The reknown birding hotspot Vale of Cashmere perked up this morning with a rainbow over it, mostly red, yellow and blue. Rafael Campos observed the presence of continuing SUMMER TANAGER and added a new 2009 Prospect year species with PHILADELPHIA VIREO. Add in a little blue in Indigo Bunting and you get a nice collection of color.
In the afternoon,while discussing the Vale of Cashmere , Tom Stephenson birded the Vale as well. He pulled out another good species and first 2009 Prospect year bird , ACADIAN FLYCATCHER, a New Jersey breeding species expanding northward into the NYC region. Its a nice bird to report, my opnion the second most colorful empidonax, ( after Yellow-bellied) for this difficult to identify family of small flycatchers.
Later in mid-morning , in much higher "stratosphere", I had the good fortune of looking up when my crew came back to our 9th Street Propagation Area ( our nursery NOT accessible to the public).While waiting for a truck delivery of wildflower plants we ordered, I looked up and saw a large dark shape soaring , pretty low for this particular species. You can really appreciate seeing a BALD EAGLE , especially an adult. I lent my binoculars to my 4 co-workers ,each getting a terrific view of the eagle before it climbed upward into the stratosphere and blinding sun. Nice !
Peters report:
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 5/11/09
Number of species: 48
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 1
Mallard X
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Bald Eagle 1 adult soaring above 9th street entrance
Red-tailed Hawk 1 south lakeside
Spotted Sandpiper 1 south lake
Laughing Gull X
Herring Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Chimney Swift X
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 above maryland monument
Eastern Kingbird 2 peninsula meadow
Blue-headed Vireo 1 bald cypress south lakeside
Warbling Vireo 1 peninsula meadow
Tree Swallow X
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 6 lake near duck isl
Barn Swallow X
Black-capped Chickadee 1 south lakeside
American Robin X
Gray Catbird X
European Starling X
Nashville Warbler 1 bald cypress in ravine ambergill pool
Northern Parula 3
Yellow Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2 lookout hill; midwood
Yellow-rumped Warbler X
Black-throated Green Warbler 1 north Lookout Hill
Blackpoll Warbler 1 south lakeside, in bald cypress bet duck and three sisters islands
American Redstart 1
Ovenbird 5
Common Yellowthroat 3
Wilson's Warbler 1 lullwater cove;male
Chipping Sparrow 1
Field Sparrow 1 peninsula meadow
Savannah Sparrow 1 peninsula meadow
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow X
White-crowned Sparrow 1 road from terrace br to rink, slope
Northern Cardinal X
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 male peninsula meadow;willow oak
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Common Grackle X
Orchard Oriole 2 peninsula bald cypress adj meadow;mixed pair
Baltimore Oriole 3
American Goldfinch 2 peninsula
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
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Tom's report
Hi Peter,
I had a chance to get into the vale briefly today. I found Acadian Flycatcher (seems a bit early but many in NJ on breeding grounds already).Other birds:
White-crowned Sparrow
Warblers:
Northern Waterthrush
Northern Parula
Magnolia
American Redstart
Blue-winged
Yellow-rump
Ovenbird
Chestnut-sided
Black--throated blue
Black-throated green
Black and white
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Blue-headed vireo
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Rafael's report:
A late bird walk sometimes could have some good surprises. And today, 11 May 2009, was not the exception. As I walked into the area called the Vale of Cashmere, the first surprise, 1 female Ruby-throated Hummingbird visiting the pink flowers of one azalea. Another birder (Ray), saw 1 Blue Grosbeak (I missed it for less than 5 minutes). While we were talking about birds (what else!!), 1 female Summer Tanager came but left too soon to be seen by Ray. Minutes later Ed Crowne came, and minutes later, the Philadelphia Vireo showed its beak, but again, did not last enough to be seen by Ed.
From here, I went thru Nellie's lawn, Rick's Place, Ravine, Rocky Pass, Pools, Long Meadow, and back home.
At pools, at least 2 males Wood Ducks, and still present, the male Ring-necked Duck.
The birds:
Wood Duck
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck
Great Blue Heron (1, upper pool)
Red-tailed Hawk
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Kingbird (2, Nellie's lawn)
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo (calling, pools)
Philadelphia Vireo (1, Vale of Cashmere)
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (upper pool)
Barn Swallow (upper pool)
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Summer Tanager
Chipping Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow (1, Vale of Cashmere)
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting (1 m, Vale of Cashmere)
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Brooklyn is good birding: Rafa Campos
