Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds

I only had one decent chance to get photos of hummingbirds this last season and it turned out to be a rainy day. But, that didn't stop the little birds from going about their business and I did manage to get a few photos. 

These are all Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds and were all seen on the same day in Central Park. Next year, I hope to spend time with them on a sunny day. 

The Hummingbirds really like Jewelweed, so we should plant more of this where ever possible.

I think these are immature males as there is just one iridescent reddish-purple throat feather growing in.

I believe this is a female with no color on the throat and a black tail with white tips.

I had fun spending a few hours with these guys. They have habits and patterns, so I learned to camp out near a flower I liked and wait for the bird to appear. Not a bad way to spend a rainy day.

 

 

Bald Eagles to take you into the weekend

I've had the pleasure of seeing a lot of Bald Eagles this last year. Some were in New York, and some in Florida. When I think about how the species was listed in the Endangered Species Act in 1967, I am reminded how special it is to see one today. Populations have recovered enough since then to reclassify them as a species of "low conservation concern."

This one was hanging out in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. 

When it took off out of the tree, it revealed the half-eaten pigeon in its talons.

This is another adult soaring on a bright sunny day.

This is an immature eagle. They start out all dark and get their distinctive adult white head and tail around the 5th year. This site has a helpful chart that shows their plumage transformation.

I encountered these two (immature on the left, adult on the right) fighting in the air over a lake in Florida. The younger one was apparently in the territory of the adult who was not tolerating any of it.

The adult took a dive at the younger eagle...

...but somehow ended up in the lake!

Pulling itself together, the adult eagle quickly took off out of the water and chased the younger eagle out of the area.

You can see in this photo the eagle is looking up to its right, its eye on the intruder who is flying away.

Bald Eagles don't just get hassled by their own species, but are often harassed by smaller birds. In this case, Boat-Tailed Grackles were nesting in a wetland area when the eagle approached. The grackles teamed up to chase the eagle off.

After escaping the grackles, the eagle extended its landing gear and swooped over the lake to go after some fish.  

As luck would have it, several Magnificent Frigatebirds descended over the lake and the Bald Eagle took off.

 

Florida eagles tend to start their nesting season earlier than their northern relatives, so you can tune in now to see a pair (F23 and M15) brooding eggs on the live Southwest Florida Eagle Cam. This nest has a long and interesting history, and the hosts are great at providing information and opportunities to chat and ask questions.

 

 

2025 Ducks - Part 3

While going through my photo backlog from this last year, I came across a trove of more duck pics. 

These were the first Canvasbacks I've ever seen up close. The male and female pair were very obliging as they hung out in the Hudson off Riverside Park. 

The male's bright red eye is really striking.

The female is a bit less flashy, but still cool looking.

I'd say Wood Ducks are our most spectacular native duck species. They're easily found in Central and Prospect Parks.

The male (above) gets a lot of attention for his colors, but I really like the more subtle beauty of the females. 

This female not-so-common Common Merganser was spotted in Prospect Park. They are not exactly rare, but it was special to see her in the park lake. I normally see them offshore.

Coney Island is my favorite place to see Long-Tailed Ducks. 

 

This is a female: 

Here is the male with his long tail:

It's easy to overlook Mallards because they're everywhere, but come on, look at that gorgeous emerald head on the male!

Females might look dull in comparison, but...

I watched this one hop out of the water and put on a show as she preened.

Her blue patches and brown color pattern resembled a kaleidoscope as she twisted around.

I wish I was this flexible...

The symmetry of her feathers is so pleasing. This was probably my favorite shot of the day.