Its been a very long day for me and several other friends. Depending on where folks were, the birding was very good in regards to rarity, diversity ,and numbers. Here are brief hi lights :
Among the Greenwood Cemetery group birders participating in my Hawk ID workshop held at Battle Hill, 7 species raptors were counted between 10 am to 1 pm. Among the observations, 2 BALD EAGLES topped the list, one eagle seen in full soar , in flat profile at the western sector of the cemetery at 11:31; then at 12:13, another eagle seen at the east border, to the left of the Bishop Ford High School tower.
That wasn't all. At Brooklyn's highest point and our hawkwatch site--Battle Hill-- the stationary count saw at least 35 species of birds flying thru and perching in fruited trees like Yews , pine and oaks. Among the best sightings: OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER & BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. For a still spot check, I'm in for more sitting... what we call the BIG SIT.
Meanwhile , our neighbor, a place called Prospect Park came thru with some flying colors. The best report focused on 2 rare RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS (RHWP), both juveniles seen on Lookout Hill's south slope , then again up at the south fringes of southwest Butterfly meadow slope with the Upper meadow, in oak trees. Many lucky observers benefited I was told, and I was lucky myself along with my friends seeing one of the RHWP in the late afternoon.
5 species woodpeckers top the hi light for Prospect today.
Speaking of Lookout Hill's Upper meadows, a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT checked in with furtive appearances. Also of note BROWN THRASHER on the Peninsula. During an eve watch, Bob Washburn reported 4 Common Nighthawks, the first appearance at 7:05 tonight. The massed movement of CHIMNEY SWIFTS was impressive to watch , easily in the 600+ range...I was too tired to count one by one. ;)>
There were many warblers seen , most impressively , a report from Keir at 7 am on Breeze Hill of a very good intense wave, over 10 species seen.
My guess at least 20 species warbler were observed in Prospect. More later, with my need to sleep.......
Peter's lists --GWC, PP
Green-Wood Cemetery, Kings, US-NY
Sep 17, 2011 9:45 AM - 1:00 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Hawkwatching
38 species
Canada Goose X
Turkey Vulture 9
Osprey 4
Bald Eagle 2
Cooper's Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 4
American Kestrel 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Herring Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Monk Parakeet X
Black-billed Cuckoo 1
Chimney Swift X
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker X
Olive-sided Flycatcher 1
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay X
Veery X
Swainson's Thrush X
American Robin X
Gray Catbird X
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 4
American Redstart X
Northern Parula X
Magnolia Warbler X
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Canada Warbler X
Chipping Sparrow 8
Scarlet Tanager 2
Northern Cardinal X
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2
Baltimore Oriole 5
American Goldfinch X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2 (http://ebird.org)
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Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
observers: Peter, Mary E., Donna E., Bob O., Bob W.
Sep 17, 2011 2:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
34 species
Double-crested Cormorant 1 lullwater
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 lullwater
Spotted Sandpiper 2 peninsula tip
Chimney Swift 600 evening , massed movement up high, conservative #
Red-headed Woodpecker 1 Lookout Hill south slope . upper meadow fringe
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1 peninsula
Northern Flicker 4
Eastern Phoebe 1 maryland mont
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 breeze hill
Veery 1
Swainson's Thrush 2
American Robin X
Gray Catbird X
Northern Mockingbird X
Brown Thrasher 1 peninsula
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing X
Northern Waterthrush X
Black-and-white Warbler 2
Nashville Warbler 1 breeze hill dump pile
Common Yellowthroat 4
American Redstart 3
Northern Parula 2
Magnolia Warbler 6
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2
Blackpoll Warbler 2, peninsula, west lake dr T junc with Center Dr
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2
Palm Warbler 1 peninusla mead
Black-throated Green Warbler 1 terrace br
Wilson's Warbler 1 switchback trail
Northern Cardinal X
House Sparrow X
Common Nighthawk- 4 reported over Nethermead by Bob Washburn, eve.
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2 (http://ebird.org)
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From Keir:
hi Peter
Another great day in PP! Started well at 7am with a mixed flock of warblers and vireos(20+ individuals) moving quickly through Breeze Hill. The Peninsula was active all day, then in early pm Lookout - Yellow-billed Cuckoo, YB Chat and 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers - first spotted by Rob B. and /or Adam W.
cheers
Keir
Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Sep 17, 2011 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
4.0 mile(s)
66 species (+2 other taxa)
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 10
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 2
loon sp. 1 flyover, Lookout Hill
Pied-billed Grebe 1 Prospect Lake
Great Blue Heron 1
Green Heron 2
Black-crowned Night-Heron 2
Turkey Vulture 7+ high over Prospect lake
Osprey 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 incl 3 together in one tree on Lookout, Butterfly Meadow
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestrel 1 hovering over Butterfly Meadow
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 above Wellhouse
Chimney Swift 20
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 4
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-headed Woodpecker 2 Juveniles together, Lookout Hill, E. slope below upper meadow. Appeared to be storing food in dead trunk.
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 8
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Empidonax sp. 1
Eastern Phoebe 1 Maryland Monument
Warbling Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 4
Blue Jay X
Black-capped Chickadee 2
House Wren 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Peninsula tip
Veery 2
Swainson's Thrush 2
American Robin 10
Gray Catbird X
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling X
Ovenbird 2
Northern Waterthrush 1
Black-and-white Warbler 5
Tennessee Warbler 1 Peninsula
Nashville Warbler 1 Breeze Hill
Common Yellowthroat 12
American Redstart 8
Northern Parula 3
Magnolia Warbler 8
Blackburnian Warbler 1 Breeze Hill
Yellow Warbler 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 6
Palm Warbler 1 Vale pond
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Peninsula thumb
Black-throated Green Warbler 3
Canada Warbler 2
Wilson's Warbler 2 Peninsula tip & Nethermead arches
Yellow-breasted Chat 1 Lookout, upper meadow
White-throated Sparrow 1 Breeze Hill
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal X
Common Grackle 2
American Goldfinch 1
House Sparrow X
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From Adam:
Hey All -- the fall migration is ON!
Others that started earlier than me got far more stuff than me, but today was definitely the best day of fall migration so far.
Cheers
Adam
Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Sep 17, 2011 10:20 AM - 1:05 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 kilometer(s)
Comments: really good migration day - cool, part overcast, light wind -
birded alone & with others, party size an average
41 species (+3 other taxa)
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) X
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) X plus hybrids with domestic types
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 9
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) 1
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) 1 caught Chipmunk
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) 1
gull sp. (Larinae sp.) 3
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) X
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 8
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) 1
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) 20
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) 1
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) 2 south slope Lookout Hill, seen by numerous observers
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 5
Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's) (Empidonax alnorum/traillii) 1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 5
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 1 my FoS
Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) 1 my FoS
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 6
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 10
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) 1 my FoS
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) 1 my FoS
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) 1
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 2
Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla) 1 my FoS
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 3
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 2
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) 2
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) 1
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) 2
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) 1
Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) 2
warbler sp. (Parulinae sp.) 1 Hooded/Wilson's - not seen well enough to ID
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) 1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 6
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2 (http://ebird.org)
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