HILIGHTS today: EASTERN MEADOWLARK; WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWs,LINCOLN SPARROW, FIELD SPARROW, increased number of sparrow species; appearance of "winter type species" ; Shoverlers and Ruddies.
I say today was one of improvement taking into account the sparrow numbers. Hopefully it will build up for those tardy sparrows in Prospect (no disrespect to Greenwood Cemetery that I heard was enjoying the limelight :)> )
I received text message reports before lunch from Mary Eyster of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, FIELD SPARROW, LINCOLN SPARROW in the general area ranging from the Tennis House to the Picinic House, and as my lunch hour approached, I was itching to get out there and bird these fave birds. Though not able to capitalize on Mary's good finds, it was nevetheless delightful seeing some sparrow action ,primarily at the "Sparrowbowl" Mary birded and midafternoon ,the Lamppost #249 among the good spots.
Numerous SONG sparrows followed by a respectable number of CHIPPING complemented the lesser number of other sparrow species. At the Sparrowbowl, I was treated to a buzz of a very low swift fly-by hunting MERLIN about 15 feet away , to my amazement , just a great moment for seeing my fave raptor. A pair of EASTERN TOWHEE skulked in the dried burdock, and several Palm warblers with one NORTHERN PARULA and MAGNOLIA followed through. IN the ballfields, Chippies and some SAVANNAH sparrows fed and moved around within the large snow fence enclosure for protection while a pair of BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD paid no mind.
SWAMP SPARROW was sort of a surprise, especially at lamppost #249. I saw at least 12 of these sparrows in tight congregation, a very good number to watch in one spot as more SONG SPARROWS mingle around. There were at least 5 more SWAMPS elsewhere
Meanwhile at the lake, those NORTHERN SHOVELERS are showing some force, now a 225 duck entourage, easily outnumbering 10 RUDDY DUCKS that are starting winter's beginning ( well, its gonna feel cold tomorrow !) residency....
It's looking good but rain hampens the good fun the next few days. For you brave and hardy types, bird anyway ......
Peter
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 10/14/09
Number of species: 38
Canada Goose 195 lake
Mute Swan 8 lake
American Black Duck 1 lake
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 225 lake
Ruddy Duck 10 lake
Red-tailed Hawk 1 midwood
Merlin 1 sparrowbowl
American Coot 2 lake
Spotted Sandpiper 1 peninsula lake shore
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull 9
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 5 breeze hill
Eastern Phoebe 12 ---6 ballfields, on snow fence
American Crow 2 f/os
Brown Creeper 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4 --2 sparrowbowl
Hermit Thrush 5 --3 tennis house
American Robin 3
Gray Catbird 4---3 peninsula sumacs
European Starling X
Northern Parula 1 male ,sparrowbowl
Magnolia Warbler 2 sparrowbowl
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 sparrowbowl
Palm Warbler 11 various; but 7 sparrowbowl
Common Yellowthroat 3--2 peninsula sumacs
Eastern Towhee 2 mixed pair sparrowbowl
Chipping Sparrow 30 --25 ballfields; 2 sparrowbowl;
Savannah Sparrow 5 ballfields
Song Sparrow 45 various, but at least 10 at lp249
Swamp Sparrow 16 -- 12 lamppost 249; 4 peninsula
White-throated Sparrow 20 various
Dark-eyed Junco 2 sparrowbowl; lamppost249
Northern Cardinal 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 2 ballfields
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
*******************
From Alex Wilson:
Begin forwarded message:
> Location: Prospect Park
> Observation date: 10/14/09
> Number of species: 64
>
> Canada Goose 250 (Including flyovers.)
> Mute Swan 7
> Wood Duck 6
> American Black Duck 2
> American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 1
> Mallard 100
> Northern Shoveler 175
> Ruddy Duck 10
> Pied-billed Grebe 1
> Black-crowned Night-Heron 2
> Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
> Red-tailed Hawk 3
> Merlin 1
> American Coot 10
> Spotted Sandpiper 1
> Ring-billed Gull 15
> Herring Gull 15
> Rock Pigeon 40
> Mourning Dove 5
> Belted Kingfisher 2
> Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
> Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 10
> Downy Woodpecker 3
> Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 25
> Eastern Phoebe 10
> Blue-headed Vireo 8
> Blue Jay 25
> American Crow 30
> Black-capped Chickadee 10
> Tufted Titmouse 5
> Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 (Calling in pine near west corner
> of park.)
> White-breasted Nuthatch 5
> Carolina Wren 4
> House Wren 2
> Winter Wren 5
> Golden-crowned Kinglet 25
> Ruby-crowned Kinglet 100
> Swainson's Thrush 1
> Hermit Thrush 50
> American Robin 100
> Gray Catbird 7
> European Starling 100
> Cedar Waxwing 10
> Northern Parula 3
> Magnolia Warbler 2
> Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 75
> Black-throated Green Warbler 3
> Pine Warbler 5
> Palm Warbler (Yellow) 25
> Common Yellowthroat 15
> Eastern Towhee 10
> Chipping Sparrow 30
> Field Sparrow 1
> Savannah Sparrow 7
> Song Sparrow 50
> Lincoln's Sparrow 2
> Swamp Sparrow 30
> White-throated Sparrow 200
> White-crowned Sparrow 7 (2 adults, 5 juveniles.)
> Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 3
> Northern Cardinal 5
> Red-winged Blackbird 25 (Mostly flyovers.)
> Eastern Meadowlark 1 (Peninsula meadow, 11:30AM.)
> American Goldfinch 10
> House Sparrow 50
>
> This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
