Over two years ago, a decision was made by the Landscape Management office to restore the west slopes of Lookout Hill, heavily infested with Sycamore and Norway maples which shaded out the underground , bare and lacking of habitat. Fastforward, after restoration when those invasive trees were removed and native plants planted --especially the wildflowers--i could not have been more pleased at the results.
This morning, with the aid of overnight northwestern winds that spurred movement of birds, it was a hyperactive spot on that western slope, as the profusion of wildlflowers attracted the first wave of warblers. Keir Randall told me that he saw close to 100 birds there , nothing of high quality species but nevetheless critically important for all species to have a high valued habitat to rest and feed.
AS we both birded the whole Lookout Hill , Keir and I were fortunate to see numbers of warblers, including many Parulas, a Black-throated Green, Blue-winged, Redstarts, and so on. IT was terrific to watch the stuff fly around. I was lucky to see a low flying BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO at the north end of the Butterfly Meadow. But both of us , after seeing the Brooklyn Bird club group led by Steve Nanz, stumbled upon two high valued vireos, PHILADELPHIA VIREO ( a rare one) , and YELLOW-THROATED VIREO on the southwest stairs of Lookout Hill , just above the mid slope path. We got great looks and so did the bird group after i texted Steve.
14 species warblers were recorded , but numbers of individual birds were much higher..I am waiting further reports .... because i left early for errands.
It was truly a city of brotherhood today....(if you like Philadelphia ) ;)>
(by the way, on wednesday i saw 4 Northern Shoverler ducks on the Lake...hope it isnt an early winter ;)> )
Good boiding,
"the Kingsboider"
All passerines seen on Lookout Hill
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 9/5/09
Number of species: 46
Canada Goose X
Mallard X
Herring Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Black-billed Cuckoo 1 f/o north path from Butterfly Meadow
Chimney Swift X
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee X
Least Flycatcher X
Empidonax sp. X
Yellow-throated Vireo 1 southwest stairs
Philadelphia Vireo 1 southwest stairs
Red Eyed Vireo 3
Barn Swallow X
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
House Wren 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 (early)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Veery 2
American Robin X
Gray Catbird X
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 5
Blue-winged Warbler 1
Northern Parula 15
Yellow Warbler 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler 3
Magnolia Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 1 (seen by Gayle Lovell)
Black-and-white Warbler 2
American Redstart 8
Ovenbird 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Wilson's Warbler 1 male
Canada Warbler X (Keir)
Scarlet Tanager 1 imm male likely
Northern Cardinal 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 seen by BBC group
American Goldfinch 20 Butterfly meadow
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)
***************************
The wind is supposed to shifted to northeast and east this afternoon..Though not a deterring factor for birds already on the move (a stiff south wind would) , it might be good for latecomers or afternoon birders to check the southern edge woods like south slopes of Lookout Hill (midslope path) or the Peninsula woods ( near the lake side) for seeing birds ready to take off tonight.But since birds have their own intentions, i am never always right...;)>...do get out there and let me know what you see after last night northwest wind trigger.
