Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Prospect March 16th Duck passages....

This is the third posting today.

Before today's bird summary, a note about the feeders.

The feeders were refilled today for the last time. As winter draws to a close Sunday, the feeders served its useful purpose throughout the season. Now the birds must move on as spring approaches. And as well I will be busier with spring work projects. By March end, the feeders will be emptying and they will be taken down. So, enjoy the "homestretch".

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Signs of spring migration unfolded with the passage and presence of ducks, particularly same day, same time three different species of Mergansers , a rare occurrence for the park with sightings of Common, Hooded and Red-breasted. See a previous posting  ( scroll down ) for details. However, a report from Bob O'Neill when I ran into him is that he got to see the Common before they took off just after noon. So, a fleeting , yet lucky moment for some birders. Later , 7 Hooded Mergansers were spotted by Duck Island.

For those missing out on the triple treat Mergs, there is though a nice sight of RING-NECKED DUCK, 3 drakes and 2 hen gracing the Upper Pool this afternoon. And throw in also , likely the year's first PIED-BILLED GREBE with them. However, the grebe was fleeting as well; after an initial sighting, it was nowhere to be found. Perhaps it went inside the new Wood Duck box ;)>.

Location: Prospect Park


Observation date: 3/16/11

Number of species: 22


Canada Goose X

Mute Swan 5 lake

American Black Duck X

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler 105 lake

Ring-necked Duck 5  -3 drake, 2 hen  Upper Pool

Hooded Merganser 7-- Duck Island

Common Merganser 2  pair Lake

Red-breasted Merganser 1 boathouse pond drkae

Ruddy Duck 65 lake

Pied-billed Grebe 1 Upper Pool

Double-crested Cormorant 1 on 3 Sisters

Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 on 3 Sisters

Red-tailed Hawk 2

American Coot 1

Ring-billed Gull X

Herring Gull X

Rock Pigeon X

European Starling X

Fox Sparrow (Red) 1 west isl

Song Sparrow 1



Location: Prospect Park--Feeders


Observation date: 3/16/11

Number of species: 8



Downy Woodpecker 2

Black-capped Chickadee 7

White-throated Sparrow X

Northern Cardinal 2

Red-winged Blackbird 6

Common Grackle 2

American Goldfinch 3

House Sparrow X



This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)