Date: Saturday, 30 January 2010 (12:00p-4:45p) Location: Wolfe's Pond Park Observers: Eve Levine, Ben Cacace Reported by: Ben Cacace
John afforded both of us excellent views in his scope of the Redhead. This adult male was close to shore at low tide. We were viewing from the bluff on the open, grassy area that hosts one picnic table. Conditions were cold and overcast (see below for details) but the wind wasn't gusting and it actually felt "comfortable" at times. The Carolina Wren was first seen on the southwest side of Wolfe's Pond and once more at the bluff where the Redhead was spotted. Ice nearly completely covers the pond. A few very small openings were occupied by mallards and black ducks. Ice is thin in places but essentially covers all fresh water bodies visited including Acme Pond north of Hylan Boulevard. Seeing 3 shorebirds on a winter's day is always a treat for mainly Central Park birders. The group of 200+ Sanderlings included 2 Dunlin. Later in the day a single Killdeer flew by calling. It was seen a few more times while walking along the shore. Not a single raptor was seen. Eve spotted 2 unusual mammals (for me), a Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) < http://www.mnh.si.edu/mna/image_info.cfm?species_id=232 > was swimming under the ice at the small bridge that leads from the pond to the beach and a dead Eastern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus) < http://www.mnh.si.edu/mna/image_info.cfm?species_id=294 > was on the western trail leading to the pond from Hylan Boulevard. Weather for 30-Jan for Newark, NJ (11:51a-4:51p) < http://tinyurl.com/yb6upmz >: - Conditions: Overcast - Temperature: 18.0 to 19.9 F (-8 to -7 C) - Wind direction: NNE - North - NNW - North - Wind speed: 7 - 10 mph (no gusts) - Visibility: 10 miles Abundance categories below from 'The Birds of Staten Island' checklist last updated in 2000. Abundance categories below for 'Winter'. Taxonomic order below abundance groups. ** Total species - 34 ** 'Rare' seen every 2-5 years [2 spp]: - Redhead - 1 male on the bay with Greater Scaup - Carolina Wren - Several sightings of single wrens (1+) 'Uncommon' present but may not be seen [4 spp]: - Mute Swan - 6 on Wolfe's Pond - Killdeer - 1 seen & calling along the beach - Dunlin - 2 along the beach - American Robin - 36+ at park entrance heading north 'Common' certain in proper habitat [10 spp]: - Long-tailed Duck - 10+ on the bay - Common Goldeneye - 10+ on the bay - Red-breasted Merganser - Pair (m/f) on the bay - Horned Grebe - 1 on the bay - Sanderling - 200+ on the beach - Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 heard - Downy Woodpecker - Several heard (6+) - Black-capped Chickadee - 1 heard - Northern Mockingbird - 3+ - American Tree Sparrow - 6+ off Purdy Pl. btwn Wolfe's Pond & Lemon Creek 'Abundant' sure to see [18 spp]: - Brant - Many (~200+) - Canada Goose - 24+ - Gadwall - 10+ - American Black Duck - 30+ - Mallard - 12+ - Greater Scaup - 50+ - Bufflehead - 200+ - Ring-billed Gull - Many - Herring Gull - Many - Great Black-backed Gull - Many - Rock Pigeon - 12+ - Mourning Dove - 30+ - Blue Jay - 4+ - European Starling - 50+ - Song Sparrow - 6+ - White-throated Sparrow - 6+ - Northern Cardinal - 3+ - House Sparrow - 10+ Taxonomic order: - Brant - Many (~200+) - Canada Goose - 24+ - Mute Swan - 6 on Wolfe's Pond - Gadwall - 10+ - American Black Duck - 30+ - Mallard - 12+ - Redhead - 1 male on the bay with Greater Scaup - Greater Scaup - 50+ - Long-tailed Duck - 10+ on the bay - Bufflehead - 200+ - Common Goldeneye - 10+ on the bay - Red-breasted Merganser - Pair (m/f) on the bay - Horned Grebe - 1 on the bay - Killdeer - 1 seen & calling along the beach - Sanderling - 200+ on the beach - Dunlin - 2 along the beach - Ring-billed Gull - Many - Herring Gull - Many - Great Black-backed Gull - Many - Rock Pigeon - 12+ - Mourning Dove - 30+ - Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 heard - Downy Woodpecker - Several heard (6+) - Blue Jay - 4+ - Black-capped Chickadee - 1 heard - Carolina Wren - Several sightings of single wrens (1+) - American Robin - 36+ at park entrance heading north - Northern Mockingbird - 3+ - European Starling - 50+ - American Tree Sparrow - 6+ off Purdy Pl. btwn Wolfe's Pond & Lemon Creek - Song Sparrow - 6+ - White-throated Sparrow - 6+ - Northern Cardinal - 3+ - House Sparrow - 10+ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
