Everything but woodcocks.

     I went to Green-Wood Cemetery in hopes of seeing at least one woodcock, but alas, today was not my day. But there were still plenty of things to see and probably the highlight was some very interesting behavior from a wood duck on the Dell Water. We saw a lot of cool behaviors from birds, heard the amazing blue jays array of calls, including their rattle call, which is only made by the females, heard a blue jay do a dang good red-shouldered hawk, and enjoyed the cardinal pairs singing in unison. I was joined by my friend Jim and it was nice to have their company for our nearly 4 hours out covering a good chunk of the cemetery.

As usual, the welcoming committee included 25 monk parakeets, many of which were basking in the morning sun.

As we were watching a slew of birds, primarily tufted titmice (there were a lot today), drink from a knot in a tree, Jim spied this raccoon who was settling in for their daytime slumber.

Got to see its little raccoon hand before it backed fully into its tree hollow and out of view.

We saw this lone wood duck male on the Dell Water. Just casually swimming about, very un-shy. And then I saw it with something brght orange in its mouth, I was convinced it was trying to eat plastic.

Closer inspection revealed it to be a goldfish!

As young, wood ducks will eat insects and small fish. But as adults, they primary are herbivores. So this duck had some kind of craving!

The duck carried the fish across the water and began picking at it and even manipulating the whole fish in its bill.

It seemed to be trashing the fish to rip off small bites. As it did seem to be trying to find its inner cormorant, looking like a few times it was about to just toss the whole thing back, but it couldn't make that happen.

After having its fill, it carried the fish and placed it in the shallows next to some rocks. A snack for later perhaps? Also tapping in to its inner nuthatch, stashing away some food for later?

Perhaps fish oil is the key to his good looks, who knows.
But he left his fish and swam back across towards us, knowing how good he looks.

Just a protein-seeking wood duck.

Any feeder in the cemetery had birds on it. This downy played a bit of peek-a-boo from behind a small tree before hopping onto this suet feeder.

I was today years old when I learned that paired cardinals sing a duet together, matching their notes in unison. And I got to see it and I thought it was just so sweet to sing you union in unison.

Left on a good note, a male and female Eastern Towhee. Ain't she lovely?