Best of Long Island Wildlife Photography 11-30-19

By Mike Busch 11-30-19

With the usual big help from Jim Botta, we put together another huge collection of photos taken this week by the Long Island Wildlife Photography Group. If you aren’t a member, feel free to join. We are now closing in on 15,000 members so it isn’t getting any easier to try to pick some of the best. If we missed your epic shot we apologize!

The clear highlight this week was a surprise Golden Eagle sighting by Cat Yellen-Rebennack in the two photos below. This is a very rare but welcome sight on Long Island as these are more common on the Western Plains, Alaska and Western Canada. According to the NYS DEC, there have been no known breeding Golden Eagles in New York State since the late 70’s so it is likely that this bird migrating through. Great find Cat!

Golden Eagle – Cat Yellen-Rebennack

Golden Eagle – Cat Yellen-Rebennack

Now that the leaves have mostly dropped it is a great time to go out and look for raptors. We have a great variety included this week including Bald Eagles, Red-Tailed Hawks, Merlin, Northern Harriers, Sharp-Shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, and Peregrine Falcons below.

This week’s cover shot goes to Christine Carrion with an adult male Northern Harrier known as the Grey Ghost, considered to be one of the most beautiful raptors. If you have a few minutes, try to check out all 9 pages including some more great videos from Natalie Ann on the last page.