An unimpressive first day of May typically good for migrants marked May 1st, as the struggle for finding birds took hold. Only the reports of a few rare species salvaged the day.
It was unusual to see such a slow day for numbers as May begins. But perhaps after hearing what April's homestretch bought in terms of diversity, maybe we might have gotten overeager during this peak month. It was hard finding birds but sightings of PROTHONOTARY WARBLER at the Terrace bridge (T.Preston); two 1st yr ORCHARD ORIOLES at the south lakeside opposite West Island; BLUE GROSBEAKS at Greenwood Cemetery's Crescent Water hill (Jesse Aldana, then RJett, HLopes) ; and finally, a spring first HOODED WARBLER for Prospect on Lookout Hill's south slope.
Taking the Hooded Warbler first, the report was of a non-singing bird spotted by Tom Stephenson a little after 10:30. Later it was seen by Rafael Campos and Ed Crowne , the quality warbler going in and out of visibility in the dense slope brush. A followup search by me proved fruitless. But it's here and I am assured it will be spotted again ...somewhere.
The 2 juvenile Blue Grosbeaks were seen by Jesse Aldana, who mentioned to Rob Jett these great birds despite Greenwood 's lack of any other bird activity. I went thru the cemetery yesterday and found it seriously lacking with birds except a few notables for me, SWAINSONS THRUSH and 2 GREEN HERONS at Sylvan Waters most prominent sightings. But only 1 warbler species through at least 3 miles walking inside may it quite a belaboring effort.
And a last word: I got to see a male SCARLET TANAGER, a bird hawking insects from a devils' walking stick on Lookout Hill's north curvy road. For me this is a special bird: 35 years ago, one in my backyard right next to the Brooklyn -Queens expressway got me on an illuminating path and discovery of birds. So, a miss of the Chuck-wills- widow yes, but I'll settle for the brilliant male Scarlet Tanager closeup anytime.....
A crowded and noisy day in the park today,not to my liking; tomorrow is another and hopefully better ( and quieter) day even with rain in the forecast.
--Kingsboider
The late word: WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW in the Vale cashmere pool.
And one for the non bird department. Steve Nanz discovered an EASTERN BOX TURTLE in the Midwood today, quite a rare discovery nowadays in Prospect ( yet enriched with these kinds of creatures.).Watch where you step......
From Steve's website ( a past photo) http://tinyurl.com/EBTNanz
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From Peter
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 5/1/11
Number of species: 38
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 3
Mallard X
Ruddy Duck 6 lake
Double-crested Cormorant 3 lake
Red-tailed Hawk 2, one in nest Nellies lawn, one flyover
Herring Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Chimney Swift X
Downy Woodpecker 1
Warbling Vireo 2
Blue Jay 3
American Crow X
Barn Swallow X
House Wren 2
Veery 1
Wood Thrush -Aralia Grove
American Robin X
Gray Catbird 3
European Starling X
Northern Parula 1 southwest woods
Yellow Warbler 1 on 3 Sisters Isl
Yellow-rumped Warbler 12
Black-throated Green Warbler 1 rept by G.Willow , south woods
Black-and-white Warbler 6
American Redstart 1 above wellhouse
Ovenbird 2
Northern Waterthrush 2, one Vale Cashmere, one at 3 sisters
Common Yellowthroat 1 south lakeside
Chipping Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 30
Scarlet Tanager 3- all Lookout Hill, one male
Northern Cardinal 3
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Common Grackle X
Orchard Oriole 2 1st yr males south lakeside opp West Isl
Baltimore Oriole 1 Vale Cashmere
House Sparrow X
Spotted Sandpiper- 3 Sisters
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)
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From Larry:
Peter,
We got a late start today--still found some good ones.
Larry
http://birdsandwords-larryz.blogspot.com/
Sent: Sunday, May 1, 2011 3:47 PM
Subject: eBird Report - Prospect Park , 5/1/11
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 5/1/11
Number of species: 38
Canada Goose 5
Mute Swan 2
Mallard 20
Green Heron 2 Lullwater Cove & Duck Island
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 Lullwater Cove
Red-tailed Hawk 2
American Coot 1 Boathouse Pond
Spotted Sandpiper 1 Lullwater South
Rock Pigeon 4
Mourning Dove 3
Chimney Swift 1 Nethermead
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 1 Peninsula
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 1
Tree Swallow 1 Lake
Barn Swallow 12 Lake & Boathouse Pond
Black-capped Chickadee 4
American Robin 75
Gray Catbird 9
European Starling 50
Nashville Warbler 1 Lullwater South
Northern Parula 2 Peninsula & 9th St Entrance
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Peninsula
Yellow-rumped Warbler 35
Blackburnian Warbler 1 Lullwater North
Palm Warbler 1 Lullwater South
Black-and-white Warbler 1 Peninsula
Northern Waterthrush 2 Back of Lily Pond & Vale
Common Yellowthroat 3 Lullwater (2), back of Lily Pond
Eastern Towhee 1 Peninsula
Song Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow 10
Scarlet Tanager 1 Lullwater North
Northern Cardinal 12
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Common Grackle 10
House Sparrow 30
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)
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From Eni Falci reporting for the 1st Sunday Birdings group ( PP Audubon Center)
Peter-
Michele led the Sunday walk with about 20 regulars. We started out with the female Prothonotary Warbler at the boathouse lake ramp area. No high numbers but decent diversity. The prize for Michele was a good male Scarlet Tanager on Lookout.
We saw more birding groups we knew than birds today.
After the group broke up Anne & I got another look at Scarlet Tanager male at the stream behind the Music Pagoda - it took a drink and stayed in the open trees near by for eye level looks.
Our list over laps with the two already reported. The Vale had good Oriole activity in the flowering Horse Chestnut Tree - Rustic male mature & 2 juv; Male Balt. & 2 females.
Only unreported bird that I got after I left everyone was a White-crowned Sparrow drinking in the Vale pool. Nice way to end a good birding day.
Eni
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From John Ascher:
Hi Peter,
A slow day today (Sun), but Chaoyan and I found a male Canada Warbler at
the Lullwater around 1PM. I was surprised to see a Red-Breasted Nuthatch,
briefly, in the Vale. I saw one Nashville Warbler and may have heard
another. May (or may not) have heard a Prairie Warbler call once in the
Vale where we saw it well yesterday.
John
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From Rafael
01 May 2011
A better day weather wise than the previous. Birds, no much activity, but some surprises were hidden by the bushes.
First, the Hooded Warbler was the bird of the day for PP. A male was found by Tom S., Ed C. & myself. We shared it with a couple ( forgot their names) who tagged along with us til past mid-day. The bird was seen behind the Well House, on the side of the Lookout Hill.
Another bird sps worth of mention was 1 Great Crested Flycatcher, seen before we found the Hooded.
At the Vale, 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, 1 Northern Waterthrush.
A curious note about bird behavior. While I was around the Peninsula meadow, I saw 1 pair of Eastern Kingbirds, one of them was trying to take some nesting material. Out of the blues 1 pair of Orchard Orioles showed up in the scene. The male, was distracting the Kingbird, and then, the female took away the piece of nesting material.
Brooklyn is great birding:
Rafael Campos R
www.ticornis.com
