Sunday, September 30, 2018

A day in the park

That is Central Park.  Last weekend I went to a hematology conference in NYC, specifically, mid-town Manhattan.  From the hotel that hosts the conference it's only a 14 block walk to the eastern edge of the park.  From inside the park it's approximately another 15 block walk to the Ramble.  

I am trying to think of the number of times I have visited the park as a birder - perhaps 3 or 4 times - and I would recommend to any birder.    


Rapidly moving stream which attracted birds in the trees overhead.


Female or hatch year American Redstart


This looks to me like a hatch-year cardinal or an adult female with worn feathers.


Acrobatic Black and White warbler on a log over a small stream.


I saw approximately seven Wood Thrushes. 


Robins are plentiful in the park - here a still spotted youngster.


Typically I photograph American Robins in the springtime.  I have never seen an autumn robin or got a photo of one with such obviously worn feathers.


Magnolia


Magnolia warbler in flight


Always charming and cooperative - Gray Catbird


Tree with fruit


Hoverfly


Crouching cat


The Obelisk


Approaching the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the three bears statue.


Cultivar orchids in the museum's Japanese meditation garden.


The only dragonfly I saw all day - and somewhat unappealing poem below.



One of the fountains that bracket the stairs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Belle Isle

A few shots from Belle Isle on Sunday, 09/16/18 - with the exception of a couple of Magnolia warblers an otherwise very slow day.  This is race season at Belle Isle so the place was mobbed.






Alas, the DNR/State of Michigan is taking a very long time to complete their projects on the island.  For my money the jury is still out whether or not they have made improvements.  On a couple of visits to the park this past summer, I saw essentially no dragonflies.  There are a lot more visitors to Belle Isle, which on the surface is a good thing, but I couldn't help but notice that the park with filthy with liter - worse than I have ever seen it in the past 14 years.