On July 17, I visited Governor's Island for the first time. I've already written about the young common terns we found there, and posted a video. Now I offer a new video of a young herring gull, set to waltzes by Frédéric Chopin,
This young bird was such a joy to watch, as was the supervising parent.
I found Pale Male in the Ramble on Sept. 9 and 10, the first day in the late afternoon over the chip path north of Azalea Pond, and the second day in the early afternoon just south of Azalea. I put together a video for the two days, hoping to show Pale Male's zen side. On Sept. 9 I was able to get eye level with him by climbing on a rock to be even with the branch he was on. It was thrilling to be that close, and to get closeup video of him.
On Sept. 9, the day I was eye level with Pale Male, I didn't have the best light for photographs. The video shows him off much better.
Pale Male just north of Azalea Pond, Sept. 9, 2016, from the chip path.
These photos have been lightened to try to show his eyes. The first of the four was taken from below; the other three I took from the rock.
Sept. 10, I found Pale Male south of Azalea Pond on my way through the park before the Yankees game. I watched him for about a half hour, then headed off to the Pond. My friends came to watch him, and reported later in the day that he had spent the afternoon there until he caught a mouse and at it in the Gill (the stream west of Azalea Pond). The little squirrel came down the tree, then remembered Pale Male was right above him. He froze, cried, then finally escaped back up the tree. Pale Male didn't pay too much attention to him.
