AS autumn gets "older", I start to look at certain places of interest.That is, focus on Water,Weeds, and Wide open sky. In clearer terms, the lake, weedy habitats, and what's flying up there.
First the Lake: BUFFLEHEADS have increased their numbers with 5 now floating on Prospect Lake currents, three drakes and 2 hens. So did the RING-NECKED DUCK numbers; six individuals stayed mostly on the western side while the Buffies stayed more east. It looks like 4 drakes and two hen regarding the Ring-neckeds.
Regarding the weeds, I went back to the sumacs in the hope of finding yesterday's Orange-crowned warbler but it was quiet there. But a weedy spot on the east side of Long Meadow that was dormant all fall came alive with SONG SPARROWS and White-Throated so I'll be re-checking this locale the next day or so.
Finally, in the sky. The best thing about today concerned 4 raptor species: two falcons, a buteo and an adult accipiter. While talking with Rob Bate near the Wildflower Meadow, as we admired a perched MERLIN high above the Tennis House, we suddenly noted its abrupt springing to chase something.Sure enough,a large accipiter flew around the large American Elm grove (on the knoll overlooking Upper Pool) before i noted it perched between the Pools. It turned out to be a likely female adult COOPERS HAWK, with its blue gray back and dark cap notable field marks. About that time, a moderate flock of blackbirds flew over us, Red-wingeds, my best estimate 35 birds, quickly gone as soon as we both saw them. Later , on my lunch break, a real cool look at a low -flying PEREGRINE FALCON that swooped down for a look see over the lawn and Peninsula sumacs. I guess now why the sumacs were quiet today, too much Perry buzzing.
And an interesting observation concerning the AMERICAN CROW. As you know in recent years, the crow population plummeted in Prospect, most likely victims of West Nile. This morning ,I saw perhaps the largest group I've seen in the park in quite awhile, about 55 crows harassing a Red-Tailed Hawk on top northern Lookout Hill. We need a little more noise around these parts. Good to see them --hopefully-- bouncing back.
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 11/2/09
Number of species: 32
Canada Goose 112 on Peninsula Meadow
Mute Swan 3 lake
American Black Duck 3 --2 west island; 1 binnen run
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 225 lake
Ring-necked Duck 6 - 4 drake, 2 hen lake
Bufflehead 5 - 3 drake, 2 hen lake
Ruddy Duck 60 lake
Pied-billed Grebe 1 lake
Black-crowned Night-Heron 3 duck island
Cooper's Hawk 1 Pools
Red-tailed Hawk 1 Lookout Hill
Merlin 1 Tennis House, eventually chased Coopers Hawk
Peregrine Falcon 1 Peninsula meadow
American Coot 8 lake
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull 1 lake
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
American Crow 55 lookout hill
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 quaker ridge
Hermit Thrush 4
American Robin X
European Starling X
Song Sparrow 8 east Long Meadow
White-throated Sparrow 4 east Long meadow
Dark-eyed Junco 40 9th Street Propagation area
Northern Cardinal 2 west island
Red-winged Blackbird 35 f/o flock Wildflower Meadow , also obs Rob Bate
American Goldfinch 4 Wildlfower meadow
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
