Mount Loretto / Great Kills

The vernal ponds at Mount Loretto were much wider and deeper than a few weeks ago, yet the waterfowl on the ponds (and in the bay) weren't nearly as abundant.

However, the herons and egrets are starting to return.

Not that you can tell much from this photo, but that's a Great Egret stalking the edge of one of the ponds.

View from the highest point.

Later, we went to Great Kills. The highlight of the day, especially for Shari, were the American Oystercatchers--winners of the goofiest looking bird award. There was also a mixed flock of Common & Boat-tailed Grackles, giving us good contrast in size.  From a distance we thought the Boat-tails were crows.     Common Grackles are fairly big birds, but next to Boat-tails they practically look like sparrows. And both species are beautiful with their green, blue and violet iridescence. 
The Lists:
Mount Loretto Unique Area
Observation date:     3/27/10
Number of species:     26

Brant     150

Canada Goose     10

Gadwall     1

American Black Duck     6

Mallard     7

Northern Shoveler     9

Bufflehead     2

Hooded Merganser     1

Red-breasted Merganser     1

Common Loon     2

Horned Grebe     1

Double-crested Cormorant     3

Great Blue Heron     1

Great Egret     1

American Oystercatcher     2

Ring-billed Gull     25

Herring Gull     10

Mourning Dove     1

Red-bellied Woodpecker     1

Blue Jay     3

American Crow     1

Carolina Wren     5

American Robin     6

Song Sparrow     7

Northern Cardinal     1

Red-winged Blackbird     2

Great Kills Park

Number of species:     21

Brant     250

Canada Goose     3

American Black Duck     6

Mallard     6

Red-breasted Merganser     11

Common Loon     2

Horned Grebe     5

Double-crested Cormorant     1

Killdeer     1

American Oystercatcher     5

Ring-billed Gull     X

Herring Gull     X

Great Black-backed Gull     1

Rock Pigeon     4

Blue Jay     1

American Crow     1

American Robin     15

Northern Mockingbird     2

European Starling     10

Common Grackle     10

Boat-tailed Grackle     3