Some photos from a Fathers' Day hike around the west end of Jones Beach State Park, NY. - Eastern Towhee, a seed-eating large, not "little brown" sparrow.
- Piping Plover, a miniscule and endangered shorebird that prowls the dunes and shoreline searching for small invertebrates. Nesting females were visible in the chicken-wire, protective enclosures set up around nesting birds.
- Representing the Lepidosaurian branch of the reptiles, to complement the Archosaurian contingent (birds and crocodilians) -- an Italian Wall Lizard, an introduced species that seems to have adapted to local ecosystems without disrupting local food webs.
- Horned Lark, a ground-loving, insect and seed eating member of the Lark family, found throughout the northern hemisphere. The iconic horns -- two small black feathers ^^ that sometimes stick up above the eyes -- are not visible in this photo.
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Guess who showed up again today…looking sharp as ever!
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My usual buddy making an appearance as I have my daily walk at the park.
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I was walking down my usual path in the park when I spotted this little guy. Could it be a Texas Spiny Lizard?

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