On Monday, bird-bander Chris Takacs steered us to this young Peregrine perched in Harrier Meadow.

We could see the silver federal band, but not any other band — until it decided to fly. When it took off and headed for the mud flats, Green-winged Teal took off and flew faster than we’ve ever seen them before.

Turns out that Jill Homcy saw and photographed the same bird last month at River Barge Park. She just heard back that the bird was banded in New York City on June 5 of this year. Now we are trying to find out exactly where in NYC.  (Thanks, Jill!)

Elaine Raine took these two shots earlier this week at Mill Creek Marsh. She and Mickey write:

The sun was beginning to wane and the shadow was somewhat pronounced, but the combination allowed for a very warm quality.

The turtle resting high upon a thick bent branch of some type was a mystery, for it was several feet above water, and even at the highest tide which occurred about two hours prior, the spot on which the turtle was resting would still have been far above the water level.

Elaine saw no possible way that it could have reached such heights.  The two vertical ends of the curved piece of wood were too steep for the critter to manage from the water surface to the top . . .

The Great Blue Heron was taken just as she was about to leave the park.  She spotted it from the trail leading to the gate, but could not gain any possible decent vantage points from that end, so upon passing the gate she walked up to the fence and eventually found a decent spot from which to shoot.  (Thanks, Elaine, and Mickey! Might be an always awesome Diamondback Terrapin… Let’s hope we see them on the Nov. 18 walk.)