Highlights include continuing PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, Merlin ,Osprey, 8 warbler species
Posting from Alex Wilson:
A first year PROTHONOTARY WARBLER continued
at Prospect Park’s Lily Pond on Wednesday 8/19.
Seen briefly from the Binnen Bridge, but best views
were from the viewing platform on the east side of
the pond, from which it was seen in the morning along
the opposite edge of the pond, an area difficult to view
from other vantages. On a second visit in the early
afternoon the bird appeared at closer range, just to
the left of the platform. It was mostly working within
the first layer of foliage without exposing itself for
extended periods; this habit, along with the presence
of similarly plumaged Blue-winged and Yellow
Warblers in the same area
made it somewhat challenging to pick out.
Overall activity was low, with few migrants on hand.
The only other notable bird was a MERLIN on a familiar
perch above the Nethermead. These are not typically
around in summer, but I had a sighting in the same spot
on 7/29, and last year one was seen regularly throughout
the summer. This may be a single returning bird
(and I’ve seen nothing to indicate breeding) but
Peter Dorosh mentioned that he’d seen one at Coney Island
in July, so perhaps more are finding their way to our
region during this season.
Good birding,
Alex Wilson
Brooklyn, NY
Location: Prospect Park
> Observation date: 8/19/09
> Number of species: 57
>
> Canada Goose 150
> Mute Swan 9
> Wood Duck 4 (Upper Pool, 3 male, 1 female.)
> American Black Duck 1
> Mallard 100
> Double-crested Cormorant 1
> Great Blue Heron 1
> Green Heron 3
> Black-crowned Night-Heron 2
> Osprey 1 (Long Meadow, PM high flyover, west to east, > carrying a fish.)
> Red-tailed Hawk 1
> American Kestrel 1 (Male, Peninsula.)
> Merlin 1 (Perched above Nethermead, same spot where seen > 7/29/09.)
> Spotted Sandpiper 3
> Herring Gull 5
> Rock Pigeon 50
> Mourning Dove 30
> Chimney Swift 15
> Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
> Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
> Downy Woodpecker 10
> Hairy Woodpecker 2
> Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 4
> Empidonax sp. 1
> Eastern Kingbird 8
> Warbling Vireo 3
> Blue Jay 5
> American Crow 3
> Barn Swallow 20
> Black-capped Chickadee 6
> Tufted Titmouse 1
> White-breasted Nuthatch 2
> Carolina Wren 2
> House Wren 5
> Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 (Pestering Merlin, Nethermead.)
> American Robin 100
> Gray Catbird 25
> Northern Mockingbird 3
> European Starling 200
> Cedar Waxwing 15
> Blue-winged Warbler 3
> Yellow Warbler 6
> Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
> Black-and-white Warbler 2
> American Redstart 1
> Prothonotary Warbler 1 (1st fall male, Lily Pond.)
> Northern Waterthrush 5
> Canada Warbler 2
> Song Sparrow 3
> Northern Cardinal 15
> Red-winged Blackbird 10
> Common Grackle 15
> Brown-headed Cowbird 1
> Baltimore Oriole 10
> House Finch 5
> American Goldfinch 6
> House Sparrow 50
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