(photo:Tom Stephenson)The beauty of text messaging: you are leading a group walk , happened to be in the south Midwood, i get a text message of an American Bittern high in a tree overlooking the ambergill within the Ravine section.Quickly getting there in 5 minutes, my group is rewarded spectacular rare views of an American Bittern perched high in a Sweetgum ...all i can say is this : AWESOME!
Stanley Greenberg gifted us with his sighting, telling Scott Whittle and Tom Stephenson, and Scott alerted me.Thats what a great community of birders do , in sharing a rare bird with others. The photo attached was sent to me , to Tom's credit. You would not think of a American Bittern way up there, debunking the myth that they are mostly found in marsh reeds. Birding is a wonderful sport ! interestedly, the sighting is very near to the Least Bittern seen at least 4 years ago by Rob Jett, along the Payne Hill ridge.. Something magical about this spot attracting treetop bitterns.
The best vantage is the Upper Ravine path between the Boulder bridge and steps leading down to the Esdale Bridge. Stand by the big Beech Tree at the road fork and look west , and high up. The tree overlooks the Ambergill falls. Hopefully its still there this afternoon.
Like Brooklyns own Jackie Gleason said: How SWEET it is! ( Tree was a sweetgum ;>) )
Peter
List
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 4/18/09
Number of species: 50
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 2 west isl
Wood Duck 1 drake lower pool
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 8 lake
Ruddy Duck X lake
Common Loon 2 flyover Tennis House
American Bittern 1 Ravine,high in Sweetgum overlooking Ambergill (Stanley Greenberg first obs, Tom Stpehenson, Scott Whittle + Multiple Observers)
Green Heron 1 seen by Rob Bate , back of Binnen Pool
Red-tailed Hawk 4; 2 ravine, one Nellies lawn, other flyover
American Coot 7 lake
Laughing Gull 3 lake
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 30
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Red-bellied Woodpecker X
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 one Midwood, one ValeCash
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 10 various spots
Eastern Phoebe 1 Tennis House
Blue Jay 5
Black-capped Chickadee 2 ValeCash
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Picnic House
Brown Creeper 1 ValeCash
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Litchfield Villa
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Ravine
Eastern Bluebird 1 seen by Tom Stepehenson and Scott Whittle in Peninsula
Hermit Thrush 5 several spots
American Robin X
Gray Catbird 1 seen by Rob Bate near Binnen Pool
European Starling X
Northern Parula 1 seen by Tom Stepehenson and Scott Whittle
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
Pine Warbler 8
Palm Warbler 9
Black-and-white Warbler 1 seen by Michelle Dreger Audubon walk group , Pagoda
Louisiana Waterthrush 1 Binnen Pool ,later Binnen Creek Dreger group
Eastern Towhee 2 one ValeCash
Savannah Sparrow 1 seen by Tom S and Scott W
Song Sparrow 1 Vale
White-throated Sparrow 10
Dark-eyed Junco 6 Garage lawn
Northern Cardinal 3
Common Grackle X
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow X
Observers : Brooklyn Bird Club walk , Peter Dorosh leading unless noted by other observers
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
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From Doug:
Sent: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 7:27 pm
Subject: eBird Report - Prospect Park , 4/18/09
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 4/18/09
Notes: Mostly before second softball game, after missing the first.
Number of species: 30
Wood Duck 1 Upper Pool
Mallard 8
Double-crested Cormorant 14 flyover flock
American Bittern 1 In ravine high up in bare deciduous tree overlooking
the stream at the bridge near the waterfall.
Red-tailed Hawk 4 2 birds on nests, 2 in air.
Mourning Dove 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Midwood
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Midwood
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1 South Midwood, heard only.
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 Heard, Midwood.
Blue Jay X
Fish Crow 1 flying over Flatbush Avenue (near Brooklyn Museum) into the
park. 1:00 PM.
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Brown Creeper 2 Pools, Midwood.
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 Pools.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 10 Scattered.
Hermit Thrush 12 Scattered.
American Robin 100
European Starling X
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 10 Scattered, several were singing.
Pine Warbler 2 One seen, one additional bird heard singing.
Palm Warbler (Yellow) 20 Large flock near Pools. Others scattered
elsewhere.
Field Sparrow 1 Vale near Nelly's Lawn.
Song Sparrow X
White-throated Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 8 3 spots.
Northern Cardinal X
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
