Jim Greif Photography, LLC

03/22/2024

A beautiful, male Baltimore Oriole hunting for insects on a Central Park tree. Spring brings these orange and black stunners. Can't wait to see them again soon.

Jim Greif is a fine art Nature photographer.

03/18/2024

Looking very debonair a male Red-breasted Merganser paddled through choppy water at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park in New Jersey. His "diamond stud" (a water drop glistening in the sun) showed he was ready for a night on the town. "Red-breasted Mergansers need to eat 15 to 20 fish per day, which researchers suggest means they need to dive underwater 250–300 times per day or forage for 4–5 hours to meet their energy needs," the Cornell Lab of Ornithology notes.

03/15/2024

A pair of Green-winged Teals at The Pool in Central Park. The Green-winged Teal is the smallest dabbling duck in North America. The Lab of Ornithology notes that "Green-winged Teals have closely spaced, comb-like projections called lamellae around the inner edge of the bill. They use them to filter tiny invertebrates from the water, allowing the birds to capture smaller food items than other dabbling ducks." The male has the bright green on its head.

03/05/2024

A small flock of Ruddy Turnstones was huddled up, trying to stay out of a cold, gusty wind at the Barnegat Lighthouse State Park in New Jersey. One member squawked unhappily as we passed. Wet, slippery rocks are no problem for Ruddy Turnstones. The Lab of Ornithology notes that "Ruddy Turnstones have special feet that are somewhat spiny, with short, sharply curved toenails that help them hold on." These are adult birds, not yet in breeding plumage.

03/02/2024

A beautiful Red-breasted Merganser paddled in the choppy water at the Barnegat Lighthouse State Park in New Jersey. This is either a female or immature male. "The Red-breasted Merganser is a shaggy-headed diving duck also known as the 'sawbill'; named for its thin bill with tiny serrations on it that it uses to keep hold of slippery fish," the Lab of Ornithology explains.

02/24/2024

An adorable Blue-gray Gnatcatcher looked intently at a nearby branch for signs of available insects. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology notes, "As it moves, this steely blue-gray bird conspicuously flicks its white-edged tail from side to side, scaring up insects and chasing after them."

02/22/2024

It was a lazy, hazy, crazy day, and this turtle found the perfect spot to bask in the sunshine. Turtle Pond in Central Park is aptly named.

02/19/2024

A dashing Black-and-White Warbler stopped briefly for a portrait in Central Park. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology notes that "Black-and-white Warblers have an extra-long hind claw and heavier legs than other wood-warblers, which help them hold onto and move around on bark."

02/16/2024

Spotting a male Scarlet Tanager is always a treat, but seeing one at eye level was special indeed. Tanagers generally stay in the upper tree canopy. The fire engine red of the male during Spring mating season is definitely eye-catching.

02/10/2024

A beautiful Yellow-crowned Night Heron perched above the Lake in Central Park. The Lab of Ornithology points out that "Yellow-crowned Night Herons forage both during the day and at night—in coastal areas the tide can trump the time of day: most foraging occurs from 3 hours before high tide to 3 hours after."

02/05/2024

A handsome Eastern Towhee searching for insects on the ground in Central Park. The Lab of Ornithology notes, "Eastern Towhees are birds of the undergrowth, where their rummaging makes far more noise than you would expect for their size." Because they search in the undergrowth, they are often hidden from view.

01/31/2024

A beautiful Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly on a bright pink shrub at the Peabody Butterfly Garden, near the Hudson River, north of New York City. This specimen was in pristine condition with both tails intact.