How to
Get Free Gogo Inflight WiFi : Click on “Watch for Free” in the
Delta Studio to watch free movies. > Choose your movie and select
"Watch Now." > asked if you have the Gogo app or need to download the
app. > select the option to “Download on the App Store.” (or Google
Play) > Leave the App Store once Gogo takes you there.
How
to Access Google in China (& All Google Services) :
1. Access the Internet in China -
Via Wi-Fi.
Via a China SIM card: Although
a bit time consuming, it’s not difficult for a foreigner to get a local
SIM card to access the internet via any unlocked phone. You’ll need
your passport to register the number but monthly service can be
unbelievably cheap. In some major airports (Beijing, Shanghai) you’ll find
kiosks where you
can purchase a China SIM card. Otherwise, you’ll have to go to a
China Telecom, China Unicom or China Mobile store to purchase.
Via a Rented China
Phone: Of course, if you want to eliminate all the hassle of the
above options, you can also consider renting
a phone in China. There are services that will mail you a phone to
your home that will work the moment you land in China. You can rent cheap
Android phones or nicer Apple iPhones.
2. Connect to a VPN (Virtual Private Network)
3. Log on to Google in China!
Periodical cicada Brood X (10)will
emergein the spring of 2021inDelaware,
Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North
Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia,
West Virginia, and Washington D.C.
The last time this brood emerged was in 2004.
When:Typically beginning in mid-May
and ending in late June. These cicadas will begin to emerge approximately
when the soil 8″ beneath the ground reaches64
degrees Fahrenheit. A nice, warm rain will often trigger an
emergence. Back in 2004, people began reporting emergences around May,
13th.
Other tips: these cicadas will emerge after the trees have grown leaves,
and, by my own observation, around the same time Iris flowers bloom.
John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden
347 Oyster Bay Road, Mill Neck, NY 11765
Sat 10am-2pm
Sun 1-5pm
Mon-Fri Closed
Brooklyn birding places:
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
ebird | saw Bobolink on 22
Apr 2018 (in reeds of water garden just south of Conservatory), 8 Oct 2017 (Pic-1,
smaller) & 14 Sep 2014 | saw Dickcissel on 9 Oct 2017 | saw
European Goldfinch (is considered a rare bird in New York) on 22 Oct 2017
Prospect Park (next to Brooklyn Botanic Garden)
Green-Wood Cemetery (near to Prospect Park)
Bush Terminal Piers Park (near to Green-Wood Cemetery)
So the above 4 are formed a cluster.
Note:
(1) European Goldfinch - native to Europe, North Africa, and central
Asia. The European Goldfinch has been introduced to other areas, such as
southern Australia, New Zealand, and even the US. About 100 years ago these
birds were established on Long Island, but
those colonies died out and now they’re considered rare in North America. In
recent years, there have been many sightings of them in the Mid-West where
they are believed to be nesting. They are hardy birds and able to withstand
cold winters. Like their American cousins, these little birds like sunflower
and nyjer seed, so you may be able to keep this visitor around for a
while!
src
(2) European
Goldfinch in Socrates Sculpture Park, Queens - European Goldfinches
presently found in New York are believed to all be escaped cage birds or, at
best, a handful of their first-generation descendants. In order for
introduced birds to become countable in the high-stakes world of official
bird-counting, they must establish a self-sustaining breeding
population.
Note on patch birding: Carrie Laben saw 76 species of
birds at Socrates Sculpture Park (21 minute drive from home).
2020-21 Winter 成績單:
1. ducks seen in 2020-21 winter:
Redhead
Canvasback
American Wigeon
Eurasian Wigeon
(at Oakland Lake, 11/26 Thanksgiving)
Gadwall
Ruddy Duck
Bufflehead
Red-breasted
Merganser
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
(Martha Weintraub saw 2 at JBWR on 12
Dec 2019)
Ring-necked Duck
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
American Black
Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Wood Duck
Northern Pintail
Blue-winged Teal (seen at JBWR
on 8/20/2011)
Green-winged Teal
Common Eider
King Eider
White-winged
Scoter (seen at Dead Horse Bay / Floyd Bennett Field on 1/8/2012)
Black Scoter
Surf Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
(seen at Fort Tilden [Riis Landing & coastal beach, the Atlantic
shore] on 2/18/2012)
Harlequin Duck
Black-bellied
Whistling Duck
Mottled Duck
Year
2020 Life bird:
Canvasback. Common Merganser. Harlequin Duck.
Black Scoter. Surf Scoter. Eared Grebe. Red-throated
Loon. Red Crossbill. Horned Lark. Snowy Owl.
Purple Sandpiper. American Woodcock.
2020成績單:
1. ducks seen in 2019-20 winter:
Redhead
Canvasback (male, 1/1/2020 at World's Fair Marina)
American Wigeon
Gadwall
Ruddy Duck
Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser (1/1/2020 at World's Fair Marina; 11/9 probably)
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser (Martha Weintraub saw 2 at JBWR on 12
Dec 2019)
Ring-necked Duck
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
American Black Duck
Scaup (Greater Scaup + Lesser Scaup)
Wood Duck
Northern
Pintail
Blue-winged Teal (seen at JBWR on 8/20/2011)
Green-winged Teal
Common
Eider
White-winged Scoter (seen at Dead Horse Bay / Floyd Bennett Field on
1/8/2012)
Long-tailed Duck (seen at Fort Tilden [Riis Landing & coastal beach,
the Atlantic shore] on 2/18/2012)
Harlequin Duck (3/28/2020 at Point Lookout)
Note:
During winter, location can be a deciding factor. Greater Scaup tend to
choose saltwater bodies, while Lesser Scaup are found in
freshwater zones further inland. So try to see Lesser at Alley
Pond Park. src
Purple Martin House, Broad
Channel, south of JBWR HQ
October
JBWR - Bufflehead. Scaup, possible.
Point Lookout - sea ducks. Scaup.
Northern Gannet (not
a duck).
Oakland Lake - Green-winged Teal.
Baisley Pond Park - American Wigeon. Gadwall. Northern Shoveler.
November-March
JBWR - Red-breasted Merganser. Hooded Merganser. Redhead.
Scaup.
Point Lookout (even early April) - Harlequin Duck. Long-tailed
Duck.
Baisley Pond Park - Redhead. Ring-necked Duck. [eBird: 10/28/2020 both
ducks were seen.]
Restoration Pond - Bufflehead. Scaup.
World's Fair Marina (1 Marina Rd, Corona, NY 11368; GCP Exit 9E) -
Canvasback. Red-breasted Merganser. Bufflehead. Scaup of
both species. How about Long-tailed Duck? Try after New Year or
even Christmas.
Meadow Lake - Common Merganser. Bufflehead. Hooded
Merganser. White-winged Scoter [eBird: 23
Oct 2020]
Dead Horse Bay - Red-breasted Merganser. Bufflehead.
*(from a 1/2010 article about Dead Horse Bay) you are likely to see
are Red-throated
Loon, Common
Loon, Horned
Grebe, Brant, American
Black Duck, Long-tailed
Duck, Bufflehead and Red-breasted
Merganser. Now the Scaup seemed to have returned in epic
numbers.
src
Jones Beach Coast Guard Station - Long-tailed Duck.
Jones Beach - Surf Scoter.
Note:
(1) Wintering ducks are birds often with whimsical names - goldeneyes,
scaup, scoters, mergansers, and more - that nest near the water during the
summer in northern New England, northern New York State, or far northern
waters in Canada. As temperatures drop, many water birds will migrate south
as northern waters freeze over. They fly to find refuge in open ice-free
water, especially saltwater which has a lower temperature at which it
freezes between 29 or 28 degrees F. They arrive to fish, feed, and rest
before another busy breeding season begins. ...
Once daylight increases and temperatures rise in the spring, the birds
[Buffleheads] are off again to nest near lakes, ponds, and rivers in the
forests of Canada. They will raise a family in an old woodpecker
hole, usually a Flicker, in which the entrance hole is enlarged to a little
more than three inches in diameter to accommodate the bird’s chubby
body. A pair of Buffleheads will raise 8 to 12 chicks, providing
none of the little birds are victims of predation.
src
(2) Bufflehead breed primarily in northwestern North America and
winter on both coasts. On the Atlantic coast they winter from Newfoundland
to Florida, with concentrations in Maine and between Cape Cod and North
Carolina. The New York Bight accounts for about one-quarter of the Atlantic
flyway wintering population. Bufflehead feed on a variety of food items, and
in northern estuaries the primary winter foods are crustaceans such as
isopods, amphipods, and shrimp, mollusks, some fish, pondweeds, and widgeon
grass. Bufflehead are distributed in small flocks throughout the backbarrier
lagoons of the New York Bight along the New Jersey and Long Island coasts,
with significant concentration areas in Barnegat Bay and the Cape May
Atlantic coast marshes.
srcCammanns Pond County Park, 235 Lindenmere Dr, Merrick, NY 11566
35 minutes from home. A nice stopping point on the way to Point
Lookout. eBird link
Records:
-
X 7 Dec 2019
etc.
Mill Pond Parkebird
2286 Arby Ct, Wantagh, NY 11793 or 2866 Merrick Rd, Bellmore, NY 11710
from home: 40 min drive
Ring-necked Pheasant
at Kissena (Corridor) Park
My sightings:
4/18/2017
11/5/2016
9/2/2016
3/6/2016
10/24/2015
9/16/2015
6/28/2015
3/14/2015
8/25/2014
6/21/2014
5/31/2014
11/2/2013
10/19/2013
8/3/2013
5/16/2013
5/11/2013
5/4/2013
4/27/2013
11/12/2012
10/28/2012
10/27/2012 etc.
我的四年大學生活
- 住了多年宿舍: 應林 明
華堂
- 做過系會會長, 參予學生活動(校慶etc.)
- 讀過非科學類科目(social science, Introduction to NT, etc.)
- 修過羽毛球 網球, 閒餘有打乒乓球 康樂(檯)棋
- 煲粥煮麵玩橋牌 跑步
- 暑期活動
- 基督教活動 - study group of HK contemporary church history , 理學院院代, 生化系小組組長
- ...
12/27/2020 (Sun) am
Pelham Bay Park (from Orchard Beach Parking Lot to Hunter Island)
Red-breasted Merganser, M+F, 30+. Bufflehead, M+F, many.
Scaup. Mute Swan.
Titmouse. Mourning Dove. Blue Jay. Cardinal.
Chickadee. Woodpecker.
Cannot find Common Merganser. So up to now, before the end of 2020,
only 24 species of ducks.
Deer swimming near Hog Island (The northernmost island of New York City).
Photo:
Blue Jay - <1>
Cardinal -
Chickadee -
Woodpecker -
I think they are female Greater Scaup -
<1>with
a male Greater Scaup
And Video: 00048_possibly_2_CommonMerganser.MTS
00049_possibly_2_CommonMerganser.MTS Deer Swimming
Note:
(1) This is the first time I see a deer in NYC. I saw it at
Fire Island, Long Island (6/30/2007) and around Uncle Jim's house in
Westchester County.
(2)
Deer
population explodes on Staten Island; jumps from 24 to 793 in six years
(3) The most recent estimate, conducted in January 2019, estimated
that there were approximately 1,737 deer on Staten
Island.
src
(4) Deer population down 24% in Staten Island
Eyewitness News
"The study done by the city parks
department found a 24% drop in the deer population between January 2017 and
January 2020. There are now just a little more than 1,500 deer in the
borough."
(5)
The
Woodpeckers of New York City (2012)
"It seems likely that eventually a population (of Pileated Woodpecker) will
take root in the Bronx because
Pileated Woodpeckers are relatively common in Westchester County, which is
just north of the Bronx, and Bergen County, New Jersey, just across the
Hudson River"
(6) Pileated Woodpecker, the largest common woodpecker in the
U.S. But it is rare in NYC.
12/26/2020 (Sat) pm
Meadow Lake
Red-breasted Merganser, 1M+1F. Hooded Merganser, M+F (14+).
American Black Duck. Mallard. Ruddy Duck (1).
Bufflehead, 1M. Totally 6 species of ducks.
12/20/2020 (Sun) early morning
Point Lookout
& Cammanns Pond County Park
Harlequin Duck (FOS), 1M with some red (breeding, alternate plumage) color
and a couple of males without the red color (not really non-breeding (basic)
plumage). No female is seen; but I did not pay attention and did not
make effort to find.
Long-tailed Duck. Common Eider. Brant. a lot.
Shorebird: Turnstone. Black-bellied Plover, one still has black
belly. Sanderling. Dunlin?
Seal (2), very close to shore.
Cammanns: Hooded Merganser. Northern Shoveler, very close.
American Black Duck, many, in tens. Mallard. Canada Goose.
Black-crowned Night Heron. No kingfisher probably because most of the
surface of the pond is frozen.
Photo:
Shoveler -
Note:
(1) Harlequin Ducks are very social, especially in the non-breeding
season when they form large groups at food-rich areas. Even at the end of
the breeding season, males form post-breeding “clubs” (俱樂部) with failed and
non-breeding females.
src
(2) Their breeding habitat is cold fast moving streams in
north-western and north-eastern North
America, Greenland, Iceland and eastern Russia.
The nest is usually located in a well-concealed location on the ground near
a stream. They are usually found near pounding surf and white water. They
are short distance migrants and
most winter near rocky shorelines on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
Harlequin males will have an alternate
plumage during this winter mating season.
wiki
(3)
Waterfowl Hunting on Long Island
(4)
Opposition to hunting
(5) A 1997
article examines molting of Harlequin Duck from mid-June until late
November - proceed from the alternate plumage through basic to the return of
the new alternate plumage. So in December, many have already in
breeding plumage.
12/19/2020 (Sat) late morning
Kissena (Corridor) Park
Red-tailed Hawk, eating on a branch. Blue Jay. White-throated
Sparrow. Starling. Mockingbird. Wood Duck, 3M+3F.
Northern Shoveler. Mute Swan, a pair.
Photo:
Red-tailed Hawk -
12/16-17/2020 (Wed-Thu)
The first heavy snowstorm in the season - Winter Storm Gail
...Queens County...
Jamaica 11.8 in 1140 AM 12/17 Emergency Mngr
Whitestone 10.5 in 1130 AM 12/17 Public
Laguardia Airport 10.1 in 0100 PM 12/17 Official NWSObs
3 S Jackson Heights 9.3 in 0230 PM 12/17 Trained Spotter
2 NW Ozone Park 9.1 in 1055 AM 12/17 Public
2 SSW Russell Gardens 8.0 in 1210 PM 12/17 Trained Spotter
1 SW Russell Gardens 8.0 in 1000 AM 12/17 Trained Spotter
1 NNW Whitestone 8.0 in 0645 AM 12/17 Public
1 SSE Whitestone 7.5 in 1130 AM 12/17 Trained Spotter
Howard Beach 7.5 in 0800 AM 12/17 Trained Spotter
Kennedy Airport 7.2 in 0100 PM 12/17 Official NWSObs
...New York County...
Central Park 10.5 in 0100 PM 12/17 Central Park Conservancy
2 SSE Greenwich Village 9.9 in 1105 AM 12/17 Emergency Mngr
1 NNE Greenwich Village 7.1 in 0900 AM 12/17 Cocorahs
Notes:
(1) A number of locations from northern Pennsylvania into
central New York, Vermont and New Hampshire picked up a whopping 40 inches
of snow or more, primarily occurring within a 24-hour period from Dec.
16-17. Gail shattered all-time snowstorm records in Binghamton, New York
(40 inches), and Williamsport, Pennsylvania (24.7 inches).
src
12/13/2020 (Sun) whole day, warm and partly sunny (with Ivy & Winnie?)
Hempstead Lake SP, Point Lookout and Mill Pond Park (Bellmore)
Hempstead: Hooded Merganser, many. Can't find Northern Bobwhite.
Point Lookout: Purple Sandpiper (4). Turnstone (1).
Mill: Green-winged Teal, 1M. American Wigeon, 1M. Hooded
Merganser, many but less than Hempstead. American Black Duck, a
lot. Belted Kingfisher (1). Can't find Common Gallinule.
- Mallard x American Black Duck (hybrid) seen by Stacy McCormack at Mill
Pond Park on 12/8 :
12/12/2020 (Sat) am, cloudy
Willow Lake and spend < half hour at Meadow Lake
American Woodcock (1). A lifer. But most of this bird should
have migrated south. From the
map,
NYC does in the range of all year around so it implies we can see it in
winter. Corey Finger saw 2 on 26
Oct 2020.
I think it is not Wilson's Snipe.
Chickadee, many, easy to be more than 10.
Fox Sparrow (red), 4+. I never see that many. Until today, I
have seen it 3 times only.
Hooded Merganser, 1M+1F.
American Goldfinch (1).
Downy Woodpecker (2).
Hawk-like bird (1).
Mourning Dove (1).
Great Blue Heron (1), flying across.
American Robin, many (4+), at
Al Mauro Playground (entrance at Park Drive East at 73rd Terrace
in Kew Gardens Hills)
Rusty Blackbird, a few.
Cardinal, male and female.
Grackle (1).
Pied-billed Grebe (1), non-breeding adult or immature. *Some
non-breeding birds have more cinnamon coloring on the neck. Someone
mistakenly takes it as Red-necked Grebe. Not see Bald Eagle, Green-winged Teal and European
Goldfinch.
Note:
(1) Although both see at night, the Woodcock is more nocturnal than the
Snipe. The latter often, without provocation or apparent object, migrates or
takes long and elevated flights during the day; but the Woodcock rarely
takes flight at this time, unless forced to do so to elude its enemies, and
even then removes only to a short distance. When rambling unconcernedly, it
rarely passes high above the tree tops, or is seen before the dusk or after
the morning twilight, when it flies rather low, generally through the
wood.
src
(2) When flushed from the ground, these birds flutter up through the thick
canopy, level off over the top, and then fly away. Wind moving through their
wings makes a whistling sound as they go. Although they sometimes fly
considerable distances, they usually only fly short distances of 10 to 20
yards at flight speeds of up to 30 mph. Their odd appearance and behavior
has inspired many local names like timberdoodle, bog sucker, mud bat, mud
snipe, and Labrador twister. DEC.NY
12/6/2020 (Sun) am, windy
Fort Tilden Beach, Jacob Riis Park Beach and Breeze Point w/ Ivy Chao
Snowy Owl, life bird. We probably the first one to see this Snowy Owl
at Breeze Point.
Twitter
Purple Sandpiper, life bird.
Looking for King Eider but failed.
Ruddy Duck, a lot. Gull, a lot. Brant. Swan, a few.
Cormorant, 1 or 2. Harrier, 2. Northern Shoveler, a few flying
pass by. Because of the weather, no other land bird and comparatively
less ducks. Bufflehead, female.
11/28/2020 (Sat) before sunrise leaving home to almost 4pm, cloudy or partly
sunny, warm
Cammanns Pond County Park and Jones Beach with QCBC, met Ivy & Calvin
Yang
Cammanns: Northern Pintail, 1M (FOS). Belted Kingfisher.
Hooded Merganser, many M+F. Black-crowned Night Heron, many.
Brant, 1000+. Northern Shoveler.
Jones: Long-tailed Duck (FOS). Life bird list: Red
Crossbill, 2M+3F. Horned Lark (4). Surf Scoter, 1M.
Red-breasted Merganser. White-winged Scoter, female. Common
Eider.
Brant in thousands. Oystercatcher. Dunlin. Black-bellied
Plover. Ruddy Turnstone.
Common Loon. Red-throated Loon. Northern Gannet.
Black-capped Chickadee. Nuthatch. Downy Woodpecker. Hermit
Thrush.
Seal. First time in NY.
Photo:
Northern Pintail - with
ShovelerBetter
Belted Kingfisher -
Brant -
Long-tailed Duck -
Red Crossbill - Male-1Male-2
Horned Lark - only video; picture is not good.
Surf Scoter - M with Red-throated Loon: 12
Oystercatcher -
Common Loon -
Red-throated Loon -
Northern Gannet -
Black-capped Chickadee -
Nuthatch -
Note: Jones Beach Coast
Guard Station facebook
11/26/2020 (Thu) am, mostly cloudy with some sunny moment and warm / pm,
sunny and warm
Oakland Lake with Winnie / World's Fair Marina
Oakland:
I think it is a female Eurasian Wigeon (FOS). American Wigeon, 1M and
a couple of F. Ruddy Duck (3+). Gadwall, M+F, a lot.
Northern Shoveler. Coot. Mute Swan (3). Bufflehead (1),
not sure.
Woodpecker, Downy or Hairy.
Marina: Canvasback, 2F (FOS). Horned Grebe (1). Lots of Lesser
Scaup, Bufflehead, and Ruddy Duck. Gadwall, quite a lot.
American Black Duck, many. Mute Swan, 8. Rat, many. Great
Blue Heron (1). Great Egret (1).
Photo:
Gadwall -
Canvasback, female -
Gadwall -
American Black Duck -
Lesser Scaup -
Great Blue Heron -
Marina
11/21/2020 (Sat) am, sunny and warm (but early morning is still chilly)
Dead Horse Bay &
JBWR (28th visit)
Dead Horse:
Red-breasted Merganser
(1) (FOS). Bufflehead, many M+F. Horned Grebe, a few.
JBWR: Both Lesser Scaup and Greater Scaup. Grebe. Cardinal, a
group. Northern Harrier (2).
At south end of East Pond, see many Hooded Merganser, M+F.
Big John's Pond: Cooper's Hawk (or Sharp-Shinned Hawk).
Common Buckeye.
Photo:
Hawk -
Common Buckeye -
Note:
(1) Laura Weir
today saw 18 Greater Scaup and more than 90 Lesser Scaup at JBWR.
(2)
Greater Scaup and Lesser Scaup: Quick Reference
Characteristic
Greater Scaup
Lesser
Scaup
Size
18-20 inches
16-18 inches
Bill
Broad, prominent black nail
Narrower, more delicate nail
Head Shape
Rounded, highest point near forehead
Oval, highest point near back, notch at rear
Iridescence
Green only
Green or purple
Plumage
Narrow back barring, plain white flanks
Heavier barring, barring extends onto flanks
Wing Pattern
White extends across secondary and primary feathers
White only on secondary feathers
Range
Northern, saltwater, coastal, also in Eurasia
More southern, inland freshwater, North America only
11/14/2020 (Sat) am, sunny
Fort Tilden & Breezy Point
A cold morning of sea birds - the 3 common sea duck species and many Loons
(5+). I never see that many Loons before. And Red-throated Loon
is life bird.
Black Scoter, 1M. White-winged Scoter, 2F. Common Eider,
many.
Red-throated Loon, first winter and perhaps adult Red-throated Loon.
Probably no Common Loon. People see both species of Loons at Breezy
Point and Fort Tilden Beach.
Bufflehead, a few males and perhaps some females.
Gulls of the 3 species.
Double-crested Cormorant.
Shorebirds: Sanderling
or other species.
I did not visit Fort Tilden
since 2012.
Photo:
Red-throated Loon, first winter -
11/11/2020 (Wed) am, cloudy, a few moment sunny, and warm
Cammanns Pond County Park, Point Lookout & Nickerson Beach
Cammanns: Belted Kingfisher. Hooded Merganser, 1M+2F.
Black-crowned Night Heron, many. Double-crested Cormorant, a
few. Brant. Ring-billed Gull.
Point Lookout: Common Eider, a lot. Black Scoter. White-winged
Scoter. Turnstone (1). Sanderling (2).
Nickerson: Crow. Ring-billed Gull or Herring Gull, immature so
can't tell; more likely Ring-billed. Great Black-backed Gull.
Photo:
Common Eider - female-1
11/8/2020 (Sun) am/pm, sunny and warm (but early morning is still chilly)
JBWR (27th visit) / Cammanns Pond County Park & Point Lookout w/
Winnie until sunset
JBWR:
Hooded Merganser, 1M+1F (FOS).
A rare bird: Eared Grebe (has red eye), a life bird. In fact, not 100%
sure. Could be a Horned Grebe. Pied-billed Grebe.
Scaup, many (FOS; 10/31 not certain).
Yellowlegs (1). Someone saws Greater Yellowlegs
recently.
Great Blue Heron.
Cammanns:
Hooded Merganser, easy 40+, M+F. Black-crowned Night Heron, many,
10+/-. Double-crested Cormorant, quite a lot. Brant, a lot.
Point Lookout:
White-winged Scoter (2+), FOS. Sanderling, many. Common Eider, a
lot.
Note by Patricia Lindsay on Eared Grebe sighting:
"rare but with many prior records; continuing bird found by Doug Futuyma;
small podiceps with peaked crown, slim neck, darker face than Horned Grebe;
raised boustierre. Hugging west shore, and only visible when phrags were
blown back by huge gusts."
Note:
Why are loon and many grebe eyes red?
11/7/2020 (Sat) am, sunny and warm (but early morning is still chilly) /
late am.
Baisley Pond Park, Meadow Lake / Kissena Park
Redhead (1) and many Ring-necked Ducks (FOS).
Baisley: Redhead. Ring-necked Duck. American Wigeon.
Gadwall. Wood Duck. Ruddy Duck. Northern Shoveler.
Coot. Rat.
Meadow Lake: Junco. Ruddy Duck, many.
Bufflehead, 1M.
Still many Yellow-rumped Warblers. Robin.
Kissena Park: Ruddy Duck (2).
Northern Flicker.
11/1/2020 (Sun) am, cold & cloudy
Point Lookout
LLife bird: Black Scoter. There are many M+F, in
tens. [According to Eric's eBird report, count is 70]
Common Eider (FOS), M+F, a lot [According to Eric's eBird report, count is
75].
Common Loon (1) (FOS); not a Red-throated Loon; last seen on 3/28/2020.
Piping Plover (2).
Black-bellied Plover, more than 10. Turnstone (1).
Ring-billed Gull, a few (FOS). Herring Gull. Great Black-backed
Gull.
Note:
Piping Plover:
"Migrants may be observed on Long Island in March and late August and
breeding individuals may be observed from April through July (Levine 1998).
This species usually rare on Long Island before mid-March and after
September. On very rare occasions individual birds are observed in winter on
Long Island."
src
10/31/2020 (Sat) am, sunny
JBWR (26th visit)
Junco
(FOS), many, M + F or Immature. Red-tailed Hawk. Accipiter, I
think it is a Juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk.
Still many Yellow-rumped Warblers. Eastern Phoebe, many.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Golden-crowned Kinglet (1).
Mockingbird. etc.
Bufflehead, many M+F. Scaup (1), not 100% sure.
Green-winged Teal (2M+2F), FOS. Red-tailed Hawk. Pied-billed
Grebe (1). Coot. Gadwall. Mallard. Canada
Goose. Mute Swan, a family of 3. Double-crested Cormorant.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
A group of Ring-billed Gulls, possibly, or other species of immature gulls.
10/24/2020 (Sat) am / pm, cloudy
JBWR (25th visit) / Kissena Park
A lot of Ducks and Geese.
Bufflehead, 1 female or immature male (FOS).
Coot. American Wigeon. Gadwall. Northern Shoveler.
Ruddy Duck.
Double-crested Cormorant. Still many Yellow-rumped Warblers.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Mockingbird. Cardinal. Mourning Dove
(1). Sparrows. Great Egret.
Frog at East Pond bird blind.
Moth (1).
Kissena: American Black Duck. Mallard. Wood Duck.
Canada Goose. Mute Swan. Ruby-crowned Kinglet., many and so
close to me.
Photo:
Frog -
Moth -
Yellow-rumped Warbler -
10/18/2020 (Sun) am, sunny
Alley Pond Park
and
Restoration Pond
Blue-headed Vireo. Ruby-crowned Kinglet. RWBB. Blue
Jay. Grackle, a flock. Cardinal. Robin.
Sparrows. No Redhead or other wintering ducks.
Note:
(1) It is estimated that 80 percent of the North American Redhead population
winters in the Laguna Madre of Texas and Mexico. Smaller numbers of redheads
winter in Apalachee Bay, Fla., along the Chandeleur Islands, Yucatan
Peninsula and the Atlantic coast from Rhode Island to Florida.
src1
src2
10/17/2020 (Sat) am, sunny
JBWR (24th visit)
A lot of Double-crested Cormorant.
Still many
Yellow-rumped Warblers. Eastern Phoebe, many. Ruby-crowned
Kinglet. Towhee (1). I saw Towhee at here on 11/4/2017 too.
10/11/2020 (Sun) am, partly cloudy
Baisley Pond Park - Warbler Day
Many Warblers of various species.
Yellow-rumped Warbler. Black-throated Blue Warbler, male and possibly
female too. And other unidentified.
I see a warbler with a white spot on the upper side of the tail.
Female/immature Hooded Warbler? No, from other characteristics, look
like a Northern Waterthrush.
Chickadee. Great Blue Heron. Mourning Dove. Woodpecker.
Blue Jay. Sparrows. Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Wren.
Geese. Mute Swan.
Coot. American Wigeon, M+F. Gadwall, M+F. Wood Duck, one
male. Northern Shoveler, M+F.
Note:
(1) The white spots on a Hooded Warbler's tail help them capture more
insects, possibly by startling the insects into taking flight. An
experimental study conducted in Pennsylvania found that birds with
temporarily darkened tail feathers were less successful at capturing insects
than those with white spots on their tails.
src
(2) Hooded Warbler: Females/immatures have a yellow face and throat and an
olive crown and back. The underside of the tail feathers are white, the
outer corners of which flash white when fanned.
src
(3) Common Gallinule
is seen on 10/23/2020 (Fri).
pic
10/10/2020 (Sat) am, sunny
JBWR (23rd visit) - Duck Day
A lot of
Yellow-rumped Warblers. Yellowlegs (2) at the blind of East Pond, one
has a broken leg; so being easy target of Merlin. Merlin (1), I guess,
at the blind of East Pond. Harris (1) at West Pond.
East Pond: Ruddy Duck in hundreds. Northern Shoveler, a
few. Grebe.
Monarch. Moths and Cricket at the wall.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (FOS).
Photo:
Great Egret -
Yellow-rumped Warbler -
Yellowlegs -
Mockingbird -
Mourning Dove -
Note: The Mallard and Ruddy ducks
invasion of Netherland -
A foreign student like me, who has been living in Delft for over six
months, finds theMallardshomogenous
and camouflaging in the brick-lined canals. These ducks not just survive
on the bread scraps fed by different inhabitants of the city, but they are
also familiar with the timing when their masters (or servants?) will be
arriving with the food. These wild but urbanised ducks have tamed the
Dutch who obediently keep up with their meal routines. A quick google
search about these species throws out information on how they prefer to
live in swamps and grow well on slimy worms and plants which can be found
in the surface of the pond. The winter frozen period does not worry them
as they are well taken care of by Delft habitants themselves. Such is the
relation! This ownership, a sense of belonging by the citizens
towards the ducks is surprising, especially when one realises that these
ducks were not even born here, but they came all the way from other
continents!
TheRuddyduck
was introduced into Europe from North America in 1948. Due to its
aggressive courting behaviour and willingness to interbreed with
European species it became known as aninvasive
species. TheMallardduck also
travelled to a great extent. Some conjectural history suggests that this
duck was first seen in Egypt. Later, the Spaniards brought it to Europe,
and the rest is history. The Romans relished duck’s roasted meat and,
for this reason, they continued raising ducks and eating them. It was
not until the nineteenth century that people realized that their eggs
tasted well too!
Today the canals in the cities of the Netherlands seem incomplete
withoutMallardsandRudyducks
in them. What some do not know is that these “invasive” species may
affect the endangered localWhite-headedducks.
Thus,White-headedducks
are close to becoming extinct. But many biologists explain that
extinction of species is part of “nature” as well. At present it is
difficult to imagine how it would be to live with dinosaurs and great
mammoths. It is actually not the alteration, but thestatic-nessof
nature what should be a cause for concern. There is even a chance thatRuddyducks
could form a hybrid with theWhite-headedducks
engendering something that Professor Jelle Reumer from Utrecht
University has called“Ruddy
white-headed duck”. Therefore, in coming years we might have an
evolved species of multi-coloured ducks waddling fiercely in the
human-made canals, while the Dutch citizens feed them with organic whole
wheat bread. This fascinating new birds may then travel again around the
globe, proliferating in the wetlands of Sundarbans in Asia or the Amazon
Basin in South America. Imagine, this avian Dutch hybrid might soon
pursue the same route that their colonizer fathers took! Interesting,
isn’t it?
10/3/2020 (Sat) am, sunny
JBWR (22nd visit) - Warbler Day
A lot of
Yellow-rumped Warblers. Other Warblers, including at least one female
or immature Northern Parula (probably).
One Blue Jay and one Shorebird (probably Yellowlegs) at Big John's Pond.
Eastern Phoebe, many. Double-crested Cormorant, many at West
Pond. Sparrows. Tree Swallow, many at East Pond.
Note:
(1) Northern Parula: Forages rather sedately. Searches among leaves, and
hovers to take insects from foliage, sometimes hanging upside down on twigs
like a chickadee or on trunk like a nuthatch. Occasionally darts out after
flying insects, or forages on ground.
src
9/27/2020 (Sun) am, sunny with Terry
JBWR (21st visit)
Yellow-color butterfly, probably
Orange Sulphur or its hybrid. Common Buckeye. Mantis.
Osprey (1). Double-crested Cormorant, many.
Shorebird. Oystercatcher (2). Warblers. Sparrows.
Note:
(1) Sulfur butterfly:
britannica.com
(2) Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) also called Alfalfa
Butterfly-
wiki
is abutterflyof
thefamilyPieridae,
where it belongs to the lowland group of "clouded yellowsand
sulphurs"subfamilyColiadinae.
Other members of this lineage including the common or clouded
sulphur (C. philodice)
andC.
eriphyleandC.
vitabunda, which are often included inC.
philodiceassubspecies.Hybridizationruns
rampant between these, makingphylogeneticanalyses
exclusively utilizing one type of data (especiallymtDNAsequences)
unreliable. Therefore, little more can be said about its relationships,
except that it is perhaps closer toC.
(p.) eriphylethan generally assumed,
strengthening the view that the latter should be considered a valid
species.
(3) Yellow Sulphur
-
info
(4) Common Sulphur or Clouded Sulphur -
wiki
(5) Large Orange Sulphur (Phoebis agarithe) - bugguide.net
-
It is not Orange Sulphur (Colias
eurytheme)
9/26/2020 (Sat) am, cloudy
JBWR (20th visit)
Big John's Pond: Greater Yellowlegs.
Eastern Phoebe, I guess. Canada Goose, many. Mute Swan,
many. Tree Swallow, 20+. etc.
Moths and a probably cricket on the wall. One moth is
Plume Moth (FamilyPterophoridae).
Monarch.
Photo:
Greater Yellowlegs -
Eastern Phoebe -
Mockingbird -
Moths -
9/16-19/2020 (Wed-Sat)
Holiday Inn Club Vacations Oak n' Spruce Resort, Berkshire, MA
Shorebird; one is Least Sandpiper. Goldfinch. Cedar
Waxwing. Boat-tailed Grackle. Yellow Warbler.
Kingfisher. Eastern Phoebe, I guess. Sand Wasp and other
Wasps. etc.
8/22/2020 (Sat) am, sunny/cloudy & hot
JBWR
Cicada. Lesser Yellowlegs and other shorebirds. Kingbird
(1). Waterthrush (2). Goldfinch (1).
7/26-31/2020 (Sun-Fri)
Westport & Mystic, CT and Cape Cod, MA
Westport birdwatching site:
7/25/2020 (Sat) am, sunny & very hot
JBWR
Sand Wasp. Cicada Killer. A black-and-white Wasp. Other
Wasps. Damselfly. Dragonfly, many species. Common Thread
Waisted Wasp (Ammophila procera) or alike (Ammophila
pictipennis). Butterfly. etc.
6/28/2020 (Sun) am, sunny & hot
JBWR
Sand Wasp (FOS). Damselfly, red in color. Common Thread Waisted
Wasp (Ammophila procera) or alike (Ammophila pictipennis).
6/20/2020 (Sat) am, sunny
Baisley Pond Park
No
Eastern Amberwing.
Many Dragonflies: Blue Dasher. Two pairs of black Dragonfly are
ovipositing.
Damselfly.
RWBB attacks me probably because I am too close to his nest. Great
Egret.
Finally I see and get good some good pictures of a Wasp (yellow and black in
color).
Note:
According to
nycgovparks.org, eight different varieties of dragonflies thrive at
Baisley Pond Park.
6/19/2020 (Fri) - State Holiday, am, sunny
Crocheron Park
Eastern Amberwing. Eastern Pondhawk, a young male turning blue.
Damselfly.
Swift.
Photo:
Damselfly -
Eastern Pondhawk -
Note: Eastern
Pondhawk dragonfly (young adult male, turning blue)
This individual is a young male turning blue, as indicated by its
blue and green coloration and the terminal appendages at the end of its
abdomen. Blue pruinescence will cover the dragonfly's body completely when
it is mature. "Immature [male] colored as female, becomes pruinose first on
abdomen and then thorax. Color change begins at about a week of age and
takes about 2–3 weeks, fastest at higher temperatures."
Source Credit: Paulson, Dennis (2011-12-19). Dragonflies and Damselflies of
the East (Princeton Field Guides) (Kindle Locations 10207-10208). Princeton
University Press. Kindle Edition.
6/18/2020 (Thu) pm after work, partly sunny
Kissena Park
FOS: Eastern Amberwing.
I realize that Kissena Park is the only place in NYC + Long Island I see the
dragonfly.
Damselfly, orange in color.
Ducklings of Wood Duck and Mallard. Juvenile Grackle and
Starling.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
Goldfinch. Yellow Warbler. Osprey. Glossy Ibis.
Cowbird, M. Great Blue Heron. Crow. Waxwing. etc.
Damselfly. Skipper. etc.
6/13/2020 (Sat) am, sunny & comfortable
JBWR
My Damselfly Day
Yellow Warbler. Carolina Wren. Glossy Ibis. Cowbird,
M+F. Fish Crow? Osprey and babies. Black-crowned Night
Heron, juvenile.
Various Damselflies. Skipper. Flower Fly.
Photo:
Damselfly -
Skipper -
Carolina Wren -
Cowbird -
6/10/2020 (Wed) pm after work, sunny
Kissena Park
Baltimore Oriole. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.
No Damselfly or Dragonfly.
Photo:
Tiger Swallowtail -
Baltimore Oriole -
Song Sparrow -
6/7/2020 (Sun) pm, sunny
Forest Park
Chipmunk, very close to Winnie and I.
6/6/2020 (Sat) am, sunny & hot
Broad Channel American Park & JBWR
Killdeer. Waxwing. Eastern Phoebe? Tern. Yellow
Warbler. Common Yellowthroat. Carolina Wren. Cowbird,
male. etc.
Wasp. Skipper. Damselfly.
5/30/2020 (Sat) am / pm , sunny and warm/hot (pm 81F)
JBWR / Kissena Park with Terry
JBWR FOS: Waxwing. Vireo (2), possibly Red-eyed Vireo. Sweat
Bee, not 100% sure.
Wasp (black and white color). Skipper.
Black-crowned Night Heron. Eastern Phoebe? Towhee. Piper /
peep sp. (a few). Glossy Ibis.
Double-crested Cormorant. Yellow Warbler. Grackle.
Tern. etc.
Kissena FOS: Damselfly. Juvenile Common Grackle.
Photo:
Vireo -
Mockingbird - <w1920>HDR
Tree Swallow -
Skipper -
Sweat Bee -
Wasp -
Damselfly -
Flower Fly - <1>
5/27/2020 (Wed) pm after work, sunny
Kissena Park
FOS: Wasp (yellow and black color). Skipper (2).
Flower Fly. Honey Bee. Bumble Bee. Wood Duck ducking (7+).
Mallard duckling (9). Canada Goose gosling (3). Swan pair
without any babies.
Rabbit.
5/25/2020 (Mon) am, cloudy and cold / pm, sunny and warm
Nickerson Beach, parking at the side street at the opposite side.
Note parking is not allowed at there in the
period 5/30 - 9/15 8am-8pm. / Kissena Park
FOS: Black Skimmer, a lot. Least Tern, a few.
Oystercatcher baby. Piping Plover, a few. Finch.
Kissena: Eastern Kingbird. I saw the unknown bird again today. I
saw it the first time perhaps last Sun. I think it is Tufted
Titmouse. Look quite like a Townsend's
Solitaire; but it is quite unlikely because its geographic range does not
match.
5/24/2020 (Sun) pm, partly sunny; with Winnie
Broad Channel American Park & JBWR
See Common Yellowthroat again. Baltimore Oriole. Killdeer.
Yellow Warbler. Boat-tailed Grackle. Gadwall, M+F. Wood
Duck, 3M. Barn Swallow. Tree Swallow. Glossy Ibis.
Double-crested Cormorant. Laughing Gull. Great Egret.
Catbird. Cowbird, M+F. Osprey. Semipalmated Sandpiper,
many, and other Shorebirds. Terns. 8 goslings of Canada Goose and
parents. 8 ducklings. etc.
Chipmunk. Muskrat.
5/17/2020 (Sun) pm, sunny
Kissena Park
FOS: Redstart.
Baltimore Oriole, both males and female(1+). Eastern
Kingbird? I think it is Tufted Titmouse.
5/16/2020 (Sat) am - 12:30pm with Winnie
Orchard Beach, Pelham Bay NYC Park
FOS: Common Yellowthroat. Baltimore Oriole (1).
Killdeer (2). Black morph of Eastern
Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis).
Blue Jay, many. Hermit Thrush. Yellow Warbler.
Black-and-white Warbler (1). Barn Swallow. Tree Swallow.
Catbird. Shorebird. goslings of Canada Goose. Swan
incubating; both parents are there. Red-tailed Hawk. Song
Sparrow. Northern Flicker. etc.
5/13/2020 (Wed) pm after work, sunny
Alley Pond Park
Rabbit, 3 or 4+. Hermit Thrush or bird alike.
5/9/2020 (Sat) am, sunny but cold
JBWR
FOS: Barn Swallow. Rose-breasted Grosbeak, female. (Did I
see female before? If I didn't, it is life bird.) A large
shorebird, what is it?
Yellow Warbler. Yellow-rumped Warbler. Cowbird.
Black-crowned Night Heron. Glossy Ibis.
Boat-tailed Grackle. etc.
5/3/2020 (Sun) late morning to 1pm, cloudy
Point Lookout, walking to Nickerson Beach.
Thousand of Common Terns.
Note:
5/2/2020 (Sat) am/pm, warm and sunny
JBWR, my Warbler Day / Kissena
FOS: Gray Catbird. Brown Thrasher. Eastern Towhee.
Killdeer (see again after 6/7/2007 with Erica and 7/3/2010). Tern, may
be Common Tern. Black-crowned Night Heron.
Mockingbird. Osprey. Tree Swallow. Song Sparrow.
White-throated Sparrow. Red-breasted Merganser, a group. Ruddy
Duck, a lot. Swan. RWBB.
Double-crested Cormorant. Laughing Gull. Egret, Great or
Snowy. Bumble Bee. etc.
Canada Geese incubating, I think.
4/19/2020 (Sun) 11am-1pm
JBWR, my Yellow-rumped Warbler Day.
JBWR - Barn Owl in shade. Glossy Ibis (2). Cowbird, M+F, many;
active in courting; I see a courting party of 3 males and a
female. Yellow-rumped Warbler, seeing so many times. Tree
Swallow. Mockingbird. Osprey. Song Sparrow.
Bufflehead (1). Swan. Woodpecker, Downy or Hairy.
Crow. RWBB. Double-crested Cormorant. Ruddy
Duck. etc.
FOS: Laughing Gull. Great Egret.
4/11/2020 (Sat) am / pm
JBWR / Kissena
JBWR -
FOS: Cowbird. Glossy Ibis. Palm Warbler. Bumble
Bee. Dragonfly, not 100% sure. Chipmunk, not 100% sure.
Wren Heard. Mockingbird, many. Osprey. Yellow-rumped
Warbler. Tree Swallow, many. Song Sparrow.
Bufflehead. Swan. Woodpecker. Crow. RWBB. etc.
Butterfly, may not be FOS?
Kissena -
Pine Warbler, possibly. Grackle. Swan.
Double-crested Cormorant. Wood Duck pair. Butterfly (1),
possibly Small White. No Ring-billed Gulls, all gone.
4/8/2020 (Wed) pm after work from home
Alley Pond
No Cowbird is found. Wren, FOS. Northern Flicker. Chipping
Sparrow.
4/4/2020 (Sat) am
JBWR
JBWR: Barn Owl. Wren Heard. Mockingbird, many.
Osprey, a few. Yellow-rumped Warbler, at least 2. Tree
Swallow. Grackle. Song Sparrow.
Double-crested Cormorant. Ruddy Duck. etc.
Photo:
Osprey -
Mockingbird -
3/28/2020 (Sat) early morning
Point Lookout, walking to Nickerson Beach. Note: Marine
Nature Study Area is closed due to COVID-19.
Point Lookout: Long-tailed Duck, many (20+), FOS. Harlequin Duck, life
bird. American Oystercatcher, many, FOS. Piping Plover,
FOS. Common Loon.
Nickerson: As usual, Sanderling, Dunlin and American
Oystercatcher.
No Cowbird is found. Titmouse. Junco, 10+ perhaps 20 or
over. Robin, eating earthworm. Cardinal. Song
Sparrow. Blue Jay. Mourning Dove. Mockingbird. etc.
3/21/2020 (Sat) am
JBWR
JBWR: Barn Owl. Wren Heard. Mockingbird chasing
competitor. Osprey pair at the nest beside Cross Bay Blvd. I
probably see 4 Ospreys this morning.
FOS: Tree Swallow. Boat-tailed Grackle, probably not Common
Grackle. Eastern Phoebe, probably. Song Sparrow
singing.
3/14/2020 (Sat) am / pm sunny
Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area / Kissena Park
Oceanside: Osprey (1), FOS. Belted Kingfisher. People
reports: "The Osprey pair continues at the nest site, copulating."
Kissena Park: first time to see Robin at the park, many. Wood
Duck (1). Only 3 or 4 Ring-billed Gulls flying in the sky.
Turtle, many. Grackle, many. RWBB.
3/14/2020 (Sat) Report: The Peregrine nest box now has four eggs.
3/13/2020 (Fri) check Marine Nature Study Area website and camera -
Peregrine laid 3rd egg on 3/10. Osprey is back.
3/7/2020 (Sat) am, cloudy/sunny; but cold and very windy / pm, sunny
JBWR / Kissena Park
began on Wednesday , March 4 and ends on Thursday , March 19
All dates are in Eastern Time.
2/23/2020 (Sun) pm, sunny; not cold
Crocheron Park
Robin (1), FOS. Grackle, many. House Finch (1). Blue Jay,
many. RWBB.
2/22/2020 (Sat) pm, sunny; not cold
Kissena Park
RWBB, many. Mourning Dove, many feeding on the grass with
White-throated Sparrow and perhaps other species of sparrow.
2/17/2020 (Mon) am, sunny; quite warm
Nickerson Beach / Alley Pond Park (Restoration Pond) with Terry
Sanderling and Dunlin (counted: 2000+).
Photo:
Dunlin - <1>
2/16/2020 (Sun) am, cloudy; not so cold
Baisley Pond Park
very early morning at home: first time hear Cardinal's call.
A complete list of ducks: Redhead. Ring-necked Duck. Ruddy Duck. Gadwall.
American Wigeon. Shoveler. Mallard.
Coot. Gull. Swan. Canada Geese. White-throated Sparrow. Cardinal.
Crow. Blue Jay. Rock Dove. Double-crested Cormorant
(1). RWBB.
2/9/2020 (Sun) am, sunny; not so cold
Nickerson Beach
Sanderling. Dunlin (hundreds or 1000+; when they take off, it is a
swirling ball of birds). Black-bellied Plover. I don't find any
Horned Lark or Snow Bunting.
Note:
Nesting on Nickerson Beach
2/8/2020 (Sat) pm, partly sunny; not so cold
Kissena (Corridor) Park
A group of Common Grackle (FOS) is seen on the way to Dim Sum after parking
my car.
RWBB (FOS), 2-3. Double-crested Cormorant (1). Nuthatch
(1). Cardinal, M+F. Mourning Dove, many. White-throated
Sparrow. Northern Shoveler, 5+. Mute Swan, a pair. Blue
Jay. Crow.
American Wigeon. Hooded Merganser.
1/12/2020 (Sun) pm - warm ( 68 F, breaking the old record of 66 set in 2017
)
Willow Lake & Restoration Pond (part of Alley Pond Park)
Willow Lake: mostly gulls. There are look like geese and ducks
at the far side.
Restoration Pond: Bufflehead, many males and females; many males are begging
for love (courtship). Scaup, 1M+1F. Redhead (1). Mourning
Dove (2).
Notes:
<1>
Willow Lake Trail, at the Grand Central Parkway and 72nd Road, is now open
on weekends (Saturdays and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or during scheduled
Urban Park Ranger tours), but the hope it to eventually have it open 7 days
a week for most of the year, according to the Parks Department.
<2>
&<3>
Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity (1999) By
Bruce Bagemihl
"Homosexuality in its myriad forms has been scientifically documented in
more than 450 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and other
animals worldwide. Biological Exuberance is the first
comprehensive account of the subject, bringing together accurate,
accessible, and nonsensationalized information. Drawing upon a rich body of
zoological research spanning more than two centuries, Bruce Bagemihl shows
that animals engage in all types of nonreproductive sexual behavior. Sexual
and gender expression in the animal world displays exuberant variety,
including same-sex courtship, pair-bonding, sex, and co-parenting--even
instances of lifelong homosexual bonding in species that do not have
lifelong heterosexual bonding."
<4> History of the Restoration Pond:
a
href="https://hiddenwatersblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/17/the-return-of-alley-pond-queens/">https://hiddenwatersblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/17/the-return-of-alley-pond-queens/
1/11/2020 (Sat) am / pm - warm ( 68 F )
Meadow Lake & JBWR / Kissena Park
Meadow Lake:
Common Merganser, males and female(s). Bufflehead. Hooded
Merganser. Great Blue Heron.
JBWR: Scaup. Double-crested Cormorant. Ruddy
Duck. Snow Goose.
Kissena: Hooded Merganser, a pair. Wood Duck, a pair.
Northern Shoveler, many. Mockingbird. Turtle (1).
Notes:
<1>
Mileage of my 22-year-old car hits 40k today while driving to birdwatching
places.
<2>
The temperature hit 65 degrees in Central Park late Saturday morning and
continued to climb, breaking the old record of 63 set in 1975.
The mercury read 68 in Central Park by early afternoon on Saturday. Even
warmer temperatures are forecast on Sunday with highs in the middle and
upper 60s.
ABC News: 69F.
1/4/2020 (Sat) am / pm - not cold (highest is 50F), light rain & foggy /
cloudy (high humidity)
Dead Horse Bay (visiting after 8 years) / Kissena Park
Dead Horse: Red-breasted Merganser (a group of 3M+2F and others).
Bufflehead. Ring-necked Duck, male(s), not likely; it probably be
female Scaup. Horned Grebe, a few. Brant, many.
Kissena: Wood Duck. Northern Shoveler. Mallard, many males are
very beautiful.
Notes:
<1>
<2> Dead
Horse Bay ebird
1/1/2020 (Wed) am / pm - cold and cloudy
World's Fair Marina / Restoration Pond (part of Alley Pond Park) &
Forest Park
World's Fair Marina: A lot of ducks. Life bird: Canvasback, male
(1). Red-breasted Merganser (1). Scaup, probably both
Greater Scaup and Lesser Scaup, a lot M+F; at least one is immature
male (please confirm from the pictures taken). Ring-necked Duck,
female (1). Gadwall. Ruddy Duck. Bufflehead, quite a lot.
Near home: Mourning Dove.
Alley Pond:
Many ducks but no new species. Up to now, 15 species. Redhead
(1). Bufflehead. Hooded Merganser, a pair. Lesser Scaup, female,
probably; but possibly Greater Scaup. Mute Swan, a pair.
Forest Park: Nuthatch. Cardinal. Did not see Red-headed
Woodpecker. But others saw it on the same day.
Note:
<1> ebird.org:
Restoration Pond
<2> ABA
Birding News (Sat Dec 28, 2019)
There is a Red-headed Woodpecker that is very easy to find because it is
enjoying street trees. It has been reported in the area (near Forest Park)
for the past few days. Park near: 129 Audley St, Kew Gardens, NY 11418. It
was flying from tree to tree along Audley St on both sides of Abingdon Rd.
<3> This year's North Nassau CBC (Christmas Bird Count) took place on
Saturday December 21, 2019.
... However, other passerines and woodpeckers, were found in unprecedented
numbers. This included all-time high counts of Red-bellied woodpecker (256),
Hairy woodpecker (64), Carolina wren (204), White-throated sparrow (1790),
and Chipping sparrow (68, shattering the previous high of 11 in 2011). Other
high counts included Rusty blackbird (77, seen in 5 sectors), Sapsucker
(29), and American robin (1536).
<4>
World’s Fair Marina: Canvasback flock up in winter, the only
reliable spot for the species in Queens. Lots of Bufflehead, scaup of both
species, and Red-breasted Mergansers ...
<5>
Between one in 10 and one in three eggs in a female cardinal's
nest has genes that don't match her partner, and less commonly, they don't
even match her own.
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<6>
Lesser Scaup, immature male: Non-breeding males have a dark head with
a yellow eye. The body is mottled brown-gray.
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