Likely the most momentous sighting involved raptors, namely PEREGRINE FALCON and a roadside RED-TAILED HAWK.
A report from Orrin tells for a good 15 minutes , a Peregrine Falcon was strafing another raptor on the NY Fire Dept's radio signal tower at the BB Gardens south border. Here's his account:
It was a peregrine falcon that was doing the strafing--flying back and forth, calling all the time, and repeatedly diving at another raptor that was sitting, trying to eat, on the drum-like object about halfway up the radio tower. Initially when I saw it, it was carrying prey, but not when I saw it doing the strafing. What confused me was that the the tail was all spread out, so you don't really see the banding. But there is no mistaking the shape or the head pattern, even way overhead. That leaves the question of what raptor it was strafing. I couldn't make out its features at all. I had guessed it was another peregrine, but clearly the peregrine doing the strafing did not appreciate this fellow's being in its territory. All this went on for at least 15 minutes, when I finally headed north to go to work.
************************
And the other raptor story. While driving along the park drive near the rink, I suddenly saw a large raptor fly down from a tree next to the playground south of Lincoln Road unto the median lawn next to the drive. It was a Red-Tailed Hawk, from a glance,a juvenile, audaciously landing very close to the road opposite the rink entrance, not even ruffled by my passing truck. I guess the bird has nerves of steel.
***********************
At the feeders, a tug of war between vastly outnumber PINE SISKIN against the abundant American Goldfinches. Rob Bate's account was " Saw 5 Pine Siskins on the feeders at one time, fighting with 10 goldfinches "
Its the Hatfields versus the McCoys, for sure, of a snow fight variety.
**********************
Feeders
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 1/6/11
Number of species: 14
Mourning Dove 13
Downy Woodpecker 2
Black-capped Chickadee 6
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Fox Sparrow (Red) 1
White-throated Sparrow 19
Dark-eyed Junco 3
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 6
House Finch 11
Pine Siskin 1
American Goldfinch 21
House Sparrow 2
Elsewhere
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 1/6/11
Number of species: 13
Mostly Lake
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 4
American Black Duck 2-- one actually on the park drive, feeding ( salt?)
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 225
Hooded Merganser 1 drake
Red-tailed Hawk 1 near rink
American Coot X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Blue Jay 1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
