NEW YORK IMAGES – ROLLING HARBOUR GALLERY

WINTER BIRDING IN NEW YORK CITY (1)

Published on January 29, 2015 by Rolling Harbour4 Comments

Strange as it may seem, New York City is a great place for birding. The city may not sleep, and maybe neither do the birds, but nonetheless there are several excellent locations to see a wide variety of species. NYC lies right on the East Atlantic Flyway, the eastern migratory route of the USA. Along it, birds hurtle forth and back twice a year, from tiny warblers to large shorebirds, as they seek winter warmth nearer the equator before returning in summer.

north-america-migration-flyways — wqed.org

The optimum hotspot is CENTRAL PARK, in particular The Ramble (central) and the secluded Pond / Ravine walk by a pretty stream (north). This is definitely the first place to head for if you have half a day to spare. There’s a very good Central Park website (link above). You’ll also find a CP birding map online, and several websites devoted to birding CP from which you can get or make your own checklist (caution: some sites are a bit… intense). Among books, I have Birds of Central Park by Carl Vornberger and The Ramble: A Wilderness West of 5th by Robert A. McCabe. These are small coffee table books to enjoy rather than field guides, and can be found on Amazon (.com), ABE and occasionally eBay.

It’s worth mentioning PROSPECT PARK BROOKLYN as another good place for birds. It is very large and has plenty of water, which is excellent for water fowl and geese. I’ve seen chipmunks there too (well, I was excited, anyway). There’s the added bonus that the BROOKLYN MUSEUM is right there – perfect for a morning followed by an afternoon in the park.

Here are a few birds photographed in and around the City when temperatures remained below freezing despite a bright sun. There’ll be some more soon.

STARLING BY THE HIGH LINE, LOWER MANHATTAN

NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, HIGH LINE

NORTHERN CARDINALS, CENTRAL PARK

TUFTED TITMICE, CENTRAL PARK

HOUSE SPARROW, CENTRAL PARK

RING-BILLED GULLS, STATEN ISLAND FERRY

HERRING GULLS, STATEN ISLAND FERRY

Helicopter photobomb above the bird!

CANADA GEESE STUDIES

Published on March 5, 2014 by Rolling Harbour3 Comments

TUFTED TITMOUSE STUDIES, CENTRAL PARK, NYC

Published on February 10, 2014 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

SWANS UP AND SWANS DOWN…

Published on January 31, 2014 by Rolling Harbour2 Comments

WINTER SWANS

“I GET AROUND”: TRANSPORTS OF DELIGHT IN NEW YORK

Published on January 23, 2014 by Rolling Harbour3 Comments

CONVENTIONAL NEW YORK TRANSPORT

UBIQUITOUS YELLOW CAB NYC Transport - New York Cab

PRIVATE CAR (BUT DON’T STUPIDLY PARK AT COLUMBUS CIRCLE)

“TOURIST TRAP” IN CENTRAL PARK

NEW YORK WATER TAXI (BROOKLYN VIEW)

STATEN ISLAND FERRY (THE BEST FREE RIDE IN THE WORLD

CIRCLE LINE FERRY ( TAKE A TRIP RIGHT ROUND MANHATTAN)

LESS CONVENTIONAL METHODS

ROOSEVELT ISLAND TRAMWAY

Two minutes of excitement crossing high over the East River. See THE LIGHTHOUSE & the newly restored BLACKWELL FARMHOUSE (1796), possibly the oldest private house in New York City

BUDWEISER LORRY

ON THE GOOD SHIP AMBROSE

TALL SHIP (in fact a training vessel, so you won’t get very far)

PRIVATE GIN PALACE (LIMITED AVAILABILITY)

LEFTFIELD – FOR SPECIALISTS ONLY

CONTAINER SHIP (or maybe a tug)

ICE-BOUND BARGE IN THE EAST RIVER

ICE-BOUND BARGE IN THE HARBOUR

DREDGER (OR HELICOPTER – OR ON GULLBACK)

GIN PALACE WITH FANCY MASCOT…

‘DUCKING & DIVING’: BUFFLEHEADS IN CENTRAL PARK NYC

Published on December 27, 2013 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

The Bufflehead Bucephala albeola is a small American duck of the goldeneye family, named for the ‘buffalo’ shape of its head. These shots were taken on the JKO Reservoir in central Park NYC, at a bit of a distance. The ducks were mostly floating peacefully, with the occasional sudden splashy dive. When they surfaced, fat beads of water stayed on their backs. Unfortunately the light / position of the sun meant that I never caught one head on, when the purple and green sheen of the face feathers would be clearly visible.

HOODED MERGANSERS IN CENTRAL PARK, NYC

Published on December 21, 2013 by Rolling Harbour4 Comments

These hooded mergansers were on the JKO Reservoir in mid-Central Park, New York. The colourful male is shown first, then the less flamboyant female.

This bird has just surfaced from a dive, leaving her rather wet and dishevelled

WINTER BRIDGES OF CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK

Published on November 18, 2013November 19, 2013 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

THE POND

NEAR COLUMBUS CIRCLE

THE DAIRY

BOW BRIDGE OVER THE LAKE, SUNSET

NEAR COLUMBUS CIRCLE

TUNNEL SUNRISE

CENTRAL PARK & ALL THAT JAZZ: “30 BANDS, ONE SET LIST”

Published on November 11, 2013November 12, 2013 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

Central Park, New York: The Lake, Bow Bridge and The Ramble

9 NOVEMBER 2103. CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK. 30 BANDS. 1 SET LIST

This remarkable event involved 30 different jazz bands spread round different locations throughout the whole of Central Park, simultaneously playing from one carefully timed set list. The ensemble below, the Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars (feat. Russell Hall Quartet), were stationed at Cherry Hill, the scenic horse carriage circular turn-around overlooking The Lake and Bow Bridge (see header picture, taken in February)

I’m not a jazz person myself, but this sort of open air occasion could get me interested… For anyone who might like to know more details, here’s the set list to give an idea of the breadth of the repertoire and the opportunity for quality soloing. The four-hour event was entirely free. What’s not to like on a misty November day?

12.00 – 1.30 pm