Sights

Yesterday, in Brooklyn Bridge Park:A lone female Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator).As a Man of Hair, I do appreciate the random crest feathers.Unexpectedly, a Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena). I last ran into one in February. The red of the neck, breeding plumage, looks like it is just starting to come in. The bird was spending more time underwater than afloat.Note the rather startling red-orange mouth of this Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis), cleaning up after a human’s mess. The gull’s thick neck is a handy storage system for gulped food; the other half of the baguette’s already in there. Female Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) hunkered down, but definitely alert to my presence. Male nearby. Nesting soon? This spot’s probably too exposed, but the species does nest in the park. A White-thoated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) kicking up lunch.And blooms! Pussy Willow (Salix discolor), that early bud that…gets the worm of spring.