Last Friday, Rosa's school had an in-service day, so Rosa went birding at Point Pleasant Park. She brought the cardboard binoculars she got for Christmas. She spotted a Common Loon trying to swallow a whole crab: Way off the tip of the park, she spied a Common Eider Drake: A Northern Pintal was hanging around First Beach. Notice his blue bill? Here he is again, standing on one leg: A Pintail-Mallard hybrid was resting on the sand: A Red-Breasted Merganser was drying his feathers in the sun...

25 February, 2012

A father and his daughter were strolling along the shore of Sir Sandford Fleming Park Tuesday when the father  spotted a seabird on the opposite shore. Father (age 39):  Look, Rosa, over on the far side. I think it's a loon. Rosa (age 3-1/2):  It's a black guillemot. Father:  Maybe it's a red-breasted merganser. Rosa:  It's a black guillemot. Later, at home, the photo was enlarged. Verdict:  Black guillemot, winter plumage....

16 March, 2010