Saturday, October 11, 2014,
This is a shot of Minx that I took six years ago. She was about nine and middle-aged back then. At fifteen, Minxasaurus is a bit slower but she’s still going strong. And just as pretty as ever. JK
Minx
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Category Archives: Pics
Painted Turtle
Monday, September 29, 2014,
This is an Eastern Painted Turtle that I came across last month while paddling through Wertheim. These very beautiful turtles are regulars in most freshwater environments here on Long Island and elsewhere. I’ve photographed them in Maine as well but these guys can found as far north as Nova Scotia and all the way down to Georgia. I’ve always been a big fan of these turtles so it’s good to know I can find them within such a broad range. That observation points to another: This is a design that works. In fact, the Eastern variety is but one of four subspecies of Painted Turtle. Painted Turtles (and all their subspecies) are native to a great deal of North America. They can be found in more places than any other turtle on the continent. Again, this is a design that works. The Blind Watchmaker knew what he was doing that day. He was also in a very artistic mood at the time because all Painted Turtles are real eye candy. I’m only familiar with the Eastern variety, which I have always found to be the prettiest turtles in these parts, but the other subspecies are also good-looking. In fact, the Western variety looks spectacular although I’ve never seen one in person. Painted Turtles do indeed seem to be painted wherever they’re found. Blind or no, that watchmaker had a real eye for color. JK
Ol’ Blue Eyes
Tuesday, September 16, 2014,
No Frank Sinatra here folks. This is a Double-crested Cormorant. They’ve got the eyes but certainly not the voice. Anyone who has visited a breeding colony of these guys can attest to that fact. You won’t be hearing ‘It Was A Very Good Year‘ or anything close. Frogs cannot croak better than these birds. Nor as loudly. Despite their musical drawbacks, Cormorants truly do make a joyful noise unto the world. JK
Juvenile Osprey At Wertheim
Tuesday, September 2, 2014,
Here’s a trio of shots of a juvenile Osprey I saw at Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge. I was kayaking through on the Lower Carmans River when I took these pics. This stretch of water supports several working Osprey nests and this bird is one of the season’s crop.
Look at this guy. He’s already as big as his parents. That wingspan is over five feet, no exaggeration. This is no small bird. Now check out that beak and those eyes and those talons. Only fish know which of these is the sharpest. Doesn’t he look fierce stamping back and forth on that branch? This could be Edward G. Robinson crying out, “Made it Ma! Top of the world!“, only with better scenery.
Well appearances can be, and often are, deceiving. This is one of those occasions. Instead of being a tough guy or proclaiming his magnificence, this bird is begging, yes begging, for a handout from Mom or Dad. Despite his size, this guy is still more than dependent on a little help from his folks. Think teenager and you’ll get the picture. Oh! My bad. Did I say that out loud? JK
Seaside Dragonlet
Friday, August 15, 2014,
This is a female Seaside Dragonlet. I sound almost knowledgeable, don’t I? Hah! It’s all smoke and mirrors dear reader. I was able to recognize this as a type of dragonfly but I was at a loss from there despite the fact that I have four field guides that cover both dragonflies and damselflies. It was mostly a case of where to start. Honest. I didn’t know where to begin. These amazing bugs are all too similar to each other so I decided that passing the buck was my best option. Luckily, I have friends in the know. I sent this pic out to several of my friends at Four Harbors Audubon Society. While this is obviously not a bird, the folks at Audubon are not just about birds. They see the bigger picture. What’s more is that my friends have friends. You see, I know people who know people. 🙂 Sue K., my boss at Four Harbors Audubon, forwarded this pic to Annette from the Eastern Long Island Audubon Society. As fortune would have it, Annette is not just an expert on birds, but she’s also an expert at both Damselflies and Dragonflies. Annette has been a trained a trained surveyor for the New York Dragonfly and Damselfly Survey since 2005, and she was able to identify this critter for me. How cool is that? I take a pic of a insect I don’t know anything about and my birder friends put me in touch with those in the know and make me look informed at the same time. Life is good. JK