2023 Fall Foliage - Part 2

Following 2023 Fall Foliage - Part 1, here is Part 2, featuring some more colorful highlights around the city from the last few weeks. Below are photos from Governors Island and some cemeteries, including Green-Wood in Brooklyn.

2023 Fall Foliage - Part 1

Despite a lot of rain this fall, there were still opportunities to see some spectacular foliage around the city this season. Below are some highlights from Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Governors Island.

Green-Wood Cemetery:

This was Governors Island last week. It's worth noting the beautiful trees in this post from 2020 (4th, 5th, and 6th photos down) have been cut down for no apparent reason. They were really gorgeous.

At least we still have this cherry tree, which is lovely in all seasons.

More to come...

Florida Birds - Part 1

I took a trip to Florida recently and had a wonderful time with the birds down there, seeing several species for the first time.

First up, Sandhill Cranes.  I'd previously seen them in captivity, but never in the wild, so this was really exciting for me.

In the photo below, the crane out front on the left is missing a foot. These two flew over a wetland area where I was standing, but they didn't land, so I never found out how this crane dealt with its missing foot while foraging on the ground.

After a traumatic experience with mosquitoes from hell on a trail on the gulf coast, I was rewarded with this scene of a Great Egret, White Ibises, and a Roseate Spoonbill hanging out together at a pond.

Again, I'd previously seen Spoonbills in captivity, but never in the wild, so this was a magical moment. I might never have stumbled upon this scene if the monstrous mosquitoes (I am not kidding!) hadn't chased me there.

Egret in the sun:

Spoonbill flying at sunset:

Ibises flying on a bright afternoon:

A string of Ibises fly to their roosting island at sunset:

A trio of Brown Pelicans prepare to dive for fish late in the evening:

These guys are always spectacular, and there will be more photos of them coming soon.

In the mean time, you can see photos from some previous Florida birding trips here and here.

Stay tuned...