The Downy Woodpecker was another bird I saw in a park on the Hudson River in New York. New York is in the year round range of this bird, as is most of the U.S.
Downy Woodpecker in November
The park is mostly woods. However, these shots are at the edge of the woods close to an open area. They usually stick to woods, but can be found in parks and they say at your bird feeder. When I was allowed to feed birds, I would see them in the woods behind my apartment, but not at the feeder.
Downy Woodpecker in November
This Downy Woodpecker is a male as males have the red patch on the back of their head.
Downy Woodpecker in November
Have a great rest of your week! Enjoy the great outdoors!
I believe these are all tufted titmouse. I saw these in a park on the Hudson River in New York. My region of New York is within its year-round range.
Tufted Titmouse in November
Tufted titmouse were following me around at this park. They were really interested in where I was.
Tufted Titmouse in November
These birds will visit feeders. In the complex I live in we were banned a few years ago from feeding the birds due to a bear going through and raiding the bird feeders. No one has been feeding the birds since, but we still have bears wandering through.
Tufted Titmouse in November
According to All About Birds Tufted Titmice move from branch to branch in the forest looking for food. They will go on the ground after fallen seeds. The park I went to was made up mostly of forest along the river.
I believe this is a white-breasted nuthatch. I saw this in a park next to the Hudson River in the Hudson Valley of New York. Most of the US including New York State is part of their year-round range.
White-Breasted Nuthatch
According to All About Birds white-breasted nuthatches get their name from their habit of jamming large nuts and acorns into tree bark, then hitting them with their sharp bill to “hatch” out the seed from the inside.
This is the closest I will get to a peregrine falcon. I was in the front row at an outdoor falconry show at Warwick Castle in Warwick, England in July.
I had a zoom lens on my camera. It was raining and dark, so the lighting wasn’t the best and it was too difficult to get shots while they were in flight. The rain kept interfering with my auto focus.
Despite the weather and lighting conditions it was a great show to watch. Have a great week!
This bird was tough to snap a picture of. It seemed to be ADHD. It moved quickly from tree to tree and branch to branch. I believe it is a Ruby-Crowned Kinglet. If I am wrong let me know.
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
Ruby Crowned Kinglets are said to be hyperactive, which definitely fits this bird. This type of kinglet is said to have an uneven eye ring, which this one does. The Ruby-Crowned Kinglet is said to have brighter greenish edges on the wing and tail feathers, which you can see here.
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
This bird was in a wooded area right next to the Hudson River in an area with different kinds of birds.
Ruby Crowned Kinglet
According to Merlin, the ruby crown is only on the males and is usually hidden. If it becomes agitated you might see it.
This bird was interesting to observe. The Hudson Valley in Southern NY is actually in its non-breeding range. What birds have you caught during this migration?
The family has continued the tradition. This appears to be a repeat Minions display. It was great to see again regardless.
Minions Hay Bale Halloween 2024Minions Hay Bale Halloween 2024Minions Hay Bale Halloween 2024Minions Hay Bale Halloween 2024Minions Hay Bale Halloween 2024Minions Hay Bale Halloween 2024Minions Hay Bale Halloween 2024
Too many of the decorations this year are the ones on the darker, scarier side of Halloween. I am glad to see some families put up decorations that are more positive.
Did you know some pubs are named for trades that were prominent in the area?There are 37 Bricklayer’s Arms pubs in the U.K. according to pubnames.co.uk. This is one named after that trade.
Bricklayer’s Arms Pub Sign- the Pub
I came across this pub while walking through London. It was 31 Gresse Street which is north of Oxford Street and west of Tottenham Court Road in the Camden section of the city. It is not far from the Tottenham Court Station.
Bricklayer’s Arms Pub Sign
Back long ago a pub being named for a trade may have shown where people could meet others in a similar trade. It might also help them meet people to procure work if they were new in the trade. Brick laying is still an occupation that is active. It is great to see the long time trades honoured through signs like these.
These are two of the three fledglings from the same tree hole in May. This appears to be the day these two left the nest hole. The third was still in the hole and was quite loud.
Owl Fledglings 2024
The two out of the tree hole looked so small for barred owls it was confusing. It did not help they fledged during a dark day where it was raining hard. This is why they look drenched. The one pictured above is on a tree branch on the ground. I called a friend and she came. To not upset the apple cart with the parents, who had to be nearby, we left the baby on the ground in hopes that it would climb a nearby tree. It looked exhausted.
Owl Fledglings 2024 I manipulated this dark photo a lot to try to get it sharper and with less noise.
This is the second fledged owlet. It was on a tree maybe ten feet off the ground. This is the last time I saw the owlets from this tree. I did see the parents hunting nearby several times, so I am thinking they were there somewhere. This year though the screech of the babies asking for food was absent. I have always heard that in the past. This year I only heard the screeching coming while they were inside the tree hole or at the hole. Hopefully the great horned owls coming on their territory did not result in the barred owlets being killed. I am hoping they moved them safely to another area.
Common Moorhens are medium sized water birds. Other names it could be known as are marsh hens, common gallinule (this may be a close relation), or skitty coot. I saw these birds in some of the royal parks in London.
It has long, green-yellowish legs that resemble something more reptilian. It is close in appearance to an American Coot. One of the main differences is the Moorhen has a red and yellow beak while the coot has a white one.
These signs are from two different pubs of the same name in London, The Duke of York. According to pubnames.co.uk there are 52 Pubs named Duke of York.
Duke of York Pub Signs, Mayfair, London
The pub pictured above I believe is in Mayfair, London. One of the more famous Duke of York’s was King Charles brother, James. According to history.nycourts.gov, Charles laid claim for New Netherland by granting James a patent to the colony. James sent a fleet of ships to New Netherland and the Dutch surrendered. The English took over New Netherland and the colony was renamed New York. I am guessing that is who is depicted in the sign, but I could be wrong. Paintings I see of him online do not resemble this sign.
Duke of York Pub Signs – Fitzrovia, London
The pub sign pictured above is at The Duke of York pub in Fitzrovia in central London. According to londonletter.substack.com, Prince Andrew gave permission for his likeness to be used in this sign. They say it is the only pub in the world that has a living member of the Royal family on it. Not sure how I feel about that. The reigning monarch’s image is on the pound notes as well as coins. Some may say having Prince Andrew’s image on a pub sign is controversial.
What do you think? Should a living person be depicted on a pub sign? Have a great rest of your weekend!
