Prospect Park--Rusty Blackbird 12/10

The good thing about winter birding is that you don't really have to get out early to find birds. The bad thing, of course, is that it is cold.

I didn't get to the park until noon today; I was waiting for the temperature to break freezing. Physically I'm certain I can't tell the difference between 32 degrees and 33. Psychologically, I can.

The most interesting bird today is the continuing Rusty Blackbird on the Lullwater Trail between the Terrace Bridge and where the trail is now blocked by the new ice rink construction (or presently, old ice rink demolition). Also a very late Gray Catbird was calling from the demolition site. The feeders were active. I was surprised to see that almost all the water in the park had a thin layer of ice on it--I know it's been cold but I didn't think it was that cold. Only small areas of the lake were ice free and jammed with ducks. Out on the ice were a hundreds of gulls. Also in the lake on the peninsula side, was a Great Blue Heron standing in the water. I couldn't tell if it was standing in water or if its legs had been frozen in the ice. I know this happens to them and the outcome is not good when it does.

Today's list:
Number of species:    36
Canada Goose    12
Mute Swan    5
Mallard    50
Northern Shoveler    150
Ruddy Duck    5
Pied-billed Grebe    1    Lake
Great Blue Heron    1    Peninsula
Red-tailed Hawk    1    Boathouse
American Coot    31
Ring-billed Gull    400
Herring Gull    100
Great Black-backed Gull    2
Rock Pigeon    5
Mourning Dove    30
Red-bellied Woodpecker    2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker    1
Downy Woodpecker    4
Hairy Woodpecker    1
Blue Jay    12
American Crow    10
Black-capped Chickadee    15
Tufted Titmouse    2
Red-breasted Nuthatch    1    Feeders
White-breasted Nuthatch    2
Hermit Thrush    1    Lullwater Trail
Gray Catbird    1    In Rink construction site
European Starling    200
Fox Sparrow    1    Beneath feeders
White-throated Sparrow    30
Dark-eyed Junco    10
Northern Cardinal    19
Red-winged Blackbird    2    Feeders
Rusty Blackbird    1    Lullwater trail between Rink construction & Terrace Bridge
House Finch    9
American Goldfinch    10
House Sparrow    15