Photo: Bird of Prey in Belmont Shore

One night a few weeks ago, I was walking back from Bay Shore beach at twilight when there gathered a knot of poeple at the corner of First and Claremont. They were gazing at the corner curb, chuckling and pointing.

"What are you all looking at?" I asked.

It was a mama raccoon and her beady-eyed babies, peeking out from the sewer drain. They were three-in-a-row, and their natural dark masks made them look like bandits lurking from their getaway spot.

I've heard people talking about coyotes prowlig around Livingston Park, The Toledo and surfacing out of the Naples Island gutter openings in the curb. Take that photo for us! 

We've had a falcon in our alley devouring a shore bird. Now here's one that was apparently going for the back-to-school specials behind Brunchtime. Compliments of Belmont Shore resident Jen Rose.