Laughing Gull, Summer

Laughing Gull, Summer, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

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You know it's summer on Long Island when the Laughing Gulls wear their summer plumage! 

Gulls love to perch themselves on pilings. 

I guess it's a nice place to rest and take in the sights of the river.

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surfer and dog, Fire Island

This dog was amazing.

He sat on the beach quietly, in one spot, the entire time his master was surfing!

....another great day at the beach!

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Fire Island and the Gulls

We went to the beach yesterday.

Fire Island National Seashore, my favorite beach....

The water was crystal clear blue/green, the sky was a perfectly clear blue, the sand was solid and white/pink.

The gulls were lined up, and I would think, they also appreciated the beauty!

Every once in awhile, a gull would fly over a wave and pull something from the sea to eat.

...a perfect beach day at the end of May!

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The Parade in Bayport

I went to the Bayport Fire Department yesterday to observe the annual Memorial Day Parade. It was a solemn event with a wreath placed at the War Memorial in Bayport Park on Middle Road.

There were few people to observe and some, but not many, participants in the parade itself.

The fire department, the girl and boy scouts, a politician and the historical society, were all represented, but it was a sad day to remember sad events.

I had wished there were more people. It seemed pale in comparison to other holiday parades.

Where were the crowds of people? I hope that they attended parades somewhere else and were not at home, doing yard work, or at the beach.

I'm glad I was there.

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Memorial Day, 2007

Calverton National Cemetery

Calverton, Suffolk County, New York

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In memory of those we have lost.....

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school's out for Memorial Day

Went to the beach this week and saw the Fire Island School Bus riding along the beach.

This is the beach road for all vehicles....police cars, utility trucks and even a school bus!

Memorial Day weekend is here and the beach will look very different.

Bring on the summer fun!

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Owls at the Roosevelt Sanctuary, Oyster Bay

Barred Owl

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Horned Owl

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These two owls were taken on the same day, same place as the hawk below.

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Hawk at the Teddy Roosevelt Sanctuary

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Red-tailed Hawk

Today at the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary & Audubon Center in Oyster Bay, there was an exhibit of birds in captivity.

There also was a Long Island camera shop standing by, to give tips on photographing wildlife.

(Of course they also wanted to sell camera equipment, but they were not aggressively selling.)

It turned out to be a wonderful experience and I got to see and photograph some beautiful birds!

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Osprey at the Arboretum

Ummm...err...how do I say this and sound "like a proper lady?"

I was watching and photographing this osprey at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum, and he was having a nice little breakfast/lunch of freshly caught fish.

Well, he fluffed his wings and raised his tail and I kept snapping away.

After I got home and put the photos onto the computer, I realized what he had done!

I'm glad I wasn't too close.

If you have a chance, go over to the Bayard Cutting Arboretum. There is a nesting pair of osprey with a nest right atop the chimney of the main estate building.

They are close enough for everyone to see.

My husband and I keep returning hoping to see the babies hatch.

Everytime there, we are amazed at the size and beauty of such a large bird.

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Click on the photo to see the larger version!

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Fishing in Montauk

Just one of the many activities that are available to everyone on Long Island!

Fishing!

From my recent trip out to Montauk Point...

Montauk Lighthouse escaping the fog.

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Montauk Fishing Fleet...

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Fishing Boat and Fish Traps...with the morning fog.

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Happy Mothers' Day!

Happy Mothers' Day!

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Montauk Point and May Surfing

Water temps about 55 degrees F, rocky shore, and fog.

The lighthouse is nearby but who can see it?

Montauk surfing in May.....

this is NOT California surfing!

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Montauk Point and the Fog

It has been quiet foggy on Long Island these past few days. My husband and I went to Montauk Point for some relaxation...yea, right, like I need to relax!

...anyway, we really went to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary.

Ten years, and they went by so quickly.

Well, getting back to the fog...

I wanted to take photos of the lighthouse. Not just any photographs but, great photographs.

...the fantastic shots that can be "calendar" photos.

My plan was to wake up at sunrise to see the light as it changed from red to yellow.

Well, that didn't happen!

We woke up to a thick, dense fog; went to the lighthouse and could not see the top of it or the Atlantic Ocean beyond.

I did manage to get a few shots on the second day, but no sunrise or sunset shots.

I guess I'll just have to go back another time. :-) Poor me!

I want that calendar shot.

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We did have a nice dinner at Dave's Grill. We haven't been there in a few years and the food was as good as I remember.

We shared the mussels; there were more than enough!

(Probably the BEST mussels I ever had!)

For entree, I had the cod fish, marinated in a miso sauce, with bok choy.

Yummy, as that famous lady says!

All in all, it was a great few days, even if there was fog.

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La Salle Military Academy, now St. John's University

Almost every night after dinner, my husband and I search for interesting places to take sunset photos.

We decided to drive into the grounds of the old La Salle Military Academy which is now St. John's University. It is a spectacularly beautiful place.

There is an old mansion with a long line of trees leading to the main entrance of the estate. The photo above shows a quaint little bridge over a pond, actually a river tributary, that flows into the Connetquot River.

At sunset, it is spectacular!

The main building, the mansion, has this huge chimney extending up above the roof-line.

It now contains the nest of an osprey.

This is the third osprey I've seen this spring that is nesting in an old chimney.

It is wonderful to watch them fly into the nest with a fish or eel for their young.

And, it is a great sign to see the return of the osprey...a healthy Long Island! Don't you think so?

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Sunset on the West Sayville Golf Course

Sunset on the West Sayville Golf Course....

Notice the very tall, wind-scuptured pine tree.

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See the photo below, also the Golf Course...

...and click on the photos to see the larger versions.

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West Sayville Golf Course

Tonight's sunset on the West Sayville Golf Course...

After dinner this evening I decided to take a ride looking for the perfect sunset.

Someone told me that there is a Sunset Street in Oakdale where the sunsets are beautiful.

Well, I went looking for Sunset Street but just had to stop at the Gold Course before the sun went down.

The photo above is the result.

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Click on the photo to see a larger version.

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Springtime in the Suburbs

Today I took a walk after dinner...

It was just so nice outside. I couldn't resist!

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All day today, the wind was gusty and cool; but, the sun was warm and very spring-like.

My husband and I were planning on going fishing today, but the wind was just too gusty for us.

It would have made the fishing trip an uncomfortable experience.

No problem though. Spring is here. We'll go another day.

Being retired has its benefits. We can go fishing almost any day.

Of course we do have our chores to do....yard work, errands, bills to pay, phone calls to make.

The chores and responsibilities never end, even after retirement.

.....but now we have more time to get them done.

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Well, back to my walk. The sun was shinning perfectly on the new spring growth. My neighbor's weeping willow tree was all aglow with the setting sun. The geese were slowing walking along the pond.

The flowers were colorful, the sky a glowing red-yellow.

I do love living on Long Island, but I guess by now you know that.

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Where is Waldo??

I've been in somewhat of a slump with taking pictures.

It seems like it is always the beach, a park, boating.....not that there's anything bad about that.

Oh no; I love it!!

I'm just always looking for new subjects to photograph.

Well, one of my Flickr groups had a weekend project of "miniature" real life objects.

The goal is to creatively take a photo of something in miniature.

Here is one of mine....Where's Waldo....in my house plant!

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Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Oakdale

This is the estate house, an English Tutor in style, of the Cutting family.

For more information about the estate and the arboretum....click here.

Take time to visit the beautiful grounds here at the arboretum. Now that spring is here and the weather is warm, the arboretum is alive with fresh flowers and the blooms of the season.

Each week, or every few days actually, something new is in bloom.

There is a $6 parking fee, free if you have the Empire Pass.

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