Birding my Brooklyn Backyards

     Today I spent my day birding, how else is one to spend their day off?? I walked to Prospect Park for my first half of the day, racking up 45 species and then later to Green-Wood Cemetery where I racked up less, as it got overcast and chilly. No complaints though, I spent most of my day outdoors!
     Let's check out the sights...

Wood duck on wood on one leg.

This is not at all an odd sight, wood ducks are a species of perching ducks. They perch! This male was one of 5 or so that I saw on the lake. I can't wait for little baby wood ducks later in the season.

Still a bunch of white-throated sparrows around, some with funny molts and many singing their "Oh, Sweet Can-a-da" or "Old Sam Pea-Bod-y" -- depends on your preference.

I have, starting this weekend perhaps the most challenging 6 weeks of my life ahead of me-- and all I want to know is what is this squirrel on and how can I get some. I need this kind of feeling in my bones.

I loved running into this juvenile Cooper's Hawk. This bird was super chill and just went about it's business.

I love that it uses its nictitating membrane as it preens. No one wants a feather in their eye. 

Super nice looking bird - I love raptors!

I am amused by their long skinny legs.

The most interesting bird in the world.
... So as I am enjoying this a guy and his dog walk behind me, pretty close-- not like they had an entire walkway, field, or open space to not get so close.
Anyway to dog barks repeatedly as it is right behind me. I give an out loud swear to the heavens above...

...the this amazing picture.

Hawk also jolts, because we have our eyes on each other.
Guy blames me for spooking his dog with the sound of my camera.

Really?

...and then hawk proceeds to peace out as do it.
Since when do... agh, forget it.

Today was the kind of day that eBird flags your phoebe count.
I liked this one because it kept saying it name, which is why it's called a phoebe. Anyway, it was adorable and the bird was sitting still, and so this.

One of my target birds, a Louisiana Water Thrush! With a little nibble.
Also found one rusty blackbird, singing its rusty song, and a laughing gull. 

Someone got lucky! This osprey was circling over the ravine with its catch.

Again, squirrels, share your secrets with me!

A dapper little swamp sparrow. Happy to see a few of these birds today.

This and another goose flew in with a purpose. They landed and chased off two other geese and then honked in victory. It's like its nesting season or something.

So I like hermit thrushes. I think they are pretty in a very subdued way. And I get them, they don't like being looked at, I don't either. But I always want to look at them and take their picture.
Hermit thrushes ALWAYS pose with one little thing in the way. A tiny twig, that one thick blade of grass,  of a dangler of a leaf. So finally a clear shot... no pretty dappled belly, but alright, I'll take it.

A strong female leader, I like her!

<3
Then I went to Green-Wood Cemetery and there were hearts all over the ground, on the backs of every Northern flicker noggin.

So Northern Flickers, once they make eye contact, they are gone. So I savored this moment, because it isn't often you can stare and make eyes with a flicker.

I was really excited for that clear Hermit Thrush shot...

Wow, lucky day, another "close" up of a Northern Flicker. You can even see the yellow shafts of its feathers! In the Eastern United States, our Northern Flickers are "yellow Shafted." In the west they are "red shafted."

Always lovely to see the American Kestrels. This is one of two that I saw- the other also a male.

Hey, Robin, what's with the look?
You know everyone is all like, OMG, you're back! It's officially spring! And I'm like I've been here the whole time, why didn't you call or look for me?! Why do you only look for me in spring, am I just chopped liver the rest of the year???

While there were tons of robins (and phoebes) today, robins have been here all winter, just eating different things and hanging out in some other parts of Brooklyn, especially down by the coast in the marshes and such.

I'm a real sign of spring. Punk.

A palm warbler compliments the red buds on this tree its using as a place to hunt from.

I did get one decent hermit thrush shot in the end- at Prospect. This one was strolling in the short grass along the lake. There were lots of these birds today, just most were super good at remaining in the dense brush.

...And I'm off tomorrow too- any guesses to the days plans?

Windy with a chance of bird...

     The weather has been absolutely bonkers: snow in April, some crazy high winds, 60 degrees, 35 degrees, more snow? nah, clouds and some sun. I don't know what the hell the forecast is doing but plants and animals are pointing to spring while the weather remains confused.
     On Thursday after work I visited the Salt Marsh in Marine Park and today, I visited Green-Wood Cemetery...

From the back of the nature center, a great egret is perched on the rocks. It has one flowing plume, it's as if the winds blew the others it may have had away.

A blue jay faces the wind and holds on tight to its perch. I am always amazed at how these little creatures, with such little mass can not just be blown away in strong winds.

I went down a path one way and when I returned a different great egret was on the side of the trail, we both kind of startled each other a bit...

A gorgeous red-breasted merganser hen in the setting sun.

The original egret hung out in its spot till I left.
The wind was whipping that day but it was good to see the osprey pair back and on their nest. Looking forward to seeing the marsh come to life with its spring and summer birds.

I wasn't thinking birding was going to happen today. I went clothes shopping for the first time in over a year (it's not my favorite thing to do) ad thought that would be it for the day. Thankfully, I was able to get some Green-Wood time and see this literal pine warbler. He takes his role VERY seriously.

Glad to see chipping sparrows again and hear them too. I love their little songs, they remind me of fabricated laser sound effects. 

A golden-crowned kinglet performing acrobatics to attain snacks.

I eventually lost count of the Eastern Phoebes, they were everywhere and announcing themselves with their buzzy, "FEEEE-BEEE!"

A palm warbler foraging and tail-pumping among tiny little flowers near the Dell Water.

A pne warbler who likes to live rebelliously, out of the pines and onto the ground. Actually almost all pine warblers I saw (with the exception of Mr. Serious up top) were on the ground, foraging and hawking from there or very low perches.

I love watching and photographing birds, fairly haphazardly. Because sometimes this happen.
It's not a great picture but I love that you can see this is some sort of winged insect, you can see this little birds tongue and some of the tiny vessels running through it. And I think you can even see the determination in this little bird's eye...
And this little pine warbler was dwarfed by some of the maple leaves it was poking its head under and where it found this morsel.

That is some pine warbler pride, look how proud he is!
Also, note small flower and the little sprigs of green around him-- signs of spring!

Pine warblers are usually some of the first warblers to arrive, I am so excited for all that is to come!

Not really how I would have liked to find my first swamp sparrow of the year... foraging among trash and plastic bags.

House finches were out today, singing with all their heart. I heard them before I saw them.

The sylvan water was swarming with palm warbler (this bird), pine warbler, and Eastern phoebe. Also tree swallows and a few more swamp sparrows.

One of my favorite spring things, singing song sparrows. I also love this prickly tree matching the prickled feathers.

I find hermit thrushes so hard to get photos of- they dart into brush when they spot you from 500 feet away. This one landed near me and assumed the most awkward, uncomfortable looking posture ever. After a stare down lasting 30 seconds it exited as quickly as it arrived.

I love swamp sparrows I think they are succh beautiful little birds with the warm browns of their plumage.

A golden crowned kinglet, chasing down low insects.

And I took a moment to admire the resident monk parakeets. Because somehow I managed not to see them in all my previous visits to the cemetery. They bring my year list up to 132.