Lesser Black-backed Gull

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Monday, September 28, 2020,

This is a new bird to me. I had seen it at the shore’s edge and just assumed it was another Great Black-backed Gull. I never expect to see unusual birds. However, when I saw it trying to steal food from an Oystercatcher, I had to give it a second look. While this bird is larger than an Oystercatcher, the difference is not huge. On the other hand, a Great Black-backed Gull is nearly twice the size of my beloved Oystercatchers. Guessing, and hoping , that I had something new, I decided to take a couple pics of it. When I got home and compared my photos to online resources, I was pleased to confirm my hunch. Oh, and by the way, the Oystercatcher kept its meal. That would have been unlikely with a Great Black-backed Gull, who are notorious bullies. JK.

JK

Bullfrog Portraits

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Friday, September 25, 2020,

This is a pair of Bullfrog portraits that I took at Frank Melville Park in Setauket. These are two different frogs. They were hanging out within eight inches of each other, so it made for some easy shooting. The second frog is about twenty percent larger than the frog above but because of the way I’ve cropped these photos, it may be difficult to tell. Not that it matters to the frogs. They’re both green, they’re both ensconced in Duckweed, and neither is dating Miss Piggy. Wins all around. JK.

JK

 

 

Looking Back

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Thursday, September 24, 2020,

This is a juvenile Oystercatcher looking back at me as I was photographing it at Point Lookout Beach. I don’t know that this will be the last juvenile Oystercatcher that I photograph this year, but these pics do make for a decent bookend for what has been a pretty good year for Oystercatchers here on Long Island. This particular bird was banded, as you can see in the photo below, so I hope that I can maybe photograph it next year or, at the very least, follow it’s exploits in the coming years. I wish you well, my young one, and I truly hope that our paths cross again.  JK.

JK

Eastern Pondhawk

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Wednesday, September 23, 2020,

This beautiful critter is called the Eastern Pondhawk. It’s a dragonfly and, to be honest, I think all dragonflies are beautiful. This one’s a female. The males look completely different, having chalky blue bodies. I really like this striking green coloration, although it can be difficult to spot them amongst the greens of summer. It can be even harder to make them stand out in a photograph. I hope I did okay.  JK.

JK