Almost Election Day Walk

So where is Rice Stadium? I thought everyone knew. It was our meeting place today, but most were baffled. It's the area in the Southern Zone of Pelham Bay Park where there are playing fields and a running track. It is still called RICE STADIUM according to the NYC Parks Department. In case you're curious, Isaac Leopold Rice, born February 22, 1850, gave considerable money to the NYC Parks Department, so they named the stadium after him. He was a successful lawyer and lecturer. He was an avid chess player and had a few chess moves named after him, one called, "Rice's Gambit." He even helped in the construction of the first submarines. His wife founded the "Society for the Suppression of Unnecessary Noise," and he had an Electric Battery Storage company. That's why the streets around Rice Stadium are named Ampere, Watt, Radio, Ohm and other "electric" names. He was quite a fellow.... not a birder though, but nevertheless, quite accomplished. What does this have to do with birds? Nothing, but I thought it was especially interesting, since all of our group lives in Bronx but were unaware of Rice Stadium.

What about the birds? First, I have to tell you, it was cold. I think we all got fooled by yesterday's balmy weather, but instead it was 38 degrees when we began, and windy by the water. But because of daylight savings time, everyone got an extra hour of sleep and that was good. We really saw a lot of great birds. We started off with a very cooperative, noisy and visible Red-bellied Woodpecker. We saw three others as we walked. Nearby was a flock of American Goldfinches, whose colors had already faded for winter. As we began to walk and chat, we did a lot of that, a Merlin swooped across our field of vision. We saw him three more times as he hunted the area, getting a great look at him over the landfill. There were also lots of great views of a few Red-tailed Hawks up close, Northern Harriers, a Sharp-shinned Hawk and a Cooper's Hawk. Other highlights included flocks of Pine Siskins, Purple Finches, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Cedar Waxwings. In the water were lots of Brant and Bufflehead. With the help of Richard, we were able to identify lots of sparrows, including a Field Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow and Fox Sparrow. Later on at Hunter Island we spyed a distant Belted Kingfisher. This was a wonderful morning. The weather was sunny and beautiful, the group was friendly and cheerful, and the birds cooperated. If you weren't there you missed a great morning!

Species Account
Southern Zone- 7:30 AM - 10:30AM

Red-bellied Woodpecker (4)
Merlin
American Goldfinch (flocks)
American Robins (flocks)
Red-tailed Hawk (3)
Cooper's Hawk
Dark-eyed Junco (flock)
House Sparrow (flocks)
Purple Finch
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Blue Jay (several)
Flicker (4)
Pine Siskin (flocks)
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird (flock)
American Crow (flock)
Swamp Sparrow
Brant (several)
Bufflehead (several)
Norther Harrier (3)
Fox Sparrow
Yellow-rump Warbler
Cedar Waxwings (flocks)
White-throated Sparrow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Great Blue Heron
White-crowned Sparrow
Downy Woodpecker
Field Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow

Hunter Island (10:45-12:00)
Tufted Titmouse (flock)
Savannah Sparrow
White-breasted Nuthatch
Black Ducks(several)
Snowy Egret
Mallard
Belted Kingfisher
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull (several)