[ Late report due to my attendance at a NYC Audubon Fundraiser tonight in Central Park]
Today was a day of the VESPER SPARROW. Three Vespers Sparrows were seen in the Long Meadow, 2 at the Ball fields west fence enclosure, 2 at one time together along the north fence ( near the broken tree limb on the lawn) , and one later in the Sparrowbowl which is the vale between the Tennis and Picnic Houses.
I received a text early this morning from Rob Bate who reported the first Vesper. At lunch time, I was fortunate to see one when Rob Jett saw the bird perched on the fence. Several birders were in the area and lucky to see the bird. Later, after 1 pm, I get another report from Rob Jett of a second Vesper ! The two Vespers were seen together in the grass, quite hunkered down, nevertheless seen well enough when they moved about, their bold eye rings well seen. One bird was a faded bird , the other much more brighter. Then an hour later, a third Vesper reported! From the Sparrowbowl to the ball fields, three Vespers is great stuff to see, given this species rare occurrence anywhere in the city especially in a confined area.
Lost in the fray of the Vesper parade, ORANGE -CROWNED WARBLER still persists at the north end of the rink, the lawn stretch between the cove and the fence ( R.Bate).
Sparrows are dominant today, an excellent influx in many areas of the park. I was glad to see a gorgeous adult WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW ( one of three reported today), in the Wildflower Meadow by the Upper Pool. 2 FIELD SPARROW seen at the rink lawn also made the sparrow parade. It is a good time to be searching for sparrows , especially at the ball fields fence enclosure where at least 500 sparrows dominated that area, many juncos and Chipping along with Savannah. Go for the time there if you can get free time. Its worth the spectacle.
10 species sparrows recorded makes any day a terrific fall outing. Also of note, late Baltimore Oriole.
--Kingsboider
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From Rob Bate:
Great day for sparrows, 3 total on Long Meadow with Rob Jett and Tom Stephenson.
Orange-crowned Warbler behind skating rink and later a Baltimore Oriole there.
Observation date: 10/19/10
Number of species: 50
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Wood Duck X
American Black Duck X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Ruddy Duck X
Pied-billed Grebe X
Great Blue Heron X
Sharp-shinned Hawk X
Cooper's Hawk X
Red-tailed Hawk X
American Kestrel X
Merlin X
American Coot X
Herring Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Downy Woodpecker X
Hairy Woodpecker X
Northern Flicker X
Eastern Phoebe X
Blue-headed Vireo X
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Black-capped Chickadee X
White-breasted Nuthatch X
Carolina Wren X
Golden-crowned Kinglet X
Ruby-crowned Kinglet X
Hermit Thrush X
American Robin X
Gray Catbird X
European Starling X
Orange-crowned Warbler X
Yellow-rumped Warbler X
Palm Warbler X
American Tree Sparrow X
Chipping Sparrow X
Vesper Sparrow 3
Savannah Sparrow X
Song Sparrow X
Swamp Sparrow X
White-throated Sparrow X
White-crowned Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco X
Northern Cardinal X
Baltimore Oriole X
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X
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From Rob Jett:
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 10/19/10
Number of species: 37
Wood Duck 9
Mallard X
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Merlin 1
Herring Gull (American) X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Red-bellied Woodpecker X
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) X
Eastern Phoebe 2
Blue-headed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 14
Black-capped Chickadee 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Winter Wren 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 12
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Hermit Thrush 6
American Robin X
European Starling X
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 5
Chipping Sparrow 200
Vesper Sparrow 3 --2 individuals seen at fenced area on baseball fields. 1 seen at Sparrow Bowl.
Song Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow X
White-crowned Sparrow 3
Dark-eyed Junco 300
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
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From Tom Stephenson:
Hi Peter,
Dashed in mid day to try and find the ORCRWA...(didn't...) but did have 10 species of sparrows and 5 of raptors.
Vesper Sparrows courtesy of Rob squared (the two Robs, Bates and Jett....)
Here's the list
Best regards,
Tom
Great Blue Heron
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Ruddy Duck
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin One with sparrow near Nellie's lawn (maybe 11th species of sparrow??)
American Coot
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Many
Hermit Thrush Many
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Palm Warbler At least 15, most Long Meadow near N end
Common Yellowthroat
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow two by rink
Vesper Sparrow one by fenced in area, one by sparrow bowl
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow one by long meadow near Nellie's
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow one by rink
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
