A terrific day for quality birds, particularly along Long Meadow near the Tennis House.
In the morning, LARK SPARROW, BLUE GROSBEAK were reported in or near the famed "sparrowbowl" ,a kettle hole or pothole ( http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/kettle+hole ) between the Tennis and Picnic Houses.
Nearby in the north Ballfields fence Enclosure, a BOBOLINK was seen inside. See the reports from Rob Jett and Mary Eyster , both who along with Rob Bate observed these great birds.
In the afternoon , just after 330 pm, in the same area, on my search for those early rarities, a raptor fest of a minor scale. The best species was BROAD-WINGED HAWK which came over from the Quaker ridge, over both Pools , crossing over the Long Meadow before disappearing over the Picnic House. Joining that uncommon species, 4 soaring RED-TAILED HAWKS and 2 COOPERS HAWKS in the same locale as well, making it thermal heaven. Later , SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and a very large accipiter in a flash over Lookout Hill didn't reveal enough of itself behind trees for identification. On another note, typical for October, NORTHERN HARRIER makes the day's tally.
There were reports of LINCOLN's SPARROWS, in the hot zone of Long Meadow, and one seen north of the Picnic House in a weedy patch en route to Grand Army plaza ( J.Ascher).
And also good, with consistency and dedication to the same site, the female HOODED WARBLER still hits the same "neighborhood ", staying put after three days in the wildflower meadow west of Nethermead Bridge ( 4 :15 ) ; at one point, it came within 10 feet of the observer , with excellent views, moving about on the rightward fallen timber .
On the last leg before the lake, a FIELD SPARROW at the Peninsula sumac grove, near the asphalt road. SWAMP SPARROW was elusive in there as well.
Last, check out the lake. 19 NORTHERN SHOVELERS mingle with a lone PIED-BILLED GREBE and 127 CANADA GEESE. Vastly outnumbered !
Birders should note two new restored open spots for good birds , both grassy wildflower meadows. One is along the Lookout Hill base at the Nethermead, facing west. ; the other is a much larger tract, still in restorative progress, the field meadow just inside the Greenwood Ave park entrance. There were a number of Common Yellowthroats and one Black-throated Blue Warbler. But with sparrows hitting the spots, it's worth checking these rare prospect habitats.
--Kingsboider
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From Rob Jett:
Peter,
Interesting few hours in Prospect Park. Birded only along the Long Meadow, Nelly's Lawn and the Vale of Cashmere. The highlight was a Lark Sparrow that Rob Bate and I saw at the fenced off area on the lawn near the Sparrow Bowl. Got a call from Mary who had spotted a Blue Grosbeak in the weedy habitat in front of the Tennis House. The three of us then watched a Bobolink that flushed from the fenced off area on the baseball field. There was also a decent showing of raptors throughout the late morning/early afternoon.
Good birding,
Rob
Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Oct 5, 2011 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
45 species
Canada Goose
Turkey Vulture (1.)
Northern Harrier (2.)
Sharp-shinned Hawk (4.)
Cooper's Hawk (2.)
Red-tailed Hawk (6.)
American Kestrel (2.)
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Chimney Swift
Red-bellied Woodpecker (2.)
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe (6.)
Blue-headed Vireo (4.)
Red-eyed Vireo (3.)
Blue Jay
Carolina Wren (1.)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (5.)
Gray-cheeked Thrush (1.)
Swainson's Thrush (3.)
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher (1.)
European Starling
Black-and-white Warbler (2.)
Common Yellowthroat (8.)
American Redstart (4.)
Magnolia Warbler (4.)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (2.)
Palm Warbler (2.)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (1.)
Eastern Towhee (1.)
Chipping Sparrow (6.)
Lark Sparrow (1, inside fenced off area at Sparrow Bowl. First year bird.)
Savannah Sparrow (2.)
Song Sparrow (3.)
Lincoln's Sparrow (1 Sparrow Bowl; 1 Vale of Cashmere.)
White-throated Sparrow (20.)
Scarlet Tanager (1, Vale of Cashmere.)
Northern Cardinal
Blue Grosbeak (1, weedy habitat next to Tennis House.)
Indigo Bunting (3, Vale of Cashmere.)
Bobolink (1, flew out of fenced off area on baseball fields.)
Common Grackle
House Sparrow
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From Mary :
The interesting sparrow was a Lincolns (just looked different to me, but Rob J confirmed). Also had Blue Grosbeak behind Tennis House near the lawn, and many species of warbler. Bobolink on fence enclosure ball field.
(Warblers) CYT, PAWA, BPWA, AMRS, BTBW, MAWA, B&W, PIWA, YRWA.
Many thrushes, and also first RCKI of season. Oh, and Northern Harrier.
Mary J. Eyster
http://www.resolvelegalservices.com/
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Peter's list
Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Oct 5, 2011 3:32 PM - 5:47 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
40 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose 127 Lake
Mute Swan 7 Lake
Wood Duck 2 f/o Lookout Hill
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 19 lake
Pied-billed Grebe 1 Lake
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 three sisters isl
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Nethermead
Cooper's Hawk 2 Long Meadow
Accipiter sp. 1 Lookot H
Broad-winged Hawk 1 Long Meadow
Red-tailed Hawk 4 soar Long Meadow
Spotted Sandpiper 1 Peninsula shore
Herring Gull 1
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Chimney Swift 11
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 4
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Propsite
Eastern Phoebe 12 , 6 @ Sparrowbowl fence enclosure
Red-eyed Vireo 2, 1 Lookout H
Blue Jay 3
House Wren 1 lookout hill
Swainson's Thrush 1 sparrowbowl
American Robin X
Gray Catbird 1
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 15 f/o Nethermead
Common Yellowthroat 9
Hooded Warbler 1 west end Nethermead br meadow
American Redstart 1 butterfly mead
Magnolia Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Greenwood ave park entrance grass field
Field Sparrow 1 peninsula sumacs
Savannah Sparrow 2 Sparrowbowl
Song Sparrow 5
Swamp Sparrow 1 peninsula sumacs
White-throated Sparrow X
Northern Cardinal 1
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
