Miscellany

Dragon

Here's a few photos from my Sunday jaunts in the parks. The Red-Breasted Merganser above was preening in the river, and I caught her at a good angle.

listen to the Mockingbird

This Mockingbird--one of a half-dozen I saw on the river walk north of Dyckman Street--was giving a rusty little call in a bush by the river, and a Song Sparrow sang in a tree nearby.

singing out

The last two photos didn't quite fit in earlier posts. The Common Redpoll--who is still in Central Park at the Evodia feeders--gets along OK with the Goldfinches.

best buddies

The Chipping Sparrow is still around as well.

Chipping Sparrow and fungus

In the good light

I went back to Central Park on Sunday to see what was around the Reservoir. Not much of positive interest was around, though the lack of Ruddy Ducks, Buffleheads, and Shovelers was interesting; Hooded Mergansers were almost entirely absent as well.

There was a group of five Coots at the north end, squabbling occasionally. One decided to try his luck elsewhere and stalked off across the ice on his big ridiculous Coot feet.

Coot, bigfooting

I thought that the late-afternoon sunshine would make for a good photo of the Common Redpoll, so I went back downtown to the Ramble. I had a bit of a wait before the Redpoll appeared,and a longer one as he left and returned to the feeders several times, always in the shade. Other birds were a bit more cooperative.

the Chipping Sparrow is still hanging in there

Chickadee, pausing briefly

"get my good side"

Finally, the Redpoll showed up on the sunny side of the feeders briefly

worth the wait

I want to see a Common Redpoll like you

It was supposed to snow all day Saturday, the weather report said, so we went out to brunch late. But it didn't seem to be snowing. And when I looked at my phone (as one does), I saw a report of a male Common Redpoll at the Evodia feeders in Central Park. We only get one every couple of years, so off I went to see it. As one does.

When I arrived, Adrian and Roman had the area staked out. They hadn't seen the Redpoll. But there were a couple of Fox Sparrows giving good views, and Goldfinches all over the feeders.

We didn't have long to wait, though. The Redpoll showed up and claimed a place at the feeders.

Usually when a Redpoll appears in the Park, it is pretty pale, and there is some discussion of whether it might be a Hoary Redpoll and not a Common. (It's always a Common Redpoll.) This fellow had expensive pink on his breast, so there isn't any question.

I'd been expecting a Redpoll to show up this winter, because we've had other irruptives from the north, like Red-Breasted Nuthatches and Pine Siskins. I wonder if we'll see any Crossbills?