Odds & Ends

A Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) was in Prospect Park for a while last week. This was an unusual sighting for the Lake; usually these birds are seen off-shore. This may be explained by the bird not being in good shape: lots of people only ever saw it sleeping like this, with bill tucked into wing. Others noticed that something was wrong with its right eye. We, and others, have seen it diving.

Yup, no sign of a red throat, which is a breeding plumage characteristic. The species does not nest in NY and we generally only see them in winter.There’s no repose like death. This Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) was on one of the green supports of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway over Hamilton Ave.In shadow and sun. Their bills turn yellow in breeding season.