Lighthouse from above

Lighthouse from above, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Aerial view of the Fire Island Lighthouse

Robert Moses Park

Robert Moses Park, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Aerial view of Fire Island and the Robert Moses Bridge

red maple in autumn

red maple in autumn, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Such a pretty time of year. The weather has been wonderful, cool but sunny and pleasant!

Long Island color

Long Island color, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Autumn Trail

Autumn Trail, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Connetquot River at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum in autumn

Autumn, Connetquot River

Autumn Connetquot River, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Autumn, Connetquot River at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum

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A beautiful day today for a long walk along the river.

Long Island is in full autumn color and the temperatures are relatively warm.

The rain yesterday did remove many leaves from some of the earlier autumn leaves but most trees were full and color-intense.

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Ricketts Glenn State Park in Autumn

Ricketts Glenn Autumn, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Visit to Ricketts Glenn, Pennsylvania

autumn falls, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

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This past weekend I went to Ricketts Glenn State Park in Pennsylvania to see some of the autumn colors.

This park has beautiful waterfalls and trails for hiking.

I went with my nature photography club, NWPLI (Nature & Wildlife Photographers of Long Island).

It's a great group of people who have a love of nature in common.

Many of the members are award winning photographers and it is my pleasure to be a member of this group.

There are many areas on Long Island to photograph wildlife but this weekend we were on a hunt for color. For Long Island, that will come in about two weeks. Last year, it was October 28th when I took my aerial flight to catch the colors images from the air.

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Davis Park Walkway

Davis Walkway, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Walk to the beach, at Davis Park, Fire Island

Davis Park Deer

Davis Deer, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

The deer walk freely on Fire Island. This buck was looking for some food and found this shrub with berries. Quite impressive for an area so close to New York City.....

Davis Park Sunrise

Davis Park Sunrise , originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

The footprints of deer and fox can be seen behind the storm fence at Davis Park.

Windless Bay at Sunrise

Windless Bay at Sunrise, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

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This is the same bay as the photo below, looking north-east.

The rising sun is off to the right, over the sand dunes and ocean.

On this particular morning there was no wind and not one boat had stirred the water yet.

This is a rare sight on the Great South Bay and only more common in late September.

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Sunset from Davis Park

Sunset from Davis Park, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

The sunset from Davis Park, Fire Island and the Great South Bay...

The wind was very strong today but the Great South Bay sunsets have been spectacular!

Today's bay did not look like this photo.

Today, there were waves and whitecaps, but I thought you'd enjoy this shot more.

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Davis Park Marina

Davis Park Marina, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

The marina in September when the crowds are gone....

We've spent the last two weeks on Fire Island in the community of Davis Park.

There are no crowds and the weather is still good. It's not swimming weather, but it's wonderful for walks on the beach and watching the bay and wildlife.

You can still sleep with windows open, for that cool ocean breeze and for the sound of the ocean waves.

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Davis Park Sunrise

Davis Park Sunrise, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Early morning at the beach. The surf fisherman are already there, before sunrise.

We are spending some time at the beach this week, the last warm weather of summer. September is actually the best time on Fire Island since the crowds are gone and the warm sun and warm water temperatures make for a very pleasant experience.

Blue Claws (crabs)

Blue Claws (crabs), originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

t's blue-claw season. The Great South Bay is abundant this year with crabs.

You can see them just swimming near the surface. With two small traps, we caught over one dozen large ones and about 6 small that we threw back . No sense keeping more than you can eat.

Antietam Battlefield

Antietam Battlefield, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

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This is the battlefield of Antietam. My husband was always interested in the Civil War and recently found out his great-great grandfather fought in the battle of Antietam.

We went there this weekend and met distant family members, third cousins, not one of which would be here today if

great, great-grandfather Allen McLane died in this battle.

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the river reflections

the river, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Early morning, end of summer and all is calm. I used to be upset when Labor Day approached since it meant "back to school and work" for me. Now, I'm happy to reclaim the beaches and the Great South Bay for myself.

Bee Exterminator

Bee Exterminator, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

We had a little "bee problem" at the house and needed a professional exterminator. He was amazing to watch!
I wouldn't have done this!

window shopping NYC

window shopping NYC, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

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Went into Manhattan today. The weekend city seems less crowded in summer.

I guess most people head for cooler places, which is fine with me.

I love the "summer in the city," always did, from when I was a teenager. I have great memories of walking through Central Park and hangin' with friends.

My husband and I stay off the Great South Bay and the beaches on the weekend. On Saturdays and Sundays, it's a place for the weekend only crowd. I guess we just do the reverse from most people, but it fits for us.

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I played with the fisheye lens today and it's just a "fun" lens. Nothing serious.

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water taxi, the Courier

water taxi, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

Water taxi on the Great South Bay, sunset

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Another rainy day today in addition to the rain we had yesterday, makes for a very unusual summer.

We've had more rain and cool weather here on Long Island, than I ever remember.

Luckily for me, we went to Atlantique on Fire Island, Tuesday, the best weather-day of the week.

Atlantique was just beautiful and the perfect location for an ocean swim, complete with lifeguards, snack bar, public showers and toilet facilities.

It's a great family beach accessible by ferry from Bayshore!

As we were leaving at sunset, I caught this water taxi, the Courier, transporting people to another Fire Island community.

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Long Island Bayman

Long Island Bayman, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

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A beautiful day on the bay today, we just sat and watched the other boats go by.

You can still see an occasional clammer. At one time there were many, and called "bayman" they worked the bay collecting clams, oysters, eels.

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I saw a Long Island census record-book from the early 1800's.

Many men were listed as "bayman" or farmers, or servants.

The servants worked for the wealthy from New York City who came to Long Island in summer to escape the heat of the city.

So if you lived here on Long Island, you worked the bay or the land, or you worked for the wealthy who just came here for the weather and cool bay breezes.

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