We had planned to make a birding foray today to Long Island, checking out Jones Beach and Point Lookout - maybe our last winter outing for birds this year. We had hopes of seeing waterfowl, and with recent high winds, maybe some ducks up close. But, our trip was not to be, as this has become a weekend of proofing for our book which is about to go to press! Wanting a quick break yesterday, I jumped on the subway and visited the Reservoir in Central Park, Before I could ev

Winter is a great time to see waterfowl in Central Park's Reservoir. I visit here often as there are always beautiful ducks, often close up, that are easily seen and photographed. Winter waterfowl are in top mating form at this time of year, and recently on the 5th Avenue side near the pumphouse, I found this carousel of mostly Mallards and Northern Shovelers in a feeding vortex. It's a reminder that you don't always need to be serious about bird watching to find something in

Today I had the great pleasure of taking a group of birders from New York City Audubon on our Brooklyn Coastal Winter Waterfowl tour. We had warm temperatures and plenty of sun, great for puttering along the waterfront and looking out at the long vistas over the New York Harbor. Realizing that there was no way to squeeze in every site on a trip that lasts from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and since we were travelling in a 15-passenger van that would need ample parking wherever we we