Prospect Park--Brown Creeper 11/19

There always seems to be one bird that "rescues" an otherwise routine day of birding. I've been wanting to find a Brown Creeper all season--I like the way they climb a tree trunk, circling up and then flying off to the next tree--and today toward the end of my trek around the park I finally found one in the Ravine. Saw it out of the corner of my eye for second and then lost it, but happily it flew to another tree where I was able to watch it climb for a satisfying look until it flew off to yet another tree, farther down the path. Despite the name, creepers often look more gray then brown; in either coloration they blend in perfectly against a tree trunk, so I've probably passed dozens in the last few months.

Besides the creeper, two siskins were in the usual place in the sweetgum trees near the Nethermead Arches; 3 Monk Parakeets flew over the Boathouse, squawking; and in the Sparrow Bowl was a pristine Golden-crowned Kinglet--in the sunlight the stripe on its head was practically fluorescent.

While I was looking for the siskins in the sweetgum trees I had a chat with a birder from England who's been visiting the park everyday of his visit to Brooklyn. He said he was impressed with the diversity and sheer numbers of birds that the park attracts, many more than a comparable space in London, even Hampstead Heath. For instance, he said, a Merlin, which they also have, would never hang out in a plane tree as one does here in the park, they're more likely to be found in marshes and mud flats. Of course, we see them in those habitats too but the park offers good eating so they adapt.

I've never birded in England although I do remember seeing birds like Buffleheads, a Grey Heron, and magpies in St. James Park. One of these days we'll take a trip there. One of these days.
List for the day:
Prospect Park
Number of species:    32
Canada Goose    3    !
Mute Swan    5
American Black Duck    2    West Island
Mallard    75
Northern Shoveler    125
Ruddy Duck    220
Pied-billed Grebe    1    Upper Pool
Double-crested Cormorant    3
Red-tailed Hawk    1    Long Meadow
Merlin    1    Breeze Hill
American Coot    19
Ring-billed Gull    75
Herring Gull    10
Great Black-backed Gull    1
Rock Pigeon    30
Mourning Dove    12
Monk Parakeet    3    F/O Boathouse
Downy Woodpecker    1    Terrace Bridge
Blue Jay    7
Black-capped Chickadee    20
White-breasted Nuthatch    1    Terrace Bridge
Brown Creeper    1    Ravine
Golden-crowned Kinglet    1    Sparrow Bowl
American Robin    1    Rocky Pass
Fox Sparrow    1    Rocky Pass
Song Sparrow    1    Rocky Pass
White-throated Sparrow    25
Dark-eyed Junco    6
Northern Cardinal    3
Pine Siskin    2    Sweetgums near Three Arches Bridge
American Goldfinch    15
House Sparrow    35