Monday, October 25, 2010

Prospect October 25 -Peninsula/Monument rarities and even Horned Grebe !

Two rare,  quality birds were reported not far from each other today, likely about 250 feet apart, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER seen about 1:35 along the Lullwater side of the Peninsula by Rob Jett and AMERICAN PIPIT early this morning reported by Ed Crowne. This is the typical time for such species and an interesting time as well . So with the vibrant fall tree colors, its a great time to be out there looking...

[ Latest posting]

As I left the rink, I took a quick look at the lake thru the chain link construction fence and saw something quite unusual with several PIED-BILLED GREBES. So I sort of scampered to the shore line in front of the War Memorial before the unusual bird disappeared in the Peninsula cove. I was quite surprised what I saw: a winter-plumage HORNED GREBE. For this early date and for this locale , an inland area like Prospect Lake, Horned Grebe is a very good sighting .Its commonly seen offshore of Brooklyn and Queens in the colder months but Prospect ? It has been several years I think the last time a Horned Grebe was seen on the lake..I saw it last settled in the middle between the peninsula thumb tip , the peninsula end ( gazebo) and Duck Island. It was seen pretty close to the mainland, the south lake shore by Duck Island. ( 4:15)

While delightfully surprised seeing the Horned Grebe, there are also about 7 Pied-billed Grebes from the south lullwater to the tip of the Peninsula"thumb", at least. And later, I found a drake HOODED MERGANSER just west of the Three Sisters Islands, pretty snuggled in, asleep.

Like I said before--this is a pretty interesting good time to go birding...

internet photo of Horned Grebe (winter plmg) --->  http://tinyurl.com/2gx8bkc

**********************************

From Ed Crowne:

date = 2010/10/25
site = Prospect Park
observers = Ed Crowne

American Pipit --This morning, triangle between Maryland Monument & 
                                    Terrace Bridge

*********************************
From John Ascher :

Prospect Oct 24 report


Hi Peter,

On Sun Oct 24th Chaoyan and I saw 5 Ring-necked Ducks (female plumage) on
the Lake in the PM (not in AM) and also saw a Palm Warbler and two Common
Yellowthroat. We heard about a Vesper Sparrow near the Rink but did not
see it ourselves.

John

*************************************

Peter's List:
(Incidental sghtings, meaning I wasn't really birding....)

Location: Prospect Park



Observation date: 10/25/10


Number of species: 26


Canada Goose 100  conservative estimate Lake


Mute Swan 6 LakeAmerican Black Duck 1 Lake

Mallard X


Northern Shoveler estimated 130 Lake


Hooded Merganser 1 drake @ Three Sisters Islands


Ruddy Duck 110 Lake

Pied-billed Grebe (PBGR)  7 general area of Duck Island


Horned Grebe 1 Duck Island north side/Peninsula;late afternoon, with 5 PBGR, later Ruddy Duck


Double-crested Cormorant 2 Lake


American Coot 12  Lullwater 8 ; 4 Three sisters


Ring-billed Gull X


Herring Gull (American) X


Great Black-backed Gull 2


Rock Pigeon X


Mourning Dove X


Belted Kingfisher 1 perched Duck Island


Hermit Thrush 1 south lakeshore


American Robin X


European Starling X


Cedar Waxwing 4 f/o Propsite


Yellow-rumped Warbler 2  ( seen but obviously more flying around)


Song Sparrow X


Dark-eyed Junco X  decent flock Propsite


Red-winged Blackbird 2 Propsite


House Sparrow X



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

 **************************************
From Larry:

Brooklyn Bridge Park 10/25

Add Chipping Sparrow and Red-winged Blackbird to the list of birds that have



found their way to Pier 1 of Brooklyn Bridge Park. The RWBB was an immature


bird, I'm almost certain a male, feeding on the south lawn with Yellow-rumped


Warblers. As it was in every other place I've birded the last few days,


Yellow-rumps were numerous. 8 is a conservative count.


full list for today:


Canada Goose 2


American Black Duck 4


Mallard 4


Double-crested Cormorant 3


Ring-billed Gull 2


European Starling 18


Yellow-rumped Warbler 8


Chipping Sparrow 1


Song Sparrow 6


Red-winged Blackbird 1 On southern lawn


American Goldfinch 2


House Sparrow 15


Larry Zirlin


http://birdsandwords-larryz.blogspot.com/