A strange looking sight involving an OSPREY this evening. I saw it descending over the lake towards West Island, with a very strange long object in its talons. As the raptor turned away from West Island , towards my direction ( I was safe from getting picked up since the bird had its hands full), I noted the long thing being carried was actually a fish! It resembled a sturgeon or gar of some sort. I didn't know they existed ( or something similar) in our waters ( prey might not be the lake but a salt water fish species).
And while we are all watching the warblers, who is watching the NORTHERN SHOVELERS ? Tonight I counted 26. New birds coming in , behind our backs; sneaky sneaky.
List, incidental mostly, all day, with noted evening sightings ( me)
date = 2013/09/24
site = Prospect Park
observers = Peter D, Mary Eyster ( some sightings)
Double-crested Cormorant eve , perched Three Sisters
Black-crowned Night-Heron Duck Island
Northern Shoveler 26 lake
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Mallard
Osprey Descending over lake, carrying a strange looking fish, a sturgeon or gar ?
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper Morning, west shore Lake, found by Mary Eyster
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift multiple flyovers
Willow Flycatcher Traills
Eastern Wood-Pewee 3
Red-eyed Vireo 4 Peninsula
Blue Jay
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing ~12 flyover south Lookout < Mary Eyster, Peterd
Yellow Warbler morn Lake west shore, Mary E
American Redstart 2
Blackpoll Warbler 3--2 Peninsula eve
Black-throated Green Warbler 6 for day
Black-throated Blue Warbler afternoon Payne Hill
Common Yellowthroat 6
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2 Morning
Louisiana Waterthrush well dr opp lp249, in phragmites, morn Mary E ,PeterD
Northern Parula 1 eve Peninsula
Magnolia Warbler 4 Peninsula eve
Yellow-rumped Warbler immature female, Well drive , Mary E, PeterD
White-throated Sparrow 2 Payne Hill
Song Sparrow 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 LP249, 1 Payne Hill
Northern Cardinal
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
