One asset that for Prospect Park makes it a good spot compared to other city parks is its freshwater lake. With 60 acres and a couple of islands to its fame, winter birds of rarity do get attracted to the lake. Today another good bird makes the list for this winter season , found by Karen O'Hearn.
Around 1:20, Karen sends out a tweet reporting BLACK-HEADED GULL. Having not seen this bird personally in awhile, I responded quickly and got there as Karen stuck around. We didn't find it right away ;but as she headed home, I found the bird about 250 feet from the western shoreline , next to a Ring billed Gull.It was an immature. The Gull though disappeared about 15 minutes later making my hasty pursuit fortuitous. Thanks to Karen. There hasn't been any reports after despite Rob Bate searching.
Earlier, staying on point about the Lake's attractiveness for winter birds, the RED THROATED LOON stayed at least another day. Spotting it from the rink shore, I took off for the Peninsula for a better closer look. Just at the thumb tip, the loon looked like it was stuck to the ice. I thought maybe help was need. But along came 4 NYC Urban Park Rangers after I left , they got close enough to the Loon for it to escape its icy grip.
The lake is on a roll. Will Wednesday bring anything new? A camel perhaps ? or "Hump" backed Whale?
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-headed_Gull/overview
kb note Red breasted Merganser drake continues on the lake,here at least a week