Tag Archives: wildlife

Feature Photo: Merrick, New York, U.S. May 19, 2025. This wild bunny - an Eastern Cottontail that's a member of the Sulvilagus genus - is eating weeds, hopping, and sitting at Norman J Levy Park & Preserve during a pleasant spring afternoon through dusk. (© 2025 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve is Hopping this Spring

Leave a reply

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
May 22, 2025  

Norman J Levy Park & Preserve hours: May to August: 7 am – 7:30 pm

Spring at Merrick park on L.I.’s South Shore

On Monday, I went to Norman J Levy Park & Preserve for the first time this spring. The main parking lot was full, likely thanks to the cool, pleasant weather and the end of the spring semester for most U.S. colleges.

• Meadow Brook Creek

The creek looked mystical as dusk approached, with tall reeds (Phragmites and Typha laxmannii) glowing golden wherever direct sunlight touched them.

“Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

Merrick, New York, U.S. May 19, 2025. Visitors take path to the creek lined with reeds at Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve as dusk approaches. (© 2025 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

• Eastern cottontail rabbits

A very young bunny and an older one – Eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) – caught my attention on the lawn near the park’s ranger station. Being more used to seeing people than the wild rabbits at my home front and backyards are, these bunnies didn’t immediately hop far away.

Because I captured the images below with a NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S macro lens, they’re detailed and sharp but strongly cropped. My NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens would be a useful addition for future visits.

“Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

Merrick, New York, U.S. May 19, 2025. This wild bunny, an Eastern cottontail rabbit, isn’t much bigger than the weeds it’s eating at Norman J Levy Park & Preserve during a pleasant spring day. (© 2025 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

“Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

Merrick, New York, U.S. May 19, 2025. This wild bunny, an Eastern Cottontail rabbit, is hopping across the mowed lawn at Norman J Levy Park & Preserve during a pleasant spring day. (© 2025 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

“Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

Merrick, New York, U.S. May 19, 2025. This Eastern cottontail rabbit and bee are crossing paths at Norman J Levy Park & Preserve during a pleasant spring day. (© 2025 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

“Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

Merrick, New York, U.S. May 19, 2025. This Eastern cottontail rabbit is looking around at Norman J Levy Park & Preserve during a pleasant spring dusk. (© 2025 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

“Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

Merrick, New York, U.S. May 19, 2025. This Eastern cottontail rabbit is looking around at Norman J Levy Park & Preserve during a pleasant spring dusk. (© 2025 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

“Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

Merrick, New York, U.S. May 19, 2025. This Eastern cottontail rabbit is hopping across the lawn at Norman J Levy Park & Preserve during a pleasant spring dusk. (© 2025 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

• selfie

“Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

Merrick, New York, U.S. May 19, 2025. Ann Parry captures iPhone selfie by creek at Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve at dusk. (© 2025 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

• FEATURE PHOTO (at top of post): Merrick, New York, U.S. May 19, 2025. This wild bunny – an Eastern Cottontail that’s a member of the Sulvilagus genus – lives at Norman J Levy Park & Preserve.

Norman J Levy Park & Preserve Memorial Day:  my PHOTO GALLERY

Town of Hempstead:  Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

CONTACT ME

Wantagh, New York, U.S. April 22, 2020. Two fishermen fish at Mill Pond Park as dusk approaches on Earth Day. (© 2020 Ann Parry, FromLongIsland.com)

Earth Day 2020: PAUSE & Webbed Feet

Leave a reply

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
April 28, 2020

 How I spent Earth Day on Long Island

SLIDESHOW – “Mill Pond Park, Earth Day 2020” with music
Click lower right corner of video to view full-screen:

Months ago, I ordered a box of 20 disposable N-95 masks. By the time they arrived, not long ago, many local first responders were short on Personal Protective Equipment and could use the masks more than I did.

After reading L.I. Herald reporter Andrew Garcia’s article on the Bellmore-Merrick EMS and how it needed PPE, I put on my makeshift face mask, grabbed the unopened box of N-95s, and drove to the not-for-profit’s nearby Bellmore HQ.

• EMT ALEX DOOLEY of Bellmore-Merrick EMS:

“Bellmore,

Bellmore, New York, U.S. April 22, 2020. EMT ALEX DOOLEY stands at entrance to Bellmore-Merrick EMS to accept PPE donation to squad. (© 2020 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

While dropping off the masks outside the EMS entrance door, I asked EMT ALEX DOOLEY what protective equipment donations the first responders particularly needed, other than masks, and she immediately said “gowns.”

Since dusk wasn’t far off when I left, I decided to capture Earth Day photos at a nearby South Shore park.

Normally I’d head west to Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve in Merrick, but it was closed because its sprawling trails and secluded areas weren’t social-distancing-friendly and Long Island was a major hot spot for the Covid-19 pandemic. So I instead headed east to Mill Pond Park in Wantagh.

The park borders Merrick Road, where I parked, joining two or three other cars already there, and adjusted my face mask after getting out of the car.

•  [digitally colored] Panorama of Mill Pond Park at dusk:

Wantagh, New York, U.S. April 22, 2020. Family feeds swan and geese at Mill Pond Park, as dusk approaches during Earth Day. (© 2020 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Wantagh, New York, U.S. April 22, 2020. Family feeds swan and geese at Mill Pond Park, as dusk approaches during Earth Day. (© 2020 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

My iPhone 11 Pro was the best and only camera I had with me. Its 2X optical zoom helped make it possible to capture photos I otherwise couldn’t have while Governor Cuomo’s executive order “New York State on PAUSE” is in effect, currently from March 22 to May 15, 2020.

New York State on PAUSE “NY State remains on PAUSE through May 15. All non-essential workers are directed to work from home, and everyone is required to wear a face covering and maintain a 6-foot distance from others in public”

FEATURE PHOTO at top of post: Wantagh, New York, U.S.  April 22, 2020. Two fishermen wearing waders fish at Mill Pond Park on Earth Day as dusk approaches.

Bellmore-Merrick EMS: Membership Inquiry • Donate

LIHerald.com: Subscribe • Donate

Mill Pond Park 2020 Earth Day:  my PHOTO GALLERY

VIDEO:  vimeo.com/annparry/millpondpark2020

CONTACT ME

Wantagh, New York, USA. February 20, 2019. Scene of split rail wood fence and beyond at Mill Pond Park on Long Island. 180 degree fisheye view, 3 digital versions.

180° Fisheye View: Mill Pond Park

Leave a reply

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
February 24, 2019

Wantagh, New York, USA. February 20, 2019. During snowfall, 2 swans and some mallards swim in Mill Pond Park on Long Island. 180 degree fisheye view of Nassau County public park. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Wantagh, New York, USA. February 20, 2019. During snowfall, 2 swans swim in Mill Pond Park on Long Island. 180 degree fisheye view of Nassau County public park. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

When it started snowing Wednesday, I decided to go to a local park to test my new Nikon fisheye lens* that arrived a few days earlier. 

I’d capture 180-degree fisheye, 31-degree Fahrenheit landscapes.

Wantagh, New York, USA. February 20, 2019. Split rail wood fence and beyond at Mill Pond Park on Long Island. 180 degree fisheye view. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Wantagh, New York, USA. February 20, 2019. Split rail wood fence and beyond at Mill Pond Park on Long Island. 180 degree fisheye view. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Eisenhower Park, in East Meadow, with its beautiful lake and Veterans Memorial area, was too far from the pet supply store also on my itinerary, so I went south to Norman J Levy Park, in Merrick, where I found a “Park Closed Due to Weather” sign on the entrance gate. 

So I headed east to Wantagh and parked along Merrick Road near the wood gazebo at the gate-less south border of Mill Pond Park.

Wantagh, New York, USA. February 20, 2019. Snow falls at Mill Pond Park, with partly shoveled path leading to wood gazebo on Long Island. 180 degree fisheye view of Nassau County public park. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Wantagh, New York, USA. February 20, 2019. Snow falls at Mill Pond Park, with partly shoveled path leading to wood gazebo on Long Island. 180 degree fisheye view of Nassau County public park. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Slowly, I walked on the partly cleared path, passed the wood gazebo, and very slowly approached the snowy shore, with a pair of swans swimming nearby and a small flock of mallards further out.

*Nikon AF-S Fisheye NIKKOR 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ED Lens

  • fisheye lens set at 170-degrees – cropped series, swan in pond:

3 views of swan looking around on pond during snowfall at Mill Pond Park, Wantagh, NY, Feb. 20, 2019.

180-Degree (Fisheye Lens – Nature):  my Photo GALLERY

CONTACT ME