New York City is experiencing a real winter this season with weather fronts bringing snow, freezing rain, and sleet to the metropolis. This year, the winter has been cold enough for the waterways to be covered in icy islands and sheets of ice floes. Periodic warmups have thawed the rivers and inlets.
This weather pattern settled in during the late part of January and has stuck around. The forecast calls for much of the same series of snowy fronts to continue into next week.
On January 28, 2025, I observed an unusual gull off on its own, settled on an ice floe. It looked like it was exploring the river on a raft. Its black wings gave it away as a Great Black-backed Gull.
On February 3, the morning brought a gentle and beautiful snow, the kind that is good for a walk in Inwood Hill Park. By the afternoon, the temperature had risen sufficiently enough to melt the ice and turn the waters to a soft blue again.
All sorts of waterfowl have thrived in these capricious winter conditions, calling to mind phrases about certain types of weather being good for ducks. On the day it snowed in the morning and turned spring in the afternoon, many of the Canada Geese explored the whole marsh region. In the morning, they lined up like an armada to swim by the Mallards that had gathered near the shore (see featured image). By afternoon, they had taken to the athletic fields or stayed in the water for a good bath.
Away from the large gatherings of geese and ducks, I observed a curious solo duck roaming the waterways. It moved quickly and gave off signals that it was quite happy in its adventure. Most likely an American Black Duck, it could be a hybrid with a touch of Mallard or even a Mottled Duck. I am drawn to any bird that seems comfortable in its solitude. And these are the types I most like to draw.
Cover: Canada Geese and Mallards at the Salt Marsh. February 3, 2025. 8:26 a.m.
Our City Hawks
The Red-tailed Hawks and at least one Cooper’s Hawk have no problem venturing into the nearby city streets of Inwood. A tall tree overlooking an apartment alleyway provides an excellent opportunity for the hawks to survey our city’s famous rat population.
February 2025 Sightings
The February 2025 page is now available.
The Screech
Good luck spotting our favorite local Eastern Screech-Owl. On every walk, I look up to its lofty crevice home in the woods and hope to see it. I almost never do. A couple of weeks ago, it stuck its head out. It seemed like a miracle. So here, have a look at Screech at home rendered in water-soluble graphite.
Image: Sketch by author. February 2, 2025
Spring Happenings: A Workshop in Nature Sketching on Location
The snowy weather is lovely, but I’m looking forward to sitting on the banks of the Hudson River somewhere in the River Towns (Dobbs Ferry, Irvington, Tarrytown) or Hudson Highlands (Garrison, Cold Spring, Beacon) and sketching the birds and landscapes. I’m putting together workshop ideas on nature sketching on location. I want you to join me! Details will be announced soon.
Birds of Inwood 
Comments welcome!