This past Sunday I had made plans with Daisy to take two of our close friends, Kerry and Becky, to see the Great Horned Owls in Alley Pond Park. Neither Kerry nor Becky are birders (though, if you remember, Kerry is getting there) but the idea of seeing an owl is often enough to get even non-birders interested in birding. Kerry had the added inducement of seeing something she had never seen in a park she had visited hundreds of times while growing up in Queens. Of course, because Daisy, Kerry, and Becky are non-birders the time of our visit didn’t coincide with sunrise, though I did go early myself to make sure I had one of the owl’s locations pinned down and to do some birding on my own before the four of us visited later.
When we did all go I was happy to let Kerry and Becky each use a pair of my binoculars while Daisy took over camera duties and I lugged the scope. It was odd to be birding bereft of binoculars but the birds in Alley Pond Park in winter are highly unlikely to be something I can’t identify even without optics (you know, expert birder that I am) so I felt comfortable with just the scope. Before we reached the owl’s location we came upon a mixed-species flock that gave Becky and Kerry fits as they tried to adjust to focusing binoculars on the fast-moving sparrows and juncos. I set up the scope on a Red-bellied Woodpecker and was amused by their oohing and aahing because I had forgotten that most people haven’t taken the time to look twice at a woodpecker, and even less people have had the opportunity to look at the crimson cap of a Red-bellied Woodpecker through some of the best optics money can buy.
Anyway, because the four of us were rather obviously looking at birds we attracted the attention of folks out walking their dogs or just out for an amble in the park, so, inevitably, questions about what we were looking at were fired at us. I found that having a scope was actually much more useful than a pair of binoculars in getting people to see for themselves: binoculars have to be taken off and passed round and adjusted, whereas a scope, once it is set on a stationary bird, can be used by all merely by putting one’s eye to the eyepiece.
We got to the spot where the owl was perched high up in the now-bare-for-winter-canopy and I challenged my three companions to find it. Daisy, who has been on such expeditions before, found it relatively quickly, mostly, I think, because she knew to look for a shape up in the trees that just didn’t look like natural tree. Then I put the scope on the owl and we all oohed and aahed over the birds sharply-hooked beak and fearsome visage.
Once we were done drinking in the Great Horned Owl (no pictures because it was so high and distant and my digiscoping lens is still busted) I agreed to show them the Raccoon that I had found curled up in a tree cavity, after first warning them that all they would see was a patch of fur that stuck out of the too small hole. Was I ever surprised to see a different Raccoon perched atop a nest box on the way to the Raccoon I thought we were going to see!
He eventually climbed into the box, and answered our wishes by giving us all the curtain call that we wanted.
Of course, passersby couldn’t help but be interested in a sight as cute as a masked bandit peeking out of the nest box like that so the scope proved its worth once again, and the two ladies that stopped were pleased as punch to get such nice looks at both the Raccoon and the Great Horned Owl.
A somewhat distant flock of sparrows held my interest for awhile (and I even picked a Fox Sparrow out of the White-throated Sparrow scrum) but little brown birds are of virtually no interest to non-birders so we continued on our way. A juvenile Red-tailed Hawk that perched on a path side branch was another reason to unlimber the scope, and the looks we had at it, though marred by branches in the way, were still very nice. And a cooperative Northern Flicker that was eating berries was another prize worth examining through the scope: Daisy was happy to see her favorite woodpecker and Becky and Kerry were amazed that a polka-dotted woodpecker existed, let alone in their own borough!
Of course after such an outing one needs refreshments and we enjoyed a sizable repast at the Fame Diner before Kerry and Becky dropped us off at home where Daisy and I watched the tail end of the New York Giant’s dismantling by the NFC title game-bound Philadelphia Eagles (sorry, Mike, I just couldn’t resist). A not-so-lazy Sunday well spent, I do believe.
Hey Corey, you have to love turning non-birders on to the joys of birding don’t you? And the scope, that’s the ticket! When you give someone a face to face look at a Great Horned Owl or as you say, a beautiful Flicker, how can they not be impressed? And a Red-tailed Hawk, or any raptor for that matter, will get their hearts pumping.
Whenever we’re out with bins and scopes, we get inquires from passers by and we always take the time to explain what we’re doing and if the scope is set up, a look will cinch the deal.
I am a bit concerned about the raccoon in the nest box though. Did the city put those up for owls or ducks or what? Since I am a nest box monitor, I always worry about nesting birds being evicted or eaten by other animals. If nest boxes are not monitored, they should really be taken down. Can you check into that for me?
However,the photo of the coon in the box is priceless! 🙂
@Larry: I believe the box is intended for Wood Ducks, as it is in a marshy and pond-filled area. The box is clearly in disrepair (it completely lacks a roof). Unfortunately, the city is in the midst of budget-cutting, so I don’t know if anything will be done about it but I’ll ask some birders with more knowledge of (and contacts within) the parks department to find out who put the boxes up and if maintenance is done.
Corey,
I was one of the two women mentioned in your posting. I was so excited to see the raccoon, the baby eagle, and the owl that I later brought my husband to the park. We did not see a thing and I felt like the fisherman with the story about the fish that got away. Thanks for validating my sightings. I am always looking for walks through the woods and am looking for a group to do this with. Let me know if you organize one or know of one.
Susan,
I’m glad you enjoyed the show. The Queens County Bird Club has field trips almost every weekend to natural spots in Queens and the surrounding areas. You can find their website here. A year’s membership in the club is about $25 and includes a monthly newsletter, the aforementioned field trips, and monthly meetings which often have very cool presentations.
Oh, and it was a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, not an eagle (we birders are a specific bunch).
I have been running in Alley Pond for years and have seen the adult Great Horned Owl several times (always at dusk on overcast days). Very exciting every time! I have also seen many other birds (woodpeckers, hummingbirds, etc.). One in particular I have seen several times was a small, magnificent looking bird that was black and gold (not a brilliant gold, more of a marigold). If memory serves, gold coloring was located more to the wings. Not knowing specific bird types I was wondering if you might know exactly what type of bird this might be.
@Eric: American Goldfinches and Common Yellowthroats are both small, largely yellow birds. I can’t think of any species that have the yellow confined largely to the wings…if you get another look and get more details please feel free to come back with them!
What is the best time of the day to see birds in Allypond Park?
@Susan: Early morning is always the best, but dusk is good too.
Opportunities to visit Alley Pond Park and at times assist in care of the natural areas can also be had by taking part in the Friends of Alley Pond Park, active now since late 2018. See more at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/foapp/ We find a birder or two (or more!) helping out.