Those early quality duck species counters the gloom of land bird paucity and add delight to the fast approaching starkness of winter-like landscape.After seeing a high up PEREGRINE FALCON over Nethermead, I aimed for the newly put up feeders when I left work. This falcon observation was after I saw 4 GADWALL on the Upper Pool joined by the common complement of MALLARDS and a COOT. But the feeders aren't known yet to the birds in its young life, therefore the lake offered the best end of day option as descending dusk was soon approaching.
And the Lake came through: first , near Three Sisters Islands, 4 HOODED MERGANSERS spiced up the scenery. With the Hoodies sailing towards the west shore, a scan further, I spotted RING-NECKED DUCKS. Soon, a quick walk to the other side with the setting sun, soon to show off its spectacular glory ( see previous pic post), got me full light on the ducks. It turns out to be 3 drake RING-NECKED DUCKS, these sort of "old friends", besides a personal favorite, the Redhead, the Ring-neckeds are a delight to see whenever nothing else is around. What we get with one nice species is all that counts for some in this hard season.
-KB
date = 2013/11/26
site = Prospect Park
observers = Peter D
Great Blue Heron f/o
Northern Shoveler over 100 Lake
Gadwall 4 Upper Pool, 3 drake
American Black Duck 2 Lake
Canada Goose
Ring-necked Duck 3 drake Lake
Hooded Merganser 4 Lake, 3 drake
Ruddy Duck Lake
Mute Swan 7
Mallard
Red-tailed Hawk f/o
Peregrine Falcon circling above Nethermead
American Coot 2
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
American Robin
Hermit Thrush 2
European Starling
Song Sparrow 1 well dr
Northern Cardinal 3
Red-winged Blackbird small flocks over Nethermead and Peninsula
American Goldfinch 20 Upper Pool
House Sparrow
