Monday, November 4, 2013

Bluebirds, Red-headed woodpeckers make a nice pair; PEC rarity

Blue and red go well together. In fact when they are the dominant color of the species, both are either a delight to see or a chase for the rare bird.This cold brisk morning, while I went to Brooklyn Bridge park for a change of scenery on my day off  and to help with the bird numbers in that "infant" park, EASTERN BLUEBIRDS and RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS hi lighted the Prospect  and Greenwood Cemetery reports.Then an astounding report yet legitimate, a rarity not seen in years , reported by Doug Gochfeld after I saw his report of the Prospect Red-headed Woodpecker.

EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were reported at Prospect's 9th street bandshell area, Long Meadow (Sandy Paci)  and flyovers in Greenwood Cemetery ( RJett); November is known for this species migration, so always a delight to see NY state's bird.

However, RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS (RHWO) rule the day. First it was a report from Rob Jett of a immature at Battle Hill; then a report of a second RHWO there in Greenwood. At 200 pm , Doug text the relocation of the Prospect RHWO, first seen yesterday. It was on the north side of the Picnic House today, by the BBQ tables, before the yellow caution tape enclosure. Kathy Toomey was there as well. It was seen a second time when I spotted my sighting, the bird storing acorns into the Oak snag , at the broken tip. Seen doing this behavior yesterday at the Picnic House parking lot south edge, this bodes well for a winter layover. We hope so. One bird did that in Riverside Park in Manhattan a year ago.

Most astounding though  was a flyby report , by highly experienced Doug Gochfeld, a PECTORAL SANDPIPER at the Terrace Bridge, heading towards the Nethermead. Pending hopeful reports later.

The last PECTORAL SANDPIPER  report in prospect was the Halloween bird of 2002, after my October 30, 2002 bird on the Nethermead, seen again Oct 31st  by Steve and Heidi Nanz on the baseball fields.

November getting off to a torrid start !

I'm off to see birds....tonight more news....

--KB