By Jeff French Segall

Standing on the southern end of Central Park’s reservoir, scouring the ice-covered surface intently, a friendly troupe of bird watchers hoped for another glimpse of the visiting eagle enjoying a repast of gull. They patiently viewed the hundreds of winged visitors, among them Mallards, Herring gulls, Buffleheads, and an occasional Coot. At times the birds rested motionless upon the frigid waters of the reservoir; at times they took flight high above the viewers. All watchers seemed satisfied to have sighted the rare Slaty-backed gull, a seemingly off-course visitor from the Arctic, as well as another out-of-place passerine wanderer: a Lesser Black-backed gull from Greenland. Viewers, armed with cameras and scopes of varying powers, shared stories and advice as dusk all-too-quickly approached over the partly melted waters of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. As this reporter left, there were hopes expressed of an eagle sighting tomorrow.