From the Rockefeller Preserve to Rockwood Hall – An ominous sign

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In the previous post I wrote that “all that remains [of Rockwood Hall] are a number of walking trails, some beautiful old trees, spectacular views of the Hudson River, and the impressive, but somehow sad stone foundations.” When I came across this sign, I immediately remembered that there was something else: goats! I remembered immediately because I’d seen them during one of my earlier visits.

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So why are they there? The sign below explains.

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Taken with a Sony A77II and Minolta 35-105 f3.5-4.5.

Birdwatching II

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This time the bird was watching me. This picture was taken through the window of a restaurant where I was having my lunch. It was by the Hudson and soon after I arrived, I saw, through the window, this mallard jump up onto the wooden railing. It stayed there for a long time, just peering at me.

Maybe he was the mate of the mallard in the previous picture, and it didn’t like me taking pictures of his offspring. 😊

Taken with a Sony A6000 and Tamron 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD lens.

Birdwatching I

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I love the little, fuzzy looking Mallard ducklings. The mother let them swim around by themselves, but from time to time she’d look back at them and if one was too far away, she’d head towards it. But she wouldn’t get too close. She’d only go far enough that they duckling knew that it should return to her.

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Taken with a Sony A6000 and Tamron 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD lens.

Mallards on Lodge Pond

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Mallards (and small Canda Geese in the distance in one shot) on lodge pool, about a 15-minute walk from my house.

Lodge pool was once the exterior swimming pool at the Briarcliff Lodge (See last picture. This is the first stage of the development of Briarcliff Lodge. It subsequently grew to be much, much larger). Celebrities must have swum here. US Olympics swimming trials were held here.

Popular legend hereabouts suggests that if you were to dive to the bottom, you’d find tiles beneath the mud.

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Taken with Sony A77II and Minolta 35-105 f3.5-4.5