February 27th

From Alex Wilson:

Location: Prospect Park>
Observation date: 2/27/09>
Number of species: 51>>

Brant 1 (Lake. Usually seen in flocks.)>
Canada Goose X>
Mute Swan X>
Wood Duck 3 (Flying around, and at least briefly on the Lake.)>
American Black Duck X>
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 1>
Mallard X>
Northern Shoveler X>
Ring-necked Duck 3 (Drakes, Upper Pool.)>
Bufflehead 2>
Red-breasted Merganser 1 (Drake, with coots just below > Lullwater Bridge 8:30 am, not seen later.)>
Ruddy Duck X>
Great Blue Heron 1>
Turkey Vulture 1 (Flyover, seen from west shore of Lake.)>
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 (Pools; Lookout/Lake.)>
Red-tailed Hawk X (Including pair at Ravine nest and > fetching twigs along the Lullwater.)>
Merlin 1 (Over Lookout.)>
Peregrine Falcon 1 (On signal tower at east corner of park/ > BBG.)>
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>
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 2>
Carolina Wren X>
American Robin X>
Northern Mockingbird X>
European Starling X>
Eastern Towhee 1 (1 or 2, both sides of Lullwater just > above Terrace Bridge & at feeders.)
Fox Sparrow (Red) X (Including one singing by Upper Pool.)>
Song Sparrow X>
Swamp Sparrow 1>
White-throated Sparrow X>
Northern Cardinal X>
Red-winged Blackbird X>
Common Grackle X>
Purple Finch 3 (Terrace Bridge NE, including singing male.)>
House Finch X>
American Goldfinch X>
House Sparrow X

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

Peter sightings at Upper Pool and Lake
3 Ring-necked Ducks drakes
1 Bufflehead drake
2 Great Blue heron on shore behind the island

93 Ruddy Ducks on Lake
1 Brant by Three Sisters Islands

(Tomorrow: Brooklyn Bird club walk at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Eastern parkway entrance 10 am..A celebratory centennial walk of the garden's prime spot for early days club members)

PP sightings 2/26/09 2 reports

From Scott Whittle:
A nice morning in PP with very active feeders on Breeze Hill. Highlights included 3 Purple Finch (1 female and 2 male) at the feeders along with 1 Pine Siskin, and a first-of-year (for me) Brown Headed Cowbird. Common Grackles have come in in the last couple of days, and Red-Wings seem to be building. Spring is coming! One other note...there are some feeders on 15th Street about midway between 5th and 6th Ave (park slope) that have had Monk Parakeets feeding the past couple of times I've gone by, including today.

Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 2/26/09
Number of species: 42

Canada Goose 200
Mute Swan 2
American Black Duck 9
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 5
Mallard 170
Northern Shoveler 120
Bufflehead 1
Ruddy Duck 70
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Red-tailed Hawk 3
American Coot 38
Ring-billed Gull 600
Herring Gull 21
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon 20
Mourning Dove 41
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 5
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 4
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Carolina Wren 1
European Starling 5
Eastern Towhee 1
Fox Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 31
Dark-eyed Junco 4
Northern Cardinal 15
Red-winged Blackbird 22
Common Grackle 11
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Purple Finch 3 Breeze Hill Feeders
House Finch 8
Pine Siskin 1 Breeze Hill Feeders
American Goldfinch 53
House Sparrow 30

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

From Peter

125 Canada Goose
1 Mute Swan
7 American Black Duck
Mallard
100 Northern Shoveler
3 Ring-necked Duck DRAKES ON UPPER POOL
1 Bufflehead DRAKE UPPER POOL
1 Red-breasted Merganser drake off peninsula tip
x Ruddy Duck Lake
1 Great Blue Heron Upper Pool
American Coot
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker- feeders
2 Downy Woodpecker- feeders
1 Blue Jay-feeders
6 American Crow- flyover ballfields
3 Black-capped Chickadee-feeders
2 Tufted Titmouse-feeders, garage
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch-feeders
1 White-breasted Nuthatch-feeders
European Starling
1 Fox Sparrow (Red)-feeders
1 Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow

Eastern Towhee-male feeders
1 Northern Cardinal-feeders
17 Red-winged Blackbird-feeders
1 Brown-headed Cowbird-fem feeders
2 Purple Finch- male and fem Feeders
9 House Finch-feeders
1 Pine Siskin- feeders
12 American Goldfinch-feeders
House Sparrow

Total species reported:
35

February 25th, very brief afternoon,Russ' report

A terrific highlight after 4 pm when i ventured out was the very nice display by 4 Red tailed Hawks above Well Drive , carrying over to above the south slopes of Lookout Hill, as the 4 Red-tailed tussled and chased each other. I twas a delight watching the aerial show.


Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 2/25/09

Number of species: 23


Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
American Black Duck 3
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 90 lake
Ring-necked Duck 1 drake lake
Bufflehead 1 drake Lake
Red-breasted Merganser 1 drake off peninsula thumb
Ruddy Duck 60 lake
Red-tailed Hawk 4 above well dr/Lookout Hill south slope, 3 juvs
American Coot 19 lake
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Downy Woodpecker 2
Black-capped Chickadee 3 feeders
Tufted Titmouse 2 feeders
Brown Creeper 2 feeders
European Starling X
Song Sparrow 1 west island
White-throated Sparrow X
Red-winged Blackbird 1 peninsula

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

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

From Russ Aldertone

Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 2/25/09

Notes: 2 Coopers around Maryland Mon. and Terr. Bridge. Kept low,moved in plain sight and landed in close to ground branches.

Number of species: 27


Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Ruddy Duck X
Cooper's Hawk 2
American Coot X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Red-bellied Woodpecker X
Downy Woodpecker X
Black-capped Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse X
White-breasted Nuthatch X
American Robin X
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling X
Eastern Towhee X
White-throated Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) X
Northern Cardinal X
Red-winged Blackbird X
House Finch X
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X

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

February 24th sightings

From Rob Jett

Subject: eBird Report - Prospect Park , 2/24/09>>>>
Location: Prospect Park> Observation date: 2/24/09>
Number of species: 18>>

Great Blue Heron 1>
Turkey Vulture 1>
Red-tailed Hawk 4>
Ring-billed Gull X>
Herring Gull X>
Rock Pigeon X>
Mourning Dove X>
Red-bellied Woodpecker X>
Downy Woodpecker X>
Hairy Woodpecker X>
Blue Jay X>
White-breasted Nuthatch 1>
American Robin X>
European Starling X>
White-throated Sparrow X>
Northern Cardinal X>
Red-winged Blackbird X>
House Sparrow X

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

2/23 sightings

Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 2/23/09

Number of species: 29

All Lake except noted
Mute Swan X
American Black Duck 4
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 1
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 115
Ring-necked Duck 2 drake Upper pool
Bufflehead 2 , one drake upper pool
Red-breasted Merganser 1 drake
Ruddy Duck 65
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Great Blue Heron 1 Upper Pool
Red-tailed Hawk 1 Terrace Br ;juvenile
American Coot 5 Lullwater, one lake
Rock Pigeon X

All feeders except noted
Mourning Dove X
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
American Robin 1
European Starling X
Song Sparrow 1 peninsula
White-throated Sparrow X
Northern Cardinal 3 wellhouse
Red-winged Blackbird 2
House Finch 7
American Goldfinch 1
House Sparrow X

2/21 sightings Prospect

With morning errands out of the way plus a late morning sleep ( after a physically demanding workweek after a equally like weekend in New Hampshire), an afternoon park trek seemed the perfect antidote for my lackadaisical start. Starting along the south shore of the lake bought on the usual bird regulars though the uncommon drake Red-breasted Merganser was spotted sailing between the Peninsula shelter and Duck Island. A stop at the feeders had its usual feeding frenzy though i now saw two Red-breasted Nuthatches working up a locust tree. Our overwintering Eastern Towhee fed briefly under the feeders with Fox Sparrow and the usual assortment. But a highlight for me was spotting the Peregrine Falcon frequently reported by Alex Wilson in past reports, on the "Signal tower" which i suspected was the one by the Garden. Sure enough , making my way thru the Nethermead, I was able to see that tower which is next to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's library on Empire Boulevard; on it was the perched Peregrine. I just happened to glimpse it when it dove off and straight down towards the park ( above Flatbush Ave) for prey attempt. Minutes later, it flew back up to the tower perch with two red strobes. Fortunately, i happened to have my Kowa scope and watched it quite well from that distance. A cool moment for sure on a lovely winter day..

Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 2/21/09
Number of species: 35

Mute Swan 3 lake
American Black Duck 3 lake
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 1
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 126 lake
Ring-necked Duck 1 drake Upper pool
Bufflehead 2 ---1 drake upper pool, one drake Lake
Red-breasted Merganser 1 drake near Peninsula tip or shelter
Ruddy Duck 74 lake
Great Blue Heron 2-- 1 upper pool island, 1 back of duck island
Red-tailed Hawk 2 flyover soar above Binnen pool
Peregrine Falcon 1 perched on signal tower at Empire blvd and Washington Ave
American Coot X lake
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove 26
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 feeders
Downy Woodpecker 1 feeders
American Crow 22
Black-capped Chickadee 4 feeders
Tufted Titmouse 1 feeders
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 feeders
White-breasted Nuthatch 2 feeders
American Robin 3 Lily Pool meadow
European Starling X
Eastern Towhee 1 male feeders
Fox Sparrow (Red) 1 feeders
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 11 feeders
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 3 feeders
House Finch 3 feeders
American Goldfinch 4 feeders
House Sparrow X

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

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

from Mike Corzine:

The Red tails are at it again on Nellie's lawn. When I got there about 12ish, one of them was in the nest, doing stuff. The hawk flew out, went around the lawn and sat with it's partner on the Tulip tree. They stayed above Nellie's for a while, eventually soaring high and out of sight towards the zoo. There was a third bird for a while. Strange, they didn't seem hostile towards it.
1ish- Cooper's Hawk in the Midwood. I'm not a 100%, but I took a photo. It's a little washed out, but the horizontal banding on the chest can just barely be seen. I think it was too big to be a Sharp-skinned. Also, the tail was a bit more rounded.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77693241@N00/3298847190/
The Ring- necks were still on the Upper Pool, along with a Bufflehead and G.B. Heron.
1:30- A pair of Merlins were on the Quaker Hill side of Center Drive. A male and female!
2ish- Red- breasted Merganser between Peninsula Thumb and Duck Island. A Bufflehead there too. Several Ruddy Ducks, a few Coots, and N. Shovelers.
Didn't stop by feeders.
Hope all is well,
Michael

PP sightings 2/20/09 Scott Whittle

 Location:     Prospect Park
Observation date:     2/20/09
Number of species:     38

Canada Goose     100
Mute Swan     2
American Black Duck     5
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid)     2
Mallard     120
Northern Shoveler     110
Red-breasted Merganser     1
Ruddy Duck     40
Great Blue Heron     1
Sharp-shinned Hawk     1
Cooper's Hawk     1
Red-tailed Hawk     3
Merlin     1
American Coot     25
Ring-billed Gull     300
Herring Gull     9
Rock Pigeon     10
Mourning Dove     30
Red-bellied Woodpecker     3
Downy Woodpecker     5
Hairy Woodpecker     1
Black-capped Chickadee     6
Tufted Titmouse     2
White-breasted Nuthatch     3
Brown Creeper     1
Carolina Wren     2
American Robin     20
European Starling     35
Eastern Towhee     1
Fox Sparrow     3
Song Sparrow     2
White-throated Sparrow     20
Northern Cardinal     5
Red-winged Blackbird     32
Common Grackle     15
House Finch     5
American Goldfinch     2
House Sparrow     2

2/20 Prospect sightings

2/20 Prospect sightings
Sightings of notable ducks

2 Ringnecked Duck drakes on Upper Pool ( first seen by Mike Corzine,then me)

Red-breasted Merganser drake just off Peninsula thumb,resting on rockP.

Lake: Shovelers, Ruddy Ducks, CootsQuaker Ridge: Redtailed Hawk

P.

PP sightings 2/19/09

Three different merganser species have now graced the 2009 Prospect year with Red-breasted Merganser seen today , a drake first spotted by Mary Eyster this morning, then me alerted with the drake Red-breasted Merganser seen feeding along the phragmite edges (largest tract) nearest to the Wellhouse. Peter

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

From Scott:

Observer: Scott Whittle
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 2/19/09
Number of species: 32

Walk around the lake plus Breeze Hill feeders

Canada Goose 200
American Black Duck 5
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 3
Mallard 120
Northern Shoveler 110
Bufflehead 1
Red-breasted Merganser 1
Ruddy Duck 50
Great Blue Heron 1
American Coot 25
Ring-billed Gull 500
Herring Gull 39
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Rock Pigeon 20
Mourning Dove 25
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 6
Blue Jay 1
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
European Starling 2
Fox Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 15
Northern Cardinal 3
Red-winged Blackbird 3
House Finch 5
American Goldfinch 3
House Sparrow 75

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

Alex Wilson's 2/18 report:

Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 2/18/09
Number of species: 43

Brant 100 (100+ on Lake, flew out just after 9:00; returned at12:30.)
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
American Black Duck X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Ring-necked Duck 1 (Drake, Lake.)
Bufflehead 2 (Drakes, Lake.)
Ruddy Duck X
Red-tailed Hawk X
Merlin 1 (Breeze Hill flyby.)
Peregrine Falcon 1 (On signal tower at east corner.)
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
Hairy Woodpecker X
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Black-capped Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse X
White-breasted Nuthatch X
Carolina Wren X
American Robin X
European Starling X
Eastern Towhee 1 (Terrace Bridge, NE corner.)
Fox Sparrow (Red) X
Song Sparrow X
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) X
Northern Cardinal X
Red-winged Blackbird X (Increasing numbers, scattered flyovers.)
Common Grackle X (Several flyovers.)
Purple Finch 2 (Adult males, Vale.)House Finch X
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X

Prospect Park 2/16/09

Walk around the lake and breeze hill feeders.

Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 2/16/09
Number of species: 34

Canada Goose 120
Mute Swan 2
American Black Duck 3
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 3
Mallard 100
Northern Shoveler 70
Ring-necked Duck 1
Bufflehead 1
Hooded Merganser 3
Ruddy Duck 85
Red-tailed Hawk 3
American Coot 30
Ring-billed Gull 700
Herring Gull 30
Great Black-backed Gull 3
Rock Pigeon 20
Mourning Dove 25
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 6
Blue Jay 2
Black-capped Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
American Robin 2
European Starling 8
Eastern Towhee 2
Song Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 25
Northern Cardinal 10
Red-winged Blackbird 20
House Finch 8
American Goldfinch 9
House Sparrow 5

Valentines Day BBC Walk

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the Brooklyn Bird Club Valentine's Day Walk.  We had a relatively calm (and not too cold) day, and may be seeing the first early signs of migration.  Highlights included Pine Siskin and female Purple Finch at the Vail of Cashmere, Coopers Hawk near the Breeze Hill Feeders, Sharp-Shinned Hawk over Lookout Hill, and Merlin over the Long Meadow.  There was a significant increase in Ruddy Ducks on the Lake, which is now mostly free of ice.   Here is the full list:

Location:     Prospect Park
Observation date:     2/14/09
Number of species:     42

Canada Goose     120
Mute Swan     2
American Black Duck     6
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid)     2
Mallard     150
Northern Shoveler     60
Ruddy Duck     85
Great Blue Heron     1
Sharp-shinned Hawk     1   Lookout Hill
Cooper's Hawk     1  Breeze Hill
Red-tailed Hawk     1
Merlin     1
American Coot     15
Ring-billed Gull     500
Herring Gull     8
Rock Pigeon     20
Mourning Dove     40
Red-bellied Woodpecker     2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker     2  Breeze Hill and Lookout Hill
Downy Woodpecker     12
Hairy Woodpecker     1
Blue Jay     8
Black-capped Chickadee     12
Tufted Titmouse     7
Red-breasted Nuthatch     1  Breeze Hill Feeders
White-breasted Nuthatch     7
Brown Creeper     1  Rustic Bridge, Midwood
Carolina Wren     3
American Robin     6
Northern Mockingbird     1
European Starling     15
Fox Sparrow     2
Song Sparrow     3
White-throated Sparrow     15
Dark-eyed Junco     1
Northern Cardinal     7
Red-winged Blackbird     9
Purple Finch     1  Vale of Cashmere
House Finch     7
Pine Siskin     1  Vale of Cashmere
American Goldfinch     7
House Sparrow     25

a winter respite

Dear readers:



I will be taking a break to head northeast for winter vacation for 4 days. I will be xc-skiing and snowshoeing in the woods of New Hampshire..oh ....and finding some birds too. Till then.




P.


And...Happy 200th Birthday ,Abe !

Postscript: happy to report after the the trip: Northern Hawk Owl, in Center Harbor; 42 Bohemian Waxwings in Weirs Beach, Hoary Redpoll in Center Sandwich, 150+ Common Redpolls in Center Sandwich

A hybrid Goose was the story Feb 11th

This morning, Orrin text messaged me of a White-fronted TYPE goose between Three Sister Islands' western point and the culdesac cove. I happened to have a electric cart and so got over there in time. I was hoping for our park's first in a long time since one in the early 1980's xmas count. When I arrived , i searched carefully and found the goose. But right off the bat, i knew it didnt seem like a pure type,noting its white cheek patch that it wasnt supposed to have, as well as a black neck and head. Thinking "profoundly" ( memory banks is slow during early mornings), i figured a hybrid of some sort, not wanting to figure out the genetic hodgepodge. But it looked like this White fronted type goose -which did have orange pink legs and bill- must have been a procreation of WFG and a Canada Goose. Its in the Sibleys big field guide , upper right corner of the page. Whatever... ( but good to get a little excited...)

of note though on Prospect Lake were 3 drake Ringnecked Ducks and 7 Hooded Mergansers and one of the Common Mergansers.Pressed for time, i didnt stick around, having to get back to work. :)> ( Alex Wilson mentioned he counted 9 species duck today when I ran into him. Thats a nice number...means spring is perking up..)

(photo credit :Orrin Tilevitz)
**************************************

From Alex Wilson:

Location: Prospect Park>
Observation date: 2/11/09>
Notes: Hybrid Canada Goose on south side of Lake, seen from > Peninsula. Appeared very similar to bird seen at Calvert Vaux Park > on 2/7/09.>

Number of species: 48>>

Brant 9 (On ice, south side of Lake.)>
Canada Goose X>
Mute Swan X>
Wood Duck 10 (7 in early flyover, later a pair flew out > from the Lake; 1 lurking around Three Sisters.)>
American Black Duck X>
Mallard X>
Northern Shoveler X>
Ring-necked Duck 3 (3 drakes, Lake.)>
Bufflehead 1>
Hooded Merganser 3 (2 drake, 1 hen, Lake.)>
Common Merganser 1 (Drake, Lake.)>
Ruddy Duck X>
Great Blue Heron 1 (Upper Pool.)>
Cooper's Hawk 1 (Terrace Bridge.)>
Red-tailed Hawk X>
Peregrine Falcon 2 (On signal tower at east corner of park.)>
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>
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 X>
Winter Wren 1>
American Robin X (Including early flyover flocks.)>
Northern Mockingbird X>
European Starling X>
Fox Sparrow (Red) X>
Song Sparrow X>
White-throated Sparrow X>
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) X>
Northern Cardinal X>
Red-winged Blackbird 15 (Some flyovers; 2 at feeders.)>
Common Grackle 7 (Peninsula.)>
House Finch X>
American Goldfinch X>
House Sparrow X

Great Backyard count; Feb 10th sightings

This Friday to Monday is Cornell's Great Backyard Bird Census. From minimal time to much more, you can submit your observations from any locale, be it your backyard, a local park or a refuge. See this link for more details

http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/


***********************************
Today's sightings in Prospect Park:

Location: Prospect Park

Observation date: 2/10/09

Number of species: 30

Observer :peter

Canada Goose X

Mute Swan X

American Black Duck 10 lake

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler 125 lake

Bufflehead 1 drake on lake

Common Merganser 3 --all drakes on Lake

Ruddy Duck 17 Lake

Red-tailed Hawk 2 --one juv West Island; one adult Elephant Hill

American Coot X Three Sisters

Ring-billed Gull 1000

Herring Gull X

Great Black-backed Gull 1

Rock Pigeon X

Mourning Dove X

Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Feeders

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2-- Cleft Ridge Span

Downy Woodpecker 1

Blue Jay 1 garage

American Crow 3-- flyover Lookout Hill

Black-capped Chickadee X feeder

Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 feeders

White-breasted Nuthatch 4-- 2 feeders; 2 long meadow

Brown Creeper 1 feeders

European Starling X

Song Sparrow 1 feeders

White-throated Sparrow X

Dark-eyed Junco 2 feeders

Northern Cardinal X

House Sparrow X

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

February 9th sightings-2 Prospect reports

Sometimes you have to delight in the common species ,especially when that species is up to antics. At lunchtime, while scanning the lake, i caught sight of two Ring-billed Gulls "playing " tennis with a green ball pushed along on the ice by gull beaks..Love -Love the score? Then a few minutes later, i caught sight of a Ring-billed gull with a leaf in its beak. When it let it go, the leaf was blown about a good 25 feet before another ring-billed snatched it! Winter is never boring in Prospect Park ;)>

Peter

List

225 Canada Goose
2 Mute Swan
3 American Black Duck,lake
Mallard
165 Northern Shoveler,lake
1 Bufflehead-lake, drake
3 Common Merganser-drakes,2 near peninsula shore, one three sisters islands
27 Ruddy Duck-three sisters islands
1 Red-tailed Hawk-peninsula
American Coot
Ring-billed Gull
4 Herring Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
5 American Crow-flyovers, 3 peninsula, 2 garage
5 Black-capped Chickadee-feeders
1 White-breasted Nuthatch-feeders
European Starling
4 Song Sparrow-west island
6 White-throated Sparrow- west island
4 Northern Cardinal
1 Red-winged Blackbird west island sweetgums
1 Common Grackle-west island sweetgum trio (early?)
2 American Goldfinch-- feeders
House Sparrow

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

From Rob Jett:

Subject: eBird Report - Prospect Park , 2/9/09>>>>
Location: Prospect Park>
Observation date: 2/9/09>
Number of species: 30>>

Canada Goose X>
Mute Swan X>
American Black Duck X>
Mallard X>
Northern Shoveler 225>
Bufflehead X>
Common Merganser 2>
Ruddy Duck X>
Red-tailed Hawk 2>
Merlin 1>
Ring-billed Gull X>
Herring Gull X>
Great Black-backed Gull X>
Rock Pigeon X>
Mourning Dove X>
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1>
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1>
Hairy Woodpecker 2>
American Crow 10>
Black-capped Chickadee X>
Tufted Titmouse X>
White-breasted Nuthatch X>
Brown Creeper 1>
European Starling X>
White-throated Sparrow X>
Dark-eyed Junco X>
Northern Cardinal X>
Purple Finch 5
American Goldfinch 12>
House Sparrow X

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

February 8th sightings Prospect

From Rafael:

As the morning temperatures started to getting higher (around 50 F), I took a walk around PP from 9 am thru midday.My best bird was 1 male Eastern Towhee near the Breezy Hill feeders.Most of the water is still frozen, and several hundreds of Ring-billed Gulls were the most numerous around the lake. Still the 2 males Common Mergansers in the lake.Also a note of the past cold weather, was a lonely Great Blue Heron in the frozen Upper Pool.

Birds recorded 08 February 2009:

Canada Goose
Mute Swan
American Black Duck
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Great Blue Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
European Starling
Eastern Towhee
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Purple Finch (1 female)
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

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Brooklyn is good birding: Rafa Campos R

slow day... Feb 6th

Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 2/6/09
Number of species: 16

Not much time spent afield but fortunate enough and glad to see 3 Common Mergansers happily adrift in the ever widening water space in Prospect Lake. I got some pretty close views.This may bode well for more ducks coming along. P.

All Lake

Canada Goose 250
Mute Swan 2
American Black Duck 4
Mallard 175
Northern Shoveler 165
Common Merganser 3 drakes
Ruddy Duck 15
Red-tailed Hawk 1 perched in Three sisters but alighting to spook the gulls for the heck of it.
American Coot 40
Ring-billed Gull 500
Herring Gull (American) X
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
European Starling X
Northern Cardinal 2 west island
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Feb 5th; update on WWXBill in BBG

One contiuing White-winged Crossbird was confirmed today by Julia Weinberger at the hemlocks ( Celebrity path trailhead) today. From Julia,

"Hi Peter,
A female white winged crossbill was still at bbg at 1:55 today. It was in the same spot as yesterday per Edith (Goren)."

Feb 4th: BBG WWXBills return and more of them too.

I received at least three separate secondhand reports of between 15-20 White-winged Crossbills at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, foraging on hemlocks located at the Japanese Garden's Celebrity path adjacent to the entrances of the Fragrance and Shakespeare Garden sections. Along the main road north from the conservatory ,Look for a small sign that say "Whats in a Name" where the hemlocks are. I heard the Xbills have been coming and going alot from middle morning to early afternoon. Also, during winter on weekdays, the garden is free entry. map in http://www.bbg.org/

or see this link (look for blue icon) http://tinyurl.com/dlskqo

Peter

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From Rafael's post to Ebirds Listerve:

After receiving a text message from Peter Dorosh with the news of WW Xbills at BBG, I packed my binoculars, and rushed there.I met there Shane Blodgett & Rob Bate. They told me about the Xbills, but after a while, no luck.I went to the other side of the frozen pond, and heard bird calls that I never heard before. And, at the top of one of the evergreen trees around the pond, 1 female White-winged Crossbill. Few minutes later, with Shane & Rob, we saw a flock of about 12, flying around the Japanese section, perching briefly around the treetops, and finally they flew over the Brooklyn Museum building. Time: 1400-1430 hrs. Date: 04 February 2009.This is the first time I see this species in NY state (seen before in CT -1997- & Finland -2005-).Other sps recorded while I was at BBG were: Red-tailed Hawk; Carolina Wren; Tufted Titmouse; Blue Jay; American Robin, & White-throated Sparrow.Brooklyn is good birding: Rafa Campos R
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from Alex Wilson:


As has been reported, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were present again today at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, favoring a hemlock grove at the foot of the Celebrity Path, just across from the Fragrance Garden. They’ve been seen in the same spot on at least four days since 1/25, but may require some patience. None were in evidence when I arrived at 11:40 and after about 20 minutes I started to wander up the path until a chattering from the hemlock tops drew me back. I had only brief looks at a couple of birds before the whole flock of 15+ flew out, heading north, then reappearing a few moments later going southwest. I waited almost an hour before they returned (assuming they were the same birds,) moving between the hemlocks and a large, cone-laden pine above the Shakespeare Garden.

Good birding,Alex WilsonBrooklyn, NY

Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 2/4/09
Number of species: 40

Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
American Black Duck X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Common Merganser 3 (3 drakes, Lake.)
Ruddy Duck X
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Merlin 1
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
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 3
Carolina Wren X
Winter Wren 1
American Robin X
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling X
Fox Sparrow (Red) X
Song Sparrow X
Swamp Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) X
Northern Cardinal X
House Finch X
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X

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

Feb 3rd : A Snowy Day and Lesser Scaup

It was gorgeous day in the park today. The falling snow simply stuck to everything, rendering a wintry landscape of white serenity, covering everything that captured the falling snowflakes. Trees, shrubs,weeds, fences,monuments ...you name it...snow gave anything it fell on a great impression.And you can say that for the ducks..Matching the snowy color, two drake Common Mergansers waded under thru wintry elements, while abundant Northern Shovelers stood on ice edges when I passed by along the southern shore of Prospect Lake. As I viewed the lake from Three Sister's western face, something caught me by surprised. Initially thinking Ring-necked Duck, I viewed instead two drake LESSER SCAUP , peaked heads tucked in as both glided into the confines of the island's branches, snowflakes gently falling on both rare visitors. I tell you...it was a great view accentuated by a backdrop of fast falling snowflakes.

Observation date: 2/4/09

Observer Peter

4 Mute Swan (2 lake, 2 boathouse)
6 American Black Duck (lake)
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid)
Mallard ( at least 80)
170 Northern Shoveler (lake
2 Lesser Scaup ( west shore Three Sister Islands)
2 Common Merganser (lake)
28 Ruddy Duck(lake)
40 American Coot
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull (American)
Great Black-backed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
1 Swamp Sparrow (west Island benches, regular there)
9 White-throated Sparrow (west island pathways)

6 Northern Cardinal (west Island area)

Total species reported: 17

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From Orrin :



Canada Goose
American Black Duck (1, 3 Sisters Island)
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Common Merganser (1 drake, lake)
Ruddy Duck (1)
Red-tailed Hawk (2)
American Coot
Ring-billed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull (1)
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Downy Woodpecker
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Eastern Towhee (1, feeders)
Song sparrow (2)
White-throated Sparrow
European Starling
Northern Cardinal
House Sparrow

Continuing WWXbills at BBG Feb 1st

site = Brooklyn Botanic Garden
date = 1/31/09
observers = Ed Crowne

White-winged Crossbill (4 at BBG)