January 1, 2016 - Happy New Year - Painted Bunting and Black-headed Gull

Happy New Year! I went to Prospect Park in Brooklyn today with my friend Sean Sime and his family to see the Painted Bunting and the Black-headed Gull that have been there for most of December. Both were easily found and seen. The bunting was very cooperative for the many birders there to add it to their 2016 year list and the many curious passers-by who wanted to know why people were pointing so many cameras into the weeds.

Painted Bunting 01/01/2016 Prospect Park

We had seen the Black-headed Gull from a distance on the way to the bunting. After some hot chocolate to warm up we stopped by the Lake again before leaving. The gull was nowhere to be seen at first and then suddenly appeared. Unfortunately, it was no late afternoon and with the near solid overcast skies the light was not great for photography, but I did get a few pictures.

Black-headed Gull 01/01/2016 Prospect Park

Then it was off to Sean's for dinner with his family. January 2nd is the 75th Southern Nassau County Christmas Bird Count and Sean and I did it this year with his seven year old daughter doing her first bird count.