Prospect Park
Warm temperatures bought on by southerly winds in fall usually is a birding "zapper". I guess the birds know that, feel the urge to move on when the mercury rises; or maybe they all went to the beach. Today was that sort of day, quit the workday,put on sunblock, and head for the shores.
Birding was very obviously much , much slower, and it was evident everywhere I went . This morning ,even what was hot the past week, was too inactive, when Lark Sparrow, Meadowlark, and Bluebird dominated the ball fields stage. Only two SAVANNAH SPARROWS held their ground inside that now famous fence, hunkered down as two COOPERS HAWKS flew over as Russ and Valerie watched alongside me. And the contractors hired to regrade the baseball diamonds , their noisy machines in the backdrop maybe a reason "Larky"moved on to quieter pastures. But I really hope it stuck around. Lark Sparrows most times are one day wonders but we had our bird for four days. That's an eternity.
A continuing highlight though comes with the WOOD DUCK. 27 of them huddled close on the Upper Pool island and back channel. Its quite a scene to see their gorgeous colors reflecting off the waters with impending fall foliage backdrop.
Rain is coming;and so, that means more good birds, maybe something rare ( OK...so i can get over-optimistic) in bad weather...
Peter
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 10/22/09
Number of species: 22
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Wood Duck 27 Upper pool island
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X lake
Pied-billed Grebe 1 south lullwater
Cooper's Hawk 2 f/o ballfields
American Coot 2 duck island
Herring Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Downy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1 nethermead
American Crow 3 ballfields
Ruby-crowned Kinglet X
Hermit Thrush 2
Gray Catbird 3 --2 lily pool
Savannah Sparrow 2 ballfields
Song Sparrow X
White-throated Sparrow X ravine
Northern Cardinal X
Common Grackle 3 f/o rink
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
