Prospect Jan 29th, the good corvid flying around

Coming back from an early afternoon Brooklyn Botanic Garden seminar, I ran into Karen and then Bobbi Manian at Lamppost #249  along Well Drive. In the ensuing conversation with Bobbi, she mentioned her great find of a low flying BALD EAGLE in Marine Park, from the salt marsh trail, the big eagle coming from behind her and passing in front of her.

While a few minutes went by, my attention caught on of a large sized corvid over us and I watched it for about 10 seconds before I realized what it was, exclaiming "RAVEN ! ". A calling COMMON RAVEN in low flight with its iconic wedge shaped tail was soaring in circles over us both , which I was also able to get Karen's attention from afar and a very interested passerby as this rare corvid made several circles above. A great  serendipitous find at the right moment !

Bobbi snapped some pictures which I hope I will post here later.

Just a note. I just got a new phone and twitter notifications is temporarily delayed until I figured it out..

-KB


Addendum PS.   see attached pic

Jan 29th Raven over LP 249, photo by Bobbi Manian

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From Ania Greszik:

Hi Peter,

I wanted to pass along that the Common Raven was still present in Greenwood Cemetery as of late this morning. It first made its presence known with low croaking from afar (music to my ears!), and as it grew nearer, so did the Red-tailed Hawk it was following. Both were quite vocal at times and performed quite the aerial display! At times they were joined by a second hawk. They were soaring and tumbling around the 9th Ave entrance, heading towards the radio tower where they rested for awhile before heading back to the cemetery. The raven flew off towards the cemetery interior, but the two RTHA stayed around the Florio Path area, one of them carrying a large twig to a fir nearby...nest building already? 

Unfortunately, I didn't locate the Eastern Meadowlark.

Here are the best shots that I was able to get:

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From Rafael :

Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Kings, US-NY
Jan 29, 2013 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling

Observer: Rafael G Campos
3.0 kilometer(s)
Comments:     Nice warm day, but most of the water was frozen (eg lake, pools, lullwater)
35 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  X
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  X
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  X
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)  X
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  1
American Coot (Fulica americana)  X
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  X
Herring Gull (American) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus)  X
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)  4
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)  X
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  X
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  2
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  1
Merlin (Falco columbarius)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  X
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  2
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  X
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  X
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)  1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  1
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)  1
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)  1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  X
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X
Fox Sparrow (Red) (Passerella iliaca iliaca/zaboria)  1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  X
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  X
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  15
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)  X
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus)  8
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  X
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  X

Brooklyn is great birding!!!