Prospect Park 1/4

After a few days of melting and re-freezing, the snow in the park has turned to ice pockmarked with footprints and rutted with sled trails making for some treacherous going. I watched my feet more than I watched birds. 

Someone said on one of the birding lists that she loves January because every day brings a new Year Bird; I had a few today.

Hooded Merganser

This handsome drake was on the lake. 

On the way to the subway, walking on 9th Street between the park & 8th Avenue, 4 Monk Parakeets flew screeching overhead. Parakeets and snow--counterintuitive. 

Lists (Feeders and everywhere else)

Prospect Park

Number of species:    17
Canada Goose    26
Mute Swan    6
Mallard    230
Northern Shoveler    150
Hooded Merganser    1    Lake
Red-tailed Hawk    2    F/O Lake
American Coot    9
Ring-billed Gull    1000
Great Black-backed Gull    1
Rock Pigeon    25
Mourning Dove    2
Blue Jay    1
American Crow    1
Black-capped Chickadee    1
European Starling    3
White-throated Sparrow   5

House Sparrow    1

Feeders

Number of species:    11
Downy Woodpecker    2
Black-capped Chickadee    6
Tufted Titmouse    1
White-breasted Nuthatch    1
Fox Sparrow    1
White-throated Sparrow    20
Dark-eyed Junco    6
Northern Cardinal    3
House Finch    6
Pine Siskin    1
American Goldfinch    15

Model for Ice Sculpture