Reflection

Bald Eagle at Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge

 

Snowy owl at Robert Moses State Park

 Since tomorrow is New Year's Eve, I am reflecting on what gifts of nature I have encountered during the year. It is difficult for me to pick just one favorite, so I will have to mention two. Although I walk mostly in the Connetquot River State Park, I must admit that my two favorite bird sightings this year did not occur there. One occurred at the Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge in Shirley where I saw, for the first time in my life, bald eagles. In fact, I visited the refuge twice and on both occasions saw them. I was told by a park employee that there is a pair of eagles that nest there. I will certainly return there in 2014 to see how they are doing. My other favorite sighting was of a snowy owl. It was on the beach at Robert Moses State Park. It was later reported in the Long Island newspapers that bald eagles and snowy owls were being spotted by many birders this year on Long Island. However, it still feels special to have seen them.

 

Snow Day

 

Snow was falling this morning in the Connetquot River State Park and it was even accumulating on the Canada geese.

 

Eastern Bluebird

As I was nearing the end of my walk yesterday morning at the Connetquot River State Park, I met the park manager and I asked him if he had seen anything interesting. He said he saw a Towhee near the corral. When I got to that area, I not only spotted the Towhee, but I also saw an Eastern Bluebird. As far back as the 1970s (probably even earlier), the Great South Bay Audubon Society has been trying to attract bluebirds to our area by building birdhouses for them in Connetquot River State Park. Apparently, their work has paid off because you can sometimes spot the birds there, often times near the birdhouses created for them. This is not the first time I have seen an Eastern Bluebird in Connetquot, but it is the only time I got decent enough photos of one to post. I find them difficult to photograph, so I have to settle on these pictures.