With Horned Grebe an official "One Day Wonder", today was marked by a few late season birds. In that order, specifically, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH & LAUGHING GULL.
No sign of the Horned Grebe throughout the day, unfortunately; I guess there were no "overnight accommodations" or maybe it was just plain too noisy ( well it was near the rink this morning). However, with fresh approach view to out of season birds, a few late ones: a Baltimore Oriole spotted on the elm slope to the right of the Wellhouse; the continuing ( I thought was gone) Northern Waterthrush in the "Willow Cove" behind the west 3 Sister Islands, which I saw the NOWT pop up to chase a Yellow-rumped (Yo good bird!) Warbler, and one Laughing Gull among the usual gulls on the lake western sector. So, even though they are common species in migration or summer, to see these birds now is noteworthy. Let's hope the trend continues abit into late fall, with the hope as well for something really weird ( oh..that's Halloween coming, right ?)
Also , it was interesting watching a Black-throated Blue Warbler feed out of Sapsucker holes , as the female followed the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker right above it, pecking away on an elm tree on the right slope of Wellhouse. At this time, as insects wane in numbers, insectivores like warblers have to find ways to survive, and this sap hunting is one way to keep up those energy levels and body fat..But, for a warm day, I bet that sap must be quite soothing....I guess.
--Kingsboider
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Peter's List:
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 10/26/10
Number of species: 35
Canada Goose 84 lake
Mute Swan 6 lake
American Black Duck 2 west island
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Hooded Merganser 1 drake lake
Ruddy Duck X lake
Pied-billed Grebe 3 south lullwater
Double-crested Cormorant 5 lake
Great Blue Heron 2-- south lullwater cattails; west island
Cooper's Hawk 1 momentarily perched at rink , preying on sparrows
Red-tailed Hawk 1 juv perched behind 3 Sisters Islands
Merlin 2 reported by Mary Eyster near ballfields
American Coot 12 lake
Laughing Gull 1 lake
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Belted Kingfisher 1 perched Duck Island
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 wellhouse
Hairy Woodpecker 1 wellhouse
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 West Isl horse trail
Hermit Thrush 1 south lakeside
Gray Catbird 1 wellhouse
European Starling X
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1Willow Cove by 3 Sisters islands
Northern Waterthrush 1 south lakeside, in Willow Cove by 3 Sisters islands
Common Yellowthroat 1 Rink
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Wellhouse, feeding on fresh sap
Song Sparrow X Rink
White-throated Sparrow 1 West Isl horse trail
Dark-eyed Junco X
Northern Cardinal 2 wellhouse
Common Grackle 1 f/o rink
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)
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From Rob Bate:
Observation date: 10/26/10
Number of species: 39
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Hooded Merganser X
Ruddy Duck X
Double-crested Cormorant X
Great Blue Heron X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker X
Downy Woodpecker X
Hairy Woodpecker X
Northern Flicker X
Blue-headed Vireo X
Black-capped Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse X
White-breasted Nuthatch X
Brown Creeper X
Carolina Wren X
Golden-crowned Kinglet X
Ruby-crowned Kinglet X
Hermit Thrush X
American Robin X
Gray Catbird X
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler X
Eastern Towhee X
Field Sparrow X
Song Sparrow X
Swamp Sparrow X
White-throated Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco X
Northern Cardinal X
Baltimore Oriole X
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X
