Looking in on Alice, Wednesday, May 9th

Red Buckeye (aesculus pavia) - click to enlarge

(Photo credit - Rob Jett)

Choke Cherry (prunus virginiana) - click to enlarge

(Photo credit - Rob Jett)

I went into the park after work to check in on Alice and Ralph’s nest. If there are hatchlings they should be visible by now.

After spending nearly 2 1/2 hours watching her nest, I’m not feeling optimistic that there are any nestlings. She sat, unmoving at the west edge of the nest for nearly the entire time. At one point, Ralph returned, landing on the opposite edge of their nursery. He didn’t appear to have brought any food, but looked around in the bottom of the nest for a moment, then flew off. Alice eventually flew off towards the Midwood, leaving the nest unwatched; or at least I thought she did. Every few minutes I noticed her circling above the ridge, within sight of the nest tree. After a 45 minute absence I spotted her descending into an oak tree about 200 yards to the south. She sat there for about 10 minutes, then flew off again towards the Midwood. By the time I left she had been gone for 1 hour. I never noticed any movement or activity in the nest.

They’ve been building on the nest for 5 years, so it could be very deep. I’m holding out hope that there may indeed be some chicks in the nest near the top of the pine tree.

Alice on nest 5/9 (click to enlarge)

(Photo credit - Rob Jett)

Sweet Viburnum (viburnum lentago)

(Photo credit - Rob Jett)

- - - - -

Prospect Park, 5/9/2007
-
Red-tailed Hawk
Laughing Gull
Chimney Swift
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
House Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Wood Thrush
Gray Catbird
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Palm Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
Scarlet Tanager
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Eastern Towhee
White-throated Sparrow
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch

Other common species seen (or heard):
Mallard, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, American Robin, European Starling, Northern Cardinal, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, House Sparrow