Two early spring insects

Sean and I rode our bicycles around Prospect Park in the afternoon. The activity was part exercise and part birding (well, a lot of birding).

Honeybee and Star Magnolia

(Photo credit - Rob J)

I still haven’t seen or heard my first Pine Warbler of the year but did make some other spring observations. At the Rose Garden, above the Vale of Cashmere, I stopped to photograph a Star Magnolia tree. The buds have begun opening and I wanted to get a pre-bloom image. As I was getting ready to take the photo a Honeybee flew into the blossoming flower. Pollen was visible on his pollen baskets. Also seen today were several Mourning Cloak butterflies.

Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)

(Photo credit - Rob J)

A small flock of Ring-necked Ducks remains on the Upper pool.

Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)

(Photo credit - Rob J)

- - - - -

Prospect Park, 3/28/2006
-
Pied-billed Grebe (2, Prospect Lake.)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (1, Duck Island.)
Northern Shoveler
Ring-necked Duck (12, Upper pool.)
Ruddy Duck
Red-tailed Hawk (1, on nest. 1, perched near West Is.)
American Coot
Ring-billed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull (1.)
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe (Approx. 10.)
Tree Swallow (1, over Prospect Lake.)
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren (Singing on Lookout Hill.)
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Several.)
Hermit Thrush (1, Vale of Cashmere.)
Cedar Waxwing (3, Ginkgo next to Terrace Bridge.)
Fox Sparrow (A few.)
Swamp Sparrow (1, phragmites at edge of Peninsula Meadow.)
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Common Grackle
American Goldfinch (4, Vale of Cashmere.)

Other common species seen (or heard):
Canada Goose, Mute Swan, American Black Duck, Mallard, Herring Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee (Common.), Tufted Titmouse, American Robin, European Starling, Northern Cardinal, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, House Sparrow