I try nowadays not to prognosticate migration . Its too unpredictable and too complex to figure out. Migration dynamics is still a young science. What have been observed over the years simply foretells the probabilities of something happening , for example , with bird migration during northwest fall winds in the northeast.
This morning was a fizzle despite west , northwest wind. Birding pundits I am sure say "a big migration". That is naive thinking.Maybe it happens somewhere "big" , at very well known migrant spots; maybe the mass of birds was narrow -banded and passed through a specific region , not on a broader front. I do know today wasn't the day in Prospect to see the numbers expected coming on a good wind. Maybe that is tomorrow. Who knows? I guess I didn't have the luck.I recalled a friend's advice not to rely too much on the weather reports but just get out there and enjoy it, whatever comes....( I think from now on I will switch watching TV channels but I suspect all the news meteorologists get the same thing from one source and mix up the information :)> Don't you think so? )
But salvaging the slow day,some good sightings and maybe one I saw very briefly might be worth checking out. Rob Jett reported PHILADELPHIA VIREO at Ricks Place; also he spotted CLIFF SWALLOW on the lake. I saw a possible female 1st year Hooded Warbler.The Hooded possibility occurred as i was about to step up on the low small stairs west of the Boulder Bridge . The sort of "hunky" ,broad shouldered looking bright yellowish bird flew from right behind me ,and perched in the metal fence and took off just as I lifted my bins. It gave me no time. Who says fall warblers are confusing if the bird doesn't give you time to look at it or hides wells in dense foliage??
--Kingsboider
KINGSBOIDER LATE NOTE: after getting late reports,a total of 19 species warblers were tallied today.I spoke with Rob Jett ( who saw 16) and he mentioned there were small active pockets in the park , one of the better ones Ricks Place and north midwood margin..The Philadelphia Vireo was re-spotted on Lookout Hill hours later.So , it was a matter of being in the right spot(s) in the park...no real numbers but some good diversity
Results of Brooklyn Bird Club Thursday walk 7-10 am Leading Peter Dorosh
7 participants
date = 2010/09/09
site = Prospect Park
observers =
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Downy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Red-eyed Vireo about 10
Blue Jay 7
Black-capped Chickadee
House Wren
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
American Robin
Wood Thrush "Golden Stairs" bet 16th St and 11th ave entrances
Veery 3
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing 2
American Redstart 4
Black-and-white Warbler Butterfly Meadow
Ovenbird 1 Golden Stairs;1 Lookout
Black-throated Blue Warbler Lookout Hill south
Chestnut-sided Warbler Lookout Hill south
Blue-winged Warbler Butterfly Meadow
Northern Parula Butterfly Meadow
Magnolia Warbler Butterfly Meadow
Pine Warbler Butterfly Meadow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Baltimore Oriole 3
American Goldfinch Butterfly Meadow
House Sparrow
Separate list ( after BBC walk)
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 9/9/10
Number of species: 13
Canada Goose 30 lake
Mute Swan X
Wood Duck 3 upper pool
Mallard X
Green Heron 1 f/o Breeze Hill, ( also obs Rob Bate)
Red-tailed Hawk 1 perched above Tennis House
Belted Kingfisher 1 ambergill pool , flyby
House Wren 1
Yellow Warbler 1 upper pool
American Redstart 1
Ovenbird 1
Northern Waterthrush 2--ambergill creek, south lakeside
Common Yellowthroat 1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
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From Keir:
Lakeside quiet early on, L249/Lookout was best when sun came out around 8.30ish.
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 9/9/10 7.30-9.30am
Number of species: 44
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Gadwall 2
American Black Duck 4
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Green Heron 2
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 1
Herring Gull 2
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Chimney Swift X
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 3
Red-eyed Vireo X
Blue Jay X
Black-capped Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Veery 1
American Robin X
Gray Catbird X
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing X
Yellow Warbler 1
Magnolia Warbler 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 2
Palm Warbler 1 (Maryland Monument)
Black-and-white Warbler 3
American Redstart X
Northern Waterthrush 1
Wilson's Warbler 1 (Female, slope above Wellhouse)
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal X
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)
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From Larry:
two RT Hummingbirds buzzing around together in the Osborne Garden.
Thu, September 9, 2010 3:47:18 PM
Subject: eBird Report - Brooklyn Botanic Garden , 9/9/10
Location: Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Observation date: 9/9/10
Number of species: 9
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 M&F southwest corner of Osborne Garden
American Crow 1
American Robin 15
Gray Catbird 2
European Starling 10
Common Grackle 2
House Sparrow 20
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)
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From Rob Jett:
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 9/9/10
Number of species: 63
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Mallard X
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Green Heron 2
Osprey 3
Red-tailed Hawk 2
American Kestrel 1
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Chimney Swift 12
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 5
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 6
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 2
Empidonax sp. 2
Warbling Vireo 3
Philadelphia Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 15
Blue Jay X
Tree Swallow 1
Bank Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 2
Cliff Swallow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 2
House Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Veery 6
Swainson's Thrush 1
Wood Thrush 3
American Robin X
Gray Catbird X
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 7
Blue-winged Warbler 1
Nashville Warbler 1
Northern Parula 2
Magnolia Warbler 12
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 2
Black-and-white Warbler 12
American Redstart 15
Ovenbird 7
Northern Waterthrush 5
Common Yellowthroat 8
Wilson's Warbler 1
Canada Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal X
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
Baltimore Oriole 4
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
