After work today, I decided to go birding in Prospect Park- what a fitting day to go as it is the 150th anniversary of the park first opening!
Prospect Park has become a very important component of my life in Brooklyn. I had enjoyed birding before Brooklyn, working for Audubon, naturally, birding was a thing I did... but the first time I saw a swallow-tailed kite soar above Prospect Park-- my love for birding was re-kindled and burned stronger than ever. The wildlife in this urban oasis fascinated me, I was addicted and I found myself wondering this park whenever I had nothing better to do. The park allowed me to meet a wonderful network of Brooklyn birders, many of whom I consider friends and enjoy running into in the field, Prospect has become the patch I am dedicated to birding during the Christmas Bird Count. I love this park and feel rather at home within it.
So I enjoyed a sunset over the upper pool and the wildlife that crossed my path as I stood in solitude under the towering trees, mostly oak and sweet gum- with their changing leaves, exaggerated by the low sun... this is what I saw...
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| A bullfrog with an autumn leaf. |
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| A fun little bird! A winter wren! |
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| Imagine a cotton ball, with two toothpicks and a few plucky feathers stuck out the back end... that's a winter wren! |
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| Their tiny little tails are so funny. this little thing was quite loud as it "chip-chipped" around some fallen logs. their singing voice is quite amazing for what that tiny body can produce, in volume and length. |
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| Enjoyed some views of the gorgeous wood ducks. |
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| And then, as the sun sank... |
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| Someone is not ready to get out of bed. I sat waiting for this raccoon to stir, and to my luck- it did! But just when I thought I got all the cuteness possible... |
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| DOUBLE RACCOON! |
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| They have such young looking faces-- and to cram in that hole together-- it makes me think they are not a monstrously large, older raccoon. |
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And TONGUE. What a great end to my little bit of time I had out.
I bet these guys are hoping there is some leftover 150th Birthday Cake somewhere in the park for them... |
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