Bird List Sunrise Emoji               

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    all yr: 2012-now          FOS in NY

    Next: Saint Martin, Trinidad and Tobago.  More: <1>  trinidad_and_tobago.htm  Panama  Dry Tortugas National Park
    2027 Return China card renew
    ABC_Islands_trip.htm
    2025  Germany (2 weeks).  Spain (2 weeks).  HK (3 weeks).
    2024   Mobile link  St. John, USVI.  France & Switzerland.  German, Rotterdam, Belgium, France, UK.  HK.  2024_SepOct_trip.html
    https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&mid=1pOOZr2OdywYi8wjpxBkgGcELjxIxXL8&ll=53.55604001036949%2C10.323971450000004&z=10

    2023 HK.   Europe.  Florida Keys & Caribbean.  Forget to retain (1) GPS, (2) GPS holder, (3) cell phone holder and (4) sunglasses when I park my car at his place.  TODO: buy a USB connector because the GPS USB cable is short.
    2022 Florida & Georiga.  Bonaire & Curacao.  Portugal.  <has Vacation History (2007-)>  <bought I-Bond (1/8/2022)>
    2021 Florida.  Oregon.  Texas. 
    2020 Cape Cod & Berkshire, MA
    2019 1. Cayman Islands.  2. Iceland.  Baltic Sea ( Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, northeast Germany and Russia ) [link]   3. Barbados.
    2018 Tucson, AZ.  Pittsburgh, PA.  Bonaire & Curacao.  HK (trips to China).
    2017 Cayman Islands / Bonaire & Curacao / HK (1 day trip to China with Siu Ming)
    2016 celebrate birding 10 year anniversary - 決志: 矢志不渝 、堅定不移地 進行觀鳥, 成為一生一世的嗜好, 天長地久的興趣.
    2016 (Aug-):  HK
    2016 (Jan-Jul): Mexico (4/7)
    2015 (8/14-): Curacao / HK
    2015 (Jan-8/8) log: South Carolina / Seattle
    2014 log: Jamaica / Canadian Rockies / Curacao
    2013 log: New Orleans, Costa Maya, Belize City, Roatan, & Cozumel / HK ( 東龍洲, 1/2 day China with Siu Ming)   Periodical Cicada at SI   
       This is a special photo to me. It is taken by 5 seconds (very long) shutter at Kowloon Park 6:15pm. Luckily the cooperative Black Crowned Night Heron stood still for me.     
    2012 (after Hurricane Sandy) log  
    2012 (Jul-before Hurricane Sandy) log  (Netherlands, UK, Scotland, Norway, Denmark) (birdList.b4_split2_b_and_c.htm)   
    2012 (Jan-Jun) log  (Costa Rica)  
    2011 log  (HK, Punta Cana
    2010 log  ( 1. Mar. Caribbean Cruise : Fort Lauderdale / Cozumel, Mexico / Cayman Islands ; 1b. HK ; 2. Nov. Caribbean Cruise : Puerto Rico / St Maarten / Half Moon Cay & Florida) 
    2009 log  (Las Vegas; HK, Mainland China and Taiwan)  
    2008 log  (South Caribbean Cruise - Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Grenada, Bonaire & Aruba; Toronto; Palm Beach, Florida)   
    Photo and Video @ Punta Cana    pic01.htm  others   HK trips
    ducks and geese
    Note on Dragonfly and Damselfly   my insect spider list    my insect spider list (mobile)    Macro   butterflyMoth.htm   frog   kissena_rare_encounter.htm    Postings of NY Birding List   34 TYPES OF TURTLES FOUND IN THE USA
    Favorites in 2013   Favorites in 2012   Favorites in 2011  
    Bees   Wasps   Cricket   myInventory   myNationalPark.htm
    Costa Rica info   Costa Rica, 2012 - Photo    costa_rica_mybirdlist.htm
    Birding in Shetland Islands     Norway cruise     pc_stuff.htm    pc_stuff2.htm    Google Voice    t-mobile (6/2014)   多部未华子   cull_CanadaGeese_at_JBWR.htm
    samsung_s3600.note01.htm   smart_phone.htm   car_problem.htm   pedometer.htm
    myEye_glass.html
    http://www.nycgovparks.org/news/notices   Biblical_problems_caused_by_translation.htm   translation resource
    how_can_i_make_a_very_sharp_phot.htm   flash_wont_sync_in_slave_mode.htm   Camera/Camcorder for birding   cam4underwater   infrared_photography.htm
    snorkeling  
    comet_PANSTARRS.htm    Jamaica_bird.htm   2015plus_jamaica_trips.htm   Glacier   Hay fever   Glacier & Canadian Rockies  
    Curacao-1   Curacao-2   Bermuda   Cancun   Snorkeling Cozumel Reefs (El Cozumele�o Resort) 
    St. Maarten  St. Eustatius
    Saint Martin: The best snorkeling on the island lies on the French side, where the government religiously protects the calm waters, which are populated with schools of brilliantly colored fish. Find a tiny cove and explore the shallow reefs along its shores, especially in the northeastern underwater nature reserve.
    Barbados is called the land of flying fish.
    Cuba [mirrorEthiopia [Rockjumper's standard tours (as we classify this PNG tour) are aimed at the keen birder who wants to see as many birds and as much wildlife as possible without extreme effort or arduous hours in the field i.e. the average birder. src]  
    NewFoundLand
    South Carolina   Seattle   Bird in Arizona Desert
    Lead Adventures 3-Week Galapagos program - doc  
    Quito - Monastery of San Francisco - pic1  quito.htm
    The best month for me to visit Galapagos is probably Feb.   https://www.quasarex.com/blog/galapagos-climate-february-weather-in-the-galapagos-islands   https://www.quasarex.com/galapagos/when-to-visit
    List of whale and dolphin species        List of birds of HK   

    Tourists to China can finally use the country�s massively popular mobile payment systems

door lock


Santa Lucia: 澄明的秋月夜 遠照四海無邊 駕一葉小遊艇 把海面吹皺
香港
9/23/2025:  平了1964年記錄 同年掛了兩次十號風球 希望今年唔會有第三次
11/13/2024: 風暴桃芝|創香港史上最遲 8 號風球 打破 52 年前紀錄(11/8/1972)
天文台自 1946 年有記錄以來,共有 16 個熱帶氣旋於 11 月吹襲香港,當中有 4 個需發出 8 號或以上風球,包括今次的「桃芝」、2022 年的「尼格」,另外兩個颱風同樣名為「柏美娜」,分別在 1954 年及 1972 年吹襲香港。至於其餘 12 個熱帶氣旋則最高發出 3 號風球。src

天文台有記錄以來 11 月發出8號風球或以上的信號

日期

颱風

天文台發出最高信號

1954 年 11 月 6 日

柏美娜

9號風球

1972 年 11 月 8 日

柏美娜

8號風球

2022 年 11 月 2 日

尼格

8號風球

2024 年 11 月 13 日

桃芝

8號風球(截至 11 月13日)



2024年過了「立冬」之日的11月中旬,多地仍在放颱風假,引起民眾關注。
位於太平洋西北側的地區,正在經歷史上最多颱風的晚秋。台灣自有氣象紀錄以來,66年來首度在11月出現「四颱共存」,香港也掛上「史上最晚」的八號風球,停班停 課。
以11月「四颱共存」的現象為例,11月12日衛星雲圖清晰可見四個颱風——由西到東分別為銀杏、桔梗(國際命名:TORAJI,港譯桃芝)、天兔、萬宜,分佈範 圍從越南東部,橫跨到太平洋上的美國屬地關島。
今年秋季的西太平洋各地,特別不平靜——9月16日,颱風「貝碧嘉」登陸上海,這是上海自1949年以來遭遇的最強颱風。
9月底颱風「山陀兒」吹襲台灣,因為其路徑詭譎且移動緩慢,台灣部分地區連放三天颱風假。
10月24日,颱風「潭美」重創菲律賓,造成116人喪生、39人失蹤。11月12日,颱風「銀杏」在菲律賓帶來強風豪雨,造成土石流。
11月13日,颱風「桃芝」(即「桔梗」)掠過香港,天文台發出有紀錄以來一年之中最晚發出的八號風球。
研究菲律賓大氣環境的巴他薩教授表示,過去20年來,生成於11、12月的颱風數量上升,近年在以往不易受颱風侵襲的菲律賓南部地區造成災情。
颱風的異常現象,一路向北延伸至日本。今年8月底,珊珊颱風侵襲日本,在九州地區帶來破紀錄的大雨。
src


2025年影響香港的熱帶氣 旋

熱 帶氣旋

最 高強度

影 響香港時的月份

最 高熱帶氣旋警告信號

蝴 蝶

強 烈熱帶風暴

6

3

無 名

熱 帶低氣壓

6

1

丹 娜絲

強 颱風

7

1

韋 帕

颱 風

7

10

楊 柳

強 颱風

8

1

無 名

熱 帶低氣壓

8

1

劍 魚

強 颱風

8

1

藍 湖

熱 帶風暴

8

1

塔 巴

強 烈熱帶風暴

9

8

米 娜

強 烈熱帶風暴

9

3

樺 加沙

超 強颱風

9

10

麥 德姆

颱 風

10

3

風 神

強 烈熱帶風暴

10

3

鳳 凰

超 強颱風

11

1

資料來源: 香港天文台



香港電影金像獎
香港電影導演會年度大獎
香港電影評論學會大獎 - 由香港電影評論學會舉辦
香港電影金紫荊獎 (由香港影评人协会于1996年创办, 于2008年宣布暂停举办.)
香港電影編劇家協會獎(Hong Kong Screenwriters' Guild Award)是香港電影編劇家協會每年頒發的獎項
香港電影院線專業協會主辦的「香港電影票房頒獎典禮」?  Cannot find in Google!
香港電影工作者總會(簡稱「總會」)之「總會拍電影」計劃,由總會負責製作資金,與獲選參加者合作製作有關電影。
   首季獲選作品:
   1. 由新晉導演 #關文軒 執導及編劇、#姜皓文、#廖子妤、#葉童、#凌文龍 主演,#丁雲山、#吳凱恩 監製的《#惡人當道》定檔於9月11日上映
   2. 不赦之罪 Valley of the Shadow of Death - 導演|#林善 #譚善揚 ; 編劇|#譚善揚 ;  主演|#黃秋生 #蘇玉華 #歐鎮灝 #陳書昕 #陳紫萱
wiki : 首季《总会拍电影》计划反应热烈,最终选出以下两部创意及执行力皆优的剧本成为首季胜出作品: 1.《恶人当道》 2. 《不赦之罪》
香港電影工作者總會 設立「傑出電影工作者大獎」,藉此表揚大家有目共睹,一直默默付出的不同崗位資深電影工作者。
最港電影大獎(英語:The Kongest film awards)是由香港《蘋果日報》娛樂版和蘋果動新聞舉辦的電影評選活動,旨在表彰過去一年表現出色的港產電影,「表揚創作靈魂,延續港片精神」。由於《蘋果日報》停 刊,此項活動已經停辦。
YAHOO!搜寻人气大奖 - 由雅虎香港於2005年創辦.  2005 - 本地電影男演員: 劉德華 etc.
香港國際電影節 - 包括「環球視野」、「紀錄片競賽」及「年輕導演競賽」,其中「火鳥大獎」競賽單元專注表彰新銳導演的創新作品。
   香港國際電影節從第23屆(1999?)開始,打破以往只展映不頒獎的慣例,首次設立「國際影評人聯盟獎」。香港國際電影節現時頒發的獎項為五個,包括由電影行業專業人士 擔任評審團選出的「國際影評人聯盟獎」、「新秀電影競賽(華語)」獎項、「新秀電影競賽(世界)」獎項、「紀錄片競賽」獎項,以及「國際短片競賽」獎項。

獲得過「歐洲三大影展」的6位華人影后:【坎城影展】 2004:張曼玉《清潔》or 《錯的多美麗》or  《錯過又如何》(Clean)【威尼斯影展】 1992:鞏俐《秋菊打官司》 2011:葉德嫻《桃姐》 2025:辛芷蕾《日掛中天》【柏林影展】 1992:張曼玉《阮玲玉》 1995:蕭芳芳《女人四十》 2019:詠梅《地久天長》
My life is full of once:
1.  Enter into university on the first try (no need to take High Level Examination twice)
2.  Pass my driving test on the first try
3.  One marriage
4.  One NYS job for 25+ years
5.  Live at my current address for almost 30 years
6.  One church in Hong Kong.  One church in HI. 
7.  Wong Chuk Hang as my HK address for 55+ years (except those years living in dormitory at CUHK).

https://direct.mit.edu/isec/article/48/1/7/117122/The-Peril-of-Peaking-Powers-Economic-Slowdowns-and

https://singjupost.com/transcript-michael-beckley-on-the-end-of-chinas-rise-the-future-of-global-order/


Planets Visible in the Night Sky in New York, New York, USA

  Planetrise/Planetset, Thu, Feb 27, 2025
Planet Rise Set Meridian Comment
Mercury Thu 7:08 am Thu 6:59 pm Thu 1:03 pm Slightly difficult to see
Venus Thu 7:16 am Thu 8:31 pm Thu 1:53 pm Fairly good visibility
Mars Thu 12:58 pm Fri 4:20 am Thu 8:39 pm Perfect visibility
Jupiter Thu 10:43 am Fri 1:30 am Thu 6:06 pm Fairly good visibility
Saturn Thu 7:09 am Thu 6:36 pm Thu 12:53 pm Very difficult to see
Uranus Thu 9:40 am Thu 11:58 pm Thu 4:49 pm Difficult to see
Neptune Thu 7:26 am Thu 7:18 pm Thu 1:22 pm Extremely difficult to see

  Planetrise/Planetset, Fri, Feb 28, 2025
Planet Rise Set Meridian Comment
Mercury Fri 7:07 am Fri 7:04 pm Fri 1:05 pm Slightly difficult to see
Venus Fri 7:11 am Fri 8:28 pm Fri 1:49 pm Fairly good visibility
Mars Fri 12:54 pm Sat 4:16 am Fri 8:35 pm Perfect visibility
Jupiter Fri 10:40 am Sat 1:26 am Fri 6:03 pm Fairly good visibility
Saturn Fri 7:06 am Fri 6:32 pm Fri 12:49 pm Very difficult to see
Uranus Fri 9:36 am Fri 11:54 pm Fri 4:45 pm Difficult to see
Neptune Fri 7:22 am Fri 7:15 pm Fri 1:18 pm Extremely difficult to see
Order/time of rise from the horizon:
Saturn 07:06
Mercury 07:07
Venus 07:11
Neptune 07:22
Uranus 09:36
Jupiter 10:40
Mars 12:54


http://finance.people.com.cn/n1/2025/0221/c1004-40423232.html

“所 谓‘X星连珠’,并无标准定义,甚至不算什么特殊天象。”施韡解释称,因为太阳系八大行星围绕太阳公转的轨道几乎都在同一平面上,“我们通常拿地球公转轨道 面,即黄道面,作为参考。轨道倾角最大的是水星,也只差了7°。这种现象被称为‘共面性’。从地面上来看,这些行星始终在黄道附近运行,几乎每天都在‘连 珠’。因此它们天然地就像是一串珍珠,无非就是离得近些还是远些,或者是在太阳的一侧还是两侧。”

https://www.163.com/dy/article/JP0BCALP05506BEH.html

网 络盛传的“77年难得一见”的说法,记者向DeepSeek咨询了其出处,发现数据来源自百度百科,统计的是七星张角小于30°的情况下,从公元1年至 3000年共发生39次“七星连珠”,平均间隔约77年。对此施韡表示,张角小于30°是前提,此外,该数据讲的是平均,事实上“七星连珠”发生的间隔并不均 匀。

据 说有科学家计算了公元前3001年到公元3000年这6000年间的情况。当张角在5°以下时,“六星连珠”发生49次,“七星连珠”发生3次。如果张角扩大 到10°,“六星连珠”有709次,“七星连珠”有52次。所以施韡认为,不 讨论张角的连珠是没有意义的。


https://www.timeanddate.com/news/astronomy/planet-parade-2025


How unusual is it to have a period where these dark-sky planet parade conditions are met for certain locations on Earth? It only happens on a handful of occasions per century.

According to our calculations, the next period will be in 2036, around March 31–April 1. The next window after that will be in 2060, around November 13–17.


朴 璐美 小 清水亚美  平 野绫 钉 宫理惠 加 藤英美里小 林优 远 藤绫泽 城美雪  阿澄佳奈户 松遥   井上喜久子堀 江由衣 伊 藤加奈惠丰 崎爱生

水 树奈奈
我的幸福婚約

改編漫畫獲得全國書店店員推薦漫畫2021第1位[27]、《這本漫畫真厲害!2021》女生篇第7位[28]、2023年BookLive讀者票選少女和女性漫 畫第6名[29]。
進入2024年時,改編動畫入圍動畫趨勢獎(Anime Trending Award)的年度動畫排行榜第6名|[30]與最佳分鏡獎第5名、最佳背景視覺獎第5名[31],男主角久堂清霞排名動畫趨勢獎年度男主角獎第9名,女主角齋森美世則排 名動畫趨勢獎年度女主角獎第10名,清霞和美世亦名列動畫趨勢獎年度情侶獎第3名[32],動畫版飾演女主角齋森美世的上田麗奈榮獲動畫趨勢獎最 佳女主角聲演獎[33]。動畫榮獲年度[最佳]愛情動畫獎.  src
漫畫獲選為「BookLive!讀者票選」戀愛·喜劇漫畫類第3名[34],亦在該年7月的日本博覽會獲頒金達摩獎最佳愛情動畫獎[35]。wiki

幕 后黑幕part
如 此说著的尧人皇子将视线转向了美世,继续说道:「……给妳添麻烦了。无论是薄刃家或斋森家——所有人皆被我父亲扰乱了理应步向的正轨」

听 完后,她仍旧不能很好地理解。 尧人的父亲是天皇。尚且不论和帝进行交易的薄刃家,甚至连斋森家也被打乱了节奏究竟是什么意思?

而 且,这些事也带给了美世麻烦,这话中含意到底是…… ?就连清霞似乎也稍有踌躇的样子。

「一 言以蔽之,虽然属下这么说可谓不敬,但推动这一切的幕后黑手皆是…… 天皇,没错吧?」

「所 言甚是。……我很遗憾」

在 幕后操纵这一切的人竟然是现任天皇,这实在是骇人听闻。如此浩大的规模竟源于一人之手,完全超出想像且难以置信。

尧 人把玩着手中的酒杯,然后彷佛在凝神注视著远方一般回顾说道: 「父亲对于梦见的异能者怀抱着特别的畏惧,这要回溯于他皇太子的时代开始」

梦 见之力,可以根据使用者的才华和熟练度来凌驾于皇族的天启之上。
p.s. 天启:预知未来的能力。


在 薄刃家中美世和清霞皆早已耳闻。 天启之力不及梦见。如此一来,自身和一族也许都会被追赶上如今的地位吧,甚至有可能权力会被推翻也说不定。

此 种危机意识自古以来就存在于现任天皇的心中。


「虽 说如此,只要没有诞下梦见的异能者,就不足以构成威胁。父皇虽然也畏惧著薄刃家,但实际上或许并没有想过要采取任何动作。但是有天,薄刃家诞下了薄刃澄美」

由 于澄美的异能「精神感应」觉醒了,因此那孩子不就是有着能产下梦见之子的可能性吗?

为 此薄刃家大力地期待着。 但是相反的,对于帝来说,如果真的出现了梦见的异能者……至今为止所怀抱的单纯不安,就像获得实感般地猛然袭来,会突然带来了强烈的现实感吧。

美 世想着,不会吧。 不会吧,竟然从那么久以前,就已经和此次的事件联系在一块了吗?

「父 皇大概是策划着要比过去更加程度地削弱薄刃家的力量吧」

总 而言之,就算梦见的异能者真的诞生了,如果能让薄刃家彻底地没落、衰败,逐步走向灭亡的话,就不足以构成威胁。

即 使现今已经有效压制住了薄刃家的力量,但天皇还是觉得不够。

突 然,清霞微微地睁大双眼说道:「难道,过去一段时期,造成『鹤木贸易』步向衰微的是……」

「似 乎是父皇从中作梗。他从暗地里彻底地操纵手段,为了不让『鹤木贸易』经济顺利发展,从四面八方暗中对鹤木公司的客户与投资者施压。」

「然 后就如自身所愿,薄刃家就沦落到三餐不继、几近破产的生活中,是这样吗?」

「好 像是这样」


正 如帝所期望,薄刃家被逼到濒临灭亡。然而,帝并不满足于这些。

「父 皇更畏惧著薄刃澄美和薄刃一族的人结婚,诞下流倘著纯正薄刃之血的孩子。」

「血 脉越浓,就越容易生出拥有梦见之力的孩子?」

「至 少,父皇他是这样想的。所以,无论如何也要阻止一族内部的婚姻」 只是,帝也不愚昧,他打算把薄刃家的血外流到跟异能毫无关系的家族。于是, 脑中便浮现出,异能者几乎不再出生、眼看着未来只能走下坡的没落贵族—斋森家。

「于 是,他向斋森家揭露了梦见之力,并给了他们巨额的资金,暗中教唆他们要把薄刃澄美弄到手。只要把她引开,无论薄刃家未来是灭亡还是重新站起来都无所谓。或者, 也不知道是不是从最初就全部算计完了……尽管他是我的父亲, 但我不得不佩服他的执著」

「薄 刃义浪氏曾说过,不知道斋森家的资金来源。那也就是说,是陛下——」

从 斋森家的角度来看,除了做之外别无他法。 无论是金钱还是贵重的血统都能得手,另外提出来的人可是天皇陛下,不论是谁都无法忤逆皇令。

「那 之后的事,你们都知道了吧」 薄刃澄美和斋森真一结婚,而后美世诞生了。并且,美世梦见的异能被彻底封印起来,除了澄美以外的人都认为美世是无异能的……就连帝也。

「…… 大体上明白了。美世离开了斋森家,封印被解开,陛下也暗中注意到了美世所具有的异能吧。关于奥墓的事,目标是我吗?」叹气地说道,清霞也将杯中残余的酒一饮而 尽。

「你 们两人的婚约成立了,清霞也成为了父皇的目标之一。如果久堂家和梦见的力量结合的话,对于他来说没有比这更大的威胁了。奥墓的解放,是打算从物理上拉开你们的 距离,之后只要再想办法将罪责强加到对异特务小队上使你们全体丧失立足之地——另外,要是运气好的话,在与怨灵的战斗中貌似也瞄准着你的死亡,希望你能命葬战 场」

「…… 实际上,当时情况确实很不乐观。但陛下还让薄刃新协助,这是怎么回事?」

「他 只不过是为了将你们两人分开,暂时利用的棋子罢了。为了使薄刃家和久堂家能很好地对立,大概是计画着要是能够达到两败俱伤的结局就好了吧」 src

Oscars:
3/2025 Best Actor  -

https://medium.com/@a.moodie17/what-is-the-oscars-obsession-with-the-disabled-76a7aa697751

About the portrayals of the disabled and how they often win the best actor/actress awards in Oscars:
1. Examples of this start in 1988’s Rain Man, where autistic savant Raymond Babbitt (Dustin Hoffman)
2. This kind of Oscar winning performance quickly appeared again a year later in 1989 with Daniel Day-Lewis’s portrayal of Christy Brown in My Left Foot, who had cerebral palsy and yet manged to harness control of one of his feet and forged a career as both an artist and writer.
3. Over the next few years film would see countless Oscars going to actors for characters who were in some way disabled. Like Al Pacino as the blind but quick-witted and fast-living war veteran Frank Slade in Scent of a Woman. Then you have Jamie Foxx as the blind but real soul legend Ray Charles and Nicole Kidman as bipolar-suffering novelist Virginia Woolf.
4. Jack Nicholson demonstrated in As Good as it Gets where he plays a writer with OCD who also comes across as very misanthropic.
   Despite already having an Oscar for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Nicholson took home another best actor Oscar.
5. Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump.
6. Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking (who acquired Motor Neuron Disease while studying at Oxford tells us anything) in The Theory of Everything.
7. Someone who actually is disabled to play a disabled character:
    Won: Marlee Matlin received an historic best actress Oscar for 1986’s Children of a Lesser God, first such award to be given to a deaf actress.
    Lost: Millicent Simmonds (who is deaf in real life) playing a deaf character in the horror film A Quiet Place.
8.



 日 本电影提名奥斯卡最佳国际影片奖竞赛列表
直到目前(2022年)为止,日本电影总共入围过13次奥斯卡最佳外语片奖,位居第五位,仅次于法国、意大利、西班牙与瑞典[7],其中《入殓师》和《驾驶我的 车》是1956年至2021年间唯二获得奥斯卡最佳外语片奖的日本电影.

中 国大陆电影提名奥斯卡最佳国际影片奖竞赛列表
香 港电影提名奥斯卡最佳国际影片奖竞赛列表
   


From AI -
On March 29, 2025, a partial solar eclipse will be visible in New York City, with the best viewing opportunities around sunrise.

Venus's Position:
   Venus will be in the morning sky, appearing above the eastern horizon about 15 minutes before sunrise, starting around March 20.  On March 29, it is 1 hour before sunrise.
Mercury and Saturn are also visible in the sky during this time.

Planets Visible in New York (3/29/2025)

  Planet rise / Planet set, Sat, Mar 29, 2025
Planet Rise Set Meridian Comment
Mercury Sat 6:15 am Sat 6:32 pm Sat 12:24 pm Extremely difficult to see
Venus Sat 5:45 am Sat 6:33 pm Sat 12:09 pm Fairly good visibility
Mars Sat 12:32 pm Sun 3:40 am Sat 8:06 pm Perfect visibility
Jupiter Sat 9:58 am Sun 12:49 am Sat 5:23 pm Fairly good visibility
Saturn Sat 6:20 am Sat 5:56 pm Sat 12:08 pm Very difficult to see
Uranus Sat 8:45 am Sat 11:05 pm Sat 3:55 pm Difficult to see
Neptune Sat 6:30 am Sat 6:26 pm Sat 12:28 pm Extremely difficult to see

<1>
Mazda is set to halt some of its CX-50 production for the Canadian market from the Huntsville plant in Alabama.  src
It will halt production of CX-50s vehicles bound for Canada, a move prompted by America’s tariffs and corresponding Canadian countermeasures.
From AI:
Mazda will temporarily halt production of CX-50 SUVs at its Huntsville, Alabama plant on May 12, 2025, but only for the Canadian market. This pause is a response to President Trump's auto tariffs, but Mazda will continue to produce the CX-50 for other markets. The pause will not affect overall production volume at the plant. WHNT.com reports that the plant will focus on increasing production for the U.S. market as production for Canada is suspended.
From AI:
In 2023, Mazda sold approximately 44,595 CX-50 units in the US. In 2024, sales of the CX-50 have seen a significant increase, likely due to the addition of a hybrid option, resulting in a nearly doubling of sales compared to 2023. By the end of 2024, Mazda had sold 8,083 CX-50 vehicles in December alone, and overall sales for the year reached 99,797.

Media Report of 2024 in US (1/3/2025)
- Mazda Canada, Inc., (MCI) reported December sales of 4,566 vehicles (all, not only CX-50), an increase of 2.4 percent compared to December last year. Full-year 2024 sales increased 23.2 percent, with 72,226 vehicles sold.
- Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported December sales of 8,677 vehicles, an increase of 19 percent compared to last year. Full-year 2024 sales increased 31 percent, with 99,797 vehicles sold.
- In US, CX-50: 2024 whole year:   99,797; December:   8,083   So in 2024 whole year, CX-50 sales is 24% of all models.
       All models: 2024 whole year: 424,382; December: 40,201

Media Report of 2024 in Canada (1/3/2025)
- CX-50: 2024 whole year: 10,759 (15%); December: 847 (19%)
- Sales of CX-50 set new records for December and full year sales, with the addition of the CX-50 Hybrid propelling total CX-50 sales up 36.6 percent versus December 2023. Total CX-50 sales for the year jumped up 88.4 percent, making it the fastest growing model in our lineup in 2024.

<2>
[4/30/2025]
- US First-quarter GDP contracts at 0.3% rate - the first decline since the first quarter of 2022 (rate was -1%).  First-quarter growth was slowed by a surge in imports as companies in the United States tried to bring in foreign goods before Trump imposed massive tariffs.
- Imports grew at a 41% pace, fastest since 2020.
- The surge in imports — fastest since 1972 outside COVID-19 economic disruptions — is likely to reverse in the second quarter, removing a weight on GDP. For that reason, Paul Ashworth of Capital Economics forecasts that April-June growth [of GDP] will rebound to a 2% gain.  src
[5/7/2025]
From AI:
The first quarter of 2025 saw a contraction in real GDP, decreasing at an annual rate of 0.3%.
The first quarter of 2025 experienced a decrease in real GDP, reflecting a decline in economic activity. This was primarily due to a rise in imports and a decrease in consumer spending.

[6/26/2025]
US First-quarter GDP contracts at 0.5% and is worse than initial estimates (0.2 or 0.3%), the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) said in its third estimate of GDP on 6/26 Thursday.

[7/6/2025]
US Unemployment rate
6/2025: 4.1%.  added 147,000 jobs.
5/2025: 4.2%.  The number of unemployed individuals was reported as 7.2 million.  added 139,000 jobs.  True Rate of Unemployment: 24.3%.
4/2025: 4.2%.  True Rate of Unemployment: 24.2%.
3/2025: True Rate of Unemployment: 24.0%.

<3>
香港今年(2025)第一季本地生產總值(GDP)較去年同期實質上升3.1%,好過預期。而2024年第四季的升幅為2.5%。

原文網址:https://finance.mingpao.com/fin/instantf/20250502/1746175287193
<4>
澳門統計暨普查局公布,今年首季本地生產總值(GDP)初步數值為997.8億澳門元,按年實質減少1.3%,整體經濟規模相當於2019年同期的 85.2%。

原文網址:https://finance.mingpao.com/fin/instantf/20250502/1746160031893

From AI:
In the first quarter of 2025, Macau's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) experienced a 1.3% year-on-year decrease in real terms, reaching MOP99.78 billion (approximately US$12.45 billion). This decline is attributed to a strong base effect from the previous year's high growth and shifts in visitor spending patterns. Despite a 11.1% increase in visitor arrivals, non-gaming services declined, impacting overall service exports.
<5>
From AI:
In the first quarter of 2025, China's GDP grew by 5.4% year-on-year. This growth rate was stronger than expected, surpassing analyst forecasts of 5.1%.
Taiwan's GDP grew by 5.4% YoY in the first quarter of the year, up from 2.9% YoY in 4Q24, according to advance estimates. That's the fastest pace since the first quarter of last year and well above market forecasts for 3.6% growth.
In the first quarter of 2025, South Korea's GDP contracted by 0.1% year-on-year, marking the first contraction since the fourth quarter of 2020. This was a decline from the 1.2% growth recorded in the previous quarter and also missed market expectations for a 0.1% rise. The contraction was driven by a downturn in various sectors, including private consumption, government spending, fixed investment, and exports.
In the first quarter of 2025, Singapore's GDP grew by 3.8% year-over-year. This growth was lower than the 5.0% expansion in the previous quarter. On a seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter basis, the economy contracted by 0.8%. This was the largest decrease since Q2 2020.

6/6/2025:
香港成為全球最大IPO市場
港交所上次成为全球IPO募资金额第一,还是2019年。时隔6年,香港终于王者回归,让“亚洲金融中心遗址”的说法不攻自破。src

2025 年12月10日,中國香港特別行政區(「香港」)— 畢馬威最新發佈的《中 國內地與香港IPO市場2025年回顧與2026年展望》指出,香港於2025年重奪全球IPO市場榜首,繼2019年後再度登上首位。 今年A+H上市宗數創下新高,佔全年募資總額逾半,帶動本港IPO市場表現冠絕全球。截至2025年12月7日,香港上市申請數量創紀錄高位,合共超 過300宗,其中包括92宗A+H上市申請,為香港IPO市場於來年延續強勁表現奠下穩固基礎。

2025 年,全球IPO市場共籌集 1,584億美元,上市宗數達 1,227 宗,募資規模和上市宗數分別按年增長 18%及下降 4%。香港位居全球第一,美國兩大證券交易所緊隨其後,分別位列第二及第三,合計募資總額按年上升 18%,而印度國家證券交易所及上海證券交易所則分別排名第四及第五。



More-1

Related:
[2025-04-17] 關稅衝突帶來的不確定性正在影響美國和歐洲的股票銷售活動,由於市場動盪,大多數潛在的IPO都被擱置。src
Life expectancy at birth of USA
1/1/2025: https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuacohen/2025/01/01/alarming-stagnation-in-us-life-expectancy-continues/

The latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report on mortality in the United States shows that life expectancy at birth rose from 77.5 in 2022 to 78.4 in 2023. While this signals a continued bounce-back from significant declines in 2020 and 2021, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the figure is still below the 2010 level. And preliminary data suggest that the improvement in life expectancy in 2024 will be much smaller, as the rebound appears to be losing steam.

Over the next 25 years, life expectancy in the U.S. is projected to rise by approximately two years—far less than in other wealthy, industrialized nations, according to a study published in The Lancet and carried out by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Specifically, U.S. life expectancy is forecast to increase from its 2023 level to 80·4 years in 2050. This modest gain will see the U.S. fall from 49th to 66th globally in life expectancy rankings.

A newly released report by the Bloomberg American Health Initiative highlights some of the reasons why the sharp divergence between U.S. life expectancy and its peers will likely persist, including the comparatively elevated incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes, as well as high levels of drug overdoses, gun violence, motor vehicle fatalities and infant and maternal mortality. These help to explain, for example, the 2.7-year gap in life expectancy between the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

Moreover, U.S. life expectancy lags far behind comparable, wealthy nations despite spending considerably more on healthcare. In fact, the U.S. spends much more in absolute and per capita terms on healthcare than any other nation. Yet its mortality and morbidity outcomes are relatively mediocre.

Public health in America faces enormous challenges, not least of which are shrinking budgets at the federal and state levels. And the problems aren't just related to what the healthcare system can deliver directly. There are issues with people’s dietary regimens, general lack of exercise, and “diseases of despair,” such as suicide, alcoholism, and illicit drug use, that account for a proportionately large socioeconomic component.

Whether the controversial nominee for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., can make Americans healthy again remains to be seen. While Kennedy’s ideas to improve nutrition have backing in the public health community, they could clash with the vested interests of the food industry. Moreover, other initiatives Kennedy may undertake could undermine key pillars of public health in America, making it difficult to achieve the goal of closing the life expectancy gap between the U.S. and its peers.


Macrotrends.net:
U.S. life expectancy for 2025 is 79.40, a 0.18% increase from 2024.

check also:
<1> https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/life-expectancy.htm - you can expect the 2024 life expectancy data to be released in December 2025.

Factors dragging down e0 :
From: 美国的新黑暗时代  https://www.cscz.org/2025/05/blog-post_46.html  (5/28/2025)
<1> 这些人从事着向美国人宣传和保护他们免受疾病、自然灾害和其他健康威胁的重要工作。疾病控制和预防中心的数千名员工被解雇,其中包括大多数负责维护工作场所安全标准的人 员。据《纽约时报》报道,食品和药物管理局的专家已被清除,其中包括“检测食品和药物中污染物或致命细菌的实验室科学家;调查禽流感传播的兽医部门专家; 以及监控电视广告中有关处方药的虚假宣传的研究人员”。农业部美国森林服务局研究团队的工作人员也被裁员,他们开发“用于模拟火灾风险、市场、森林恢复和 水的工具”。环境保护署的整个研究部门正在被“裁减”。政府还“大幅削减”了教育部的研究部门。

最具破坏性的削减或许是针对政府科研机构的削减,例如美国国立卫生研究院(NIH)和美国国家科学基金会(NSF)。据哥伦比亚广播公司(CBS)报道, 自今年1月以来,NIH已被削减超过20亿美元,1300名员工被解雇。一位NIH前员工告诉CBS,“由于关键实验室和支持人员被裁,儿童癌症治疗、痴 呆症和中风方面的研究进展放缓或停滞。” 政府还在试图停止对存在错误想法的项目的资金支持,并且已经大幅削减了NSF的拨款数额。

科学期刊《自然》报道称,特朗普计划将美国国家科学基金会(NSF)的人员和资金削减50%或更多,尤其是那些资助边缘群体研究的拨款,并将此类拨款斥为 “DEI”(非歧视性影响)。数百项拨款已被取消。美国国家航空航天局(NASA)、美国疾病控制与预防中心(CDC)、美国环境保护署(EPA)和美国 能源部也将损失大量资金。美国国家海洋和大气管理局(NOAA)的工作人员已被解雇,这影响了各州应对国家灾难的能力,并危及了人们日常使用的基本天气预 报。

同样消失的还有多年的公共卫生数据。正如我的同事Katherine J. Wu 所报道的,这些数据已被删除,作为“持续试图抹去联邦机构对性别、DEI 和可访问性的任何提及”的一部分。这包括以前发表的研究和正在进行的研究。据《自然》杂志报道,“NIH 工作人员已被指示识别并可能取消对研究跨性别人群、性别认同、科学工作者的多样性、公平和包容性 (DEI)”或“环境正义”的项目的资助。美联社报道,卫生与公众服务部部长小罗伯特·F·肯尼迪似乎已经取消了十几个“追踪死亡和疾病的数据收集项目”,这也许并非巧 合,将使评估他破坏性的任期更加困难。

对知识的攻击首先会造成美国科学的衰落,随之而来的是过去一个世纪改善生活的各类技术成就的衰落。现代农业和医学建立在联邦政府资助的研究基础之上。许多 最杰出的信息技术进步也是在政府支持下取得的,包括互联网、GPS和触摸屏。

<2> 进一步的破坏还在后头。尤其令人担忧的是,政府可能会操纵经济数据,掩盖特朗普政策的灾难性影响。政府曾提议将政府支出与 GDP 估算分开,试图掩盖埃隆·马斯克在 DOGE 的支持下进行的不必要和非法裁员对经济造成的负面影响。在民主党执政期间,特朗普在没有任何证据的情况下指责联邦机构伪造经济数据。如果特朗普一如既往地指责他人,那么特 朗普本人可能会真的试图伪造经济数据。正如《纽约时报》报道的那样,特朗普政府官员的言论“再次引发了人们对新政府可能试图干预联邦统计数据的担忧——尤 其是如果这些数据开始表明经济正在陷入衰退。”

鉴于特朗普试图用关税取代所得税(这笔税款是富人的意外之财)的毁灭性尝试,客观的经济数据变得更加重要。上个月,债券收益率开始大幅上升,预示着灾难即 将来临,特朗普改变了近期部分关税的政策。避免这样的灾难需要确凿的数据,但如果真的发生了,特朗普政府可能会认为,政治生存需要谎言。如果没有数据来反 驳,这样的谎言会更加有效。

这种全面破坏的原因既有意识形态的考量,也有短视的根源。保守派毫不掩饰他们对高等教育和学术界的敌意。正如我的同事亚伊尔·罗森伯格最近指出的那 样,2021年,时任参议院候选人的JD·万斯在一次演讲中引用了理查德·尼克松的名言:“教授是敌人”,并阐述了他的信念:高校“让保守派的思想最终无 法胜出”。

<3> 高质量经验证据的消失不仅意味着对右翼教条的反驳越来越少,也意味着健康伪科学和其他骗局的市场越来越大—— 比如肯尼迪愚蠢地建议用鱼肝油治疗西南部日益严重的麻疹疫情。特朗普领导下的美国正在拒绝人类历史上最有效的医疗基础设施之一,转而接受与中世纪医生测量 四种体液一样荒谬的胡言乱语。

过去的焚书行动有其物理限制;毕竟,只有书籍本身才能被摧毁。相比之下,特朗普主义者对知识的攻击不仅威胁到积累的知识,也威胁到未来收集此类知识的能 力。毕竟,任何对禁忌思想的追求都可能引发政治反对。美国人最好像那些从右翼播客购买脑力药丸、使用伊维菌素治疗新冠或相信疫苗是“大规模杀伤性武器”的 人一样,容易受骗和操纵。这场清洗将极大地削弱解决问题、预防疾病、制定政策、告知公众和推动技术进步的能力。就像罗马帝国覆灭后西欧灾难 性的知识流失一样,这是一场自作自受的灾难。对特朗普主义者来说,唯一重要的是他们能够在废墟上不受挑战地统治。


In April 2019, Hong Kong temporarily surpassed Japan to become the world's third-largest stock market by value, trailing only the U.S. and mainland China. At that time, Hong Kong's market cap was US$5.78 trillion, compared to Japan's US$5.76 trillion. 
However, the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) regained its position as the top stock market in Asia by market capitalization in January 2024. 
As of May 2025, according to The Indian Express, Japan holds the third-largest market capitalization globally at $6.1 trillion, while Hong Kong ranks as the fifth-largest at $5.5 trillion, both trailing the United States and China.

In summary, while Hong Kong did briefly overtake Japan in 2019 in terms of stock market value, Japan has since reclaimed the lead in Asia and maintains a higher overall market capitalization as of May 2025.

Note written on 5/9/2025:
Air traffic controllers who oversee the Newark Liberty International Airport airspace is in Philadelphia.
The FAA moved them from their previous location on Long Island, New York, to a facility in Philadelphia in 2024.  This move aimed to reduce the workload on the Long Island facility, which also handled traffic for other major New York City airports.

From AI:
Air traffic controllers are not at the airport because of a combination of factors, including a nationwide shortage of qualified personnel, equipment failures, and a stressful work environment that can lead to burnout and leave. Recent incidents at Newark (causing large amount of flight delays and cancellations in 7 days in late April to early May 2025), like the temporary loss of radar and communication systems, have further exacerbated the problem and led to some controllers taking medical leave.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
  • .Opens in new tab
    The U.S. is facing a critical shortage of air traffic controllers, with a deficit of around 26%. This shortage is not new and has been building for years, with current staffing levels being below what is needed to maintain safety and efficiency. 
  • Equipment Failures:
    .Opens in new tab
    Incidents like the recent 90-second blackout at Newark Liberty International Airport, caused by a faulty copper wire, highlight the fragility of the current air traffic control system. These outages can be stressful for controllers and lead to them taking time off, further impacting staffing. 
  • Stressful Work Environment:
    .Opens in new tab
    Air traffic control is a demanding and stressful job with unpredictable hours, and controllers face a high attrition rate. Many don't make it through the initial training, and experienced controllers face a mandatory retirement age of 56, leading to a decline in staffing levels. 
  • .Opens in new tab
    After a recent equipment outage at Newark, some controllers took trauma leave due to the stressful experience, further impacting staffing levels. 
  • Outdated Technology:
    .Opens in new tab
    The FAA is acknowledging that its air traffic control system is antiquated and needs modernization. This has contributed to the frequent equipment failures and communication problems experienced by controllers. 
  • Hiring and Training Challenges:
    .Opens in new tab
    While the FAA is hiring new controllers, the training process can take up to three years, and about 40% of trainees don't make it through. This slow pipeline of new controllers makes it difficult to address the shortage.
From AI about "7 days large amount of flight delays and cancellation in Newark 2025":
Newark Airport is experiencing delays due to a combination of factors, including air traffic congestion, runway construction, and staffing issues at the Philadelphia TRACON facility. A failure in the telecommunications connection that transmits data to the Philadelphia facility also contributed to the problems.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
  • Air Traffic Congestion:
    Newark is a busy airport with a high volume of flights, which can lead to delays, says Fly BLADE. 
  • Runway Construction:
    One of Newark's runways is currently closed for rehabilitation, which reduces the airport's capacity and further contributes to delays, notes The New York Times. 
  • The FAA has been slowing arrivals and departures at Newark due to staffing and technology issues at the TRACON facility in Philadelphia, which manages air traffic at the airport, reports USA Today. 
  • An equipment outage caused a temporary loss of radar and communications for air traffic controllers, further exacerbating the situation, according to CBS News. 
  • The FAA has cited staffing shortages at the TRACON facility as a contributing factor to the delays, notes CNN. 
  • Outdated technology and infrastructure issues have also been identified as contributing to the delays, reports CNN.

New York Air Route Traffic Control Center


New York Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZNY) (radio communications: "New York Center") is one of 22 Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs) operated by the United States Federal Aviation Administration.[1] It is located on the grounds of Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, New York. It is the busiest of all ARTCCs within the United States, and was the world's first en-route air traffic control facility.[1]

The primary responsibility of New York Center is the separation and sequencing of over-flights, arrivals, and departures within its jurisdictional boundaries in order to provide safe, orderly, and efficient flow of aircraft.[2] New York Center is the fifth busiest ARTCC in the United States. In 2024, New York Center handled 2,457,042 aircraft operations.[3] It covers approximately 91,000 square miles (240,000 km2) of the Northeastern United States, including parts of Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania – and including the airspace over large portions of the New York and Philadelphia metropolitan areas.[4][5][6] Its oceanic control area also covers Bermuda.[7][8] Most of the flights handled by New York Center are long-distance flights flying at high altitudes and transiting the region.[9]

The New York Air Route Traffic Control Center control area lies adjacent to those of the Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center, Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center, and Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center.



Philadelphia TRACON facility 


  美 國機場控制塔失聯30秒!5名空管員因創傷休假45天、引發大規模航班取消及延誤

The Coast Guard said it received a distress alert June 3 about a fire aboard the Morning Midas, which then was roughly 300 miles southwest of Adak Island (an island near the western extent of the Andreanof Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska).   The cargo ship was loaded with about 3,000 new vehicles intended for a major Pacific port in Mexico.  Among the cars were about 70 fully electric and about 680 hybrid vehicles. A large plume of smoke was initially seen at the ship's stern coming from the deck loaded with electric vehicles, the Coast Guard and Zodiac Maritime said at the time.

The cargo ship that had been delivering new vehicles to Mexico sank in the North Pacific Ocean, weeks after crew members abandoned ship when they couldn't extinguish an onboard fire that left the carrier dead in the water.  It left Yantai, China, on May 26 en route to Mexico.

A Dutch safety board in a recent report called for improving emergency response on North Sea shipping routes after a deadly 2023 fire aboard a freighter that was carrying 3,000 automobiles, including nearly 500 electric vehicles, from Germany to Singapore.

In 2023, a cargo ship carrying approximately 3,000 vehicles, including nearly 500 electric vehicles (EVs), caught fire while en route from Germany to Singapore. The fire, which killed one person and injured others, burned for a week before the ship was eventually towed to a Netherlands port for salvage. A Dutch safety board called for improvements in emergency response on North Sea shipping routes due to the incident. This incident is not the first of its kind, with other fires involving EVs on cargo ships, such as the Felicity Ace sinking in 2022 and the Fremantle Highway fire in 2023.

The Felicity Ace, a cargo ship carrying thousands of luxury vehicles, sank in the Atlantic Ocean in March 2022 after catching fire. The ship, operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, was en route from Germany to the United States when the fire broke out on February 16. The fire, potentially caused by lithium-ion batteries in some of the electric vehicles, led to the ship's sinking on March 1, after it had been listing heavily. Fortunately, all 22 crew members were rescued.

The ship's cargo included a significant number of electric vehicles, and the fire's origin was suspected to be related to the lithium-ion batteries in these vehicles, according to Nikkei Asia.

Volkswagen Faces Pair of Lawsuits Over Claim Porsche EV Battery Sparked Ship Fire
- Carmaker sued by Mitsui, Allianz over 2022 incident at sea
- Suit claims fire originated from a Porsche lithium-ion battery.

Allianz (a German multinational financial services company headquartered in Munich, Germany; its core businesses are insurance and asset management) is suing Volkswagen. The insurer is pursuing legal action against Volkswagen due to losses incurred from the "Dieselgate" scandal and the sinking of the Felicity Ace cargo ship. The Felicity Ace fire, which is believed to have originated from a Porsche electric vehicle, resulted in the loss of thousands of vehicles, including many from the Volkswagen group.



Niagara Falls is a popular winter and fall stopover for large numbers of gulls, sometimes reaching 100,000 birds. The Niagara River provides gulls with ample food (especially fish), shelter, and a resting place during their long migrations from the Arctic to the Atlantic coast. The river's abundance of resources, including stunned fish near the falls and those caught in hydropower plants, makes it a prime feeding ground.

Many ardent birdwatchers consider Niagara Falls, and sections of the Niagara River upstream and downstream of the Falls, to be the “Gull Capital of the World” in recognition of the abundance and diversity of gulls found there during winter months. The Falls area annually supports one of the world’s most spectacular concentrations of gulls, with one-day counts of over 100,000 individuals and 19 species recorded, according to the National Audubon Society.

Even to those not seeking rarities, the sheer magnitude of gulls along the Niagara River can be an awesome sight. Flocks of thousands or tens-of-thousands can be seen above and below Niagara Falls and elsewhere along the Lower Niagara River. In particular, the section of river in Lewiston near the outlets of the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant (on the New York side) and Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating Station (on the Ontario side) supports huge, boiling flocks of gulls that soar above the turbulent water and sporadically dive for fish.

Gull numbers and diversity along the Niagara River typically peak between mid-November and mid-January. This timing coincides with the annual buildup of fall migrant Bonaparte’s gulls and the arrival of wintering herring and great black-backed gulls. Among those common species are about a dozen uncommon to rare winter visitants that arrive about the same time. Gulls are attracted to the Niagara River during winter months by extensive areas of open water (i.e., unfrozen) and abundant food resources, especially emerald shiners. Some of the shiners and other small fish may be stunned from turbulence near the Falls and the outlets of the hydropower plants, thus making for easy prey. The critical resources that the Niagara River provides for gulls, waterfowl, and other waterbirds is a significant reason why the River is listed as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society.  src

Bad things in 2025:
1. In January, California was struck by massive, fast-moving fires triggered by the Santa Ana winds, drought conditions and warmer-than-typical temperatures. The worst of the January 2025 fires were: The Palisades Fire (23,707 acres) is the third-most destructive wildfire in California's history.
2. Potomac River near Washington, D.C. (January 29, 2025)
On January 29, a disastrous mid-air collision occurred over the Potomac River, involving an American Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 and a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. All 67 individuals aboard the 2 aircraft were killed instantly.
3. The Jones Road Fire was a major wildfire that broke out on April 22, 2025, in Barnegat Township, in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, rapidly spreading eastward towards Waretown and Lacey Township. The fire began in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area, leading to large-scale evacuations, infrastructure disruptions, and significant environmental impact.
Governor Murphy today (May 13) lifted the State of Emergency declared through Executive Order No. 387 on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 in response to the Jones Road Wildfire in Ocean County, following 100% containment of the 15,300-acre fire near Lacey, Ocean, and Barnegat Townships by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.  The fire is April 22, 2025 – May 12, 2025 (20 days).
Jones Road Fire is a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster declaration (don't mixing up with the NJ "State of Emergency" which is more frequently).  As of October 2025, there has been one disaster declaration in New Jersey in 2025. In 2024, there were zero declarations.  src
4. 印度航空171號班機是一班由印度航空營運,从印度艾哈邁達巴德機場飛往英國倫敦蓋特威克機場的定期國際客運航班。執行該航班任務的印度航空波音787-8夢幻客機(註冊 編號:VT-ANB)在當地時間2025年6月12日下午1時38分於艾哈邁達巴德機場23跑道起飛後約30秒坠毁於毗邻機場、人口稠密的梅加尼纳加尔 (Meghani Nagar)住宅区内的拜拉姆吉·吉吉博伊醫學院宿舍大樓及餐廳。当时机上载有包括230名乘客及12名機組人員的242人,事件造成机上241人罹難、仅1名印度裔英国 籍乘客奇蹟生還;地面上亦有19人遭波及罹難,並有多人受傷。此次空难为21世紀以來死亡人數第二多的空難,仅次于2014年的马来西亚航空17号班机空 难。
5. 香港大埔屋苑宏福苑於2025年11月26日發生五級火災,全苑共8座大廈,其中7幢起火。此次火災事故造成161人死亡(包括1名消防員殉職)、79人受傷。是繼 2008年旺角嘉禾大廈大火以來第二宗五級火警,亦是自1948年石塘咀永安公司倉庫大火以來香港最多人傷亡的火災以及香港史上死亡人數第三多的火災。
6. On 14 December 2025, an Islamic State (ISIS)-inspired terrorist attack occurred at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, during a celebration of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah attended by around 1,000 people. Beginning at 6:42 pm, two gunmen, allegedly Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram killed 15 people, including a ten-year-old child. 
It is the deadliest terror attack and the second-deadliest mass shooting in Australia in modern history. Mass casualty attacks are uncommon in Australia; it enacted strict gun laws in response to the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, in which 35 people were killed.
7. 2025年终盘点:震撼全球 航空旅行的6大事件!
  - 6/12: 印度航空787坠机事件
  - 11月最后一周: 空客A320因太阳辐射召回事件 - 来自太阳的强烈宇宙射线可能会干扰A318、A319、A320和A321飞机上处理高度数据的计算机,全球近6000架飞机受到影响。
  - 10月1日开始: 美国联邦政府停摆事件
         重要数据包括:
             据美国航空运输协会(Airlines for America)称,自10月1日以来,已有520万乘客遭遇与政府停摆相关的航班延误或取消。
             FlightAware的数据显示,11月7日至11月12日期间,共有10100架次航班被取消。
             丹佛、亚特兰大、芝加哥、达拉斯和纽约的航班取消数量最多。天西航空和共和航空等小型支线航空公司受到的冲击最大,因为它们运营 着许多被主要航空公司削减的航线。 
         More:
            [2025年11月7日]
            根據《CNBC》報導,隨著美國政府關門進入第二個月,聯邦航空總署 (FAA) 周五 (7 日) 下令削減航班後,全美已有超過 700 班航班被迫取消,成為自年初以來最嚴重的航班中斷之一。
            Cirium 指出,這一波取消規模在 2024 年以來的美國航班市場中排名第 72 嚴重,與2022年聖誕節南方航空 (LUV-US) 暴風雪危機及2024年夏達美航空 (DAL-US) 因 CrowdStrike(CRWD-US)系統當機造成的大量延誤同屬嚴重事件。[Another statement: 比不上2022年聖誕節的西南航空(南方航空)大當機,也比不上2024年夏天的達美航空 CrowdStrike 系統當機事件,但仍屬重大事件。]
            Another source: 
           [Nov 9 202511:06 PM EST]
           Air traffic controller shortages snarled travel at major airports coast-to-coast over the weekend, in addition to the hundreds of flights airlines had already canceled under the order. So far this weekend, 16,440 U.S. flights were delayed and 3,788 were canceled, according to FlightAware. More than 2,500 were canceled on Sunday (11/9).
          In a sign of how the problems were growing more severe Sunday ranked the 11th worst for canceled U.S. flights since Jan. 1, 2024, while Friday’s levels ranked 72nd, according to tallies from aviation data firm Cirium.
  - 7/30: 英国空中交通管制系统技术故障事件 - 此次故障仅持续了20分钟,却导致约150架次航班取消和延误,影响持续到第二天。
  - 3/20: 伦敦希思罗机场变电站火灾事件 - 几乎瘫痪了24小时
  - 12月初: 靛蓝航空(IndiGo)危机事件 - 印度最大的国内航空公司靛蓝航空遭遇了有史以来最严重的运营危机,大量航班被取消和延误。此次运营中断导致数千名乘客滞留,并在印度各大机场造成严重混乱。
             The crisis started on 2 December and the airline, which had a domestic market share of more than 60%, cancelled nearly 4,500 flights over the next ten days.  wiki

Not historical or geographical significant:
1. 日本九州近期(2025年8月)經歷了創紀錄的破壞性大雨,導致熊本、福岡等地區發生嚴重洪水和土石流,造成至少1人死亡、多人失蹤,數百房屋被淹,交通停擺,甚至影響台 積電熊本廠.
這波災情令人想起2020年7月九州的嚴重水災,當時也造成多人死亡,大量房屋損毀。
   中新網2020年 7月9日電 :
       據日本放送協會(NHK)報道,近日,日本九州地區因罕見暴雨引發的河川氾濫和地質災害已致62人死亡,全國22個縣近五千棟房屋不同程度受損。
       目前,除已經被確認遇難的62人外,還有2人處於心肺停止狀態,另外還有17人下落不明。
2. [Reported on 11 December 2025] Record-high early December temperatures, strong winds and a high fuel load built up over several wet years created the conditions for catastrophic fires last week in parts of New South Wales (NSW) and Tasmania, many of which are still burning. An experienced firefighter was killed—the second already this bushfire season—and hundreds of homes and other structures were destroyed.

Others:
1. For the September 7, 2025, Total Lunar Eclipse, roughly 85% of the world's population, or over 7 billion people, could see all or part of the event, with the best views in Asia, Australia, Africa, and Europe, while North America missed out on the totality. This made it one of the most widely visible eclipses in history, with nearly 77% seeing the entire total phase from locations like Asia and western Australia.
Why the September 2025 Lunar Eclipse Was Special:
a. Broad Visibility: It was visible to a huge percentage of the world's population, making it one of history's most widely seen eclipses.
b. Super Blood Moon: The Moon was near its closest point to Earth (perigee) during the eclipse, making it appear larger and brighter while taking on rich red hues.
c. Duration: The total phase lasted about 82 minutes, with the entire event spanning over five hours.

How Many People Can See This Eclipse?

Number of People Seeing... Number of People* Fraction of World Population
At least some of the penumbral phase 7,190,000,000 87.77%
At least some of the partial phase 7,090,000,000 86.61%
At least some of the total phase 7,030,000,000 85.86%
All of the total phase 6,270,000,000 76.59%
All of the total and partial phases 5,820,000,000 71.05%
The entire eclipse from beginning to end 4,900,000,000 59.90%

* The number of people refers to the resident population (as a round number) in areas where the eclipse is visible. timeanddate has calculated these numbers using raw population data provided by the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) at Columbia University. The raw data is based on population estimates from the year 2000 to 2020.



Comparing with July 16–17, 2000 Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon):

How Many People Can See This Eclipse?

Number of People Seeing... Number of People* Fraction of World Population
At least some of the penumbral phase 3,650,000,000 59.38%
At least some of the partial phase 3,150,000,000 51.27%
At least some of the total phase 2,770,000,000 45.21%
All of the total phase 1,890,000,000 30.88%
All of the total and partial phases 1,500,000,000 24.52%
The entire eclipse from beginning to end 419,000,000 6.82%

* The number of people refers to the resident population (as a round number) in areas where the eclipse is visible. timeanddate has calculated these numbers using raw population data provided by the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) at Columbia University. The raw data is based on population estimates from the year 2000 to 2020.


I saw Yellow-rumped Warbler on:
12/16/2023
12/10/2022
2/27/2022
1/22/2022
etc.

Lifer of 2025:
Ovenbird.  Chestnut-sided Warbler.  Cape May Warbler.  Marbled Godwit.
Painted Bunting, male
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, male and get good pictures having red throat (6/29/2025 at BBG)

12/27/2025 (Sat) after lunch
Alley Pond Park - Restoration Pond

Redhead (1M).  Mute Swan (2).  Wood Duck (>5), having the silver-mutated one; so they are the same ducks in Kissena Park.  Gadwall, M+F.  Ring-necked Duck.  Bufflehead.  Hooded Merganser. 

Photo:
  Silver-mutated Wood Duck - <1> (with another unmutated one)
  Redhead -

  Bufflehead -


12/21/2025 (Sun) whole day with Ivy
Cammanns Pond County Park / Jones Beach West End & US Coast Guard Station / Point Lookout

Cammanns: Hooded Merganser, M+F, many as usual.  etc.
Jones Beach: Common Eider, F.  Dunlin, 1000+.  Purple Sandpiper.  Horned Lark,  a few.  Black Scoter. 
Loon.
Point Lookout:  Harlequin Duck, M+F.  Long-tailed Duck.  Common Eider, F. 
Black Scoter.  Purple Sandpiper (1). 
12/20/2025 (Sat)
Baisley Pond Park - GPS address: 147-10 Rockaway Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11436

Redhead, many, 20+ or 30+.  Ring-necked Duck.  Muscovy Duck (Domestic type), 2.  American Wigeon.  Red-bellied Woodpecker.  Blue Jay.  White-throated Sparrow.  etc.
11/19/2025 (Wed) - 12/9/2025 (Tue)
HK trip, including 2 day trips to 深圳

1. 仙湖公園 - 11月24日(Mon)
    屯門地鐵站 C3出口集合. 集合後坐B9到香園圍口岸(蓮塘口岸)過関
2. 深圳灣公園
    屯門站C出口.  B3X巴士總站. 深圳灣口岸.
     從口岸出發乘搭地鐵(如13號線: 深 圳灣口岸 -> 粵海門 - 4 stops.  Then transfer to 9號線: 粵 海門->深圳灣公園 - 4 stops)


八色鳥(學名:Pitta nympha),又名仙八色鶇.


11/11/2025 (Tue) morning and early afternoon
Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Trail, Brooklyn / Floyd Bennett Field

No sight of Western Cattle Egret and Snow Bunting.
Waxwing.  Cowbird.  Junco.  Mourning Dove.  Bufflehead.  Hooded Merganser.  American Wigeon. etc.

Note:
1. The cattle egret was split into two separate species—Western Cattle-Egret and Eastern Cattle-Egret—in 2023.
2. 15 years ago (March/April 2010) in Hong Kong:
https://siung.net/bird/tmp2/bird/1020414.crop.jpg

11/8/2025 (Sat) early morning
Kissena Park

Wood Duck, male, silver-mutated. 銀鴛鴦

Note:
1. A "silver-mutated wood duck" is a wood duck with a silver color mutation that occurs naturally, though it is also popular in captivity and may be released into the wild. These birds have silver plumage instead of the wild type's vibrant colors, with different shades and markings depending on the sex. Male silver wood ducks have black, white, and red patterned bills, while females have a blue-gray bill and a distinctive white "teardrop" marking around their eyes.
2. There is another mutated wood duck called Platinum 白金 Wood Duck.
3. https://www.mallardlanefarms-onlinestore.com/product-page/bahama-pintail-pair-1-regular-1-silver  - 1 Silver Bahama Pintail and 1 Regular.
4. An "erythristic wood duck" is a wood duck with a genetic mutation causing an abundance of reddish-gold plumage, which is a rare variant of the normally colorful bird. Erythrism is a mutation that results in an overproduction of red and orange pigments, leading to the duck's unique, golden-colored feathers, unlike the standard iridescent green and other vibrant colors of a typical male wood duck.
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erythrism#/media/File:Green-striped_Grasshopper_imported_from_iNaturalist_photo_31118856_on_14_October_2022.jpg - This green-striped grasshopper is not very green due to erythrism.

9/24/2025 (Wed) - 10/7/2025 (Tue)
Spain - Valencia, Cordoba, Granada, Seville, Rhonda, & Madrid.  We did not visit Cadiz.

Note: 
(1) Luckily, we catch a taxi to airport (Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport) instead of using subway and bus; otherwise, we may not catch the flight.
(2) Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (IATA: MAD, ICAO: LEMD) is the main international airport serving Madrid, the capital of Spain, and its metropolitan area. At 3,050 ha (7,500 acres; 30.5 km2) in area, it is the second-largest airport in Europe by physical size behind Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
(3) "Carmen drama" refers to Carmen (1875), a popular opera by Georges Bizet, or a film adaptation, which is a tragedy about a free-spirited gypsy woman in 19th-century Seville who has a tumultuous and ultimately fatal relationship with a soldier, Don José. The drama explores themes of passion, obsession, and freedom, ending tragically when Don José murders Carmen in a jealous rage outside a bullring.
(4) Seville and Granada claimed second and third place respectively in Travel + Leisure magazine’s annual list of the continent’s 15 best cities, sitting just behind Florence which took the top spot.

9/20/2025 (Sat) with Ivy
JBWR and Fort Tryon Park (99 Margaret Corbin Dr, New York, NY 10040)

JBWR: Cannot find Virginia Rail.  Hudsonian Godwit (3), very close so get good pictures.  Belted Kingfisher (1).  Northern Waterthrush.  Least Sandpiper.  Yellowlegs.  Snowy Egret.  Double-crested Cormorant. Canada Goose.  Mute Swan.  Blue-winged Teal.  Gadwall.  etc. Damselfly. 
Lifer: Marbled Godwit.
Vireo.
Fort Tryon:  many active hummingbirds, immature or female.  Very close and get good pictures of hummingbird on orange, purple and white flowers.  Common Yellowthroat. 

Photo:
  Vireo -
  Hudsonian Godwit -
 
Belted Kingfisher -
  Least Sandpiper -
  Yellowlegs -
  Snowy Egret -
  Damselfly -
  Ruby-throated Hummingbird -


8/16/2025 (Sat) with Ivy
JBWR and Brooklyn Botanical Garden

Sora, taken many good pictures.  Wilson's Phalarope 威氏瓣蹼鹬, not a lifer, I saw and photographed it on 5/29/2010. 

Photo:
  Sora -
  Wilson's Phalarope -
  Dragonfly -
  Damselfly -
 

8/9/2025 (Sat) with Ivy
Oceanside MNSA, Manor Farm (210 Manor Rd, Huntington, NY 11743), Centerport Mill Pond (55 Centershore Rd, Centerport, NY 11721; near Heron Park) & Clark Botanic Gardens

Yellow-crowned Night Heron.  Green Heron.  Clapper Rail.  Double-crested Cormorant.  Great Egret.  Snowy Egret?  Osprey.  Northern Mockingbird.  Saltmarsh Sparrow.  Song Sparrow.  Red-winged Blackbird.  American Robin.  House Sparrow.
Semipalmated Plover.  Short-billed Dowitcher.  Greater or Lesser Yellowlegs.  Semipalmated Sandpiper and/or Least Sandpiper.   Black Skimmer. 
Canada Goose.  Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon).  Mourning Dove.  
Laughing Gull.  American Herring Gull.  Forster's Tern or Common Tern. 
Tree Swallow?  Purple Martin.  Barn Swallow?  European Starling.
Great Horned Owl.

Photo:
  Tern feeding the young -



8/3/2025 (Sun) with Ivy
Donald M Kendall Sculpture Gardens (700 Anderson Hill Rd, Purchase, NY 10577), Cranberry Lake Preserve & Fort Tryon Park

Sculpture Gardens: Lotus and Water Lily.  Blue Salvia (or called Blue Sage or Azure Sage).  Cicada.  Butterfly (Silver-spotted Skipper, a large skipper, and a smaller skipper, other butterflies).  Dragonfly. Damselfly.  Goldfinch, M&F.  Red-tailed Hawk.  Chipmunk.  etc.
Fort Tryon: Ruby-throated Hummingbird (2), one is green-backed while another one looks gray.

Note:
While blue salvia and lavender both feature blue-purple flowers, they are distinct plants. Salvia, particularly blue salvia varieties like Salvia farinacea and Salvia guaranitica, are known for their long, upright flower spikes with densely packed florets. Lavender, on the other hand, is a shrub with gray-green foliage and more rounded clusters of fragrant purple flowers.

7/27/2025 (Sun) with Ivy
Mill Pond Park & Clark Botanic Gardens (correct address is saved in GPS; open at 10am Sun so don't come too early)

Mill: Lotus flowers in full blossom.  RWBB.
Clark:  Goldfinch.  Ruby-throated Hummingbird.  Eastern Cottontail.

Photo:
   Goldfinch - male on red flower
   Ruby-throated Hummingbird - feed on red flower

   Eastern Cottontail -
   Dragonfly -
   Damselfly -
   Lotus & RWBB -

7/19/2025 (Sat) with Ivy
Nickerson Beach, Lido Beach Passive Nature Area (Just look for Purple Martin babies) & Oceanside MNSA

Nickerson:
  Least Tern baby, a few.
  Skimmer baby (2). 
  House Finch.  Oystercatcher.  Piping Plover.  Common Tern, many immature and babies.  Sanderling. 
Lido:  No Purple Martin activity.  Quiet.
Oceanside:  Purple Martin baby, many.  Great Cormorant?  Glossy Ibis.  etc.


7/4/2025 (Fri) with Winnie
Nickerson Beach &  Lido Beach Passive Nature Area

Least Tern baby (1).  Killdeer but see no baby.  Skimmer, no baby.

6/29/2025 (Sun) with Ivy
Brooklyn Botanical Garden (455 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225) & Canarsie Park (or better called Paerdegat Basin)

Don't see Green Heron babies.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, male:  I get photo of its red throat.
Robin nestlings (3) and parent at the nest at Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden.
Water Lilies (睡蓮).  Lotus.  Dragonfly.  Damselfly.
Canarsie Park: No Cliff Swallow.

Note:
<1> Someone saw 3 cliff swallows yesterday at Paerdegat Basin - ebird
<2> 美国最常见的燕子叫美洲崖燕(American Cliff Swallow)。和家燕一样崖燕也喜欢在人造的建筑上做窝,但通常是在建筑的外面。崖燕在外形上同家燕有点不同,没有像剪刀一样的燕尾,翅膀较阔呈圆形。崖燕冬天到南美 州去过冬,春天时飞行6-7千英里回到北美州,在从加拿大,美国到墨西哥广阔的土地上都可以见到它们。 src


6/21/2025 (Sat) with Ivy
Nickerson Beach, Lido Beach Passive Nature Area & Oceanside MNSA

Baby/Immature Day: Common Tern.  Oystercatcher.  Killdeer.  Osprey.  Yellow-crowned Night Heron.  Ivy sees a Swallow nestling. 
Lido:  Purple Martin.  Tree Swallow.
Oceanside:  See many crab catching moment of Yellow-crowned Night Heron.  Muskrat 麝鼠 (2). 

Photo:
  Saltmarsh Sparrow -
  
Green Heron -
  
Yellow-crowned Night Heron -
  
Barn Swallow -
  
Osprey -
  Oystercatcher -

  Common Tern - with 2 chicks
  Purple Martin - <1>
  Great Egret -
  Killdeer -
  Willet -
  Muskrat -


6/19/2025 (Thu) with Ivy
Canarsie Park, JBWR & Sunset Cove Park (next to Broad Channel American Park)
Cliff Swallow site is under Paerdegat Basin Bridge (Belt Parkway).  Access from Canarsie Park (not Canarsie Beach).  Check tide time.  Visit best at lowest tide.

Canarsie Park: Barn Swallow.  Probably no Cliff Swallow.  Don't see any baby.  May be 1 or 2 incubating, not sure.
JBWR: Yellow Warbler.  Carolina Wren.  House Wren.  Mockingbird.  Catbird.  Dragonfly: Black Saddlebags.  Damselfly.  etc.
Sunset Cove Park:  Osprey, 1 baby (or more), not yet fledged.  Probably Forster's Tern, not Common Tern.  Egret.  Laughing Gull.  etc.


Photo:
    Barn Swallow -
    House Wren -
    Black Saddlebags -
    Damselfly -
    Osprey -
    Common Tern -
    Tern - dive into water
    Egret -
    Tree Swallow -
    Gadwall -

Note:
Google: "Cliff Swallow under Paerdegat Basin Bridge"
   Yes, Cliff Swallows nest under the Paerdegat Basin Bridge in Brooklyn, New York.

Seven Swallows:
- Tree Swallow
- Barn Swallow
- Cliff Swallow
- Purple Martin
- Northern Rough-Winged Swallow: I saw this as a lifer in Oakland Lake on  4/25/2021.
- Bank Swallow (or called sand martin) 崖沙燕
- Cave Swallow: Cave swallows are occasional visitors to New York, primarily appearing in the late fall after strong weather systems move through the area. While they are more common in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean, they are considered vagrants in the northeastern United States, including New York.

Intraspecific brood parasitism (IBP) in birds is a reproductive strategy where a female bird lays her eggs in the nests of other individuals of the same species, rather than building her own nest and raising her own young. This act of laying eggs in another bird's nest is done without providing parental care for those eggs or the resulting chicks.
Purple Martin  is IBP; up to 36% of nests parasited.  src
No, not all swallows exhibit intraspecific brood parasitism. While some swallow species, like Cliff Swallows and Barn Swallows, are known to engage in this behavior, it is not a universal trait among all swallows, according to studies of avian brood parasitism.  Tree Swallows have a low rate of intraspecific brood parasitism, according to research.
Cliff Swallows have now been shown to have an unusually high degree of intraspecific brood parasitism.  src

Interspecific Egg-dumping by a Violet-green Swallow in an Active Western Bluebird Nest

We observed a Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) laying an egg in an active Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) nest. The Western Bluebird male and not the female, was aggressive to the Violet-green Swallow but the swallow remained to lay the egg. This is the first documented incidence of which we are aware involving altricial interspecific egg-laying during the nestling phase. We suggest the timing of this event was more consistent with incidental egg deposition, or egg-dumping, than brood parasitism or nest usurpation.

6/7/2025 (Sat) leaving home before sunrise; back home at 10:15am
Nickerson Beach & Marine Nature Study Area

Least tern: one incubates 2 eggs. 
Common tern: some are courting; more of them are incubating.
Oystercatcher young.
Skimmer.
Boat-tailed Grackle.

6/5/2025 (Thu) sunrise to 2pm, with Rita & ChiWai
Brookhaven State Park, Ridge, NY - 2500 William Floyd Pkwy, Ridge, NY 11961 - No parking fee.  Weekdays open at 8:30am.  Weekends open at 8am.
Fireman's Memorial Park, Ridge, NY - 724 Middle Country Rd, Ridge, NY 11961 - No parking fee. 
Did not visit: 4-6 Pennaquid Rd, Coram, NY 11727

Periodical Cicada - Brood XIV (14) Cicadas are 17-year cicadas.  The last time this brood emerged was in 2008. 
NY: We’re talking Long Island. Counties: Suffolk. Cities: East Setauket and Dix Hills. The first reported adult cicadas were found in Coram and Setauket on 5/15.  src
NJ: We’re talking southern New Jersey, where the Jersey Devil lives (he might have ate them all up). Counties: Atlantic, Camden, Ocean. Cities: Linwood, Manchester Township, Winslow Township. Update: nothing yet, just a Brood X straggler in Princeton.

Box Turtle.  Frog, a lot.  Butterfly.  Dragonfly.

Photo:
    Box Turtle -
    Frog -
    Periodical Cicada -
    Butterfly -
    Dragonfly -

Notes:
2013: Periodical Cicada at SI. 
6/7/2021: Periodical Cicada at New Jersey Princeton.
Fireman's Memorial Park has a few trees of lower height.  We had a good time there to chase for flying cicadas and play them on hands.

More Notes:
Brood XIV is a “Keystone” Brood

The Lloyd and Dybas (1966) “Four-Year Acceleration” scheme showed how all other 17-year broods could be derived from Brood XIV by repeated instances of “acceleration” or emergence 1- or 4-years ahead of schedule.  the “Four Year Jump” hypothesis (Cooley et al. 2018) allows “accelerations” and “deceleration,” removing the constraint that life cycle changes must involve emergences ahead of schedule by allowing emergences behind schedule as well.  Despite this change, Brood XIV is still at the center of this hypothesis.  src



5/21/2025 (Wed) - 6/3/2025 (Tue)  with Winnie, Rita & ChiWai
Germany.

Plan:
Flights -
5/21 Wed Aer Lingus 4:55 pm departure. Stay over at Dublin for 2 hr 40 minutes.
6/3 Tue 10:40 am departure. Stay over at Dublin 4 hr 40 minutes. Arrival in JFK 7:30 pm.

5/22: Arrival in Munich 10 at Terminal 1.  Get SIM cards at a store at airport.  Take train to Fuessen.
5/23 Visit the Neushwainstein Castle.
5/24 Sat to Munich:
        Holiday Inn Express Munich City West for two nights. Friedenheimer Bruecke 15, Munich.
5/25 Sun: Sightseeing in Munich city center. Visit the Nymphenburg Palace in the morning.
5/26 Mon to 5/30 Fri Nuremberg – Holiday Inn (booked through IHG) Engelhardsgasse 12, Nuernberg.
5/26 Mon Munich to Nuremberg with stopover at Regensburg.
5/27-5/29: Bamberg. Wurzburg. Nuernberg.
5/30 to 5/31 Overnight in Lutherstadt Wittenberg Best Western. Collegienstrasse 56/57, Lutherstadt Wittenberg, ST, 06886
5/30 Fri Nuremburg to Erfurt (9:05am to 10:24 am) ICE train. We already purchased the ticket. Store luggage at Erfurt station.
5/31 Sat to 6/3 Tue. Overnight in Berlin.   Apartments am Brandenenburger.

See a swallow nest with 4 chicks, a parent (or with a possibility of 2 parents, cannot tell, too dark) feeds them in a tunnel to Victory Column at Berlin.  Look like it is Barn Swallow.
... 一巢生四儿。四儿日夜长,索食声孜孜。 唐代白居易的《燕诗示刘叟》
Barn swallows typically lay 3-7 eggs per brood, with an average of 4-5 eggs. They usually raise two broods per year. The same pair may mate for several years. Both parents incubate the eggs and care for the chicks, which fledge after about 3 weeks.

Photo:
  Swallow - <1>
5/18/2025 (Sun)  with Ivy
Sterling Forest State Park  (Note:  a lot of ticks)
GPS:  United Water Inc, 228 Ironwood Dr, Tuxedo Park, NY 10987 (this is the exact address to reach the park and parking space at the entrance of the trail)

Indigo Bunting, male.  Blue-winged Warbler.  Prairie Warbler.  Eastern Towhee, male.  Field Sparrow.  Baltimore Oriole.  Vulture.  Woodpecker, heard.
Dragonfly.  Butterfly.  Grasshopper.  Mosquito mating.
Frog,
Did not see: Cuckoo.  Golden-winged Warbler.
Ivy see: Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Photo:
  Indigo Bunting -
  Eastern Towhee -
  Prairie Warbler -

  Blue-winged Warbler - <1>
  Baltimore Oriole -
  Dragonfly -
  Butterfly -
  Grasshopper -
  Mosquito mating.-

Note:

In Sterling Forest State Park, the primary tick species of concern are the deer tick (black-legged tick), American dog tick and Lone Star tick, according to the New York State Department of Health. These ticks can transmit various diseases, including Lyme disease (deer ticks), Rocky Mountain spotted fever (dog ticks), and ehrlichiosis and a rash illness (Lone Star ticks), according to the New York State Department of Health.

5/10/2025 (Sat) 
Central Park, with Ivy

Lifer: Ovenbird.  Chestnut-sided Warbler.  Cape May Warbler.
Black-and-white Warbler. 
Northern Parula.
Black-throated Blue Warbler.
Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Waterthrush.
Red-eyed Vireo.  Warbling Vireo.  
I think I don't see Canada Warbler.  Ivy saw Blackpoll Warbler. 

Northern rough-winged swallow. etc.

Photo:
  Ovenbird -


4/27/2025 (Sun)
JBWR & Sunset Cove Park (next to Broad Channel American Park)

FOS: Yellow Warbler.  Barn Swallow.
Great Egret.  Black-crowned Night Heron.  Ruddy Duck.  Bufflehead.  Mute Swan.  Yellow-rumped Warbler.  Cowbird.  Chipping Sparrow.  Song Sparrow.  Osprey.  RWBB.  Robin.  Mockingbird.  Starling.  Crow.  Tree Swallow.  Carolina Wren. Cardinal.  etc.


4/19/2025 (Sat) with Winnie, Alan Lo and Linda Mak
Essex County Branch Brook Park
cherry blossoms

Driving To:  Williamsburg Bridge before 9am (toll is $2.25); then Holland Tunnel
Driving Home:  Holland Tunnel (toll is $16.06) then Williamsburg Bridge
Lunch at: Casa Vasca Bar-Restaurant - 141 Elm Street, Newark, NJ 07105 - open 7 days - (973) 465-1350 - Paella $25

4/13/2025 (Sun) whole day with Ivy
Green-Wood Cemetery / JBWR / Sunset Cove Park (next to Broad Channel American Park) / Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Trail, Brooklyn

FOS: Laughing Gull.  Palm Warbler.  Pine Warbler. 
A lot of Eastern Phoebe (FOS?).  Yellow-rumped Warbler.
Red-headed Woodpecker.  Cowbird.  Red-breasted Merganser.  Ruddy Duck.  Bufflehead.  Northern Shoveler.  Mute Swan.  Osprey.  Chipping Sparrow.  Song Sparrow.  Hermit Thrush.  Mockingbird.  RWBB.  Robin.  Junco.  Mourning Dove.  Starling.  Northern Flicker.  House Finch.  Crow.  etc.

4/6/2025 (Sun) early morning
JBWR

FOS: Cowbird (M and F).  Tree Swallow.  今朝見到雙色樹燕和褐頭牛鸝 今年第一次邂逅
Ruddy Duck.  Bufflehead.  Mute Swan.  Osprey.  Chipping Sparrow.  Song Sparrow.  Mockingbird.  RWBB.  Yellow-rumped Warbler.  Carolina Wren.  Robin.  Junco.  Mourning Dove.  Starling.  Northern Flicker.  Woodpecker.  etc.

Photo:
  Tree Swallow -
  Northern Flicker -
  Chipping Sparrow -
  Mockingbird -
  Carolina Wren -
  Cowbird -



3/29/2025 (Sat) early morning (arrived at about sunrise)
Jones Beach West End & US Coast Guard Station / Cammanns Pond County Park

Northern Gannet, 100+ at least.  Piping Plover, FOS.  Sanderling.  Dunlin, a lot in hundreds or 1000+.  Red-breasted Merganser.  RWBB.  Loon.  Seal. etc.
Boat-tailed Grackle(?).
Cammanns: Yellow-crowned Night Heron.  Black-crowned Night Heron.  Hooded Merganser (1), most are left. 

Photo:
 
Gannet - <1>
3/23/2025 (Sun) whole day with Ivy
Green-Wood Cemetery (alone myself) / Sunset Cove Park (next to Broad Channel American Park) / JBWR / Springfield Park (149 Av, Springfield Bl, 145 Rd, 184 St Queens)

GW: Red-headed Woodpecker.
Sunset Cove: Snow Goose. 
JBWR: Osprey, FOS.  Snow Goose.  Sat 22 Mar 2025 Someone saw 8 Tree Swallows swirling and calling over East Pond. We have no luck.
Springfield: Muskrat.  Yellowlegs.  Monk Parakeet.   Hooded Merganser.  Ruddy Duck.  RWBB.  Eastern Gray Squirrel with cinnamon fur.  Cannot find Kingfisher.

Photo:
 
Red-headed Woodpecker - <1>
  Snow Goose -
  Muskrat -
  Yellowlegs -
  Monk Parakeet -
  Hooded Merganser -
  Eastern Gray Squirrel with cinnamon fur -

Note:
(1) In Queens, New York, "Springfield Pond" and "Cornell's Pond" refer to the same body of water located within Springfield Park, where Thurston Creek widens before continuing into the Idlewild marshes.
(2) Atlantic Blue Crab from Springfield Park, New York, NY, US on August 09, 2024 at 11:49 AM by Louis Burns.  src
(3) https://parkodyssey.blogspot.com/2015/04/springfield-park.html
(4) In New York City, while most squirrels are eastern gray squirrels, they can come in various colors, including those with reddish or cinnamon fur, and even black fur, which are still variations of the eastern gray squirrel.

3/22/2025 (Sat) pm early afternoon sunny and warm, then windy, cloudy and colder.  Winnie initiated trip.
Sands Point Preserve (127 Middle Neck Rd, Sands Point, NY 11050), $15
Town Dock (347 Main St, Port Washington, NY 11050)
Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Youngs Memorial Cemetery, taking good bird pictures at the 3 feeder sites.
Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park Beach, supposed to be a resident of the town to use.  You can always park free in the outside LIRR lots which are newly renovated, and avoid the parking fees.  Do not visit in summer if you are not an Oyster Bay resident.  Even I park my car in the LIRR lots, I may not be able to walk in.  But if I come before the security (says before 9am), I think I can get in.  

Sands Point:  Bee with black body.  Mourning Cloak (seen before at Forest Park on 4/11/2015).  Fly.
Town Dock: Killdeer (only heard).  Canada Goose.
Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary: Woodpecker.  Titmouse.  Black-capped Chickadee.  Nuthatch.  Dark-eyed Junco.  American Goldfinch.  House Finch.  Mourning Dove.  Blue Jay.  etc.
Theodore Roosevelt Beach and Park: Red-breasted Merganser.  Bufflehead.  Long-tailed Duck.
Song Sparrow singing, FOS.  Common Grackle (forget where to see it).  Robin, many.  ...

Photo:
 
Mourning Cloak - <1>
  Titmouse -
  Black-capped Chickadee -
  Nuthatch -
  Dark-eyed Junco -
  American Goldfinch -
  House Finch -
  Red-breasted Merganser -

Notes:
1. The Mourning Cloak Butterfly is usually the first butterfly that is noticed in the Spring, and this is because it hibernates in tree holes or other shelters during the winter.

3/16/2025 (Sun) pm cloudy and foggy
Nickerson Beach.  Point Lookout.  This winter I have not visited these 2 places.

Nickerson -
  Oystercatcher, FOS; earlier than any year of 2022 or before.  And earlier than the record made in 2023 (3/18).  So I really break the record.
    Somebody counted 50 of them on 3/15.  Is it an unexpectedly large number?  Probably not.
  Sanderling.  Horned Lark (4) (or Lapland Longspur?); somebody saw 41 of them on 3/14.   Killdeer (4) at parking lot, FOS.
  Somebody saw 1 Piping Plover on 3/14.
Point Lookout - Harlequin Duck (9); there are 2 groups.  九男女  一個男仔冇本事 衹有一條女 另一個就叻 有六條女追住.    Common Eider.  Oystercatcher.

Photo:
 
Oystercatcher -
  Sanderling -
  Killdeer -
  Common Eider -
  Harlequin Duck -
 
Next week:
look for Cowbird (4/6; last year: 3/16/2024).  Tree Swallow (4/6).  Osprey (3/23).  American Oystercatcher (3/16).  Piping Plover (3/29).
3/15/2025 (Sat) am cloudy
Crotona Park.  Orchard Beach.
  Crotona Park Greenway, Bronx, NY 10457.  GPS Address: 779 Crotona Park N, Bronx, NY 10460 - address of Group Family Day Care, at the park entrance.

Crotona - Redhead (7).   Hooded Merganser, immature male.  Northern Shoveler. 
Orchard - Titmouse.  Black-capped Chickadee.  Nuthatch.  Dark-eyed Junco.  Red-winged Blackbird.  Red-breasted Merganser.  Bufflehead.  Loon.  White-tailed Deer family (7+).  Shorebird (Greater Yellowlegs?)
Cannot find any Cowbird.

Photo:
 
Titmouse - <flying-1>
  Chickadee -
  Nuthatch -
  White-tailed Deer -
  Redhead - <1>
  Hooded Merganser -
  Greater Yellowlegs -


3/9/2025 (Sun) with Ivy
Green-Wood Cemetery (alone myself) location of Red-headed / Prospect Park / Floyd Bennett Field
梅花 (tree at 69th Ave at Forest Hill)

Green-Wood: Red-headed Woodpecker, 1st year.
Prospect: European Goldfinch.  Titmouse.
Floyd Bennett: American Kestrel (2).  Northern Harrier (suggestively identified by Ivy).

Photo:
 
Robin -
  Red-headed Woodpecker -
  European Goldfinch -
 
Titmouse -
  American Kestrel -

  Red-tailed Hawk -
 
Note:
Mei flowers, or meihua (梅花), in the later winter and early spring, during the spring festival (春節), symbolizing endurance as being the first to flower despite the cold and is one of the Three Friends of Winter.

3/8/2025 (Sat) after sunset
See Mercury again.
2025 年3月8日,火星將與月亮上演一場浪漫的相遇!在太陽下山後,往東南方天空望去,你就能看到一輪明月(not full moon)旁邊,閃耀著一顆紅色的星星,那就是火星啦!
3/7/2025 (Fri) about 6:20pm, after sunset
First time in my life to see Mercury.  I first use naked eye to locate Venus.  Then use binocular to locate Mercury which is near to Venus.

3/1/2025 (Sat) am myself / pm with Ivy
40°44'04.6"N 73°43'25.8"W (Cross Island Pkwy & Hillside ave) - 83-31 243rd St., Queens - fail to see European Goldfinch again
Baisley Pond Park, Coney Island Creek Park Shore / Kaiser Park (last time visit is 1/22/2022), Green-Wood Cemetery

Baisley: Redhead.
Coney Island: Horned Grebe.
Green-Wood: A lot of Robins. Red-tailed Hawk.
Today is our Red Bird Day:  Redhead, Horned Grebe with red eyes, Red-headed Woodpecker (cannot see but find the hole on the tree), Red-tailed Hawk, a lot of Robins.

Photo:
 
Robin in flight -
  Coot chasing - <1>
  Horned Grebe -
<1>  
2/23/2025 (Sun) am
40°44'04.6"N 73°43'25.8"W (Cross Island Pkwy & Hillside ave) - 83-31 243rd St., Queens

Fail to find European Goldfinch (male). 
American Goldfinch.  House Finch.  Common Grackle.  Downy Woodpecker.  White-breasted Nuthatch.  Orange-crowned Warbler (pretty sure but not 100%).


2/1/2025 (Sat) am
Baisley Pond Park

Redhead, M and F, many, near shore.  Common Merganser (1).  Ring-necked Duck.  Northern Flicker, first year.
今朝睇到紅頭鴨 今年就鴻運當頭


Photo:
  Redhead - <1>   <2>
  Northern Flicker -


1/1/2025 (Wed) am
Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery
Address: 435 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302

Lifer: Painted Bunting (丽彩鹀 Passerina ciris), male.  Kestrel.  Junco.  Cardinal.  Mourning Dove.  White-throated Sparrow.  House Sparrow.  House Finch.  Blue Jay.  Mockingbird.  Starling.