Thursday, March 31, 2011

BBC Prospect walk this Sunday 4/3; PP report

This Sunday April 3rd, naturalist Gabriel Willow of the NYC Audubon Society will be leading the Prospect Park walk ..It is predicted to be a very nice day, sunny in the mid 50's. Be sure to go and enjoy some sure to appear early spring migrants .

from http://www.brooklynbirdclub.org/trips.htm

Sunday, April 3rd Prospect Park


Meet 8 am at Grand Army Plaza entrance (Stranahan Statue)


Trip Leader: Gabriel Willow


Focus: early returning passerines

*

 There is also at the same time for 2- hr birders the "1st Sunday Birders" from the Boathouse Prospect Audubon Center . Eni and Vinny Falci are leading. Meet 8am here for this 2nd group

---Kingsboider

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

From Rob Bate:

Still plenty of Robins and Phoebes on a short walk around the lake and Lullwater.


Tomorrrow the birds come for real, no fooling around.

Number of species: 34


Canada Goose 12

Mute Swan 4

Mallard 23

Northern Shoveler 31

Ruddy Duck 33

Double-crested Cormorant 4

Great Blue Heron 1

Black-crowned Night-Heron 5

Red-tailed Hawk 1

American Coot 3

Ring-billed Gull 50

Herring Gull 35

Great Black-backed Gull 2

Rock Pigeon 10

Mourning Dove 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker 1

Downy Woodpecker 2

Eastern Phoebe 3

Blue Jay 3

American Crow 1

Black-capped Chickadee 5

White-breasted Nuthatch 1

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1

American Robin 75

Northern Mockingbird 1

European Starling 31

Fox Sparrow 1

Song Sparrow 2

Swamp Sparrow 1

White-throated Sparrow 8

Northern Cardinal 14

Red-winged Blackbird 26

House Finch 1

House Sparrow 4

Greenwood Cemetery report

From the NYSBirds listserve:

Subject: Green-Wood Cemetery


From: Matthew Wills

Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:48:18 -0400

X-Message-Number: 5


Hour and half in Green-Wood today. Grackles, parakeets, and
mockingbirds making lots of noise, but otherwise pretty quiet.
Robins everywhere. Only one phoebe. Saw my first
golden-crowned kinglet and first mourning cloak butterfly of the
year. So it must be true about spring being here.


Red-tailed hawk

Ring-billed gull

Rock dove

Mourning dove

Monk parakeet

Yellow-bellied sapsucker

Red-bellied woodpecker

Downy woodpecker

Northern flicker

Eastern phoebe

Blue jay

American crow

Black-capped chickadee

White-breasted nuthatch

Red-breasted nuthatch

Golden-crowned kinglet

American robin

Northern mockingbird

European starling

Northern cardinal

Chipping sparrow

Song sparrow

Dark-eyed junco

Common grackle

House sparrow


Matthew

http://matthewwills.com/

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Prospect official feeder results late 2010-2011

I noted the last remaining feeder was empty while working in the area today. This marks the official end of the feeder season. I will take down the last feeder by the end of the week.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all for their kind donations whether it was cash or physical seed. And also I want to thank all for coming by to see whats up at the feeders all winter long. I am glad the feeders and its birds delighted everyone !  Among the best sightings were the loyal PINE SISKINS and the COMMON REDPOLL marking season long and single day highlights respectively; Of course, just seeing the usual birds was a terrific and welcomed delight in the best of days and the snowiest of days.  Below is an export report from the Cornell ebirds website feeder results. 39 species were recorded.

Till then , in next late November, good birding .

YEAR REPORT: High Count



Report Details

Date range: Nov 1, 2010 - Oct 31, 2011

Total # of Species: 39

Total # of Checklists: 60

Location(s): Prospect Park--Feeders

Mallard
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk 
Ring-billed Gull (flyover I hope)
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco 
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch 
House Finch
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch 
House Sparrow

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

March 29th Prospect Spring signs

A quiet day today,but for some brief signs of spring I saw ,particularly non bird icons

--Mourning Cloak at Boulder Bridge west  http://tinyurl.com/MourncloakPP

--Bloodroot in the southern Midwood   http://tinyurl.com/bloodrootPP

--Chris Elliot reported a GREAT EGRET flyover Lake in the early evening

Note Ring-necked Duck drake on Upper Pool,5 DC Cormorant at Three Sisters, Ruddies, Shovelers, RedTailed Hawks.....

Monday, March 28, 2011

March 28th Prospect

From Larry Zirlin:

Peter,

Finally got back to the park. Kind of frosty this morning. Ring-neck & Wood Duck both on the Upper Pool and a Black-crowned Night-Heron on Duck Island.

Larry

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

Location: Prospect Park

Observation date: 3/28/11

Number of species: 32


Canada Goose 16

Mute Swan 5

Wood Duck 1 Upper Pool

Mallard 70

Northern Shoveler 15

Ring-necked Duck 1 Upper Pool

Ruddy Duck 80

Double-crested Cormorant 3

Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 Duck Island

Red-tailed Hawk 1

American Coot 4

Ring-billed Gull 100

Herring Gull 10

Rock Pigeon 9

Mourning Dove 15

Red-bellied Woodpecker 4

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Vale

Blue Jay 8

American Crow 1

Black-capped Chickadee 6

Tufted Titmouse 2 Vale

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Vale

American Robin 125

European Starling 50

Song Sparrow 5

White-throated Sparrow 8

Dark-eyed Junco 1 Vale

Northern Cardinal 20

Red-winged Blackbird 8

Common Grackle 20

American Goldfinch 2 Vale

House Sparrow 10

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

Sunday, March 27, 2011

March 27th reports Prospect, RedTail Hawk near miss, Red Hook.

From Kathy Toomey:

date = 2011/03/27


site = Prospect Park

observers = Kathy Toomey and Emily Goldstein

Turkey Vulture flying low over Lookout Hill

Northern Shoveler

Canada Goose

Ring-necked Duck one drake in the Upper Pool

Ruddy Duck

Mute Swan

Mallard

Red-tailed Hawk

American Coot

Ring-billed Gull

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Downy Woodpecker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Eastern Phoebe

Blue Jay

Black-capped Chickadee

White-breasted Nuthatch

American Robin

European Starling

Chipping Sparrow one, by Lamp post 249

White-throated Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinal

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

House Sparrow

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Posting from Ebirds listserve

Prospect Park


Posted by: "gaspenberg@xxxxx.com"
Sat Mar 26, 2011 11:44 pm (PDT)


Birded around the boathouse area Saturday afternoon, 3/26.

At least a dozen eastern phoebes.

4 cedar waxwings.

Many red-winged blackbirds.

Also: chickadees, cardinals, bluebirds, white-breasted nuthatches,

grackles, house finches, hairy woodpeckers, white-throat sparrows, mallards,

canadian geese, crows, mourning doves -- and of course starlings, house

sparrows and lots of robins.

Gary Aspenberg

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

From Peter

Redtailed Hawk near disaster

PP 3/27 LATE AFTERNOON


I was at the baseball field west edge by the fence enclosure and saw the redtailed hawk in a stoop glide very low heading for the slope bordering the cemetery, after prey. To my disbelief as I watched in my bins, it flew right into the metal weld wire fence but it looked like it pulled up at the last second but nevertheless bounced off the fence ...I went over to check and found the adult hawk in the London plane by the drive, on a low branch..It was all right ...cause afterwards it did fly multiple circles b4 heading towards the Upper Pool... A good  ending with relief...

Location: Prospect Park


Observation date: 3/27/11

Number of species: 24


Canada Goose X

Mute Swan X

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler 45 Lake

Ring-necked Duck 1 drake Upper Pool

Ruddy Duck 50 Lake

Double-crested Cormorant 6 lake

Black-crowned Night-Heron 2 at 3 sisters Islands

Red-tailed Hawk 1 Ravine, then likely same one at Baseball fields

American Coot 4 lake

Ring-billed Gull X

Herring Gull (American) X

Great Black-backed Gull 2 lake

Rock Pigeon X

Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 at LP 249

Eastern Phoebe 1  Upper Pool

American Crow 1 f/o well dr

Black-capped Chickadee 2

American Robin 60

European Starling X

Fox Sparrow (Red) 1 at LP 249

Song Sparrow 5--4 at LP 249

Northern Cardinal 1

Common Grackle 1 LP 249


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

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Yesterday in Red Hook for an Art Show on Van Brunt terminus, me and Mary E went to the end of the pier by Fairway Store , to look at the harbor. In a wooden bulkhead to protect the pier end protected as well by jetty boulders, 11 PURPLE SANDPIPERS out of the wind.On the wooden bulkhead with walls, 7 Purples on the platform, the rest on the rocks. It was windy....

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

From Chris Elliot:

Hi Peter,


In addition to the birds reported in the blog for March 27, I also had, around 4 PM this afternoon a Pied-billed Grebe on the lake near the construction area. I didn’t see it on other’s lists. Also not listed by others were a Belted Kingfisher in the same area, and on the end of the Peninsula a single Mockingbird.

Nice to see the phoebes back around, and the R-n Duck still on the Upper Pool.

Chris

Saturday, March 26, 2011

March 26th --2 Prospect reports,1 BBG

From Kathy Toomey :

date = 2011/03/26


site = Prospect Park

observers = Kathy Toomey

Double-crested Cormorant

Northern Shoveler

American Black Duck

Canada Goose

Ruddy Duck

Mute Swan

Mallard

Red-tailed Hawk

American Coot

Ring-billed Gull

Herring Gull

Mourning Dove

Downy Woodpecker

Eastern Phoebe

Blue Jay

Tufted Titmouse

Black-capped Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Winter Wren 2, one in the Vale and one behind the Wellhouse

Golden-crowned Kinglet Lullwater

American Robin

Northern Mockingbird

White-throated Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinal

Red-winged Blackbird

House Sparrow

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

from Rob Jett:

Subject: eBird Report - Brooklyn Botanic Garden , 3/26/11



> Location: Brooklyn Botanic Garden

> Observation date: 3/26/11

> Number of species: 17

>

> Mallard X

> Osprey 1

> Cooper's Hawk 1

> Red-tailed Hawk 1

> Ring-billed Gull X

> Herring Gull (American) X

> Rock Pigeon X

> Mourning Dove 5

> Downy Woodpecker 2

> American Robin 30

> European Starling X

> Fox Sparrow (Red) 1

> Song Sparrow 2

> Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 12

> Northern Cardinal 2

> Common Grackle 9

> House Sparrow X


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

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

From Adam Welz

Location: Prospect Park


Observation date: 3/26/11

Notes: Red-tailed Hawk seen on nest near ice rink. 21 Mallard

hybrids (not with Black Duck) in Lullwater. Lake not surveyed

thoroughly. No warblers.

Number of species: 29



Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 57

Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos 17

Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata 63

Ruddy Duck - Oxyura jamaicensis 47

Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus 1

Osprey - Pandion haliaetus 1

Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis 3

Merlin - Falco columbarius 1

Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis 30

Herring Gull - Larus argentatus 20

Great Black-backed Gull - Larus marinus 3

Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 3

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Sphyrapicus varius 1

Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 2

Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus 1

Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe 3

Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata 2

Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 9

Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus 1

Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Regulus calendula 1

American Robin - Turdus migratorius 42

Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 1

White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis 8

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 9

Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus 10

Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula 1

House Finch - Carpodacus mexicanus 3

American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis 1

House Sparrow - Passer domesticus 15


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

Friday, March 25, 2011

the importance of bird band reporting

I thought of posting this info cause its important we birders report stuff for the greater good.  It regards a Snow Goose among 1000's i saw at Jamaica Bay refuge 3.17..Here is the info i got back...fun to know where the bird came from  Bylot Bird Sanctuary 
http://www.theearthtraveler.com/colony-of-seabirds.html  or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bylot_Island
roughly Distance is 2738 kilometers or 1702 miles,

Ckick on link, then zoom out to see where globally on map

http://tinyurl.com/jbwrsngo

DR GILLES GAUTHIER

DEPT BIOLOGIE

UNIVERSITE LAVAL

STE-FOY QC G1K 7P4

Encounter Data

Location BROOKLYN, KINGS COUNTY, NEW YORK, Encountered 03/04/2011

UNITED STATES

Desc: JAMAICA BAY WILDLIFE REFUGE


Species GREATER SNOW GOOSE FEMALE


Age of Bird HATCHED IN 2007 OR EARLIER


SW BYLOT ISLAND, NUNAVUT, CANADA
(COORDINATES: LAT: 73.08333; LON: 79.91667 )


Location


Bander


Sex


Banding Data


Band Number 1847-41364 PR23 Banded 08/08/2008


CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION


AWARDED TO (ME)
 
I also reported two Canada Goose from Prospect Lake last week..

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Prospect March 24th

Chilly day ( well cold more like it), and that's typical weather for a drake BUFFLEHEAD, seen this afternoon on the lake very near the West Island shelter. It glided along the west shore.Farther out nearer the Peninsula side, a PIED-BILLED GREBE mingling near RUDDY DUCKS and the usual complement of NORTHERN SHOVELERS

But off water , until three "jumped in" the lake , 4 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS were on the 3 Sister Islands perched by the strait. On the other end of that same island, also 4 counted were BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, present as well yesterday for an overnighter. So, Quartets abound.

Center Drive seems like the best action today,one AMERICAN TREE SPARROW with busy AMERICAN ROBINS scrounging through the snow covered ground. [ Rob Bate reports a very good influx of Robins throughout. See his report]. I ran into Mary E who mentioned a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET near the 3 Arches.

Yesterday, with my fingers crossed, I saw 2 drake WOOD DUCKS courting a hen on the Upper Pool by the back shore. ( Psst, Hey fellas, there's a nest box on the island ready for her)

Lists

Location: Prospect Park


Observation date: 3/24/11

Number of species: 6


Wood Duck 4--3 Upper Pool; 1 drake Lake flyover

Double-crested Cormorant 2 at 3 Sisters

Black-crowned Night-Heron 4 at 3 Sisters


Eastern Phoebe 2 Pools

American Robin X

Red-winged Blackbird X

**

Location: Prospect Park--Feeder (1 left)


Observation date: 3/24/11

Number of species: 6

Black-capped Chickadee 4

White-breasted Nuthatch 1

White-throated Sparrow X

Dark-eyed Junco X

Northern Cardinal 1

Red-winged Blackbird X

**
Location: Prospect Park


Observation date: 3/24/11

Number of species: 24


Canada Goose X

Mute Swan 5

American Black Duck 3

American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 2

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler 75 Lake

Bufflehead 1 drake west side Lake   (FOY ?)

Ruddy Duck 105 Lake

Pied-billed Grebe 1 Lake

Double-crested Cormorant 4--3 lake-1on 3 Sisters

Black-crowned Night-Heron 4  on 3 Sisters

American Coot 3 south lakeside

Ring-billed Gull X

Herring Gull (American) X

Great Black-backed Gull 2 lake

Rock Pigeon X

Mourning Dove X

Downy Woodpecker 2 south lakeside

Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 at 3 Arches Br (Mary Eyster)

American Robin 35

European Starling X

American Tree Sparrow 1  Center Drive midpoint ( hard curve) (M.Eyster, PDorosh)

White-throated Sparrow 3

Northern Cardinal 1

Common Grackle  (M.Eyster)

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

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

From Rob Bate:

First day over 40 species in quite a while. There were tons of Robins all over the park and some Phoebes in the Lullwater.

3/24/11

Number of species: 42

Canada Goose 27

Mute Swan 6

American Black Duck 2

Mallard 27

Northern Shoveler 51

Bufflehead 1

Hooded Merganser 5

Ruddy Duck 77

Double-crested Cormorant 4

Red-tailed Hawk 4

American Coot 5

Ring-billed Gull 46

Herring Gull 21

Rock Pigeon 6

Mourning Dove 4

Red-bellied Woodpecker 3

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3

Downy Woodpecker 1

Northern Flicker 4

Eastern Phoebe 3

Blue Jay 4

Fish Crow 8

Black-capped Chickadee 14

Tufted Titmouse 1

Red-breasted Nuthatch 1

White-breasted Nuthatch 2

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1

American Robin 160

Northern Mockingbird 1

European Starling 15

Cedar Waxwing 3

Fox Sparrow 3

Song Sparrow 7

Swamp Sparrow 3

White-throated Sparrow 5

Dark-eyed Junco 5

Northern Cardinal 12

Red-winged Blackbird 19

Common Grackle 23

House Finch 1

American Goldfinch 2

House Sparrow 35

American Chestnuts event

There is an event on the American Chestnut species to be planted someday in Prospect and BBGarden after Staten Island Greenbelt propagation. There were blight resistant hybrid American Chestnut trees I planted with my crew some years ago, and they are at least 25 feet high ,hopefully mature further. But its great to see the reintroduction of this grand species.

click on the link from NY Times http://tinyurl.com/amchestpp

-Kingsboider

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Brooklyn Bridge Park bird walk April 30th 9 am

In an effort to foster birding throughout Brooklyn, I agreed to lead a short duration bird walk for the Brooklyn Bridge Park on April 30th at 9 am .The meeting spot I presumed is at the park building at the end of Old Fulton Street (Fulton Ferry ) , by the Barge music boat.. The BBPark habitat is its infancy, a very young green space that will be improving over time .We should see some migrants then..If not, the Manhattan skyline views i have to say are fantastic!  anyway , click below on the link for details and hopefully some brooklyn bird club members and guests will show up .

Nearest train is the A or C line to High Street..Or from Jay street /Court St subway, walk only 10 minutes down past Cadman Plaza along Court St. to the Brooklyn Bridge, turn left to the waterfront.

http://www.brooklynbridgeparknyc.org/events/calendar/2011/04/30

--Kingsboider

Monday, March 21, 2011

March 21st Prospect : First full day of Spring

Yes, I know, it wasn't a pretty day...but nevertheless, Rob Bate comes thru with the first spring report.

My first PP Phoebe for the year and 14 Cedar Waxwings



Observation date: 3/21/11

Number of species: 35


Canada Goose 21

Mute Swan 5

Mallard 16

Northern Shoveler

Ruddy Duck 17

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Red-tailed Hawk 2

American Coot 3

Ring-billed Gull 1

Herring Gull 20

Rock Pigeon 1

Mourning Dove 3

Red-bellied Woodpecker 4

Downy Woodpecker 4

Northern Flicker 1

Eastern Phoebe 1

Blue Jay 6

Black-capped Chickadee 9

Tufted Titmouse 2

White-breasted Nuthatch 2

American Robin 84

European Starling 17

Cedar Waxwing 14

Fox Sparrow 1

Song Sparrow 12

Swamp Sparrow 2

White-throated Sparrow 11

Northern Cardinal 11

Red-winged Blackbird 18

Common Grackle 19

House Finch 2

American Goldfinch 3

House Sparrow 33

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Happy Spring !

Spring Equinox occurred tonight at 7:21 PM Sunday.

May the days ahead be full of birds,song and migration magic...Oh by the way, they predicted some snowflakes possibly with rain today ( esp in west NJ) and Wednesday.....yes spring off to a good start.

I hope you like the new colors that signify the colors of blooming spring.....(new leaves, lilacs, dogwoods, cherry blossoms and so on)


*********************************
Hilight Pine Warbler, Pine Siskin, Eastern Phoebe, Ring-necked Duck

From Kathy Toomey ( last "winter" report)

date = 2011/03/20


site = Prospect Park

observers = Kathy Toomey and Emily Goldstein

Double-crested Cormorant

Northern Shoveler

Canada Goose

Ring-necked Duck UpperPool, 3 drakes and 3 hens

Ruddy Duck

Mute Swan

Mallard

Red-tailed Hawk

American Coot

Ring-billed Gull

Herring Gull

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Downy Woodpecker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Eastern Phoebe several in the Lullwater, and one behind the Wellhouse

Blue Jay

Tufted Titmouse

Black-capped Chickadee

White-breasted Nuthatch

Carolina Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Pine Warbler by the bridge across from the Boathouse, Lullwater side

White-throated Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinal

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

Pine Siskin 2 at the feeders

House Finch

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

First Brooklyn Bird Club evening spring program 2011

This posting announces the first BBC evening program that starts in 2 1/2 weeks on APRIL 7th at 6:30 at the Litchfield Villa Conference Room ( near Prospect Park West and 5th Street)

Mark your calendars and lets have a good audience.( and spread the word)

click on the link below for more details on the topic presented by Ebird cooridinator Chris Wood:

http://www.brooklynbirdclub.org/meetings.htm

PS.. on May 5th , Steve Nanz presents Nature of NYC and Ed Lam presents topic of Dragonflies on June 2nd . More later on these on the BBC webisite and the April Clapper Rail Newsletter.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Prospect March 19th

This is the 2nd posting today for 3/19

See colored hilights for noted species....  dont forget to look at the rising moon tonight....

date = 2011/03/19


site = Prospect Park

observers = Kathy Toomey

Turkey Vulture flying over the Vale

Northern Shoveler

Canada Goose

Ring-necked Duck 5, Upper Pool, 3 drakes and 2 hens


Ruddy Duck

Mute Swan

Mallard

Red-tailed Hawk

American Coot

Ring-billed Gull

Herring Gull

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Eastern Phoebe in the Ravine

Blue Jay

Tufted Titmouse

Black-capped Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Winter Wren in the Vale

American Robin

European Starling

White-throated Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinal

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

Pine Siskin 1, at the feeders

House Finch

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Space event and Spring Peepers....

"Special posting"

On occasions, since migrating birds may fly in front of it ( I need to justify this posting :)>   ) , the moon is a terrific space object to look at.  Tonight there is a ( if clear skies is afforded us) special event. "Super Perigee"  ( according to the news) moon is happening at tonight's rising, when the moon looks super sized...

here's the link  http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/118265299.html

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Yesterday I and Mary E went to Staten Island,where we saw snipes at Mt Loretto...but the greatest highlight especially for a deaf guy was hearing 1000's of Spring Peepers at a Great Kills marsh spot, just behind the US Park Police building. The din was really LOUD !  ( just the way i needed it)

Spring Peeper (click on and click again on " listen")--> http://tinyurl.com/springpeep

From Steve Nanz--> http://tinyurl.com/nanzphoto

from Mary Eyster--http://tinyurl.com/ehowpeeper


 How to get to Great Kills--> http://www.nyharborparks.org/visit/grki.html

#78 bus from the Ferry and a very nice long walk is well rewarding..Also we saw over 60 + Gannets offshore at Crookes Point.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Prospect March 18th

Reports from afield of Osprey f/o , Eastern Phoebe @ Ricks Place, 5 Ringnecked Ducks Upper pool & Turkey Vulture over Lake ;

From Adam Welz:

Location: Prospect Park--Feeders


Observation date: 3/18/11

Notes: Nuthatches displaying

Number of species: 9

Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 3

Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 2

Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 6

White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis 2

White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis 5

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 1

Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus 3

Pine Siskin - Spinus pinus 3

American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis 3


Location: Prospect Park


Observation date: 3/18/11

Notes: Birds very active and vocal, warm weather.

Number of species: 30



Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 75 inc 3 with neck-rings,

reported to banding lab

Mute Swan - Cygnus olor 4

American Black Duck - Anas rubripes 3

American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) - Anas rubripes x platyrhynchos

X also many hybrids with domestic white 'Dutch Quacker' type

Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos X many

Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata 120 count accurate plus or minus 10%

Ring-necked Duck - Aythya collaris 5

Ruddy Duck - Oxyura jamaicensis 33

Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura 1 over Prospect Lake

American Coot - Fulica americana 6

Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis 11

Rock Pigeon - Columba livia 13

Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 12

Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus 3

Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 5

Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata X

American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 3

Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus 10

Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor 2

American Robin - Turdus migratorius 73

European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris 52

Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum 9

Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 13

White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis 7

Dark-eyed Junco - Junco hyemalis 5

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 8

Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus 9

Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula 19

House Finch - Carpodacus mexicanus 1

American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis 1

House Sparrow - Passer domesticus X



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

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Twitter

Just a reminder note for anyone wanting to get only rare bird reports for Brooklyn (Kings County)by me only, click on to this to sign up. Since I no longer send out cell phone reports ( with a more fickle new cell phone),Twitter is your best bet for fast reports ..Otherwise, this blog covers just the Prospect area.

--Kingsboider

http://twitter.com/prosbird#

March 17th Prospect: more Lake variety, Tree Swallow

The best bird for today was seen on Prospect Lake, uncommon LESSER SCAUP. I received a late aftenoon call from Doug Gochfeld who spotted the hen near West Island. I got out after 5 pm with my scope and eventually saw the female Lesser, in the area of West Island , but more away from the island, a sleeping bird. I saw it well from the rustic shelter.With my scope, you can see the head "hesitation", or notch in the head shape that distinguishes Lesser from the round heads of Greater Scaup.

On the lake as well, more nice stuff. 6 Hooded Mergansers in the middle of the lake had to compete with a pair of WOOD DUCKS. I should tell the Wood Ducks they are hanging out in the wrong area, that they should check out the new nest box at Upper Pool.

With several good reports form the Lake lately, its good to check this location more now since March is more waterbird month with spring passages...

List
Location: Prospect Park--Prospect Lake


Observation date: 3/17/11

Number of species: 19



Canada Goose X

Mute Swan 4

Wood Duck 2

American Black Duck 4

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler 80

Lesser Scaup 1 West Island

Hooded Merganser 6

Ruddy Duck X

Double-crested Cormorant 2

Black-crowned Night-Heron 1

American Coot 4

Ring-billed Gull X

European Starling X

Fox Sparrow (Red) 1 phrag edges with Songs

Song Sparrow 6

White-throated Sparrow 2

Red-winged Blackbird X

Common Grackle X



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

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

From Doug Gochfeld

Also had 2 Monk Parakeets fly over just inside the Park @ the 9th street entrance, and had a Tree Swallow, and 9+ Cedar Waxwings around the park. Not sure if these are already being seen regularly in the Park yet. If not they will be tomorrow.
LESSER SCAUP Hen at lake near West Island per Doug G.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Prospect March 16th Duck passages....

This is the third posting today.

Before today's bird summary, a note about the feeders.

The feeders were refilled today for the last time. As winter draws to a close Sunday, the feeders served its useful purpose throughout the season. Now the birds must move on as spring approaches. And as well I will be busier with spring work projects. By March end, the feeders will be emptying and they will be taken down. So, enjoy the "homestretch".

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

Signs of spring migration unfolded with the passage and presence of ducks, particularly same day, same time three different species of Mergansers , a rare occurrence for the park with sightings of Common, Hooded and Red-breasted. See a previous posting  ( scroll down ) for details. However, a report from Bob O'Neill when I ran into him is that he got to see the Common before they took off just after noon. So, a fleeting , yet lucky moment for some birders. Later , 7 Hooded Mergansers were spotted by Duck Island.

For those missing out on the triple treat Mergs, there is though a nice sight of RING-NECKED DUCK, 3 drakes and 2 hen gracing the Upper Pool this afternoon. And throw in also , likely the year's first PIED-BILLED GREBE with them. However, the grebe was fleeting as well; after an initial sighting, it was nowhere to be found. Perhaps it went inside the new Wood Duck box ;)>.

Location: Prospect Park


Observation date: 3/16/11

Number of species: 22


Canada Goose X

Mute Swan 5 lake

American Black Duck X

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler 105 lake

Ring-necked Duck 5  -3 drake, 2 hen  Upper Pool

Hooded Merganser 7-- Duck Island

Common Merganser 2  pair Lake

Red-breasted Merganser 1 boathouse pond drkae

Ruddy Duck 65 lake

Pied-billed Grebe 1 Upper Pool

Double-crested Cormorant 1 on 3 Sisters

Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 on 3 Sisters

Red-tailed Hawk 2

American Coot 1

Ring-billed Gull X

Herring Gull X

Rock Pigeon X

European Starling X

Fox Sparrow (Red) 1 west isl

Song Sparrow 1



Location: Prospect Park--Feeders


Observation date: 3/16/11

Number of species: 8



Downy Woodpecker 2

Black-capped Chickadee 7

White-throated Sparrow X

Northern Cardinal 2

Red-winged Blackbird 6

Common Grackle 2

American Goldfinch 3

House Sparrow X



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

Wilson's Snipe video

Rob Jett sent me this link to his blog that includes the snipe video

Click on to Rob's blog posting and video

http://citybirder.blogspot.com/2011/03/unusual-shorebird-in-prospect-park.html

Prospect March 16th : MERGANSER trifecta rarity !

As of 11:50 am, ALL 3 species Mergansers are present in Prospect Park !

  1. drake , hen pair of COMMON MERGANSERs on Prospect Lake middle
  2. drake, hen HOODED MERGANSERs with # 1 Prospect Lake
  3. drake RED-BREASTED MERGANSER on the Boathouse pond (Audubon Center)
Good birding!


--Kingsboider

PS  sorry Twitterers , I forgot my cell phone this morning.... : (

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Prospect March 15th

Brief looks in the field despite a busy day "ides of march". Most interesting or new for me I say were two BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS on the western Three Sisters Islands. 2 Hooded Mergansers in the same area in between the islands.

Location: Prospect Park


Observation date: 3/15/11

Number of species: 15



Canada Goose 190 Peninsula Meadow

Mute Swan 4

American Black Duck X

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler X

Hooded Merganser 2  at 3 Sisters

Ruddy Duck 65 lake

Black-crowned Night-Heron 2  on Three Sisters

Red-tailed Hawk 1

American Coot 1

Ring-billed Gull X

Herring Gull (American) X

Rock Pigeon X
European Starling X

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

Latest on threatened 4 Sparrow Marsh preserve

As you may already know about, here's the latest on 4 Sparrow , which is a delightful  birding spot . This past weekend my group walk saw Eastern Phoebe and low flying Turkey Vulture. My friend Tom Preston saw the next morning 3 American Woodcock and Merlin.The marsh is renown at this time of year for Wilson's Snipes.( Its only a 10 minute walk south on Flatbush Ave , from the bus last stop at Kings Plaza. Look for the weedy lot next to the Toys R Us.There used to be a sign "4 Sparrow Preserve" , but we know it was taken down "mysteriously" )  .-Kingsboider

Click on my Conservation Blog link for more:


Monday, March 14, 2011

March 14th Prospect...a day that starts with a little "roar"

March is known as a month that roars --wind wise and weather wise. But it also can be a bird wise "roar".
Today under cloudy skies and least expectations for anything birdy, a few good things kicked off the beginning of anticipatory migration season.

The excellent report of rare WILSON's SNIPE dominates the day, first reported by Bob O'Neill at the Vale of Cashmere, of all places . (Usually we would expect snipe at Prospect Lake or the peninsula shoreline, the larger water system spots).  Huddling against the stone wall  inside the pool at the north end, three birders named "Robert" were watching the Snipe until a "Peter" butted in. Bob , the founder of the freshwater shorebird, along with Rob Bate and Rob Jett were also watching from near the stairs. After I left to get back to work, I received a text shortly after of PINE WARBLER above one of those stairs, again spotted by Bob O'Neill.

Later, I went back for the Snipe around 4 PM. I found Heidi Cleven watching the shorebird. But it moved to the other side of the pool --same area--wall  , inside the north pool , sitting on muddy edges, the gorgeous bird inside a break in the wall and next to the protective cover of an uplifted stone. There was busier traffic from visitors and schoolkids in the Vale, so I presumed the tired snipe was unnerved by action.

There was more. We bumped into Rob Jett and learned from him that RED-BREASTED MERGANSER at the Boathouse pond and AMERICAN PIPIT found walking on the Nethermead lawn added to the day's hilights. We got the drake Red-breasted Merg but the Pipit already flown. There were other notable things but read Rob Bate's report below.

And it can only get better from here on...

--Kingsboider

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

From Rob Bate:

A great day to begin the spring season in PP.


Bob O'neill found the Wilson's Snipe in the Vale and then refound the Pine Warbler Eddie Davis found yesterday. Other notables were, American Pipit (found by Rob Jett), mating Red Tails on Nellie's Lawn, 5 species of woodpeckers, one each of both Kinglets and lots of Robins and Song Sparrows. Birds were singing everywhere.


Location: Prospect Park

Observation date: 3/14/11

Notes: Data collected with Birdwatcher's Diary (tm) for iPhone

Number of species: 46



Canada Goose 133

Mute Swan 6

American Black Duck 2

Mallard 56

Northern Shoveler 225

Ring-necked Duck 5

Hooded Merganser 2

Ruddy Duck 25

Black-crowned Night-Heron 2

Turkey Vulture 4

Red-tailed Hawk 2

American Coot 4

Wilson's Snipe 1

Ring-billed Gull 6

Herring Gull 20

Great Black-backed Gull 1

Mourning Dove 8

Red-bellied Woodpecker 1

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2

Downy Woodpecker 5

Hairy Woodpecker 1

Northern Flicker 1

Blue Jay 1

Black-capped Chickadee 13

Tufted Titmouse 2

Red-breasted Nuthatch 2

White-breasted Nuthatch 2

Carolina Wren 1

Golden-crowned Kinglet 1

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1

American Robin 61

European Starling 22

American Pipit 1

Pine Warbler 1

Fox Sparrow 1

Song Sparrow 21

White-throated Sparrow 11

Dark-eyed Junco 2

Northern Cardinal 11

Red-winged Blackbird 12 1

Common Grackle 35

House Finch 1

Pine Siskin 3

American Goldfinch 7

House Sparrow 8

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

Peter's list

Location:     Prospect Park
Observation date:     3/14/11
Number of species:     23

Canada Goose     X lake
Mute Swan     X
American Black Duck     6 lake
Mallard     X
Northern Shoveler     X lake
Red-breasted Merganser     1 drake boathouse pond ( also obs H.Cleven)
Ruddy Duck     X lake
Great Blue Heron     1 at duck isl
Wilson's Snipe     1 vale cashmere ( also obs H.Cleven)
Ring-billed Gull     X
Herring Gull (American)     X
Rock Pigeon     X
Mourning Dove     X
Red-bellied Woodpecker     2 vale cashmere  ( also obs H.Cleven)
Black-capped Chickadee     X
White-breasted Nuthatch     2
American Robin     X
European Starling     X
Northern Cardinal     X
Red-winged Blackbird     X
House Sparrow     X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
WILSONS SNIPE is up against wall inside Vale pool north end...also seen nearby is PINE WARBLER on the stairs behind...
WILSONS SNIPE @ Vale of Cashmere pool north end per Bob O'Neill.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Prospect March 13th

 A text message while I was leading the BBC in the Floyd Bennett region was Prospect  first of the season PINE WARBLER in Vale of Cashmere Per Eddie Davis..also reported are continuing Pine Siskin and Ring-necked Duck

This is indicating that spring is slowly revealing itself with Pine Warbler reported today while my group saw Eastern Phoebe in Four Sparrow Marsh ( but the best bird was a soaring COMMON RAVEN at Floyd Bennett, my first for Kings County as well as for other trip participants).Check later the BBC field trips reports on the side menu for the day list .


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

From Kathy Toomey:

date = 2011/03/13


site = Prospect Park

observers = Kathy Toomey and Emily Goldstein

Double-crested Cormorant

Northern Shoveler

American Black Duck

Canada Goose

Ring-necked Duck Upper Pool, 2 drakes and one hen

Ruddy Duck

Mute Swan

Mallard

Red-tailed Hawk

American Coot

Great Black-backed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Herring Gull

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Downy Woodpecker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Black-capped Chickadee

White-breasted Nuthatch

Carolina Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2, Wellhouse

American Robin

Northern Mockingbird

European Starling

White-throated Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinal

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

Pine Siskin 6, at feeders

House Finch

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Friday, March 11, 2011

New Wood Duck Box


Photo by Steve Nanz

 Upper Pool's island received a permanent enhancement yesterday, a  Wood Duck Nest box.Its best viewed from the back path. 

Thanks to my co-worker Dave Chadwick with help from an intern who erected the nest box donated by Rob Bate.

We hope it would be occupied; even if it wasn't, its a nice ornament to view.

By the way, some interesting facts about Wood Duck boxes.  There has to be at least 40 feet clearance  in front of the nest hole, which the duck makes a straight beeline for...That's daring ya know?

fact file

 http://www.ducks.org/conservation/waterfowl-biology/wood-duck-boxes

--Kingsboider

Prospect March 11 BLACK VULTURE , Red-Breasted Merganser

BLACK VULTURE flyover reported near Grand Army , north long meadow and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER at Boathouse Pond ( Orrin Tilevitz ); also reported PINE SISKIN

From Orrin:

Prospect Park early this afternoon:



Black Vulture

Coopers hawk

Red-breasted Merganser (boathouse)

Hooded merganser (at least 6 on lake)

Ruddy duck

Northern shoveler

Coot

Mallard

Canada goose

Double-crested cormorant

Mute swan

Assorted gulls

Black-capped chickadee

Fox sparrow (2)

House finch

Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

Red-bellied woodpecker


Downy woodpecker

Hairy woodpecker

Yellow-bellied sapsucker

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Greenwood Cemetery report of Eastern Bluebirds 3/9 ; Prospect briefs

From Mike Zablocky:

SITE: Greenwood Cemetery


COUNTY: Kings

TIME: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Highlight of the walk was a small flock of Eastern Bluebirds, four drab individuals plus one breeding plumaged male. They were located along Cypress Avenue, directly across from the bronze, winged statue.


Mallard

Red-tailed Hawk

Ring-billed Gull

Herring Gull

Rock Pigeon

Monk Parakeet

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Blue Jay

White-breasted Nuthatch

EASTERN BLUEBIRD   5

American Robin

European Starling

Northern Cardinal

House Sparrow

14 species

--Kingsboider note: Cypress Ave inside the cemetery is closest to the Fort Hamilton Parkway entrance/exit but this entrance only opens on weekends.From the daily open main entrance at 25th St and 5th avenues, its about an hour walk south in the "byzantine" cemetery.  See this link for a rough map  and Cypress at the top of the page----> 
 
http://www.brooklynbirdclub.org/grnwoodmap.htm
 
by the way, Cypress Ave is a really terrific warbler spot with all the road line oak trees during late April into May. 
 
Otherwise, ask for a fold up map from the guard at the main gate. But soaking rain is on the way.....

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

From Peter

Just quick looks today, mostly the lake where continuing RING-NECKED DUCK lingers with a flock of Northern Shovelers and Ruddy Ducks. The Shovelers were scattered throughout the lake.

But of  interest were the HOODED MERGANSERS, its flock sized increased to now 10 from previously reported 8, the flock hanging near Three Sisters Islands on the lake side or inside the strait. A nice sight to watch as they waded together.

On land, this morning , a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK seen flying in and perching on a locust tree on the south side of the Nethermead ( 3 Arches) Bridge. Just about all the time I had today. Tomorrow it's rain gear day...( perhaps a good time then to check the lake)

Location: Prospect Park


Observation date: 3/9/11

Number of species: 14


Canada Goose X

Mute Swan X

American Black Duck X

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler 145 lake, scattered flocks

Ring-necked Duck 1 lake near Peninsula thumb

Hooded Merganser 10 at Three Sisters Isl

Ruddy Duck 30 lake

Double-crested Cormorant 1 lake

Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 at 3 arches bridge

Red-tailed Hawk 1 constant flyovers Lake and gulls frenzy

Ring-billed Gull X

Herring Gull X


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

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

From Rob Jett:

Location:     Prospect Park--Prospect Lake
Observation date:     3/9/11
Number of species:     13

Canada Goose     X
Mute Swan     5
American Black Duck     X
Mallard     X
Northern Shoveler     225
Ring-necked Duck     1
Hooded Merganser     7
Ruddy Duck     75
Double-crested Cormorant     1
Red-tailed Hawk     2
American Coot     15
Ring-billed Gull     X
Herring Gull (American)     X

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

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Prospect reports

Just some quick notes on Prospect lately I've observed incidentally and after work yesterday and today.

  • Most noted was a RING-NECK DUCK drake yesterday on the Upper Pool, and today on the Lake by the Peninsula thumb
  • WOOD DUCK drake by the west shore Lake yesterday along with 8 HOODED MERGANSERS along the south shore
  • singing CAROLINA WREN (big deal for me ) at the gingko tree grove Well Drive and an accompanying RUBY CROWNED KINGLET right next to the shipping containers.
Location: Prospect Park


Observation date: 3/7/11

Number of species: 23



Canada Goose 190

Mute Swan X

Wood Duck 1 lake

American Black Duck X

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler 105 lake

Ring-necked Duck 1 Upper Pool

Hooded Merganser 8 lake

Ruddy Duck X lake

Double-crested Cormorant 1 lake

Red-tailed Hawk 2

American Coot 2 lake

Ring-billed Gull X

Herring Gull X

Rock Pigeon X

Mourning Dove X
Black-capped Chickadee X

White-breasted Nuthatch 1

Carolina Wren 1 well dr

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1  well dr

American Robin X

Red-winged Blackbird X


Location: Prospect Park


Observation date: 3/8/11

Number of species: 9

American Black Duck 1

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler 136 lake

Ring-necked Duck 1 drake lake

Ruddy Duck 12 lake

Ring-billed Gull X

Rock Pigeon X

Mourning Dove X

Common Grackle - 3 West Island


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

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

Heidi Cleven reports NORTHERN FLICKER in the Vale of Cashmere 3/8.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Art on display from Brooklyn birders /artists 3/19-4/23

The attached note through the Brooklyn Bird Club contact is attached.

John Lloyd is a friend of mine  and fellow birder I 've known for years through Prospect Park meetings.
He and wife Jane are artists you might have seen painting regularly on weekends in the southwest region of Prospect. They paint Nature scenes among their works. You can see their work on the link on my blog at the bottom right "members" blogs or on the note attached.

Here the info posted to BBC:

Hi Brooklyn Bird Club

Jane Talcott and John Lloyd will be showing their paintings of prospect park at
the Crossroads Café  (Website is www.cafe-crossroads.com)
1241A Prospect Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11218 in Windsor Terrace

on view March 19 through April 23
Reception Saturday March 26, 5-7 PM

Jane and John have a website at
www.janejohnstudio.com

the Crossroads Café Hours:  Monday - Friday 7 AM - 7 PM Saturday -
Sunday 7:30 AM - 7 PM

the Cafe is very close to the Lake at prospect park at the corner of
Prospect Ave and Reeve Place in Windsor Terrace

to reach the Cafe by subway Take the F train to Fort Hamilton stop and
go to the exit on the back of the train (if you are coming from the
Manhattan direction)  it is located close to the back subway entrance



Sunday, March 6, 2011

Results of BBC walk March 5th

Eddie Davis led the Brooklyn Bird Club walk in Prospect yesterday march 5th. Below is his report. The BBC is appreciative to Eddie for his time leading the walk.

--Kingsboider

From Eddie

Highlights included Pine Siskins at the feeders (think we had 4 at one point), one Ring-necked Duck drake at the upper pool, and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet (found by Kathy) behind the Wellhouse. Many areas (Ravine, Midwood, and Peninsula) were especially quiet.


Here's a complete list:

Location: Prospect Park

Observation date: 3/5/11

Number of species: 32



Canada Goose X

Mute Swan 5

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler X

Ring-necked Duck 1

Ruddy Duck X

Red-tailed Hawk 1

Ring-billed Gull X

Herring Gull X

Rock Pigeon X

Mourning Dove 5

Red-bellied Woodpecker 2

Downy Woodpecker 3

Blue Jay 5

Black-capped Chickadee X

Tufted Titmouse 1

Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 (vale)

White-breasted Nuthatch 4

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 (wellhouse)

American Robin X

Northern Mockingbird 1

European Starling X

Fox Sparrow 5 (feeders, vale, and lullwater)

Song Sparrow 2

White-throated Sparrow X

Dark-eyed Junco X

Northern Cardinal 6

Red-winged Blackbird X

House Finch X (feeders)

Pine Siskin 4 (feeders)

American Goldfinch X

House Sparrow X

Friday, March 4, 2011

10 AM Sunday, March 6 - First Sunday Bird Walk

From Michele Dreger:

The Prospect Park Newsletter has the time of the walk at 10am.


If the weather is good, we will meet at the Audubon Center. I heard it will be raining. Hopefully, it won't rain until we finish our walk.

We will talk a walk by the lake to check out the gulls and ducks.

See you then.

Prospect March 4th

From Rob Bate:

Location: Prospect Park Feeders


Number of species: 11


Mourning Dove 2

Black-capped Chickadee 3

White-breasted Nuthatch 1

Fox Sparrow 1

White-throated Sparrow 3

Northern Cardinal 3

Red-winged Blackbird 5

Common Grackle 1

House Finch 3

Pine Siskin 3

American Goldfinch 6
 
Location: Prospect Park


Observation date: 3/4/11

Number of species: 32


Canada Goose 66

Mute Swan 2

Wood Duck 1

American Black Duck 7

Mallard 81

Northern Shoveler 27

Ring-necked Duck 1

Hooded Merganser 8

Red-tailed Hawk 1

American Coot 11

Ring-billed Gull 526

Herring Gull 23

Mourning Dove 9

Red-bellied Woodpecker 1

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1

Downy Woodpecker 3

Blue Jay 2

Black-capped Chickadee 9

Red-breasted Nuthatch 1

White-breasted Nuthatch 2

Carolina Wren 1

American Robin 2

Northern Mockingbird 2

European Starling 3

Fox Sparrow 1

Song Sparrow 3

White-throated Sparrow 11

Dark-eyed Junco 8

Northern Cardinal 6

Red-winged Blackbird 2

Common Grackle 8

American Goldfinch 4

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
From Peter:

On Thursday afternoon, 3 Wood Duck behind the Upper Pool Island.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

An important conservancy org for birds and the latest on Bird Conservation non-funding

This a note about a terrific bird conservancy organization many of you may not know about and is worth saving as a bookmark. If we love the birds, we need to conserve and support.

http://www.abcbirds.org/

Check out this link on funding drying up for North American birds and neotropical species

http://bbcnewsboard.blogspot.com/2011/03/house-continuing-resolution-slashes.html

-Kingsboider

Prospect March 3rd

From Rob Jett:

Location: Prospect Park--Prospect Lake


Observation date: 3/3/11

Number of species: 15



Canada Goose X

Mute Swan 5

Wood Duck 2

American Black Duck X

American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 2

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler X

Ring-necked Duck 6

Hooded Merganser 8

Ruddy Duck X

Cooper's Hawk 1

Red-tailed Hawk 1

American Coot 6

Ring-billed Gull X

Herring Gull (American) X

Rock Pigeon X



Location: Prospect Park--Feeders


Observation date: 3/3/11

Number of species: 17



Mourning Dove 7

Red-bellied Woodpecker 1

Downy Woodpecker 2

Blue Jay 1

Black-capped Chickadee 14

Tufted Titmouse 2

White-breasted Nuthatch 3

Fox Sparrow (Red) 3

Song Sparrow 2

White-throated Sparrow 14

Dark-eyed Junco 3

Northern Cardinal 4

Red-winged Blackbird 8

House Finch 10

Pine Siskin 1

American Goldfinch 9

House Sparrow 3



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

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Prospect March 2nd Great Egret returns and spring knocks early....(we hope!)

GREAT EGRET at Lake west shore..spring ?

Prospect Park saw its season's first GREAT EGRET at the west shore of Prospect Lake. This represents the earliest Great Egret on record for the park eclipsing the March 10th, 2004 sighting. Talk about an " early bird special".

On the lake also of note were 5 HOODED MERGANSERS and the drake WOOD DUCK, the latter at Three Sisters Islands with 3 of the Hooded Mergs, while 2 other Mergs were seen gliding on the now mostly open lake by ice islands and larger mass in the western section.

At the feeders, a COMMON GRACKLE kept at bay multiple Red-winged Blackbirds, commandeering the middle feeder.

Along the West shore Lake, at the phramite patches, SWAMP SPARROW .

--Kingsboider

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

Location: Prospect Park



Observation date: 3/2/11


Number of species: 24






Canada Goose 140--58 on lawn LP 249; 82 Lake


Mute Swan 5 lake


Wood Duck 1 Three Sisters Islands


American Black Duck 5 lake


Mallard X


Northern Shoveler 55 lake


Hooded Merganser 5--3 at three sisters islands, 2 lake


Ruddy Duck 22 lake


Great Egret 1  FOY  west shore lake


Red-tailed Hawk 2


American Coot 3 lake


Ring-billed Gull X


Herring Gull X


Rock Pigeon X


Mourning Dove X


Black-capped Chickadee X


White-breasted Nuthatch 1


Northern Mockingbird 1 lullwater


European Starling X


Fox Sparrow (Red) 2  LP 249


Swamp Sparrow 1 west shore Lake


Dark-eyed Junco X


House Sparrow X




Location: Prospect Park--Feeders



Observation date: 3/2/11


Number of species: 15






Mourning Dove 5


Red-bellied Woodpecker 1


Downy Woodpecker 2


Black-capped Chickadee X


White-breasted Nuthatch 2


Fox Sparrow (Red) 1


Song Sparrow 1


White-throated Sparrow 14


Dark-eyed Junco X


Northern Cardinal 7


Red-winged Blackbird 21


Common Grackle 1


House Finch 6


American Goldfinch 12


House Sparrow 2






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



Wood duck + 3Hooded mergansers @ 3 Sister aIslands

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Prospect March 1st

Highlight : 15 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS @ LP 249 Picnic tables well drive

Today's impressive sighting of the American Tree Sparrow flock is the highest total at one time since the flock of 19 birds seen on Sept 25th, 1967 by Olney Raymond.

Of note as well are continuing PINE SISKINs at the feeders, 3 birds.

list

Location:     Prospect Park--Feeders
Observation date:     3/1/11
Number of species:     10

Mourning Dove     X
Downy Woodpecker     2
Hairy Woodpecker     1
White-breasted Nuthatch     1
Fox Sparrow (Red)     2
White-throated Sparrow     X
Northern Cardinal     2
Red-winged Blackbird     2
Pine Siskin     3
American Goldfinch     7

Location:     Prospect Park
Observation date:     3/1/11
Number of species:     16

Canada Goose     112  lake
Mute Swan     3
Wood Duck     1  drake at 3 sisters isl
American Black Duck     2 lake
Mallard     X
Northern Shoveler     65 lake
Ruddy Duck     9  lake
American Coot     3 lake
Ring-billed Gull     X
Herring Gull     X
Rock Pigeon     X
Mourning Dove     X
Black-capped Chickadee     X
American Robin     7
American Tree Sparrow     15  well drive picnic tables
House Sparrow     X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http:/



New warbler reference for all you beginners and skilled birders to carry around.

When I was in Ohio last spring, I picked up a really terrific warbler 72 page color guide published by the Ohio Wildlife Agency. To keep my comments brief , click on the link to see for yourself. The first warbler species will show up the end of this month ( but not roaring in like a lion). Pine and Palm warblers are the early ones. Check out the great guide ( which will be also easily accessed on my blog's side menu "warblers id guidebook") and get ready  in learning the warblers.

--Kingsboider


http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/9/pdf/pub349.pdf

*****