Almost Home

As the summer proceeds, it has been fascinating to watch this year's crop of fledglings mature. Equally interesting are the parents who continue--but to a lesser degree--responding to their recent offsprings incessent begging for food and protection. Here is the mocker fledgling, doing just that!

The parent came on scene, but no feeing was observed.

The same held true for one of my juvy kestrels. Here the young male attempts to flee from a trio of recently fledge crows!

Mom soon appeared and ran the raucous group off!

The situation of wild fledged birds contrasts starkly to this situation of this poor guy. Oh, he got his freedom alright but his chances of survival are low.

And then there's this guy. Content with the gilded cage we've setup for him.

Gratuitous butterfly pic!

Turning the Corner

It seems that the worst of the summer is at long last over. Sure, there will be some more heat coming our way, but the blazing, unrelenting summer sun has somehow softened. In the parks, broods of insects take to the wing, fattening up while they can.


Someone else was fattening up on those dragonflys!




Here are the siblings, side by side!

Even this bluejay got into the mix, darting after cicadas on the wing!

A batch of newly minted red-bellied woodpeckers picked through the canopy.


While a family of orioles searched the clumps of seedlings.


And here come the warblers...

Morningside Fledgling

After over a week of eluding my careful sweeps, I finally managed to spot the eldest St. John the Diving fledgling. Despite her superior camoflauge, her very active hunting style gave away her location. In the space of about 30 minutes, I watched her kill and consume two mice and also try to snag a careless squirrel. Here's a video of her ambush!


After consuming her lunch, she flew to a large oak tree where I was able to get some decent shots!



Hawk Power!

Butterfly Pix

This wet summer has produced a prodigious crop of winged insects. There continue to be large numbers of monarch, painted ladies and tiger swallow tails. There has also been a bumper crop of rare moths and bumblebees. Also present are copious yellow jackets and flies!

To the Point

Highbridge.



Harlem Church