Having not devoted much time lately birding due to busy work schedule and leaf peeping vacation, my day off today was to focus on catch-up and sparrows. But prospect is my office and I wished not going there today.So it was onward to Greenwood Cemetery because I didn't want to drive to Floyd Bennett.
I took the train because only the cemetery entrance at 5th ( and 4th ) Avenues are open weekdays. But that's fine since the best sparrow habitat is around the cathedral. After a fruitless Janet's Meadow search, I sauntered along Sycamore Avenue, at the native habitat east of the cathedral.
I had a target bird since I no longer focus on numbers. And I achieved that with the White crowned sparrow that first landed on that avenue before hopping to the lawn in front of one of the crypts. It was a juvenile and I was happy with that; but sometimes you get a bonus bird. And that happened to be a Lincoln Sparrow right behind the white crowned ! Its a beauty because it has that subtle gray face combined with the buffy streaked breast. I was delighted .
After that with the numerous white throated sparrows and songs, I spotted juncos a few chipping and palm warblers as I endeavored up landscape Ave into Sylvan Water. On the latter I was happy to see all the newly planted wildflowers along the shoreline. Its going to be spectacular here next year.
By now it was getting warmer and after the quiet walk thru Dellwater, I headed homeward towards the 4th avenue exit. But just before I went thru the tunnel under 5th ave, a butterfly landed on the cobblestone path: my fall favorite Common Buckeye. Its an iconic fall species simply because its coloration matches fall's overall atmosphere.
I've read on Discord alert some nice birds around:a Bald eagle flyover over Greenwood and a Bluebird at the Beard Gravesite for example. Rusty Blackbird at the Prospect Lake northern section and Northern Harrier over the Nethermead commands interest. And more white crowned sparrows in a few places.
In any case ,it was a good day to be out ( and off too).
"I hope I can be the autumn leaf, who looked at the sky and lived. And when it was time to leave, gracefully it knew life was a gift." — Dodinsky
