For the Birds 10

Ships with bird names seem plentiful this year.  Recall One Ibis, ONE Apus, ONE Stork, CM CGM Aquila,  Oyster Catcher, NYK Falcon, NYK Crane… I could go on.   In the past months and not posted here, I’ve seen tankers like BW Raven and Yasa Flamingo, Yasa Hawk and Yasa Swan…,

but this guy, a bufflehead, photographed on November 28, is a sign of winter.

Mergansers, too, show here when the leaves fall.

This was my favorite “attitude bird” from last summer.

Birds like this gull eat well.

Transiting the Canal upstate and navigating the Hudson, I look for these guys.

Both eagles and ospreys announce themselves, and I hear them before I see them.

My favorite birds this year were of herons, like this guy by a Canal dam,

peaceful until we spooked him and he took off.

 

These guys have no manners.

And maybe you can help me identify this unusual bird that swam a river in front of our boat . . ..

This specimen appears to be related to this one . . . with proturberances from his head and swimming in the same waters.

Call this a post showing what else I see when I’m out;  all photos by Will Van Dorp, who rarely goes out sans camera. Why would I when there’s always the possibility of spotting a mermaid . . .

If you love birds and herons, specifically, check out babsje’s page here. On FB, check out tug44’s Fort Edward Wildlife Magazine and find out what Fred’s been up to.

And finally, here‘s a heart-warming NYC land bird story about a rooster found by a good samaritan and named Elizabeth Warhen.

It’s already the second day of a new year, and boats and birds plentiful populate the boro.

 

Critters 3

Click here and then scroll to the last three pics;  you’ll see a sixth boro version of the photo below, taken just east of Lyons.

Near the Montezuma, these passed twice, and they were certainly not the mute type.

Lots of herons hunt for fish from the locks, but they fly away as a boat appears.  This one, however, may have thought himself fleet

footed enough to play ostrich.

The parrot that share an apartment with me stretches each morning before flying; ospreys  . . . it appears . . . do the same, especially

if they transport meals like this.

Final shot for today . . . the four-point buck here just about to  find footing and camouflage on the north bank.

All photos here taken by Will Van Dorp, who has access to wifi AND a more contemporary computer tonight.