By Mike Busch

Despite the muggy and wet weather pattern, the Long Island Wildlife Photography group is still out getting some amazing images to share with the rest of us.

Highlights this week include some amazing Black Skimmers still tending to the young, a Clapper Rail, Common Eider, Indigo Bunting,  and a great variety of Herons and Egrets.

Out on the Ocean, we are getting reports of Humpback Whales in our area with sightings off Shinnecock, Moriches, Smith Point, and Jones Inlet to name just a few spots.  With plenty of bunker around, you have a chance of seeing whales right off any of our south shore beaches, keep your eyes peeled!  Fire Island and Beyond contributor Brian Doherty and his wife Kathy Rokita had an amazing afternoon with two Humpbacks of Jones Inlet on Sunday.  I attached a few of their photos below but if you want more, check out their full report with a bunch of photos here if you missed it.   If you want a closer look, there is still time to jump on one of our great whale watching boats with Cresli and the Viking Fleet out of Montauk or American Princess Cruises with Gotham Whale out of Breezy Point.

This week’s cover goes to Nancy Viscardi-Ricigliano with a phenomenal shot of a Bald Eagle struggling with a huge Eel.

Fred Kopf | Black Skimmers

Diane Van Dyke Greco | Cardinals

Barbara Lash | Great Egrets

Dan Fiore | Fawns in the Rain

Carole Ryder | Yellow Crowned Night Heron

Joyce Book-Saliani | Green Frog

Robin LaCicero | Ospreys

Brian Doherty | Black-Crowned Night Heron

Brian Doherty | Humpback Whale

More Photos on Pages 2,3,4, and 5