The Westchester View » Walking Trails in Westchester County

Westchester Events – Hudson River EagleFest – Feb. 4, 2012

Ruthmarie Hicks — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:18:54 +0000

Yes, I know – everyone is gearing up for the Superbowl. But there are many who would like to share in outdoor activities this weekend.

For the past 8 years the Hudson Valley has celebrated the renewed presence and vibrancy of our national bird in the Hudson Valley. Many are too young to remember, but in the 1970s the American bald eagle was an endangered species. Now they are thriving and I have witnessed their presence on more than a couple of occasions. The photo at the right is one I took at Kingsland Point Park about a year ago. Apparently, the majestic soul in the portrait was watchful but not fearful of me or my telephoto lens….But the photo shows that my presence did not pass unnoticed…he was well aware of me and watching my every move – with his eagle eye!

This post is more than a bit tardy – and for that I apologize. The bus tour is sold out. However, there are still ways to participate and learn more about some of our most majestic birds of prey.

The event is hosted by the Teatown Reservation but the epicenter is at Croton Point Park – There are many ways to participate:

Eagle Theater Schedule:

10 AM, 11AM & 12 PM - Close Encounters with Wintering Eagles and Owls
1 PM, 2 PM – Exclusively Eagles
3PM – Flight of the Raptors

Advance Ticket sales are $5.00/person and $10/person when purchased at the door.

Eaglet Stage Schedule:

These shows are free of charge!

9 AM – Eagle Identification Tips
10:30 AM & 2:15 PM – Jonathan Kruk – Master story teller
12 PM – Teatown Birds of Prey Program
12:45 – Physics of Flight – Beyond Feathers
1:30 – Birding Optics

Additional eagle viewing sites along the Hudson River…

Each area is staffed by eagle experts with spotting scopes.

Croton Boat Ramp at Croton-Harmon Train Station
George’s Island Park – Montrose
Riverfront Green Park – Peekskill
Kathryn W. Davis Riverwalk Center – Sleepy Hollow
New Croton Dam – Cortlandt
Bear Mountain State Park Trailside Museums & Zoo.

Fotos on the Fly – NYC Skyline from Hudson Harbor – Tarrytown NY

Ruthmarie Hicks — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 06:13:10 +0000

One of the most exciting new construction developments is Hudson Harbor – Tarrytown NY. I’m not normally a big fan of modern architecture, but I have to say that I really love the construction of this complex with its use of fieldstone and old wood beams. They made it look like Stone Barns which is quite an accomplishment. But what really makes its special are the views.

So after we saw the development, I went for a walk on the RiverWalk that runs right behind the complex. (The complex – now in Phase II is right on the river.) and took some photos. Basically I started with a wide-angle lens and moved to a tele photo.

The first picture is of the Tappan Zee Bridge. The Manhattan skyline can be faintly seen under the bridge with the wide angle. The second picture was with a zoom lens – it gives you a perspective of where the Manhattan skyline is in relation to the TZ bridge. The final was when I zoomed in on the skyline itself. I’ve taken photos from this perspective before, but it was such a clear – if blustery day, that the skyline really “popped” particularly with the color of the sky.

Hope you enjoy these – they were fun to take.

Fotos on the fly – Hudson River Sunset on the River Walk – Sleepy Hollow NY

Ruthmarie Hicks — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 04:49:36 +0000

Hello everyone – I was lucky enough to have my camera with me for a beautiful fiery sunset on the Hudson. The sun just seems to set so fast at this time of year. But it does bring to mind that for those thinking of living on or near the Hudson – that one of the perks is a brand new sunset served up every evening. So if you are interested in living along the river…. a complex like Hudson Harbor or Ichabod’s Landing or a single family home with westerly views – will give you a front row seat for this type of nightly display. There is something very refreshing and invigorating about simply being able to take in such sight. It refreshes the mind and soul.

The Westchester RiverWalk along the Hudson River

Ruthmarie Hicks — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 06:53:28 +0000

Westchester NY – particularly southern Westchester is surrounded by water. On the south-eastern border up to the southern tip of Connecticut, the Long Island Sound dominates the area. The entire span of the western side of the county borders the Hudson River.

The Westchester RiverWalk is a 51.5 mile planned pathway that lies parallel to the river and will – when completed span the entire county. The walk itself will actually span 14 different municipalities and will connect village centers, many of the historic sites along the route, trills such as the Croton Aqueduct trail, as well as esplanades and boardwalks.

I have walked portions of RiverWalk with camera in hand including the areas of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow just north of the Tappan Zee Bridge as well as the downtown Yonkers waterfront. The slide show my vision of what the RiverWalk is all about – as seen through the lens of my camera…which is often my friendly translator!

For a GoogleEarth Virtual Tour of the RiverWalk - click here.

Fotos on the fly: Mallards making waves….

Ruthmarie Hicks — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:43:47 +0000

Every once in a while I get an opportunity. I was supposed to be working into the evening on Saturday, but a last minute cancellation freed me up unexpectedly. So I decided to enjoy the last afternoon of daylight savings at the Rockefeller Preserve with Jade & Tundra in tow. We had a nice walk around Swan Lake. I was trying to take photos with two dogs on leashes….to say this looked clumsy was an understatement. But I did get a couple of nice pictures that I decided to post right here.

The duck population was hard at work preparing for the cold months ahead.

This Mallard was “making tracks” or “waves” in a very purposeful way….

The pair of ducks were making a few waves of their own as they swam towards the middle of the lake:

Fotos on the fly – Stormy weather in Tarrytown NY

Ruthmarie Hicks — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 04:13:20 +0000

A brief bout of flu has kept me from blogging. But a few days ago I mentioned how stormy the weather has been. Well sometimes stormy skies can have an eerie beauty about them. So when I saw this kind of surreal light over a cloudy sky along the Tarrytown lakes – I stopped my car and took a couple of photos. Here is one of them. You really see the clouds almost rolling in and the sun TRYING to peak through.

Fotos on the Fly – The Yonkers NY Waterfront….

Ruthmarie Hicks — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 07:56:29 +0000

About 10 days ago I had about an hour to spare – so I grabbed the camera and spent some quality time on the Yonkers Waterfront. After writing about the Science Barge and my new feathered friends, I thought it was time to share the waterfront photos. The area is the southernmost part of the River Walk that is being built along the Hudson from Peekskill to the Bronx border. Eventually it will be a contiguous walk. The views of Manhattan were pretty amazing even though it was hazy and hot – and that little girl in the last photo was obviously having a great time…

The Manhattan Skyline from the Yonkers NY Waterfront

Yonkers NY Waterfront - The George Washington Bridge

Yonkers NY Waterfront - People At Play....

Birds of a Feather – Seagulls on the Hudson River

Ruthmarie Hicks — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 06:39:39 +0000

Last Friday, I made a few new friends. Not of the human variety – my new pals had feathers and seemed to enjoy spending their time time soaring above the Hudson River near the Yonkers NY waterfront.

I don’t spend that much time down there so I was surprised at the number of seagulls that had made themselves at home in this location. They were perched along the River Walk – Kings of all they survey. They graciously allow us land-locked bipeds to share their habitat with them. And a couple of them obliged me by posing for a photo shoot. The little guy below was particularly generous with his time. He posed for shot after shot. When he finally flew away, I promised I would pick a photo that showed off his best side…I hope his nest has a high-speed connection and that he approves of the shot.

Fotos on the Fly – Tarrytown NY River Walk in Spring

Ruthmarie Hicks — Wed, 18 May 2011 03:51:08 +0000

There are times when the light is just right and the blooms are at their peak. Sometimes you just get lucky. But then again – The Tarrytown NY Rivere walk provides me with a terrific subject. If I took bad pictures with all that going for me – I should just stop taking photos altogether. In any case, Jade, Tundra and I decided to take a walk along the River Walk around 6:00 PM about 10 days ago. People were out. There was plenty of activity – and who can blame them? Some areas just lend themselves to gatherings. This is one of them. Whether fishing, strolling, walking the dogs or reading on a bench – people can’t help but congregate in such a wonderful outdoor “room.” And if you live at Hudson Harbor – this is truly your back yard.

The Peonies are Blooming at the Rockefeller Preserve – Sleepy Hollow NY

Ruthmarie Hicks — Sat, 14 May 2011 03:50:31 +0000

Each year around this time, people come from miles around to see the blooming of the Peonies at the Rockefeller preserve. Following the tragedy of September 11, 2001, Yatsuka Cho, a town in Simane Prefecture, Japan offered a gift of over 500 peonies to the United States as a healing memorial. It was also a gesture of solidarity and support from a former enemy of the United States who less than 60 years ago were locked in combat with us during World War II. The peony is considered to Japan’s most noble of flowers and is the “signature flower” for the region. The Rockefeller Preserve accepted the gift and renovated the entrance to the Preserve in order to accommodate the peonies.

This year when we go to the Rockefeller Preserve to admire the monument and see the awe inspiring site of 500 peonies plants all in bloom at the same time, we should remember the ongoing tragedy of Japan as they recover from a devastating natural disaster.