sunny Dahlias

2009-07-26T17:35:00.004-04:00

These are pictures of my first Dahlias in my garden (containers on the patio).

Have a sunny Monday and hopefully its sunny wherever you are!

A rain made bird bath

2009-07-26T09:38:00.003-04:00

These pictures were taken through a screen door. The door squeaks awfully when opened so I knew opening it would scatter the birds. So, I tried it through the screen and was surprised.

Glossy Ibis at Jamaica Bay

2009-07-23T18:01:00.013-04:00

Wow, what a great day! I went to breakfast with a friend. He asked me what my day was like and since I had no plans he said let's go for a walk. He gave me directions and when we made a turn off the beltway I recognized the name of the boulevard. I asked, "Are we going to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge?" Come to find out he goes there 4 or 5 times a year to escape the city and enjoy the birds.
Funny thing was I just yesterday corresponded with Birding Dude asking him about the refuge and the safety of a woman walking the trails alone.

So, here I was walking the trail of West Pond. I saw glossy ibis (pictured), oystercatchers (LB), yellow-crowned night heron, egrets, marsh wrens, gray catbird, northern mockingbird and many others I couldn't get close enough to identify.

Once upon a time ...A Tale of House Wrens

2009-07-20T21:28:00.018-04:00

Once upon a time there was a little bird house in a garden. A pair of House Wrens lived there with their family.
They found the tastiest bugs and worms for their brood and they dilligently brought them lots of goodies.
On a certain day in their lives there was a woman taking pictures at a respectful distance. The parents went about their business of capturing and bringing their young food until one of the family house cats showed up.

There arose such a clatter of chatter that the whole neighborhood was soon alerted.

Eventually the cat moved on to the shade of a car away from the house. The chatter ceased and the parents went back to the business of feeding their young.
The end.
Have a great rainy Tuesday.

Monk Parakeets and their nests

2009-07-19T18:53:00.004-04:00

During the BwBTC outing last weekend in Milford, CT we came upon a Monk Parakeet nest. This one seemed to contain just one pair. The nest was enormous and it was obvious that sparrows were probably calling it home as well.

As we watched, the pair continuously carried large sticks such as the one seen here to add to their nests. These nests are more like condominiums as usually more than one pair lives in the nest, each having their own nesting chamber.

These are big nests.

In Brooklyn there are several colonies as well. There are nests on the Brooklyn College Campus as well as in Greenwood Cemetery. Fascinating birds.

BwBTC outing-Birding in CT

2009-07-17T12:43:00.014-04:00

After two days of computer glitches, I think she's working again. I'm behind many others who have already blogged so eloquently about the Saturday 7/11 BwBTC outing. So here are a few of my pictures. I found it hard to get too many close ups, I see the need for a scope.

Egret roost in Stratford CT. Great Blue Heron

2 Great Egrets flying - Hammonasset Beach State Park, CT

Yellow-Crowned Night Heron - Looking for a good meal

Found it - a nice crab
On that note we ourselves went to lunch at Marnick's in Stratford, CT. Many of us indulged in our own shell fish meals - the lobster roll was delicious!

Aphrodite Butterfly

2009-07-13T21:35:00.003-04:00

I had an incredible time birding and socializing with the BwBTC(Birders who Blog, Tweet and Chirp group) in CT this past Sat. I just returned from CT from visiting family tonight. So I will post some more about the outing this week. But for now this is a picture of an Aphrodite butterfly on a cone flower.

Sunset/Moonrise over Brooklyn

2009-07-06T12:57:00.005-04:00

I usually post pictures of nature and places I visit, but today I thought I'd share a bit of my neighborhood, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.

This is a tower that sits on the other side of one of the most polluted bodies of water, the Gowanus Canal. I live about a block from the Gowanus. It is being considered for listing on the EPA's Superfund Site listing (the EPA says it is one of the most polluted waterways in the country) and there is great debate about whether the city's alternative plan or the EPA could do a more timely and or thorough job.

These are the spires of the local Catholic Church reaching into the sunset. I spotted this view as I was returning from walking the dog (my granddog)

Enjoy and have a great day.

Happy Fourth to everyone

2009-07-04T22:58:00.002-04:00

Happy Fourth of July

Fledgling robins

2009-06-30T20:33:00.006-04:00

This is one of the robin fledglings I enjoyed watching for a couple of days in a neighbor's backyard.

There were three of them and they were flying a little but mom and dad were still feeding them.

Mom/Dad meets up with one of their babies to give them a worm.

Yes, this is badly out of focus but I still love this photo. The baby saw mom had food and went running towards her. You can see the little mouth wide open saying "I want some or feed me, feed me!"

A light house, beaches, gulls and perennials

2009-05-06T18:10:00.005-04:00

I picked a few of my recent favorite shots. Since they are not of a cohesive theme, I'll just call it a mixed bag Wednesday.

Annisquam Light, Cape Ann, MA. From the adjacent beach. It was the middle of the week, in the off season so I was able to park and get a few shots off.

"Back up women, you are a little too close!" or something like that.

I love the colors and the reflections of the rocks in the water. Gloucester Beach.

Finally a close up of some bleeding hearts. I took these in my sister's yard while escaping for a few minutes from my nephew's 18th birthday party.

Gloucester: A working Seaport

2009-04-19T16:08:00.013-04:00

I grew up in Natick, MA, but it has been some time since I spent much time in MA. Wanting to get a way for a few days and having a new digital camera I decided to go someplace picturesque.
Seeing Steve B's (Shootingmyuniverse.blogspot.com) and others lead me to Cape Ann or the other Cape as they say in MA.

I had two gorgeous days! The sun was out and it was on the warmish side with blue skies and a few mid-day white clouds.

My first sight of the ocean was in Magnolia (above). The view was breath taking; the water was so blue and the sandstone colored rocks made a beautiful contrast.

Then I rode into Gloucester. I had been here as a teenager but that was eons ago. I walked along the water front and watched lots of seagulls and a few boats but the harbor wasn't very active when I was there.

I went back to the harbor in the evening. I saw this seal lazing on a rock and also took the picture I posted yesterday. I walked along the beach and picked up some ocean washed glass and watched more seagulls and ducks.

Lastly, I always love seeing this old paint manufacturing building in the pictures I see of Gloucester. It was the subject of several of my pictures but this one at sundown was my favorite.

Tomorrow its back to school, but these pictures and memories will keep me going until June.

Thanks for stopping by.

Ahh...

2009-04-18T22:53:00.003-04:00

Out and about

2009-04-15T19:55:00.002-04:00

Well, my back is healing and it is school vacation! Yes, teachers enjoy every break also, perhaps more than the kids. If they only knew.

I'm on one of my meanders, as I call them. I won't quite make it to Maine, but I have been enjoying some gorgeous weather in MA and NH. It's been raining since I left in NY. I'm taking pictures with my new camera. I've gone digital, finally!! I have to say there is satisfaction being able to know whether you got the shot you wanted immediately. It just might be addicting. I have thought about this for a long time. So I spent a day and a half on Cape Ann, MA. Ate some great clam chowder and fried clams, walked a few beaches and took a lot of pictures, to follow later.

I'm now in N H engaging in my second hobby, genealogy. Spent the day at the archives in Concord, but apparently my relatives didn't let anyone know they were born, married or deceased. I found a few listed but not as many as I expected. I also dropped by the house my gg grandfather owned in manchester. It is now owned by the state. Had a great talk with the head guy there. He is very interested in all the history.

A hope for Spring and painful muscles.

2009-03-22T10:32:00.009-04:00

Guess I won't be posting any long stories today. I have pulled a muscle in my shoulder blade that is getting more painful every day. Off to the Dr. tomorrow I hope. Nothing is helping; ice, heat or 2 Aleve even.

So just a beautiful flower for your enjoyment and despite the snow flurries we had on Friday, the hope that Spring is really here.

Beautiful Views, Country Fairs, Summer and Winter...

2009-03-14T19:25:00.019-04:00

Every summer and at least once during the winter my family headed north from Massachusetts to Gorham, NH or Bethel Maine. Often we would travel Route 25 that went between Lake Winnipesaukee and Squam Lake. At the junction of Routes 25 and 109 there is a sign to Sandwich, NH. I remember my sister and me joking about, “let’s go to Sandwich and get a sandwich.” Kids say the craziest things, don't they. Little did I know that someday I would regularly visit North Sandwich where a friend from NYC moved. This is a lovely rural area off the main thoroughfare.

Now every summer and sometimes in the winter I still travel to Bethel, Maine. North Sandwich is on the way about 1 ½ hours shy of my final destination, Songo Pond. My friend and I always do something outdoorsy. Twice we have climbed West Rattlesnake, which gives a great view of Squam Lake and sometimes on a clear day Lake Winnipesaukee. It is a modest climb with a path that is maintained called the Old Bridal Path. The climb up is through trees and then you reach the top and there is a large stone outcrop with a spectacular view.

One year I went up for Columbus Day weekend which is always the weekend of the annual Sandwich Fair; a real old

fashioned fair. On Saturday afternoon there was a small parade through town where all the locals line the streets. The colors of the trees in the area were just beautiful.

When I am up there I always look forward to getting out and taking pictures. My friend is use to this now and often offers to drive me around.

One beautiful Sunday morning early, I took several pictures in Center Sandwich, including the picture of the leaves falling and the back of the farm and stone wall.

Last winter on my February trip through NH and Maine I stopped to visit my friend. She and her mother had been hibernating and not answering the phone for about 6 weeks. So I surprised her.

She was glad to see me and we drove around the beautiful snow covered back roads. That’s when I took this picture of the back of the town with one of the churches visible. Wearing my friend’s snow shoes made it easier to get high enough on the snow pack to take the picture.

I almost always make a trip to the Durgin Covered Bridge which is about 2 miles east of North Sandwich. This bridge was originally built in 1869. In a post below there is a picture taken last winter while standing on the frozen Cold River. which the bridge crosses.

Sandwich has become one of my favorite places to visit anytime of year. It is known for its many artists that now live in the area. Oh yes, and lest I forget a favorite stop is always the Old Country Store on Rt 25 in Moultonboro. This store is one of the oldest continuously running businesses in the country dating from 1781. The place is deceiving because from the outside it looks so much smaller than the inside.

This is definitely a place to visit and an area with so much to do, know matter what time of year you choose to go or what your interests are. It is in the Lakes region and close to The White Mountains. Hope you'll visit.

A Rare Snow Day for Brooklyn

2009-03-02T13:06:00.014-05:00

[Brooklyn Street in the snow]

New York City Public Schools are having a rare snow day off. The schools in NYC rarely close for many reasons, but the snow today was just enough by morning [about 6 inches] that the Chancellor called it off, much to the delight of the teachers and staff more than the kids I bet. This teacher is enjoying the day off that is for sure! It is still snowing lightly at 1:00 PM and I just heard the first plow go down the street. I will soon have to get the shovel out and do my front walk. We have 24 hours after the snow stops falling to clear the sidewalks and stairs in front of our residences. If we do not comply we risk getting a ticket and the only time that has happened it was about $125.00 and that was several years ago.

My youngest daughter goes to Hunter College in Manhattan. She tried to go to school this morning as they were not closed. But she couldn't get on a subway for almost an hour. So, she got tired of waiting and trudged home again, arriving wet and very cold!

We are cozy and warm now drinking hot chocolate. That is all of us except my older daughter's long haired Chihuahua, Tinkerbell. The snow is almost up to her stomach. We have to carry her out to a place in the back yard where it is fairly covered and not too much snow builds up, for her to get some relief. Then she runs/hops back to the back door covered with snow. She is a cutie.

The picture below is one I took several years ago. It was taken in a plaza by the big Chase Bank on William Street near Wall Street in lower Manhattan. I lived a block from here for about a year. That was before we moved to more affordable Brooklyn.

Our storm was nothing like the snow they got last week in Maine and NH, but enough to make a long weekend for this teacher.

Machias Seal Island

2009-02-23T19:15:00.010-05:00

Several summers ago I had 10 days to myself. I took a leisurely drive through NH doing some genealogy research and then to Calis Maine. After that I followed the coast south driving out all the inlets and small towns. One of the highlights of this trip for me was my trip out to Machias Seal Island.

A long time ago I saw a special on TV about reintroducing puffins to the islands off the coast of Maine to see if they could reestablish breeding colonies. There are several islands along the coast where they have done this. Machias Seal Island is not one of those islands because there have always been puffins on it. However, ever since that time I have wanted to see these birds up close. So I did some research and found one place that even allowed you to go onto the island and view the breeding colony.

Machias Seal Island is about 15 acres and 9 or so miles in the Gulf of Maine near the Canadian border. It has about 3000 breeding puffins. Both Canada and the US claim the island with Canadian Coast Guard active on the island. There are several tour operators offering sight seeing but few actually have the landing permits. Norton of Jonesport, Maine is one of those operators.
[Razorbills]

You have to arrive at 7:00 AM in the morning to Cpt. Norton's boat in Jonesport, Maine. After an hour and a half trip out into the ocean you finally reach Machias Seal Island. You can see hundreds of sea birds of many types (Auks, Artic Terns and others) flying around the island. On the day we arrived it was overcast and the lighthouse appeared through the mist and fog. We had to wait for about 20 minutes until the tide went down enough to get onto the island. The big boat can't get close. So we climbed into a smaller motor boat that took us to the island.

Getting on the island is interesting. There is no dock so it's just clamoring onto and over the rocks to get onto the island with someone offering you a hand. I felt bad for the women who had worn her high heels that day. Wonder where she thought we were going?

Once on the island the wildlife personnel talk to you about the puffins and also the rules. You must stay on the paths and not wander off. They lead you in groups of 3 to the bird blinds, basically boxes out in the rocks. There you're told you can open the sliders on the front as long as you only open the windows on one side. Apparently as long as the birds can't see through to the other side of the boxes they remain oblivious to your presence. These boxes are right down in the rocks where the puffins and other birds are nesting. Because I went in August most of the babies had fledged and therefore the adults were not feeding babies under the rocks. As you can see from the pictures you are within a few feet of the puffins.

We were allowed to stay in the blinds for about 45 minutes, then someone comes to get you and you return to the central area. On this day 1 baby had actually fledged the night before. For some unknown reason when the babies leave the nest on this island they head for the light house and gather there at night. This makes it easy for them to be tagged. We were able to see the fledgling. Puffins are black and white and their bill is darker for most the year. During mating season they acquire the brightly orange beak. So the birds in the pictures here in their familiar regalia are their mating features. After the mating season is over they return to the sea and shed the colors on their beak.

When that baby leaves the island it will remain over the water for about 5 years. At that point he will return to Machias Seal Island and find a mate to breed with. Puffins often mate for life. They only come ashore during breeding season. The rest of the time they are at sea. It is kind of mind boggling to think that they remain over or in the water for the first 5 years of their life and then for 9 months out of the year there after.
This is a wonderful trip and so worth it. Cpt. Norton's boat was great with heat and none of us felt seasick. The Captain is very knowledgeable about the puffins and other birds. As I remember correctly we saw a school of porpoises and a few whale backs. All in all the entire trip takes about half a day.

I'm planning to take the trip again, it was that worth it.

Just another cup of tea please...

2009-02-18T14:13:00.006-05:00

Well today is a lazy day. Nice to have one of those for a change. I have to admit I haven't even gotten dressed yet. Guess I really needed a day of doing nothing. I've done some genealogy research and catching up on emails. What is really staring me in the face is the need to clean the house. Not exactly what I want to do on a week of vacation. Which leads me to the picture. I took this two summers ago soon after sunrise. I woke up early and the morning fog was on the lake and the dawning sun was painting the sky in muted shades of pink.

I guess what I'm saying is I'd rather pull out a good book and have a cup of tea sitting on the dock in the early morning watching the sunrise. Well, I may not be able to be there but I think I will have another cup of tea and then maybe clean the house...or not.

Two Seasons of a Barn and some family history

2009-02-17T10:42:00.012-05:00

Here are a couple of pictures of the same barn taken just south of Haverhill, New Hampshire. I was on my way to Haverhill last February to do some genealogy research. I came upon this picturesque barn. It's just a beautiful barn, doesn't even look that old. The black and gray against the snow and blue skies just caught my eye sitting up on the little hill. Then I went back there this summer to continue some research and the barn looked just as nice sitting in a summer field. [Almost looks like a Wyeth painting]

The research I was doing was for my Campbell family line. I had had a hard time connecting this one to my tree. William Gregg Campbell had first married Nancy Riddle of Bedford, NH. She died in 1837 at the age of 33 leaving 5 children and her husband. William then married Betsey Webster in 1842. They had one son according to the 1850 census but then it had been hard to track them. I finally found them on the 1860 census in Haverhill , NH but not the 1870 census. I saw that a Daniel Campbell from Newbury VT had passed in 1870 census (death schedule) and he seemed the right age.

Somewhere in between I checked again some reference books. Many of the Campbells had come from Windham, NH. Lo and behold here he was the son of Abner not the son of James as I had thought. Once I knew they had gone to Haverhill, the book on Windham history helped because it said son of Abner removed to Haverhill VT and died in 1869. Thus the trip to Haverhill, NH to see what I could find.

I couldn't find any death record for William in 1869 in Haverhill. So I checked the land records and William Gregg Campbell and his second wife Betsey and son Daniel had moved to Haverhill in 1850. Interesting, it is Betsey who had bought the land, though both their names were on the deed when they sold it in 1866. Since I was pretty sure that the Daniel who died of Diabetes in 1870 across the River in Newbury VT was William and Betsey's son, my guess was that William and Betsey would be there also. But it was already late in the afternoon and I wanted to get across the Kangamangus highway while it was still light. So I didn't find the rest of my answer until the following June.

In June my daughter and I headed north the day school ended. We are both teachers. It was Sunday when we got to Newbury. Of course the town clerk's office was not opened, but I asked for directions to West Newbury where Daniel was recorded to have been in 1870 when he died. I asked if there was a cemetery out there and she told me how to find it. We actually found it and there Daniel and William Gregg were side by side.

Now I just had to check the death certificate to see if William's father was named. I was hoping to find Abner Campbell. So after taking some pictures we went to the clerk's office the next morning. We found William's death certificate and the father was named "Adner." I was a little disappointed but I figured someone had dyslexia or the accent just tripped them up. Seeing as the Windham book said he died in VT and the son and wife were the same as on the 1850 census, this just had to be the right family. 'Adner' and 'Abner' are close enough for me. So finally I could email a 2nd cousin who had been helping me and say this is the best that it gets, but I think we have the right one. So at this point I can say, with as best as it is gonna get, that William Gregg is the son of Abner Campbell, who descended from Deacon Samuel (2) , Henry (1) who arrived in Londonderry, NH from Ireland in 1833.

I felt bad for the wife Betsy. She lost her only child, a son, as well as her husband within a year of each other. When I located her on the 1880 census she was living with a sister and brother-in-law in Laconia, NH. She as listed as mentally incapacitated, no wonder.

So all that to say, how I came across this beautiful barn in two different seasons.

I love genealogy because you have to be a detective. I love the challenge. I had been working on this family for at least 5 years now. Always knew I missed my calling. I love to solve problems; finding the clues and putting them together to do so.

Enjoy the pictures of the barn and have a great day my friends.

My close encounter with a loon

2009-02-16T08:39:00.012-05:00

Every once in a while I experience a close encounter with nature. I feel these are privileges. I got my love for animals and nature from my maternal Grandfather Walter Brewer. When I was ten my Grandparents moved from Lawrence, MA to Deerfield New Hampshire. They lived in this rural town by a small river. I remember seeing a mink by the river one fall.

Grampa Brewer trained a family of chipmunks to feed out of his hand. If I sat very still they would come and eat out of my hand. In the winter he always had bird feeders by the window. We enjoyed seeing grosbeaks [both evening and rose breasted] and other assorted birds while we ate breakfast. Later he even got the chickadees and sparrows to eat out of his hand. If I put on his red jacket I could go out and stand very still with a few seeds in my hand. The birds would come and sit on my hand and take a seed and fly off. It was so cool.

My greatest joy happened a couple of summers ago. I was up at Songo Pond in mid July. I saw a lone loon in the water so I got my camera and stayed a respectable distance watching her [could have been a male for all I know as well] for signs when I seemed too close. She paddled around and it seemed to me she might be injured or something. Over time she let me get to within about 5 feet or so. I talked to her quietly and she even dozed while I stood by. Over the next week when I saw her near if I used their social call she would come nearer to me.

One day she was in the water and I was taking pictures. I ran out of film and my sister brought me a new one. As I was changing the film near the shore, she came over and gently put her beak around my ankle. I jumped a little in surprise. Guess she thought my ankle was a fish or something.

The neighbors said she stayed close to shore for a couple of days after I left, but then moved to the other end of the pond which is their usual habit. It will remain one of my favorite memories.

This was such a great blessing and experience to have this usually shy bird come so close.

Thoughts about covered bridges

2009-02-15T07:40:00.013-05:00

Durgen Bridge

Well, seems like the February thaw is over; the water is frozen again in my back yard. Spring bulbs have poked their heads above the frozen ground teasing me, but alas I will have to wait for their beautiful colors a bit longer.

Speaking of frozen water. The picture of Durgen Bridge was taken by standing on the frozen river bed. This part of the river was very frozen; no sign of open water. Isn't walking of water fun? I have taken many pictures of this bridge before, which is over the Cold River near North Sandwich, NH, but this is the best picture yet.

Covered bridges fascinate me as they do a lot of people. I think partly because they are remnants from the past. They certainly can add color to the countryside; those that are painted red or green also look great against snow covered rivers.

So why were these bridges covered? Around 1800 people had moved beyond the immediate coast and New England has many rivers and streams. Everyone needed to cross these rivers on a regular basis. Trees were pleantiful so they built the bridges of wood, but the only problem was the weather did a number on them especially rotting the superstructures. A typical uncovered bridge would last about 9 years whereas a covered bridge would last 30 years or more. It was the trusses that needed the most protection.

Well enough of the history lesson. The sun is down, I need some dinner and my daughter's dog, Tinkerbell, will need a walk soon.

It's been a long time !

2009-02-14T12:43:00.012-05:00

Mt Washington over Saco River, N Conway, NH

Well, I started the blog with a lot of enthusiasm, but then life crept in. Since I'm a teacher I do get some nice breaks. That's when I do my genealogy research and blog etc.. This year has seemed especially busy at my school. I volunteered for a couple of committees, but then was put on several others as well. It seems like I just meet one deadline and then I find another one in the cue waiting.

I was up in the Brooklyn Historical Society building last night where they were having a crafts fair. I talked to Gary Heller, a photographer showing his work [ His blog is linked below]. Really liked his images. It inspired me to get back to blogging and posting some of my own photos. In fact as it is winter break, I am hoping this week to take a couple of short trips. One to upstate NY, Delaware CO to take some pictures and to do some research on the woman that our school is named after. Then I am hoping to get up to Maine, NH. A bit ambitious perhaps. It is the creative process of taking photos and getting out into the countryside that relaxes me and renews me. We'll see where I end up.

2008-05-24T12:40:00.009-04:00

Well, it is Saturday of the Memorial Day Weekend. My sister and I talked about which weekend we could go to Maine. The owners will be there for most of the summer so we are trying to go before then. I looked up on the internet and saw that the ice was out as of 26 April.
Which reminds me that I went up to Songo in February.
I stayed at North Conway for the weekend. On Friday I got going in the morning and headed toward Gorham, NH. I traveled up Rt. 16 passing Mt Washington and passing through Gorham. My Grandparents moved to Gorham with their 6 children about 1928. My grandfather was one of the town's Drs. for many years and the manager of the baseball team. He was known as Doc Johnson. By the time I got to Gorham it had started snowing. I then headed east for Bethel. I had lunch in a warm and cozy cafe before heading out to the lake. Oh, I also got to see the building of the world's largest snow women, Olympia. They were about halfway done creating her at the time.
I visited with my cousin for a little bit and then walked on the lake. It was wonderful to walk on the lake with the snow coming down. As I was on the ice I took a few pictures of the land. One picture I got was of a birch tree and the other one standing in front of it by the side of the camp. When I put a black mat around it, it looked to me as if the two trees were dancing. I discovered how great trees look on film with the snow coming down. I also saw that we forgot to take the clothes line down at the end of last season. Funny the things you notice in pictures.