Last winter, an Eastern Phoebe was a regular around the Dell Water. This year one has been reported there as well. (Ok, I guess it’s still technically fall.)
This one was at the Sylvan Water, Green-Wood’s largest waterbody, last week. Same bird? Another?
Clearly finding something to eat, although the pickings must be slim indeed. This one was pumping its tail, very phoebe, even calling, but not singing. Making dives to the ground and then back up to perche among the nearly infinite tombstones.
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The Kings Co. (Brooklyn) Christmas Bird Count took place last Saturday. I couldn’t make it this year, but 90 others did. The weather was uncooperative, with thick fog cutting off the water that surrounds so much of the borough/county and dampening visibility all over in the morning. The preliminary results show a near-record low count of individuals (26,834) and highest species count (129) in seven years. (134 species counted in 2012 was the all-time high.) Four Eastern Phoebes were tallied.
I have to say that Green-Wood, which I was in on Sunday, was as quiet as the tomb. Not even a Blue Jay was heard. Even the feeders set up at Dell Water and other spots have been unused every time I’ve passed by them this fall.
Backyard and Beyond 
Great pictures! Surprising this guy is still around.
Phoebes have used a mud nest on the wall of my Ozark cabin almost as long as the cabin has stood there. I finally had to remove the nest this fall so I could power wash and stain the old wood, but I’m hoping one returns in the spring and starts a new nest.