Tuesday, October 26, 2021,
This is a juvenile male Wood Duck that I found at Frank Melville Park in Setauket five days ago. He’s fairly handsome now but come next year, he’ll be absolutely amazing. Like something out of a Peter Max painting. Many male ducks dress a little fancier than their female counterparts, but Wood Ducks take it to an extreme. A wonderful, magnificent extreme. JK
Thursday, October 21, 2021,
JK
Wednesday, November 11, 2020,
This is a juvenile male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Frank Melville Park in Setauket. Adult Sapsuckers have red foreheads. You can tell that this is a male by the very sparse splotches of red beneath its chin. The females don’t wear the red beards. JK.
JK
Monday, October 26, 2020,
These pics were taken at the Marine Nature Study Area in Oceanside. This is a juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron.I find the juveniles of this species to be super photogenic. I am absolutely in love with them. It’s late in the season and by now, most have them have already begun traveling south but I am truly enjoying these last looks. I hope you will as well. JK.
JK
Thursday, October 15, 2020,
This is a juvenile Snowy Egret finding the spot. Luckily, these birds come equipped with a pair of excellent back (or neck) scratchers. And they’re very nimble. You can identify this Snowy as a juvenile by the yellow line that runs along the back of its leg. Snowy Egrets are known for their bright yellow feet aka “Golden Slippers.” Adults have all black legs but as youngsters, they have pale yellow legs. As the summer progresses, their legs lose the yellow and become black. In my mind’s eye and highly unscientific view, I imagine all that pale yellow coloration slowly draining down to their feet and concentrating into those classic Golden Slippers. JK.
JK