Tuesday, October 26, 2010

October 26th Prospect

With Horned Grebe an official "One Day Wonder", today was marked by a few late season birds. In that order, specifically, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH & LAUGHING GULL.

No sign of the Horned Grebe throughout the day, unfortunately; I guess there were no "overnight accommodations" or maybe it was just plain too noisy ( well it was near the rink this morning). However, with fresh approach view to out of season birds, a few late ones: a Baltimore Oriole spotted on the elm slope to the right of the Wellhouse; the continuing ( I thought was gone) Northern Waterthrush in the "Willow Cove" behind the west 3 Sister Islands, which I saw the NOWT pop up to chase a Yellow-rumped (Yo good bird!) Warbler, and one Laughing Gull among the usual gulls on the lake western sector. So, even though they are common species in migration or summer, to see these birds now is noteworthy. Let's hope the trend continues abit into late fall, with the hope as well for something really weird ( oh..that's Halloween coming, right ?)

Also , it was interesting watching a Black-throated Blue Warbler feed out of Sapsucker holes , as the female followed the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker right above it, pecking away on an elm tree on the right slope of Wellhouse. At this time, as insects wane in numbers, insectivores like warblers have to find ways to survive, and this sap hunting is one way to keep up those energy levels and body fat..But, for a warm day, I bet that sap must be quite soothing....I guess.

--Kingsboider

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Peter's List:

Location: Prospect Park


Observation date: 10/26/10

Number of species: 35


Canada Goose 84 lake

Mute Swan 6 lake

American Black Duck 2 west island

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler X

Hooded Merganser 1 drake lake

Ruddy Duck X lake

Pied-billed Grebe 3 south lullwater

Double-crested Cormorant 5 lake

Great Blue Heron 2-- south lullwater cattails; west island

Cooper's Hawk 1 momentarily perched at rink  , preying on sparrows

Red-tailed Hawk 1 juv perched behind 3 Sisters Islands

Merlin 2 reported by Mary Eyster near ballfields

American Coot 12 lake

Laughing Gull 1 lake

Ring-billed Gull X

Herring Gull X

Rock Pigeon X

Mourning Dove X

Belted Kingfisher 1 perched Duck Island

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 wellhouse

Hairy Woodpecker 1 wellhouse

Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 West Isl horse trail

Hermit Thrush 1 south lakeside

Gray Catbird 1 wellhouse

European Starling X

Yellow-rumped Warbler 1Willow Cove by 3 Sisters islands

Northern Waterthrush 1 south lakeside, in Willow Cove by 3 Sisters islands

Common Yellowthroat 1 Rink

Black-throated Blue Warbler 1  Wellhouse, feeding on fresh sap

Song Sparrow X Rink

White-throated Sparrow 1 West Isl horse trail

Dark-eyed Junco X

Northern Cardinal 2 wellhouse

Common Grackle 1 f/o rink

House Sparrow X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)


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From Rob Bate:


Observation date: 10/26/10

Number of species: 39

Canada Goose X

Mute Swan X

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler X

Hooded Merganser X

Ruddy Duck X

Double-crested Cormorant X

Great Blue Heron X

Ring-billed Gull X

Herring Gull X

Rock Pigeon X

Mourning Dove X

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker X

Downy Woodpecker X

Hairy Woodpecker X

Northern Flicker X

Blue-headed Vireo X

Black-capped Chickadee X

Tufted Titmouse X

White-breasted Nuthatch X

Brown Creeper X

Carolina Wren X

Golden-crowned Kinglet X

Ruby-crowned Kinglet X

Hermit Thrush X

American Robin X

Gray Catbird X

Black-throated Blue Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler X

Eastern Towhee X

Field Sparrow X

Song Sparrow X

Swamp Sparrow X

White-throated Sparrow X

Dark-eyed Junco X

Northern Cardinal X

Baltimore Oriole X

American Goldfinch X

House Sparrow X