Prospect Park 11/9--Peregrine Falcons

Morning mist rising from baseball fields

Not a lot of birds to be found today. I came up empty in most of the reliable spots. Only the Vale of Cashmere seemed busy with cardinals, White-throated Sparrows and 4 House Finches. But as usual, the day was saved toward the end, when I decided to go have lunch at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens (their chili is excellent).  I put my binoculars on top of the radio tower while I was around the carousel in the park, just for the heck of it, and was rewarded with a Peregrine Falcon at the very top, it's foot on prey that it was picking apart. A minute later another falcon flew in--judging from the size difference, the first one, which was larger, was a female, and the 2nd was a male. I could see a distinct difference in size even at the height they were at. It was a gorgeous fall day, the trees still seem to be at the peak of their autumnal color, and I saw enough birds to keep me interested.

By the lake

28 species
Canada Goose  3
Mute Swan  9
American Black Duck  1
Mallard  75
Ruddy Duck  24
Pied-billed Grebe  1
Double-crested Cormorant  4
Peregrine Falcon  2    BBG tower
American Coot  12
Ring-billed Gull  80
Herring Gull  10
Rock Pigeon  9
Mourning Dove  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Blue Jay  10
Black-capped Chickadee  3
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  2
European Starling  8
Savannah Sparrow  1
Swamp Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  10
Northern Cardinal  9
House Finch  4    Vale
House Sparrow  15