If you want to see a DARK-EYED JUNCO, today was the day.
A very good infusion of the "Snowbird" , its old name, DARK-EYED JUNCOs were in a number of places. The cold snap did it. Along the Center Drive, they were in the mugwort and on the Quaker Ridge hillside.But most entertaining was when I pulled out of the Tennis House, along and on the path towards the Picnic House, juncos were fluttering around, white tail edges aglow in the colorful woods. Quite a beautiful sight.
This junco trend occurred not very after I spotted a large blackbird flight over the "Propsite" our work nursery area, about 500 birds, mostly Grackles. Later the Propsite was overrun by more Juncos, some closing in on me as I inspected our new plants awaiting planting.
There were other birds as well, of notable sense, a male PURPLE FINCH i spotted eating ash seeds in the tree overlooking the bridle trail just as it entered the woods to the east of the southeast corner fence of Quaker Cemetery. Rob Jett reported EASTERN BLUEBIRDS at the north Nethermead, eating poke weed berries. I spotted some GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS with the Center Drive Juncos.Then a GRAY CATBIRD flew out of a Payne Hill brush spot as I was surveying the plant site in the afternoon. It flew to a Hawthorne tree across the path.
Not alot of variety today , but as we must accept that land bird diversity drops and winter birds take over, learn to appreciate what is out there now, particularly junco madness....
--KB
date = 2013/11/19
site = Prospect Park
observers = Peter D
Pied-billed Grebe Lake
Great Blue Heron Lake peninsula shore
Northern Shoveler est 150 Lake
Canada Goose
Ruddy Duck est 80 Lake
Mute Swan
Mallard
Sharp-shinned Hawk 50% fast fly thru , last sec glimpse- adult bird Payne Hill
American Coot 3 Lake
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Garage south gate
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay Nethermead
Tufted Titmouse Quaker Ridge south
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 Quaker Ridge south
American Robin numbers of flyovers
Eastern Bluebird reported by Rob Jett , north nethermead, 6 birds
Hermit Thrush 3
Gray Catbird Payne Hill
European Starling
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco large numbers, est 600 spread across all locations
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird likely with grackles
Common Grackle est 500 flyover Propsite
American Goldfinch ~20 , with Ctr drive juncos
