January 30th sightings

site = Prospect Park

date = 1/30/09

observers = Peter Dorosh

Mute Swan (2 boathouse)
American Black Duck (2 boathouse)
Mallard (~28 Boathouse)
Red-tailed Hawk (adult south Midwood)
Mourning Dove (boathouse)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1 male boathouse)
American Crow (f/o )
American Robin (f/o)
Northern Mockingbird (boathouse)
White-throated Sparrow (8 boathouse)
Northern Cardinal (2 boathouse)
House Sparrow (13 boathouse)

Canada Goose (Lake )
Mute Swan (2 lake)
American Black Duck (4 lake)
Mallard (easily 185 lake)Northern Shoveler (est 235 lake)
Bufflehead (drake on lake)
Common Merganser (2 drake on lake)
Ruddy Duck (4 lake)
American Coot (40 lake)
Ring-billed Gull (250 lake)
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull (1 lake)
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove (33 feeders)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (feeders)
Downy Woodpecker (3 feeders)
Blue Jay (feeders)
Black-capped Chickadee (3 feeders)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (feeders)
White-breasted Nuthatch (feeders)
European Starling (30 south lake)
Fox Sparrow (3 feeders)
Song Sparrow (feeders; 1 south lake)
White-throated Sparrow (25 feeders)
Dark-eyed Junco (1 feeders)
Northern Cardinal (4 south lake; 5feeders)
House Finch (7 feeders)
American Goldfinch (6 feeders)
House Sparrow

January 29th sightings : Common Mergs!

Today, while negotiating all the treacherous ice on the paths and ground, it was a delight to see FOUR Common mergansers out in the middle of Prospect Lake. They were all drakes, shimmering white bodies that stuck out well among the numerous residents crammed inside the spacious open water. Two of the common mergs waded over to the edges of Three Sister Islands; but two stayed in the middle , diving occasionally and popping up without much effort finding them again.A nearby drake Bufflehead added to the collection that comprised of numerous Northern Shovelers, Mallards and Coots to make it quite a crowded party out there. For them, it was safer there than me trying hard not to slip and fall..( i didn't..knock on wood)

LAKE

Common Merganser- 4 drake
Bufflehead- drake
Northern Shoveler- easily 200
Coot- 45
Canada Geese- easily 225
Mallard- 125
Ruddy Duck- 5
Mute Swan
RB Gulls,Herring Gulls, GBBGull(2)

Red-tailed Hawk- juv at south lake;adult above south midwood

Feeders

Northern Cardinal- 4
White-breasted nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Black-capped Chickadee-4
House Finch-7
American Goldfinch-5
Song Sparrow-1
White-throated Saprrow-10
Fox Sparrow-1
Mourning Dove-2
Downy WP-2
Junco-1
Tufted Titmouse

PP sightings 1/27/08 Scott Whittle & Doug Gochfeld

From Scott Whittle:

Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 1/27/09
Number of species: 38

Canada Goose 5
Mute Swan 2
Mallard 90
Northern Shoveler 80
Common Merganser 1 Lake near 3 sisters
Ruddy Duck 4
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot 35
Ring-billed Gull 1000
Herring Gull 15
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon 18
Mourning Dove 9
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 6
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 2
crow sp. 1
Black-capped Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Feeders
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Brown Creeper 1 Maryland Monument
Carolina Wren 2 Maryland Monument
American Robin 3
Eastern Towhee 1 Maryland Monument
Fox Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 2
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 35
Dark-eyed Junco 2
Northern Cardinal 7
Red-winged Blackbird 5
Purple Finch 1 Feeders
House Finch 10
American Goldfinch 6

**********************************

From Doug Gochfeld:

Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 1/27/09
Notes: w/ Bob Gochfeld
Number of species: 31

Mute Swan 2
American Black Duck X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 200
Common Merganser 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot 30
Ring-billed Gull 1200
Herring Gull 14
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove 8
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 6
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Black-capped Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Breeze Hill Feeders
White-breasted Nuthatch 3 2 @ Breeze Hill Feeders
Brown Creeper 1 Breeze Hill Feeders
European Starling X
American Tree Sparrow 1 Terrace Bridge
Fox Sparrow (Red) 5 Breeze Hill Feeders
Song Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow 55
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 10 Breeze Hill Feeders
House Finch 35
American Goldfinch 10
House Sparrow X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

MORE BBG White-winged Crossbills! Jan 26th

Birders, this report appeared on the NY State Birding Listerve today of 10 White-winged Crossbills in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

10 White-winged Crossbills,males and females feeding in the Eastern/Canadian Hemlock at the path across the Fragrance Garden.Standing under the tree, observing the birds enjoying their feast, the small cones of the tree rained down on me.
Remember, the garden is closed on Mondays for the public but open Tuesdays through Sundays.
Enjoy,
Deboira Amos

Just a note: The Garden Charges 8 dollars admission fee...so..these nomadic birds could be there ....If you have a membership, it helps. Otherwise, if no WWXbills, enjoy the garden,its a beautiful place with a great cafe..If you need a BBG map, check the menu there ----->>>>>> Good luck

By the way, here are records I generated of past WWXBills in Prospect Park

1900 records 1 bird

White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 1/1/1900
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 1/2/00
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 1/3/00
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 1/4/00
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 1/5/00
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 1/6/00
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 1/7/00
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 1/8/00
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 1/9/00
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 1/10/00
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 1/11/00
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 1/12/00
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 1/13/00
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 1/14/00
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 1/15/00
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 1/16/00
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 1/17/00
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 1/18/00

1909 records 1 bird

White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 2/14/1909
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 2/15/09
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 2/16/09
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 2/17/09
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 2/18/09
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 2/19/09
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 2/20/09
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 2/21/09
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 2/22/09
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 2/23/09
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 2/24/09
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 2/25/09
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 2/26/09
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 2/27/09
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 2/28/09
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 3/1/09
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 3/2/09
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 3/3/09
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 3/4/09
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 3/5/09

White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 3/16/1953 1 bird
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 11/25/1963 62 birds
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 12/11/63 6 birds
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 12/27/63 7 birds
White-winged Crossbill Prospect Park 1/23/64 2 birds
White-winged Crossbill Vale/Rose Garden 2/9/64 1 bird

Jan 25th BBG White-winged Crossbill

The last thing on my mind was to see something truly nice in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which has many nice things anyway. I am talking about a great bird for the Garden (and Brooklyn) ,which often sits in Prospect Park's big shadow.For once, the limelight belonged to the Garden.

People were celebrating the Chinese Lunar Year festival in the garden, pomp and circumstance ,in dance form,inside the conservatory,a flower market up one floor, some Chinese lanterns hung outside , but Mary and I were looking for birds. Last thing we thought was a White-winged Crossbill.

We happened to just gotten off the Japanese Garden's celebrity path when Mary saw ( her third 1st sighting of four WWXbills this winter !) a bird fly into the Japanese hemlock next to the main path between the Shakespearean and Fragrance garden entrances. Yep, our rosy looking friend is in there, breaking open the small cones for its nourishment. Later about a few minutes I say, we lost the bird. However 5 minutes later it flew back , into the adjoining conifer, a Canadian or Eastern Hemlock.To make a long story short, my text emails to my groupies brought in about 8 friends besides two passing birders we knew happened to get lucky seeing us looking up thru our bins. They asked us what we were seeing.."A Chickadee perhaps ? " "Nope", says Mary " White Winged Crossbill." They scrambled up pretty fast , you know ?.......


White-winged Crossbill ( immature male between Fragrance and Shakespeare Garden entrances and below the Japanese Garden's Brooklyn Celebrity path. Look for an interpretive sign saying "What's in a Name ?" ).

Observers Mary Eyster, Peter Dorosh, M.O.s

video courtesy of Doug Gochfeld

http://www.veoh.com/videos/v17324244RbzTCtnC

Note: The Garden is closed Mondays. Hopefully the bird sticks around tuesday..there is plenty of pine cones and spruce crop there...

January 24th sightings

From Doug Gochfeld

Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 1/24/09
Number of species: 31

Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 240
Common Merganser 1
Ruddy Duck 7
Cooper's Hawk 1
Ring-billed Gull 1100
Herring Gull 4
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove 6
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 5
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Black-capped Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse X
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
American Robin 3
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 1 Heard only
Fox Sparrow 1 Breeze Hill Feeders
Song Sparrow X
White-throated Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) X
Northern Cardinal 4
Red-winged Blackbird 12 flyovers, Breeze Hill Feeders
House Finch 50 40+ Lullwater & Breeze Hill Feeders, others heard elsewhere
American Goldfinch 21 10 Feeders, 10 Lamppost
House Sparrow X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)

*************************************

From Eddie Davis:

Aside from a few red-tailed hawks, most of the activity was at the Breeze Hill Feeders. The rest of the park was eerily quiet.

Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 1/24/09
Number of species: 25


Mute Swan 2
Mallard X
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove 1
Downy Woodpecker 2B
lue Jay 5
Black-capped Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Brown Creeper 1
Carolina Wren 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 1
Fox Sparrow 1Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco 2
Northern Cardinal 3
Red-winged Blackbird 1
House Finch 4
American Goldfinch 10
House Sparrow X

*********************************

From Peter:

Common Merganser still present in the Lake middle open water by Three Sisters Island. Northern Shovelers, Coots and the usual suspects

January 23rd sightings

It's pretty cool to see a winter duck get all comfy on Prospect Lake.For the past week,since last Saturday, a handsome drake Common Merganser has been staying put in the middle of the lake, near Three Sisters Islands, where currently the only open water is. You would be able to pick out the mostly white bodied large duck,sometimes sitting on the ice. Wintertime doesn't always offer numbers but special visitors get the most of our attention..Sometimes, the adage applies: "the fewer the better"

Obeserver P.Dorosh


all Lake unless otherwise

COMMON MERGANSER ( drake present 1/23,1/22,1/21 since last report on Lake)
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 2 (Boathouse Pond)
Northern Shoveler easily 200
Great Blue Heron 1
Red-tailed Hawk southwest Lookout Hill/west shore;also Terrace Bridge
Ring-billed Gull X lake
Herring Gull (American) X lake
Rock Pigeon X
American Coot easily 30
Mallard X

Feeders
(also present Mike Corzine, Scott Whittle)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Mourning Dove X
Downy Woodpecker 1
Black-capped Chickadee 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
European Starling X
Fox Sparrow (Red) 1
White-throated Sparrow x
Dark-eyed Junco x
Northern Cardinal 1 ( also 3 Binnen Bridge)
Red-winged Blackbird 2
House Finch 6

January 20th sightings

Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 1/20/09
Notes: less 10 % 60 acre main lake open
Number of species: 25
Obersever P.Dorosh

Lake

Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 2
Northern Shoveler 220
Common Merganser 1 drake
Great Blue Heron 1


Red-tailed Hawk 2 ( onejuv sw quaker cemetery;1 breeze hill)
Ring-billed Gull X lake
Herring Gull (American) X lake
Rock Pigeon X

Feeders

Mourning Dove X
Downy Woodpecker 1
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
European Starling X
Fox Sparrow (Red) 2
Swamp Sparrow 1 (wellhouse shore)
White-throated Sparrow 15
Dark-eyed Junco 4
Northern Cardinal 3
Red-winged Blackbird 2
House Finch 7
Pine Siskin 1
American Goldfinch 2

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

January 17th sightings..the deep freeze ( 3 reports + foto 1/2 Lesser BB Gull)

Despite this deep freeze, about ten % of Prospect Lake remains open, quite surprising with this really cold spell. And when you wouldn't expect much, a quite nice surprise to see a drake Common Merganser right smack in the middle of the lake while nearby 3 Pied-billed Grebes huddled together by Three Sisters islands. Seems like everything is managing OK .With some precipitation on the way, it nevertheless will be a predicted "balmy" 38 degrees Sunday for the waterfowl count. Otherwise, i am glad i restocked the suet feeder last nite after running out of it , in which i made a hurried errand to Lowe's for the 92 cents per cake compared to the ridiculous 2.50 per at a local pet store. The suet's high fat /protein content is a critical staple for the winter challenged birds with this deep freeze. In the meantime,enjoy winter's beauty in this quacky weather.

P.

Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 1/17/09
Notes: main 60 acre lake 10 % open during current deep freeze
Observers : Peter Dorosh and Rob Jett

Number of species: 32

Canada Goose 7 lake
Mute Swan 2 lake
American Black Duck 1 lake
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 1 lake
Mallard 152 lake
Northern Shoveler 234 lake
Common Merganser 1 lake middle;drake
Ruddy Duck 2 lake
Pied-billed Grebe 3 three sisters island north shore
Great Blue Heron 1 lake middle,then peninsula shore
Red-tailed Hawk 1 perched Duck island
American Coot 45 west shore lake
Ring-billed Gull 300 lake
Herring Gull (American) X lake
Great Black-backed Gull 3 lake
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Downy Woodpecker 1 feeders
American Crow 1 f/o lake
Black-capped Chickadee 2 feeders
Tufted Titmouse 1 feeders
White-breasted Nuthatch 1 feeders
American Robin 1 three sisters
European Starling X
Fox Sparrow (Red) 1 feeders
Song Sparrow 2 west island
White-throated Sparrow 20 feeders
Dark-eyed Junco 6 feeders
Northern Cardinal 3 feeders
Red-winged Blackbird 8 feeders
House Finch 12 feeders
American Goldfinch 2 feeders

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)

**************************************

From Rob Jett:

Subject: eBird Report - Prospect Park , 1/17/09
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 1/17/09
Number of species: 33

Canada Goose X>
Mute Swan X>
American Black Duck X>
Mallard X>
Northern Shoveler 245>
Common Merganser 1>
Pied-billed Grebe 2>
Great Blue Heron 2>
Red-tailed Hawk 2>
Merlin 2>
American Coot X> Ring-billed Gull X>
Herring Gull X>
Great Black-backed Gull X>
Rock Pigeon X> Mourning Dove X>
Red-bellied Woodpecker X>
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1>
Downy Woodpecker X>
Blue Jay X>
American Crow 2>
Black-capped Chickadee X>
Tufted Titmouse X>
White-breasted Nuthatch X>
Carolina Wren X>
Fox Sparrow 2>
Swamp Sparrow 1>
White-throated Sparrow X>
Dark-eyed Junco X>
Northern Cardinal X> Red-winged Blackbird X>
House Finch X>
American Goldfinch X>>

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)

************************************

From Alex Wilson:

Hi Peter. BTW, I posted some photos of the Lesser Black-backed Gull from 1/2/09 at: http://www.digitalmediatree.com/arboretum/LBBG/
The point-and-shoot pictures are not great, but interesting in terms of what it’s like to pick out one gull among hundreds on the lake.

Best,
AW
Begin forwarded message:
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 1/17/09
Notes: 8 degrees at dawn.
Number of species: 48


Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
American Black Duck X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Common Merganser 1 (Drake, central Lake.)
Ruddy Duck 5
Pied-billed Grebe 4 (1 on ice at west edge of Lake; 3 by Three Sisters Islands.)
Great Blue Heron 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 (Terrace Bridge flyby.)
Cooper's Hawk 1 (Adult, made a pass along the west edge of the Lake.)
Red-tailed Hawk X
Merlin 1 (Around Center Drive/Nethermead Arches.)
Peregrine Falcon 1 (On signal tower at east corner of park.)
American Coot 40 (Crowded into small hole in ice along west side of Lake.)
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Red-bellied Woodpecker X
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 5
Downy Woodpecker X
Hairy Woodpecker X
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Black-capped Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse X
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 (Breeze Hill feeders.)
White-breasted Nuthatch X
Brown Creeper 1
Carolina Wren 3
Hermit Thrush 3
American Robin X
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling X
Eastern Towhee 2 (2 males, Lookout Hill SE slope.)
Fox Sparrow (Red) X
Song Sparrow X
Swamp Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) X
Northern Cardinal X
Red-winged Blackbird X
House Finch X
Pine Siskin 1 (With small group of Goldfinches in Sweetgum, Center Drive near Nethermead Arches.)
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X

1/16 its not a bird but a Prospect rarity nevertheless...

Today at 2:30, one of the park supervisors beckoned us in the Landscape Mgt office to quickly go outside to see something rare and quirky..so we go and see this fella above the rink's main entrance..it doesnt fly but i can be forgiven for reporting something without wings... especially Oppossums :)>

PP sightings 1/15/08 Scott Whittle

Location:     Prospect Park
Observation date:     1/15/09
Number of species:     36

Canada Goose     50
Mute Swan     2
American Black Duck     3
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid)     1
Mallard     70
Northern Shoveler     70
Ruddy Duck     1
Pied-billed Grebe     3
Great Blue Heron     1
Sharp-shinned Hawk     1
Red-tailed Hawk     1
American Coot     45
Ring-billed Gull     225
Herring Gull     5
Rock Pigeon     15
Mourning Dove     12
Red-bellied Woodpecker     1
Downy Woodpecker     5
Blue Jay     1
Black-capped Chickadee     8
Tufted Titmouse     3
Red-breasted Nuthatch     1  Feeders
White-breasted Nuthatch     2
Brown Creeper     1  Feeders
Carolina Wren     1
American Robin     2
European Starling     1
Eastern Towhee     1  Above lamppost 249
Fox Sparrow     6
Song Sparrow     4
White-throated Sparrow     35
Dark-eyed Junco     8
Northern Cardinal     9
Red-winged Blackbird     7  Feeders
House Finch     15
American Goldfinch     4

PP sightings 1/14/08 Scott Whittle

Location:     Prospect Park
Observation date:     1/14/09
Number of species:     30

Canada Goose     30
Mute Swan     2
American Black Duck     3
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid)     3
Mallard     120
Northern Shoveler     80
Ruddy Duck     7
Pied-billed Grebe     1
Red-tailed Hawk     1
Herring Gull     2
Herring Gull (American)     150
Rock Pigeon     30
Mourning Dove     15
Red-bellied Woodpecker     3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker     2
Downy Woodpecker     5
Blue Jay     3
Black-capped Chickadee     10
Tufted Titmouse     3
Red-breasted Nuthatch     1
White-breasted Nuthatch     3
American Robin     2
Fox Sparrow     1
Song Sparrow     3
White-throated Sparrow     30
Dark-eyed Junco     6
Northern Cardinal     8
Red-winged Blackbird     7
House Finch     30
American Goldfinch     3

January 10th sightings

From Eddie Davis:

Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 1/10/09
Number of species: 34


Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 4
American Black Duck 1
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 4
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot 5
Ring-billed Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 4
Blue Jay X
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Brown Creeper 1
Winter Wren 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Hermit Thrush 2
American Robin 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
Fox Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco 2
Northern Cardinal X
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Purple Finch 1
House Finch 5
American Goldfinch 2

Prospect Park 2008 Year's species final tally = 189

Dear birders

Included in this post is the final tally of species seen throughout the year in Prospect in 2008. The final 2008 count was 189 species. It falls below our usual average of 196. In 2007 , when it was 198 , there were 17 rare species compared to 2008 which had 8 rare species not seen in '07. so the differential was 9. It changes every year. In the list below, i hilighted the notable, the quite so rare and astounding sightings. Please note the date means the first day seen so there may be other dates seen afterwards.Not included on the Prospect list was Bohemian Waxwing seen in January '08; but me being a purist, it doesnt count here cause its out of bounds ;)> . Enjoy.

Pied-billed Grebe Prospect Lake 1/1/08
Canada Goose Prospect Lake 1/1/08
Mute Swan Prospect Lake 1/1/08
American Black Duck Prospect Lake 1/1/08
Mallard Prospect Park 1/1/08
Northern Shoveler Prospect Lake 1/1/08
Ring-necked Duck Prospect Park 1/1/08
Bufflehead Upper Pool 1/1/08
Common Merganser Prospect Lake 1/1/08
Ruddy Duck Prospect Lake 1/1/08
American Coot Prospect Lake 1/1/08
Ring-billed Gull Prospect Lake 1/1/08
Herring Gull Prospect Lake 1/1/08
Great Black-backed Gull Prospect Park 1/1/08
Rock Dove Prospect Park 1/1/08
Mourning Dove Prospect Park 1/1/08
Red-bellied Woodpecker Prospect Park 1/1/08
Downy Woodpecker Prospect Park 1/1/08
Blue Jay Prospect Park 1/1/08
Black-capped Chickadee Prospect Park 1/1/08
Tufted Titmouse Breeze Hill 1/1/08
White-breasted Nuthatch Prospect Park 1/1/08
Brown Creeper Prospect Park 1/1/08
Carolina Wren Prospect Park 1/1/08
Golden-crowned Kinglet Prospect Park 1/1/08
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Prospect Park 1/1/08
American Robin Prospect Park 1/1/08
European Starling Prospect Park 1/1/08
White-throated Sparrow Prospect Park 1/1/08
Dark-eyed Junco Prospect Park 1/1/08
Northern Cardinal Prospect Park 1/1/08
Red-winged Blackbird West Island 1/1/08
American Goldfinch Prospect Park 1/1/08
House Sparrow Prospect Park 1/1/08
Hermit Thrush Prospect Lake 1/2/08
Hooded Merganser Prospect Lake 1/3/08
Great Blue Heron Prospect Lake 1/4/08
Cooper's Hawk Prospect Lake 1/4/08
Red-shouldered Hawk Midwood 1/4/08
Red-tailed Hawk Prospect Park 1/4/08
Merlin Nethermead 1/4/08
Peregrine Falcon Nethermead 1/4/08
Belted Kingfisher Pools 1/4/08
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Prospect Park 1/4/08
American Crow Prospect Park 1/4/08
Red-breasted Nuthatch Prospect Park 1/4/08
Fox Sparrow Quaker Cemetery 1/4/08
Song Sparrow Prospect Park 1/4/08
Swamp Sparrow Prospect Park 1/4/08
Purple Finch South Lakeside 1/4/08
Hairy Woodpecker Prospect Park 1/5/08
Northern Goshawk Botanical Gardens 1/6/08
American Kestrel Grand Army Plaza 1/6/08
Northern Mockingbird Prospect Park 1/6/08
Common Grackle Prospect Park 1/6/08
Baltimore Oriole Ricks place 1/6/08
Double-crested Cormorant Prospect Lake 1/9/08
Rusty Blackbird Mount Prospect Park 1/11/08
Sharp-shinned Hawk Prospect Park 1/12/08
Northern Flicker Prospect Park 1/12/08
Winter Wren Prospect Park 1/12/08
Gray Catbird Upper Pool 1/12/08
Yellow-breasted Chat Binnen Waters 1/12/08
Eastern Towhee Boathouse 1/14/08
Northern Pintail Prospect Lake 1/16/08 rare
Turkey Vulture southwest woods 1/20/08
Cedar Waxwing Lookout Hill 1/26/08
White-crowned Sparrow Prospect Park 2/9/08
Bonaparte's Gull Prospect Lake 2/10/08
Wood Duck Prospect Lake 2/15/08
House Finch Prospect Park 2/20/08
Common Redpoll Bartel Pritchard square entrance 2/23/08
Chipping Sparrow Breeze Hill 2/24/08
Common Snipe Three Sisters Islands 2/26/08
Brant Prospect Lake 2/27/08
Red-breasted Merganser Prospect Park 3/2/08
Magnolia Warbler Prospect Lake 3/2/08
Brown-headed Cowbird Nethermead 3/3/08
Pine Warbler Terrace Bridge 3/6/08
Eastern Phoebe Payne Hill 3/12/08
American Woodcock Wellhouse 3/13/08
Black-crowned Night-Heron Three Sisters Islands 3/18/08
Great Egret Prospect Lake 3/22/08
Fish Crow Prospect Park 3/25/08
Yellow-rumped Warbler Lily Pond (formerly Pagoda) 3/25/08
Blue-winged Teal West Island 3/26/08
Monk Parakeet Rink 3/26/08
Tree Swallow Prospect Lake 3/28/08
Palm Warbler Pools 4/2/08
American Tree Sparrow Peninsula 4/2/08
Field Sparrow Nellies Lawn 4/2/08
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Prospect Lake 4/5/08
Barn Swallow Prospect Lake 4/5/08
Laughing Gull Prospect Lake 4/6/08
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Pools 4/6/08
Louisiana Waterthrush Rink 4/10/08
Common Loon Prospect Lake 4/12/08
American Wigeon Prospect Lake 4/12/08
Blue-headed Vireo Prospect Park 4/12/08
Northern Parula Peninsula 4/12/08
Black-and-white Warbler Prospect Park 4/12/08
Savannah Sparrow Boathouse 4/12/08
Black Vulture Prospect Lake 4/13/08 very rare , only 3 historically
House Wren Lullwater 4/14/08
Brown Thrasher Prospect Park 4/15/08
Northern Waterthrush Ravine 4/18/08
Green Heron Prospect Lake 4/19/08
Chimney Swift Peninsula 4/19/08
Black-throated Green Warbler Ravine 4/19/08
Wood Thrush Nellies Lawn 4/20/08
Yellow Warbler Ravine 4/20/08
Prairie Warbler Prospect Lake 4/20/08
Worm-eating Warbler Vale/Rose Garden 4/20/08
White-eyed Vireo Peninsula 4/21/08
Cliff Swallow Peninsula 4/21/08
Orchard Oriole Lily Pond (formerly Pagoda) 4/21/08
Eastern Kingbird Three Sisters Islands 4/22/08
Yellow-throated Warbler Prospect Park 4/22/08
Spotted Sandpiper Prospect Lake 4/24/08
Ovenbird Pools 4/24/08
Least Flycatcher Prospect Park 4/26/08
Great Crested Flycatcher Vale/Rose Garden 4/26/08
Yellow-throated Vireo Lullwater 4/26/08
Blue-winged Warbler Lookout Hill 4/26/08
Hooded Warbler Vale/Rose Garden 4/26/08
Scarlet Tanager Lookout Hill 4/26/08
Black-throated Blue Warbler Ravine 4/27/08
Common Yellowthroat Prospect Park 4/27/08
Warbling Vireo Prospect Park 4/29/08
Rose-breasted Grosbeak Prospect Park 4/29/08
Osprey Lily Pond (formerly Pagoda) 4/30/08
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Vale/Rose Garden 4/30/08
Bank Swallow Prospect Lake 4/30/08
Chestnut-sided Warbler Prospect Park 4/30/08
Indigo Bunting Prospect Park 4/30/08
Veery Vale/Rose Garden 4/30/08
Greater Yellowlegs South Lakeside 5/1/08
Nashville Warbler Prospect Park 5/2/08
Lincoln's Sparrow Ravine 5/2/08
Northern Harrier Prospect Park 5/3/08
Red-eyed Vireo Prospect Park 5/3/08
Tennessee Warbler Prospect Park 5/3/08
Cape May Warbler Prospect Park 5/3/08
Blackburnian Warbler Prospect Park 5/3/08
American Redstart Prospect Park 5/3/08
Blue Grosbeak Rink 5/3/08
Bobolink Peninsula 5/3/08
Solitary Sandpiper Prospect Lake 5/4/08
Kentucky Warbler Prospect Park 5/4/08
Snowy Egret Peninsula 5/5/08
Philadelphia Vireo Lower Pool 5/5/08
Swainson's Thrush Prospect Park 5/5/08
Blackpoll Warbler Lullwater 5/5/08
Willow Flycatcher Ravine 5/6/08
Black-billed Cuckoo Butterfly Meadow 5/7/08
Prothonotary Warbler Binnen Waters 5/7/08
Wilson's Warbler Lily Pond (formerly Pagoda) 5/7/08
Canada Warbler Lily Pond (formerly Pagoda) 5/7/08
Summer Tanager Vale/Rose Garden 5/7/08
Bald Eagle Prospect Park 5/10/08
Common Nighthawk Prospect Park 5/10/08
Red-headed Woodpecker Butterfly Meadow 5/10/08
Eastern Wood-Pewee Prospect Park 5/10/08
Gray-cheeked Thrush Prospect Park 5/10/08
Cerulean Warbler Quaker Hill 5/10/08
Pine Siskin Ravine 5/10/08
Bay-breasted Warbler Ricks place 5/13/08
Olive-sided Flycatcher Lookout Hill 5/14/08
Mississippi Kite Nethermead Bridge 5/18/08 2nd ever record
Mourning Warbler Midwood 5/21/08
Yellow-billed Cuckoo Prospect Park 5/22/08
Acadian Flycatcher Prospect Park 5/24/08
Black Skimmer Prospect Lake 6/4/08
Common Tern Prospect Lake 7/14/08
Forster's Tern Prospect Lake 7/16/08
Broad-winged Hawk Lily Pond (formerly Pagoda) 9/15/08
Connecticut Warbler Peninsula 9/16/08
Least Bittern Three Sisters Islands 9/28/08
Orange-crowned Warbler Butterfly Meadow 10/5/08
Gadwall South Lakeside 10/17/08
Green-winged Teal Lullwater 10/22/08
Eastern Bluebird Long Meadow 10/29/08
American Pipit Long Meadow 11/1/08
Eastern Meadowlark Nethermead 11/2/08
Red-throated Loon Prospect Lake 11/16/08 broke duration record
Greater Scaup Prospect Lake 11/17/08
Horned Lark Long Meadow 11/19/08
Marsh Wren Peninsula 11/26/08
American Bittern Prospect Lake 12/3/08

Baltimore Oriole 1/6

Mary E reports a female Baltimore Oriole in her backyard at her west Windsor Terrace home. The bird appeared just before dusk as she worked at home.

January 6th post work sightings//also Jan 5th report

Patience is a virtue. If you wait long enough, you may get to see something unexpected. As I waited at the feeders, I was delighted to see -out of the blue-a Gray Catbird. Soon after, a Brown Creeper climbed the tree trunk adjacent to the feeders. But having the Catbird, despite its common occurrence in the warmer months, nevertheless presented sort of a contradiction in the winter ...you never see them around..its slow around here now..but I get to appreciate the little surprises now and then.

List

Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 1/6/09
Notes: main lake 5% open water
Number of species: 29

Canada Goose 175 lake
Mute Swan 2 west edge lake
Mallard 190 west edge lake
Northern Shoveler 45 lake
Pied-billed Grebe 1 west edge lake
Red-tailed Hawk 1 perched above lullwater
American Coot 22
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull (American) X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Downy Woodpecker 1 feeders
Blue Jay 1
Black-capped Chickadee 3 feeders
Tufted Titmouse 1 feeders
White-breasted Nuthatch 2 feeders
Brown Creeper 1 feeders
American Robin 1 feeders
Gray Catbird 1 near feeders, in leaf clutter by fence
European Starling X
Fox Sparrow (Red) 1 feeders
Song Sparrow 3
Swamp Sparrow 1 west island shore benches
White-throated Sparrow 18 feeders
Dark-eyed Junco 5 feeders
Northern Cardinal 8 feeders
Red-winged Blackbird 1 feeders
American Goldfinch 2 feeders
House Sparrow X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)

*****************************************
from Doug Gochfeld


Observation date: 1/5/09
Notes: with Bob Gochfeld
Number of species: 36

Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 4
American Black Duck 3
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 76
Bufflehead 1
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 2
American Coot 45
Ring-billed Gull 1300
Herring Gull 75
Great Black-backed Gull 7
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove 6
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 7
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Black-capped Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 6
Carolina Wren 4
Hermit Thrush 1 Peninsula
American Robin X
European Starling X
Fox Sparrow (Red) 1
Song Sparrow X
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco X
Northern Cardinal X
House Finch X
American Goldfinch 14
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)

January 3rd sightings

From Rafael

Site: Prospect Park
Date: 03 January 2009
Time: 0800-0945 hrs
Observer: Rafael Campos R
A sunny morning, not too many bird sps at PP. A quick walk thru Vale, Midwood, Breezy Hill, Lake, Nethermead, Pools & Long Meadow.
Much of the open waters frozen, and at the lake, mostly RB Gulls & waterfowl, were concentraded at the only open space on the West side.

The list:
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Pied-billed Grebe
Great Blue Heron (1 flew over the Boat House, 1 flew over the lake)
Red-tailed Hawk (at least 2, very close to the feeders at Breezy Hill)
American Coot
Ring-billed Gull
(American) Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay (1 at the feeders)
Tufted Titmouse
Winter Wren (1 heard at Midwood)
American Robin
European Starling
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Let's go birding and celebrate BBC 100th anniversary: Rafa Campos; Brooklyn; NY

****************************************

site = Prospect Park
date = 1/3/09
observers = Brooklyn Bird Club January Centennial walk.Pdorosh leading

Note : Prospect Lake 98% frozen,west shore open spot

Pied-billed Grebe (4 lake)
Great Blue Heron (2 f/o Lullwater)
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
American Black Duck (lake 2)
Mallard (95 lake)
Northern Shoveler (30 lake)
Sharp-shinned Hawk (f/o nethermead)
Cooper's Hawk (Brooklyn Botanic Garden Daffodil hill;adult)
Red-tailed Hawk (4; south lakeside,f/o nethermead;2 f/o conservatory BBG)
American Coot (lake)
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull (4 lake)
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker (feeders; Midwood)
Downy Woodpecker (zoo)
Blue Jay (3)
Black-capped Chickadee (2 north midwood)
Tufted Titmouse (3)
White-breasted Nuthatch (midwood;feeders)
Carolina Wren (nellies lawn)
Winter Wren (north midwood near tunnel arch bridle path)
Hermit Thrush (maryland monument)
American Robin (13 terrace bridge; feeding on sumacs)
Northern Mockingbird (boathouse)
European Starling
Fox Sparrow (feeders)
Song Sparrow (3 peninsula sumacs)
Swamp Sparrow (2 west island benches)
White-throated Sparrow (30)
Northern Cardinal (15)
Red-winged Blackbird (2 feeders)
House Finch (12 feeders)
Pine Siskin (6 west island sweetgums b/w shelter and shore benches)
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

January 2nd sightings Including *Lesser BB Gull

From Alex Wilson:

My first foray of the New Year in Prospect Park produced an adult LESSER BACK-BACKED GULL, present for at least an hour on Prospect Lake. First spotted from the west shore of the Lake well out in the middle of the water, I ultimately got better views from the south shore on the point between West and Three Sisters Islands just before the bird flew off a few minutes before noon. There were at least 700 gulls on the mostly-frozen Lake, whereas waterfowl numbers were down, with limited open water available. Other birds were typical of the season in a winter that’s already off to a head start.

Good birding,
Alex Wilson
Brooklyn, NY

Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 1/2/09
Number of species: 47

Brant 30 (Flock checked out the Lake but didn't touch down.)
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
American Black Duck X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Great Blue Heron 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 (Adult, Fallkill area.)
Red-tailed Hawk 5 (Including 3 immatures perched in close proximity on Lookout Hill.)
Merlin 1 (Perched, Nethermead.)
American Coot X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 (Adult, on ice with 700+ gulls, 11:00-11:50AM, photographed.)
Great Black-backed Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Red-bellied Woodpecker X
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker X
Hairy Woodpecker X
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Black-capped Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse X
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 (Terrace Bridge, NW corner.)
White-breasted Nuthatch X
Brown Creeper 3
Carolina Wren X
Winter Wren 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Hermit Thrush 2
American Robin X
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling X
Eastern Towhee 1 (Lookout Hill.)
Fox Sparrow (Red) 5
Song Sparrow X
Swamp Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 1
Northern Cardinal X
Red-winged Blackbird 1
House Finch X
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X

New Years Day 2009

Today begins the Centennial Celebratory year of the Brooklyn Bird Club. The club held a trip today beginning in Prospect Park, ending with the Coney Island coastal walk totaling 8.5 miles. More on that on my other blog BBC Field Trips.

For now, I'll let Rafael begin the year starting off with his report.

Site: Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Date: 01 January 2009
Observers: Rafael G Campos

First day of year, and the tradition must go on. With temperatures below zero Celsius, I went to PP to start the year list. Also to star with the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Brooklyn Bird Club.Much of the water was frozen, and the number of birds/sps where low (exception RBGUs). My first surprise was a lonely Merlin near the Quaker Hill. Nothing between here and the feeders of Breeze Hill, where the 2 sps of Nuthatches were seen + 1 Dark-eyed Junco, 2-3 Fox Sparrows.The lake mostly frozen, but good numbers of Northern Shovelers & Ring-billed Gulls.Nothing rare or special, but 34 sps counts for an early morning.

The list:
Canada Goose
Mute SwanMallard
Northern Shoveler
Ruddy Duck
Red-tailed Hawk
Merlin
American Coot
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Winter Wren
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Brooklyn is good birding: Rafa Campos R

***************************************

Part compilation of Prospect Park walk (BBC walk continued to coast)

Prospect list

Canada Goose
Mute Swan
American Black Duck
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Ruddy Duck
Northern Harrier (f/o midwood)
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Prospect Park)
Red-tailed Hawk (4 ,3 midwood)
Merlin (Center Drive)
American Coot (lake)
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull-1
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove 20 feeders
Red-bellied Woodpecker feeders
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Quaker ridge; rink
Downy Woodpecker feeders
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse feeders , 4 total
Red-breasted Nuthatch -feeders
White-breasted Nuthatch- Vale Cahmere. feeders
Brown Creeper -maryland monument
Carolina Wren (2 midwood)
Hermit Thrush -wellhouse, peninsula
American Robin-8
Northern Mockingbird- nethermead arches
Fox Sparrow- feeder, midwood, one each
Song Sparrow-2
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal 8 midwood;6 elsewhere
Red-winged Blackbird- 2 feeders
House Finch
Pine Siskin (~20 North Midwood Prospect Park)
American Goldfinch- 6 center dr
House Sparrow