Before hilights , first... a Happy Chanukah to any of my readers celebrating tonight.
Hilight today is late OVENBIRD seen walking on the back path behind the Upper Pool adj Quaker Ridge (R.Jett); other hilights are feeders seeing some action after long inactivity "drought" ; Hooded Mergansers, Ring-Necked Ducks, increase in Northern Shovelers (45)
Feeder activity : Downy Woodpecker, 2 Cardinals, White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse
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From Rob Jett:
After some very cold cycling this morning, I did a quick look around Prospect Park for any interesting new arrivals. The strong wind kept most bird activity at a minimum and I mostly observed the expected winter birds, such as sapsuckers, chickadees, nuthatches and assorted waterfowl. One bird that took me completely by surprise was an Ovenbird walking along the pathway next to the Upper Pool. If he felt anything like I did, he was probably dreaming about much warmer places. As late as this date is, I have vague memories of a CBC Ovenbird in Prospect Park. I'll have to check my records.
Good birding,
Rob
*****
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 12/11/09
Number of species: 38
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Wood Duck 2
American Black Duck X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 75
Ring-necked Duck 2
Ruddy Duck X
Great Blue Heron 2
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot 6
Ring-billed Gull 500
Herring Gull (American) X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker X
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay X
American Crow 3
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Carolina Wren 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin X
European Starling X
OVENBIRD 1 Found walking along footpath at back of Upper Pool.
Song Sparrow X
White-throated Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco X
Northern Cardinal X
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch 12
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)
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From Peter:
After what was perceived to be a quiet lull, it looks like some action is awakening. Not to say there's hot action but a slow trickle of bird movement especially with the feeders, after a week ago they were put up. I heard about Rob's Ovenbird sighting so maybe that's a good omen especially with the upcoming count in a week's time.
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 12/11/09
Number of species: 22
Canada Goose 145
Mute Swan 4
American Black Duck 3
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 1
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 45 lake
Hooded Merganser 2 hen lake
Ruddy Duck 20 lake
Pied-billed Grebe 1 west island
Great Blue Heron 1 on Three Sisters
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 immature on Duck Island
American Coot 6 west is
Ring-billed Gull 900 lake
Herring Gull (American) 40 lake
Great Black-backed Gull 1 lake
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Downy Woodpecker 1 feeders
Black-capped Chickadee 1 feeders
Tufted Titmouse 1 feeders
White-breasted Nuthatch 1 feeders
Northern Cardinal 3-- 2 feeders;1 west is
House Sparrow 1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
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Followup commentary by Rob Jett on Ovenbird
late /extreme dates records :
I thought this info might be of interest to some.
I searched through my Prospect Park records
for dates of lingering Ovenbirds and found the
following.
The previous winter sighting was on
17 January 2007 (Alex Wilson; Vale/Rose Garden).
Prior to that was an individual that actually
overwintered in Brooklyn. First discovered by
Steve Nanz and myself 13 December 1997
(Lookout Hill near Maryland Monument), the bird
was observed throughout most of December.
It was then re-discovered on 2 February 1998
(Ron Ellard, Tom Fiore) on Lookout Hill near the
Wellhouse, associating with a White-eyed Vireo
that also overwintered that year. What I assume
was the same bird was reported again on Lookout Hill
25 March 1998 (Ron Ellard).
The next dates for that year begin on 23 April,
but could easily have been early Spring arrivals.
I'm not sure if the winter of 1997-98 had been extremely
mild or not. Either way, that Ovenbird was very lucky
to have dodged the usual collection of falcons, accipiters
and Red-tailed Hawks that hang around in the winter.
Note that the above dates were not included in Bull's
Birds of New York State. Besides the fact that I never
thought it important enough to report, back then we
didn't have all the instant birding communications such
as discussion forums, online checklists, cellphones, text
messaging, twittering, etc., that now exists.
God, how did we ever manage?! ;-)
Good birding,
Rob
