Prospect Park with Big Dave and Sean S.

Pussy willows emerging from shrubs around the edges of the upper pond were glowing with the pink blush of the late afternoon sunshine. One of the Red-tailed Hawks was calling from somewhere in the narrow strip of woods behind the pond. A small flock of Blue Jays were squawking in the same area, no doubt trying to drive the hawk away. The pond held a small collection of beautiful winter waterfowl. The bold black and white pattern of four male Ring-necked Ducks was accented by a subtle, purple sheen on their outstretched necks. A lone male Hooded Merganser unfurled his monochrome sail to impress two females. Sunlight shining through his hood illuminated his crown like a stained glass window. A pie-chart headed male Bufflehead succeeded in chasing off a single competitor and today courted a female by himself. I was commenting to Sean how nice it was to see a pond of waterfowl that didn't include a flock of Mallards. Before I had time to finish my sentence two Mallards flew in and landed in front of us.
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Prospect Park, 3/15/2004
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Wood Duck (Drake and hen, Upper pond.)
Ring-necked Duck (5, Upper pond.)
Bufflehead (2, Upper pond.)
Hooded Merganser (3, Upper pond.)
Turkey Vulture (1, flyover Nelly's Lawn.)
Red-tailed Hawk (3.)
Great Black-backed Gull
Northern Flicker (Sparrow Bowl.)
Fox Sparrow (~6.)
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco (~30, Battle Pass.)
Rusty Blackbird (Vale of Cashmere.)
American Goldfinch (~20, Vale of Cashmere.)

Other resident species seen (or heard):
Mallard, Herring Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker (Vale of Cashmere.), Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, American Robin (~30, Nelly's Lawn.), European Starling, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, House Sparrow