Originally published October 2014
If you've been following the photographic postings here, you'll recognize many of the shots in my newest video: Central Park 2013, a video photo album set to music by Beethoven. These are my favorites from 2013, and it was difficult to narrow down the choices, since I so love all of my subjects! You'll find a lot of pictures of our dear Woody, our favorite wood duck ever.
Originally published December 2014
While Chronicler failed, yet again, to chronicle the marvelous doings of Purple Monster in another Saga in 2014 (I know, I know, it is pretty unforgivable), she did produce three different sorts of chronicles, different kinds of stories.
This year for your holiday enjoyment, I offer Christmas in New York 2014, a video walk through my favorite holiday spots in Manhattan to look at the Christmas decorations.
This began at the end of November, when I started posting on Facebook video glimpses of iconic Christmas displays in the city, beginning with the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree before the lighting.
That was followed by the glittering lights on Tiffany & Co., and progressed each day until December 25, when I posted the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in all its lighted glory.
The 2014 Hovel Christmas Tree was named Belle, and she was indeed beautiful. You can see her video below the Christmas in New York 2014 video.
Belle was, branch for decorated branch, the most beautiful Christmas tree in New York City, according to Chronicler, who is not prejudiced in any way whatsoever. She offers proof in Happy Hovel Holidays!, a video ode to Belle, the 2014 Christmas Tree.
I also gave everyone a Christmas gift of Reservoir Ducks II: The Sequel. This video is the result of two years of walking around the Central Park Reservoir and documenting the ducks and other wildlife there. It is given here with great love, and with the hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year.
Originally published April 2014
The winter was brutal, but now spring is here (at least on the calendar), and it's time to add some more of my favorite photographs from the walks in Central Park. These include pictures from as far back as August 2013 to as recent as April 13, 2014. Here's hoping that all those April showers (including the deluge on April 30), bring even more beautiful May flowers.
There are signs of spring popping up all over the park. The flowers are gorgeous. So are the warblers, which are now visiting the park on their way north. The palm warblers have been especially fun to watch. I call the warblers tormentor birds, because they move so fast and are difficult to photograph. But the palm warblers this year have been especially cooperative.
And a great egret has been flying around the park, stopping at the Lake and the Pond, and all and all being incredibly photogenic.
There have been at least five palm warblers (left) flitting about in the Ramble. They are so delicate and beautiful. The pine warblers (right) are also delightful to watch.
The great egret in the park is so majestic. The bird is a fantastic fisher, and usually catches its dinner much more quickly than the great blue heron, which seems to enjoy playing with its food more.
It is a joy to see the egret in flight. To the bird's right: Evidence of spring: the magnolias ... and the daffodils.
Sometimes the walks leave me in awe of what is in the park. One such walk was on Saturday, March 29, when I came upon a great blue heron in breeding plumage in Bank Rock Bay (north of Oak Bridge). It was first in the northern part of the water, then moved a little south and east, and I was able to get some beautiful photos, and some video. I hope I can do a My Blue Heron II video soon, but for now, I'm posting one of the photos of this exquisite bird. I think this is probably the second most beautiful bird I've ever seen (of course, Woody, our beloved wood duck, is No. 1!).
On March 8, I was in Upstate New York shooting a short film. Outside my window I saw this almost perfect nest.
After a windy night, the nest was reduced to grass and twigs. All that work ...
This dragonfly photo is one of my favorites from last summer. This was taken in August 2013.
The woodcocks visited the Ramble in March, and I was able to see a few. It is amazing how well camouflaged these birds are. I never spotted one on my own, I always depended on the kindness of birders with great eyesight. As potential hawk food, these delightful birds have learned to hide among the leaves and the twigs.
The shovelers are particularly photogenic. Love those big bills on these guys.
This looks like an angry bird (below left), but usually these guys are just hungry birds.
Even the turtles like peanuts (this shot is from August 2013, taken at the Pond, the southern body of water in Central Park -- where Woody the wood duck lives).
The Reservoir has had lots and lots of seagulls. I am beginning to learn the different gulls, but so far have not mastered them. This, I believe, is a ring-billed gull. Love the red eyes. And the attitude.
The Reservoir has provided hours of joy as various waterfowl have landed on the waters and stayed around for a few days. One of the visitors has been the red-necked grebe. Birders were very excited by this bird's appearance, since apparently it hasn't been seen in the park for decades. I especially enjoy the tufts on the back of the grebe's head. They remind me of a wig Haydn might have worn.
The fun thing about Central Park is that you'll be walking along, look up, and see something surprising.
One of the ducklings in August 2013.
