There was a great book I read decades ago, now out of print called " The Complete Birder" that offer tips on quick identification as well as shortcuts or common sense for the birder. It was written by Jack Connor.
To show relevancy of that book, one chapter focused on identifying the Caspian Tern . As the author said " Inland is the Caspian Sea and so is the Caspian Tern which strongly prefers freshwater bodies.
Today two Caspian Terns visited Prospect Lake multiple times . From reports I read, they patrolled the lake for quite some time. They even took potshots at an osprey, no doubt showings it " turf muscle".
You can't missed this bird: it's a beefy big tern with a thick red bill. Lucky for birders seeing this rare but occasional visitor to Prospect lake.
The other top news today was the Mississippi Kite spotted by Michelle on the Brooklyn Bird Club walk this morning high above the ballfields at West end Long Meadow. ( I tried my luck at the ballfields or Golden Hill but sadly no dice with snake eyes) .Sometimes you have to be plain lucky. The checklist as well as photos are in the previous posts below
Last , quite a number of nice Flycatchers are around. Best were the Olive sided and Acadian , both seen or heard at the south border of the Midwood. And a Yellow bellied adds spice, one heard calling at the south shoreline of Prospect Lake, today's hotzone!
A last interesting sight regards flyover Glossy Ibis over Prospect Lake as well as an eagle in the same general area
Look up! 🙄
"The poetry of the earth is never dead"
--John Keats
--John Keats
