Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Photos of OCWA

Peter Colen took these photos of Orange-crowned Warbler near the Audubon Boathouse the weekend before Thanksgiving. (click on photo to enlarge)




Saturday, November 26, 2011

BBC "Friends Walk" Prospect Nov 26th; PISI and NAWA ,OCWA seen post walk

Generally , overall a very quiet  yet beautiful day outdoors. 

Kingsboider late note: Elyse reported after the walk finished, PINE SISKIN seen drinking at the back  shore of Lower Pool ( gate) joined also by a NASHVILLE WARBLER.  Eni Falci --part of a group walk-- reports an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER  and BROWN THRASHER seen at Lamppost #249 ( Well Dr picnic tables). Guess "timing is everything!"

Results of Brooklyn Bird club walk: 12 participants

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY


Nov 26, 2011 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Protocol: Traveling

4.0 mile(s)

31 species (+2 other taxa)



Canada Goose X

Mute Swan X

American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) X

Mallard X

Ruddy Duck 25

Pied-billed Grebe 5 lake

Double-crested Cormorant 2 lake

Accipiter sp. 1

Red-tailed Hawk 2

American Coot 3

Ring-billed Gull X

Herring Gull X

Great Black-backed Gull 1

Rock Pigeon X

Mourning Dove X

Red-bellied Woodpecker 2

Downy Woodpecker 2

Blue Jay X

Tufted Titmouse 1

Carolina Wren 2- Rose Garden;south Midwood

American Robin X

European Starling X

Fox Sparrow 3- Vale Cashmere; 2 south Midwood

Song Sparrow X

White-throated Sparrow X

Dark-eyed Junco X

Northern Cardinal X

Red-winged Blackbird 1 West Isl

Purple Finch 5 Ravine (all females)

House Finch 6

American Goldfinch X

House Sparrow X



This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org/)

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

From Elyse Taylor:

Hi Peter,


When leaving the park walk this morning, at the back of the lower pool
 I saw a pine siskin drinking water , and then a nashville warbler
flew down to take a sip. It had a pale yellow belly and a prominent
eye ring.
Great way to end the walk, but wish there were a few birders there
to see them.

Thanks for the great walk!

Elyse

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


From Eni Falci

leading regular Audubon noon walk

Hi Peter-


More birders than birds yesterday. So many new birders (20+) and nothing much to put them onto. We had a goldfinch, chickadee, a fox sparrow and a few white throated sparrows while group was together. After most newbees left we moved on to the Wellhouse/ Lamp-post area and got two prizes.

A late orange-crowned warbler and a brown thrasher. There was much debate as to whether the warbler was a nashville or orange but the final words was broken eye ring and streaks on the breast.

Would have stayed longer in that area but the lighter fluid fumes were too much. It is a shame the park installed the fire pits right where the best birding tends to be.

Eni

Friday, November 25, 2011

Brooklyn Botanic Garden November 25th

From Eni Falci:

Hi Peter-


Went through the BBG today and had some good bird sightings. Highlights were the juvenile Baltimore oriole bathing in the kettle hole in the native garden. (probably same bird as seen in the Vale previously). A brief view of a late nashville warbler near the new herb garden (grey head, white eye ring and yellow breast). Finally 4 cedar waxwings few over toward the lawn on Eastern Parkway.

Eni Falci

Nashville warbler --herb garden section

Baltimore Oriole (also one at Wellhouse slope yesterday)

Cedar waxwings 4

Robins X

Mourning Doves X

Blue Jays 5

Starlings X

White throated sparrows X

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow (many yesterday @Maryland Monument)

Mockingbirds 3

Yellow bellied Sapsucker

Red Bellied Woodpecker 3

Ruby crowned Kinglet 1

white breasted nuthatch

and tufted titmouse

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Invitation to be in a film documentary either Dec 3rd or 4th

I received this note on the Brooklyn Bird Club website contact page from a City University of NY grad journalist --Justin--aspiration to film birders in a documentary in Prospect. If you are interested in becoming a film subject , please email ME back so I can arraign the time and place. See attached his note

The target date I suggested is next weekend Either the 3rd or 4th of December (depending on # of people replying back to me for best number whichever day ) which I can set a early morning start , maybe 8 am likely at Grand Army Plaza park entrance.Hope you can help .

Peter

prosbird@aol.com

-----Original Message-----
From: info@brooklynbirdclub.org


Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2011 14:52:03 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Fwd: video piece on saturday tour?
To: prosbird@aol.com


-----Original Message-----
Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:42:18 -0500 (EST)
Subject: =?utf-8?Q?video_piece_on_saturday_tour=3F?=
From: jmitche@journalism.cuny.edu
To: info@brooklynbirdclub.org

Hello. I am a journalist with the New York City News Service, and a student at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. I am interested in doing a short video piece on the bird wildlife of Prospect Park, as well as the culture of the people who enjoy watching them. I am very interested in coming along with your tour this Saturday, the 26th. My goal would be to get footage of birds, people watching them, and to speak to as many of the walk's participants as possible.

Best,

Justin Mitchell

Prospect Thanksgiving Day


Peter list (pre-parade)

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Nov 24, 2011 8:15 AM - 8:50 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments: Prospect Lake
14 species

Mute Swan 6
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 19
Hooded Merganser 5
Ruddy Duck 24
Pied-billed Grebe 4
Double-crested Cormorant 3
American Coot 5
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Song Sparrow 1 Greenwood Ave grassland tract
Common Grackle 3 West Island shore
House Finch 18 west shore

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Prospect Park--Feeders, Kings, US-NY
Nov 24, 2011 11:00 AM - 11:40 AM
Protocol: Stationary
11 species

Mourning Dove 5
White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Wellhouse
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 1
Fox Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 6
Northern Cardinal 1
Baltimore Oriole 1 female, Breeze hill ,reported by Adam Welz
American Goldfinch 1
House Sparrow X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)





Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Prospect Winter bird feeders ...continues

The annual winter bird feeders tradition continues.  (yes , they are up)

Happy Thanksgiving !

Peter

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Photos of the Baltimore Oriole in Vale Cashmere

Attached are photos taken Sunday by Christopher Holden with his "point and shoot" camera of the late seasonal juv. BALTIMORE ORIOLE that is hanging out at the Vale of Cashmere ( pools area north end mostly from previous reports). This bird was first seen i believe in early October.

--KB


Sunday, November 20, 2011

November 20th Prospect : LP249 is good to show

Lamppost #249, the Well Drive picnic tables site revealed another nice find , an out of season ( or late) NASHVILLE WARBLER reported by Alex Wilson. This find comes behind yesterday's Orange -Crowned Warbler. So, it's a "Go to" spot to look for potential good stuff...Also noted are 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS at Lily Pool ( or Pond ) and one remaining GREEN-WINGED TEAL , a hen at West Island.

From Alex Wilson:

Begin forwarded message:




> Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY

> Nov 20, 2011

> 50 species (+1 other taxa)

>

> Canada Goose 40

> Mute Swan 9

> American Black Duck 2

> American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 1

> Mallard 70

> Northern Shoveler 6

> Green-winged Teal 1 (Female, West Island.)

> Ruddy Duck 25

> Pied-billed Grebe 2

> Double-crested Cormorant 2

> Great Blue Heron 1

> Black-crowned Night-Heron 1

> Cooper's Hawk 1 (Juvenile, bathing, Lower Lullwater.)

> Red-tailed Hawk 1

> Merlin 1

> American Coot 10

> Laughing Gull 1

> Ring-billed Gull 125

> Herring Gull 40

> Great Black-backed Gull 5

> Rock Pigeon 30

> Mourning Dove 10

> Red-bellied Woodpecker 6

> Downy Woodpecker 4

> Blue Jay 15

> Black-capped Chickadee 3

> Tufted Titmouse 1

> White-breasted Nuthatch 6

> Brown Creeper 2

> Carolina Wren 3

> Golden-crowned Kinglet 1

> Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2

> Hermit Thrush 6

> American Robin 30

> Northern Mockingbird 1

> European Starling 75

> Cedar Waxwing 2

> Nashville Warbler 1 (In brush on slope above lamppost 249.

> Distinct complete eye ring; gray hood, bright yellow fore & aft,

> paler belly; definitely not the OCWA reported yesterday in same

> location.)

> Yellow-rumped Warbler 1

> Eastern Towhee 1

> Fox Sparrow 1

> Song Sparrow 5

> White-throated Sparrow 40

> Dark-eyed Junco 5

> Northern Cardinal 20

> Red-winged Blackbird 5

> Rusty Blackbird 2 (Pair flying in to tree top above Lily Pond,

> then feeding in front of viewing platform.)

> Common Grackle 3

> House Finch 5

> American Goldfinch 25

> House Sparrow 20

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Nov 19th Prospect; A rarity, an uncommon , and a good possibility

An exhausting work week kept me close to home, with mostly spent energy reserve that was enough to get me around Prospect this morning. And the stay at home mindset paid its reward with quality birds.

Beginning with the rarity, found behind the Lamppost #249 picnic tables ( Well Drive), I pished for the heck of it, and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER appeared quite close. After its initial perch, the rare warbler flew back of the woods , towards the slope, where I saw it feeding in a cherry tree. It's highly likely the same bird seen last weekend

Prior that very good sighting, a uncommon find regarding the species and the number of individuals. A small dark flock in Prospect Lake's middle by Three Sisters Islands, turned out to be 7 GREEN-WINGED TEALs, with 4 drakes. I was more surprised with the 7 number though anything has to happen these years with passing through birds.

And last, a strong possibility reported to me from the Audubon walk group with PINE SISKINS. Given the time frame for this species now, Eni Falci reported along with Anne and Michele, two seen feeding on Ash tree seeds. So, if you are out there, look for these birds as well as other possible winter finches.

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

Peter's list:

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY


Nov 19, 2011 8:45 AM - 12:15 PM

Protocol: Traveling

4.0 mile(s)

35 species



Canada Goose X

Mute Swan 7 lake

Mallard X

Green-winged Teal 7 Prospect Lake

Bufflehead 2 yesterday Lake, hens

Ruddy Duck 31 Lake

Pied-billed Grebe 1 Lake

Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 stooped for prey Breeze Hill

Cooper's Hawk 1 f/o Breeze Hill

Red-tailed Hawk 2  soaring most of morning Well dr/Lookout Hill

American Coot 8 Lake

Ring-billed Gull X

Herring Gull X

Great Black-backed Gull 1 lake

Rock Pigeon X

Mourning Dove 7 Peninsula Sumacs

Monk Parakeet 4 Yesterday  f/o Garage 9th st

Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Terrace br

Downy Woodpecker 1 Sumacs

Blue Jay 2

Black-capped Chickadee 3 Breeze Hill

White-breasted Nuthatch 1 heard by Anne

Winter Wren 1 Maryland Monument, spotted by Anne

Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 Peninsula sumacs

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Peninsula Sumacs

Hermit Thrush 1 Peninsula sumacs

American Robin X Sumacs

European Starling X

Orange-crowned Warbler 1 woods behind LP 249 ( well dr picnic tables)

Yellow-rumped Warblers- 2 Peninsula Sumacs

Fox Sparrow 1 Peninsula sumacs

Song Sparrow 2

White-throated Sparrow 30--2 flocks, lookout hill south, breeze hill mounds

Dark-eyed Junco 9 LP 249

Northern Cardinal 2 LP249



This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

**************************************
 
From Eni Falci;
 
Hi Peter-


Michele's noon walk had some nice looks at both kinglet types and a fox sparrow in the sumac edge at the Peninsula lawn. We also had late robins, yellow rump warblers and white throat sparrows here.

On our way from the pools young great blue heron here, to the ravine -the stream at the Ravine Bridge was active with 2 hermit thrushes and downy woodpecker bathing.

Michele, Anne and I think we had 2 pine siskins up in the trees there -any confirmations? Distinctive narrow beak, streaked breast and very notched tail eating ash tree seeds.

Eni
7 GREENWINGED TEALS on Prospect Lake by 3 Sisters isl

Friday, November 18, 2011

New bee species found @BBG ; Prospect reports inc OCWA &GHO

From John Ascher:

Hi Peter,


This may be of interest for your blog:

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/10/bees/

I forgot to email you that I found a late Laughing Gull over the Lake on Sat.

John

John S. Ascher, Ph.D.

Bee Database Project Manager

Division of Invertebrate Zoology

American Museum of Natural History


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

From Gabriel Willow:

Subject: Prospect Park Sightings 11/17/11


From: gabriel willow

Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:29:06 -0800



While leading a private tour today for some excitable twitchers
 from Newcastle, UK, we had some nice sightings in Prospect
Park in spite [because of?] the dreary cold, wet weather.

On the Lake we had two Pied-billed Grebes, a number of
American Coots, and many Ruddy Ducks. �Nearby under the
Terrace Bridge we encountered a flock of White-throated Sparrows
that included two Fox Sparrows, one of which burst into song! �
I don't think I've ever heard a Fox Sparrow singing here in their
wintering grounds... it was lovely. �Nearby I caught a quick glimpse
of a greenish-gray bird I assumed to be a Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
 but I "pished" and it landed on a branch mere feet from our faces...
and it was a fairly bright�Orange-crowned Warbler!
Seems late, no?

On the Peninsula we encountered a flock of 8 House Finches eating
Green Ash seeds, and there was one male Purple Finch in the group.

We also had Golden-and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a flock of over
50 Juncos, a calling Carolina Wren, and the pair of Great-horned Owls
roosting in their undisclosed location.

Not a bad day! �Oh, and yesterday from the Terrace Bridge I saw
something I'd never witnessed before: in the afternoon a bat was circling
(late as well, but it was warm) and a Merlin flew in and took a couple
passes at it! �The bat went into evasive maneuvers though and the falcon
didn't catch it though as far as I could see... must've been trying out to be
a Bat Falcon!

Good Birding,

Gabriel WillowProspect Park Audubon Center, NYC Audubon

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

Generally very quiet after my work day, yet for small movement in the Peninsula sumacs by the water fountain; Eating Peppercorn berries were HERMIT THRUSH, White-throated Sparrows, and two nearby SWAMP SPARROWS..

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY


Nov 17, 2011 3:30 AM - 4:15 AM

Protocol: Traveling

1.0 mile(s)

13 species



Mute Swan 5

Mallard X

Ruddy Duck 31 lake

Double-crested Cormorant 1 at 3 sisters

American Coot 3 lake

Mourning Dove X

Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 well dr

Blue Jay 1

Hermit Thrush 1 peninsula sumacs


American Robin 20 peninsula sumacs


Swamp Sparrow 2 peninsula sumacs

White-throated Sparrow X

American Goldfinch 1



This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Local birder Rob Jett speaking at NYU 11/16 3:30-630 pm

Rob Jett of Brooklyn birding fame is one of the guest speakers at NYU in Manhattan tomorrow.

The speaking program focuses on local environment and urban genre.

For more , go to Rob's "Citybirder" blog  clicking on the below link:

http://citybirder.blogspot.com/2011/11/upcoming-event.html

-KB

Monday, November 14, 2011

Recruiting for the Christmas Bird Count

December 17th is the Brooklyn (Kings) Christmas Bird Count.

If you are interested in participating in this grand & celebrated event, please contact Heidi for any area outside of Prospect Park.

If you  want to participate in Prospect Park, contact me at Prosbird@aol.com to be either on my team  in the southern /Lake region OR Paul Keim's team meeting at Grand Army Plaza park entrance (Stranahan Statue)  at 7 am then for Paul's northern region exploration. I will try to balance the numbers for each team.

Here's the info on the Xmas count from the Brooklyn Bird Club trips webpage:

Saturday, December 17th, 112th Christmas Bird Census



http://conservation.audubon.org/programs/christmas-bird-count


Teams Coordinator: Heidi Steiner-Nanz (718) 369-2116 (call early eve before 8 pm) or email heidi.steiner@verizon.net


Compiler: Rick Cech, assisted by Paul Keim


Comments: Coordinator assigns trip leaders and participants, assimilating teams and establishing starting points with team leaders. Please call early as possible for participation in this great event. Time is needed to plan and figure out the details. The count dinner will be held at the Prospect Park Audubon Center (Boathouse). Help and assistance is needed for dinner setup, email Peter at prosbird@aol.com to offer your help and get details. There is a $5 donation request for the event as a donation to cover publication cost of the Census results from National Audubon.. See your field leader on the latter for details.

--Peter

Typical areas outside Prospect usually needing participants

Greenwood Cemetery
Floyd Bennett Field Preserve
Spring Creek
Bergen Beach
Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Prospect November 13th

Back from a few days in the Jersey Pine Barrens (birds , inc 5 Bald Eagles,Snow Geese in Brigantine NWR , 100+ Cedar Waxwings in an Atlantic Cedar grove and perimeter ; leaf peeping for colorful fall foliage) , here are today's Prospect's birding reports including ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER:

From Adam :

Hi All




At about 3pm this afternoon I was taking a walk with Sarah in the Park

and she spotted a warbler-like bird that she didn't recognize. I got

on to it and we had a bunch of really good views of my first

Orange-crowned Warbler for this year, halfway between the Wellhouse

and the BBQ area near the south end of Lookout. Gray head, very slim

eye-ring, fainly blotchy/streaked olivey breast, paler greenish-yellow

vent, etc. etc.

What a way to be welcomed back to NYC! (I got back yesterday from Kenya.)

Cheers

Adam


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

From Kathy

There were very few birds today. Most of the birds we did see were on


Breeze Hill. We got only a very brief look at the turkey vulture,

flying over.

date = 2011/11/13

site = Prospect Park

observers = Kathy Toomey and Emily Goldstein

Pied-billed Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Turkey Vulture

Northern Shoveler

Ruddy Duck

Mute Swan

Mallard

American Coot

Great Black-backed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Downy Woodpecker

Blue Jay

Tufted Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Hermit Thrush

White-throated Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinal

House Sparrow

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Tonights BBC prog reminder; list from Sunday

Dont forget tonights lecture "Birding Israel" , presented by Eric Salzman

Venue Litchfield Villa conference room, 630 gathering, 7 pm presentation.

for more goto http://www.brooklynbirdclub.org/ calendar link

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

From Michele reporting on last Sunday's walk

Vinnie and Eni led the 8 am walk on one of the most beautiful Sundays of the year. The group of 9 walked over to the Ballfields in search of the eastern bluebirds. They met back at the center with the 10 am group. 8 more people joined and we hit the vale.


We saw the oriole right away. The Swamp Sparrow joined us for a while. Then we got such good looks at a downy woodpecker that we were able to see it's tongue dart in and out of the hole in the tree trunk.

We went to the sparrow bowl and saw the vesper sparrow and two red bats! It was funny that some dog walkers didn't notice them flying right over their heads.

See you all on Sunday December 4 at 10am.
Here's the November list:

Robin

Mockingbird

Red tailed hawk

White throated sparrow

Red eyed vireo

Golden crowned kinglet

Hermit thrush

Tufted titmouse

(Heard) chickadee

Cardinal

House sparrow

Swamp sparrow

Baltimore oriole  (late)

Downy woodpecker

Vesper sparrow

Ring-billed gull

American Coot

Eastern red bat

Mallard

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Prospect November 9th

Yesterday John Ascher reported VESPER SPARROW near the Sparrowbowl, by lamppost S150

Today's report
Larry Zirlin

Hi Peter,
Seemed like a pretty quiet morning.

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


Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Nov 9, 2011 7:57 AM - 11:18 AM
Protocol: Traveling
4.0 mile(s)
28 species

Canada Goose 3
Mute Swan 9
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 75
Ruddy Duck 24
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Peregrine Falcon 2 BBG tower
American Coot 12
Ring-billed Gull 80
Herring Gull 10
Rock Pigeon 9
Mourning Dove 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 10
Black-capped Chickadee 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 2
European Starling 8
Savannah Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 10
Northern Cardinal 9
House Finch 4 Vale
House Sparrow 15

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Expired American Woodcock

I received an inquiry yesterday to identify a bird carcass that was found on the street curb below the Smith -9th Street train station in the Carroll Gardens section of  Brooklyn. Likely the bird died from a collision with a nearby window or building or some sort of infrastructure obstruction ( steel frame, beam,etc)

It is an unfortunate occurrence that not every bird makes it journey to its intended destination.A fact stated  from "Birds in Migration", by Paul Kerlinger ( I  think this is the book) that only 30 % of migrants successfully complete their journeys, a sobering fact that also requires us to be vigilant in conserving habitats and addressing issues that are deathtraps for the remaining 30% .These are things like reflective windows, wind turbines ( yes, they are now being looked at with disdain) , feral cats and so on.

Oh , its an AMERICAN WOODCOCK




Correction : On the 30 % "fact, I recalled the book might have been Scott Wiedensaul's book "Living on the Wing"

Monday, November 7, 2011

This Thursday BBC eve program : BBC member Tom Stephenson's lecture @Linnaean

The last Brooklyn Bird Club program for 2011 will be a very interesting one.

http://brooklynbirdclub.org/meetings.htm

The venue is the Litchfield Villa ( at PPWest Ave and 5th St) 630 gathering, 7 pm program

Thursday, November 10, 6:30 P.M.


Birding Israel
with Eric Salzman, speaking


Israel is situated right on one of the world's greatest migration routes for raptors, land birds and wetlands species traveling between Africa and Eurasia and it is the only country on this route where birds are not extensively trapped or shot. It is also hosts a large number of wintering birds (including the world's greatest concentrations of cranes and storks) as well as many Mediterranean and Middle Eastern breeding species. There are now birding centers around the country from Jerusalem to many of the kibbutz in the rift valley, on the Mediterranean and even in the desert. Eric Salzman had the good luck to be there at the end of winter and beginning of spring and was able to travel the country from bottom to top and from west to east to visit many of the top sites.


6:30 PM at the Litchfield Villa (Program will start at 7.)



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

From NYS Birds Listserve:

BBC's Tom Stephenson speaking for Linnanean 11/8


Our own Tom Stephenson will be guest speaking on warbler songs and calls identification. For more and details see below from the NYSBirds listserve:

FoSubject: The Linnaean Society Lecture Series: Seeing and hearing birds better (8 Nov 6-9 pm AMNH)
from: Angus Wilson

Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2011 21:21:28 -0400


*** THE LINNAEAN SOCIETY OF NEW YORK - MEETING PROGRAM - AMERICAN MUSEUM OF
NATURAL HISTORY, NEW YORK CITY ***

Next TUESDAY (8 Nov 2011), *The Linnaean Society of New York* (TLS) will

present another two part program featuring entertaining talks by Jerry
Connolly and Tom Stephenson. The theme of the night is ways to improve your
birding experience, by eye or by ear. The program is held at the American

Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City.

*6:00 p.m. OPTICS - JERRY CONNOLLY*
Owner of The Audubon Shop in Madison, Connecticut, and a member of
Swarovski Optik�s Birding Advisory Council, Jerry Connolly will display,
discuss, and allow hands-on tryouts of the latest in birding optics. He
will also offer tips on how to become a better digiscoper (one who takes
digital photographs through a spotting scope).

*7:30 p.m. WARBLERS IN REAL LIFE - TOM STEPHENSON*

In a preview of his forthcoming book of the same title, Tom
Stephenson�musician, author, photographer, lecturer, and tour leader�will
focus on some lesser-known points of visual identification of warblers and
how they, and thus other songbirds, can be identified by songs, flight
calls, and contact calls, using sonograms and other techniques available
free to computer users. He will also describe the system he created for
learning bird songs after he had studied how memory actually works. �My own
memory is nothing special,� he writes in one of his regular *Surfbird* blog
posts, but he goes on to say, �using this system I have been able to learn
300 or 400 songs for each of my last several trips to Africa, South
America, and Asia.�

*WHERE AND WHEN*

Both programs are open to the public FREE OF CHARGE and will be held in the

Linder Theater on the first floor of the American Museum of Natural

History. Enter the museum from the 77th Street entrance, where TLS members
will be on hand to guide you up to the auditorium. The first program will
last approximately one hour. Anyone wishing to meet Tom Stephenson before
the 7:30 program may join the TLS party for dinner at Pappardella, 316
Columbus Ave. at 75th St., at 6 pm. The reservation will be in the name of
Deutsch.
*MORE INFORMATION ON THE TLS PROGRAM *

Jeff Nulle (Vice-President and Chair of the Program Committee) has put
together a spectacular program of invited speakers, workshops and video
presentations for the coming 2011/2012 season. For more details, please
check out (and bookmark) our website
http://linnaeannewyork.org/programs.html
or visit us on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Linnaean-Society-of-New-York/335385365977?ref=ts
Hopefully many of you will be able to join us on Tuesday (no reservations
necessary) for an educational evening.
Angus Wilson
Council Member, The Linnaean Society of New York
Hooded merganser @ 3 Sisters islands prospect lake

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Prospect November 5th & Nov 6th BAOR

Today's specialty is RUSTY BLACKBIRD. Typically a November migrant, the bird seen by Keir first was working along the watery edges , flipping over leaves in the Vale Cashmere pool.It was still there in midafternoon when I swung by.

EASTERN BLUEBIRD were found at the "sparrowbowl", two birds spotted by Elyse Taylor.Keir had one as well.

An ORIOLE species was reported at the north end of the Vale Cashmere, likely the same bird  from over three weeks ago, persistent in its habits at that locale.It's likely a Baltimore but it would help if a photo of it was attained to ascertain its true identity and not some rarity from elsewhere.Keir reported the oriole.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
From Keir:

hi Peter


Quite a lot of FOS birds for me today and some obvious movement of robins, grackles etc in flyovers. The north end of the Vale pool brought great views of a Rusty Blackbird (skittish but if you kept still it would approach and toss leaves at close range), Purple Finches and high in the trees what presumably is the mystery oriole from 2 weeks ago. This is a note from Paul Sweet who saw the the bird with me the first time:

Hi KeirI looked at some skins the next day and found plenty of Baltimores that looked like the bird. Nothing wrong with a few pics though.Paul

So to be clear, there was nothing other than the late date (and now long staying) which made me wonder that it might not be Baltimore. Hopefully someone will get better views soon.

As fall transitions into winter, a sign of it would be PURPLE FINCHES (Keir), three birds spotted at the Vale as well along with one FOX SPARROW, today's "hot" spot.(2 Fox Sparrows also seen at Villa woods.)


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From Keir



Prospect Park, Kings, US-NYNov 5, 2011 8:45 AM - 1:45 PM

Protocol: Traveling3.0 mile(s)

39 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose 20
Mallard 10
Northern Shoveler 15
Ruddy Duck 10
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Double-crested Cormorant 6
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Ring-billed Gull 50
Herring Gull 20
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove 5
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 10
Black-capped Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 8
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Eastern Bluebird 1 Long Meadow fenced in area by ballfields, flew to trees nr Sparrowbowl
Hermit Thrush 6
American Robin 40
European Starling 20
Chipping Sparrow 2
Fox Sparrow 1 Vale pool
Song Sparrow 6
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 30
Dark-eyed Junco 10
Northern Cardinal 4
Rusty Blackbird 1 Vale pool
Common Grackle 25
Brown-headed Cowbird 10
oriole sp. 1 Vale pool - female type, probably Baltimore but not seen well enough to rule out Bullock's
Purple Finch 3 Vale pool drinking/bathing, probably 6 birds in total
House Sparrow 30


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From Elyse:

Hi Peter,


Right after I saw you in the park today, I went to the sparrow bowl and immediately

saw 2 bluebirds on the fence and flying into the trees.

Also a yellow rump was there.

Otherwise it was a slow day, just seeing a few hermit thrushes.

Elyse

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

From Rafael:
A very slow morning around PP, but some surprises among the 31 sps I tallied


between 8-12 am, 06 Nov 2011.

The nice one was 1 inmature Baltimore Oriole found at the Vale (seen also by

other birders later). Another surprise was 1 Green Heron seen around the lower

Lullwater.

Other sps seen today were: House Finch, Swamp Sparrow, Cooper's Hawk,

Pied-billed Grebe, Northern Shoveler (no Ruddy Ducks today!!!), Tufted Titmouse,

Hermit Thrush.

Brooklyn is good birding!!!: Rafa Campos R.
RUSTY BB reptd earlierby Keir still presnt in Vale cashmere pool water section
RUSTY BB ORIOLE SP FOX SPARROW_n Vale cashmere pool

Friday, November 4, 2011

November 4th Prospect : Windy day,raptor rewards

Before a summary of today's sightings, Monica Berger passed me a note about WiFi in Prospect. This news is a good thing to know if those who are not on my textblast group or Twitter can check my prospect sightings blog or the local birding listserves when in the Picnic House area.

Hi Peter: You *might* want to mention on your blog
that the Picnic House now has wifi. This is very useful
to those without smart phones,data plans or cell phone
plans like myself who only have a iPod touch
and have to pay by the text on their cell.

thanks, Monica


******************************************
 
A windy day under clear conditions is something to note because if you look up, good raptors may be passing over.
 
This morning , Mary Eyster and Russ Alderson saw an Eagle species flying over the 9th Street park entrance, in this case BALD EAGLE. There were several other distant raptors, one other likely eagle species which was too far to determine its identity ( because Golden Eagles pass thru around this time).
 
The next best thing is RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. This bird was spotted by me over the Boathouse East Drive area, a circling soaring bird that veered southwestward. Later , Rob Bate reported seeing a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK at 12:15 pm over the Long Meadow.This likely is a second bird since the first was seen 10:47.
 
Other raptors on my day off include several Red-Tailed Hawks and a soaring PEREGRINE FALCON. These two species just happened to soar over me as I was lunching at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden cafe ( great food!). A Sharp-Shinned Hawk over Breeze Hill , American Kestrel at the Sparrowbowl ( Bate) added to the list of hawks for today.
 
Two VESPER SPARROWS, no doubt very wary of those hawks, continue their remarkable stay residing at the ballfields fence enclosure ,perched on the snow fence, reported by Russ.
 
On the terrestrial level,well more like aquatics sense, 5 BUFFLEHEADS --1 drake, 4 hen --sailed along on Prospect Lake, while a WOOD DUCK drake shot off over the south lakeside. About 35 RUDDY DUCKS dispersed throughout the lake. But most amusing has to be 5 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS flocking on the electric tour boat canopy.It must be messy up there.
 
--Kingsboider

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY


Nov 4, 2011 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Protocol: Traveling

4.0 mile(s)

35 species



Canada Goose 102  Parade grounds

Mute Swan 9  lake

Wood Duck 1  lake , drake

Mallard X

Bufflehead 5, 1 drake, 4 hen Lake

Ruddy Duck 35 lake

Pied-billed Grebe 2 lake

Double-crested Cormorant 5 on Lake boat

Bald Eagle 1 west woods 9th street ent per Mary Eyster, Russ Alderson

Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 breeze hill

Red-shouldered Hawk 2--one over boathouse (dorosh); 1 Long Meadow (Bate)

Red-tailed Hawk 2

American Kestrel 1 sparrowbowl per Rob Bate

Ring-billed Gull X

Herring Gull X

Great Black-backed Gull 1

Rock Pigeon X

Mourning Dove X

Downy Woodpecker 1

Eastern Phoebe 1

Blue Jay 2

Black-capped Chickadee 1 breeze hill

Brown Creeper 1 south Lakeside

Winter Wren 1 south Lakeside

Golden-crowned Kinglet 3

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4

American Robin X

Northern Mockingbird 1 Peninsula

European Starling X

Chipping Sparrow 1 at LP 249

Vesper Sparrow 2 baseball fields per Russ Alderson

Song Sparrow 5  breeze hill

Swamp Sparrow 1 breeze hill

White-throated Sparrow X

House Sparrow X



Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Kings, US-NY


Nov 4, 2011 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Protocol: Traveling

1.0 mile(s)

9 species



Red-tailed Hawk 1

Peregrine Falcon 1

Brown Creeper 1

Golden-crowned Kinglet 6

American Robin 45

Northern Mockingbird 1

European Starling 1

White-throated Sparrow X

House Sparrow X



This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Red shouldered hawk Flyover boathouse .head southwest
5 Buffleheads on Prospect Lake

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Two Sunday walks 11/6

A gorgeous fall day but alas too quiet for birds..

Two walks are scheduled for this Sunday (when Daylaight Savings time ends..turn back the clocks):

First walk is the Brooklyn Bird Club Prospect

Sunday, November 6th, Prospect Park


Meet 8 am at Bartel Pritchard Square park entrance

Meeting spot image: http://tinyurl.com/BPProspect

Trip Leader: Ed Crowne

Focus: early winter passerines, late fall stragglers, raptors, freshwater waterfowl

*****
&

"First Sunday Walk"

 leader Michele Dreger's note below

The Prospect Park Newsletter lists this walk as being 10am. So once again, there will be 2 walks.


One will be at 8am and the other at 10am.

It is also Marathon Sunday and the clocks change... so make your personal adjustments and join one of the walks...

We will meet at the Boathouse - bring your own binoculars...

We will be going to the fields to look for sparrows.
Looking forward to seeing you....

FYI

The December and January and February walks will be at 10am.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Addenum to November 1st Prospect

After work, I stopped by the Baseball fence enclosure. Thereupon, two VESPER SPARROWs emerged from the ground and perched on one of the center short plastic mesh fences and stayed out for awhile. Nearby and flying around, even perching on the backstop fence of ball field #4 ( near the Upper Pool) was 1 female EASTERN BLUEBIRD

A stop by the lake revealed a PIED-BILLED GREBE, 27 RUDDY DUCK, and 1 NORTHERN SHOVELER. However, one species commonly seen in summer for a late bird now: 2 LAUGHING GULLs with the common flock.

But trumping these species was a show of force by EASTERN BLUEBIRD, 19 seen by Alex Wilson..See his report.

Finally, an oversight on my part with a late season BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER (BTBL) sighted by Alex. On my way home the day before , I took the woods trail that went along the west cemetery border after work , late afternoon. At the trail steps, a BTBL appeared and worked the brush .

--KB

Peter's list

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY


Nov 1, 2011 3:35 PM - 4:35 PM

Protocol: Traveling

1.0 mile(s)

26 species


Canada Goose X

Mute Swan 7 lake

American Black Duck 3 at 3 sisters isl

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler 1 lake

Ruddy Duck 27 lake

Pied-billed Grebe 1 lake

Double-crested Cormorant 2 lake

American Coot 2 lake

Laughing Gull 2 lake

Ring-billed Gull X

Herring Gull X

Rock Pigeon X

Mourning Dove X

Eastern Phoebe 4

Blue Jay 2

Golden-crowned Kinglet 1

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2

Eastern Bluebird 3 baseball fence enclosure (bfe)

Hermit Thrush X

European Starling X

Vesper Sparrow 2  bfe

Savannah Sparrow X bfe

White-throated Sparrow X

Dark-eyed Junco X

House Sparrow X



This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

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From Alex Wilson:


> Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY

> Nov 2, 2011

> 52 species


> Canada Goose 40

> Mute Swan 10

> American Black Duck 1

> Mallard 80

> Northern Shoveler 6

> Ruddy Duck 45

> Pied-billed Grebe 3

> Double-crested Cormorant 2

> Red-tailed Hawk 3

> American Kestrel 1

> Peregrine Falcon 1

> American Coot 8

> Ring-billed Gull 30

> Herring Gull 15

> Rock Pigeon 30

> Mourning Dove 15

> Belted Kingfisher 3

> Red-bellied Woodpecker 5

> Downy Woodpecker 7

> Northern Flicker 20

> Eastern Phoebe 7 (1 Lullwater cove; 2 Lookout Hill; at least 4

> around ball fields.)

> Blue Jay 15

> American Crow 40

> Black-capped Chickadee 5

> White-breasted Nuthatch 4

> Brown Creeper 2

> Carolina Wren 1

> Winter Wren 1

> Golden-crowned Kinglet 5

> Ruby-crowned Kinglet 10

> Eastern Bluebird 19 (1 early flyover in Robin flock; 4

> Nethermead; 14 around ball field fenced area at 1:00 PM.)

> Hermit Thrush 15

> American Robin 50

> Gray Catbird 4

> European Starling 75

> American Pipit 1 (Flew in to Long Meadow while I was watching

> Bluebirds, left after about 10 minutes.)

> Cedar Waxwing 7

> Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 (Female, probably adult with

> distinct white wing patches, Lullwater bend just below Terrace

> Bridge.)

> Yellow-rumped Warbler 1

> Chipping Sparrow 1

> Vesper Sparrow 1 (Continues in ball field fenced area, took 45

> minutes to show.)

> Savannah Sparrow 3

> Fox Sparrow 4

> Song Sparrow 15

> Swamp Sparrow 4

> White-throated Sparrow 50

> Dark-eyed Junco 40

> Northern Cardinal 10

> Red-winged Blackbird 150 (Mostly in a few early flocks.)

> Common Grackle 15

> Brown-headed Cowbird 8

> House Sparrow 25

November 2nd, Prospect

EASTERN BLUEBIRDs and AMERICAN PIPITs were today's notables. At the Sparrowbowl , the vale /kettle between the Tennis House and Picnic House, Mary Eyster spotted 6 EASTERN BLUEBIRD. Afterwards, only a trio were sighted there by Larry Zirlin, later by Matthew Wills , and finally me and Janet Zinn , who spotted them perched on the baseball field fence enclosure ( yes, that great spot!)  around noon before flushed away by passerby.

The AMERICAN PIPITS--40 strong, were calling on a flyover ( denoted "f/o" in my texts) heard by Mary , at the ballfields.

A nice fall day, with typical species seen this time around. I often equate November with the Eastern Bluebird species, a gorgeous bird that aptly represents New York as its state bird.

--Kingsboider

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From Larry:

Hi Peter,


Mary saw 6 bluebirds, I was only able to count 3 before a couple of Red-tails scared them away.


34 species

Canada Goose 3 f/o Long Meadow

Mute Swan 9

American Black Duck 1 West Island

Mallard 80

Northern Shoveler 9

Ruddy Duck 34

Double-crested Cormorant 1

Red-tailed Hawk 2

American Coot 12

Ring-billed Gull 40

Herring Gull 10

Rock Pigeon 4

Mourning Dove 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker 3

Downy Woodpecker 1

Northern Flicker 3

Blue Jay 12

American Crow 1

Black-capped Chickadee 3

White-breasted Nuthatch 2

Golden-crowned Kinglet 1

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1

Eastern Bluebird 3 Sparrow Bowl

Hermit Thrush 5

American Robin 15

European Starling 5

Yellow-rumped Warbler 1

Chipping Sparrow 1 LP 249

Savannah Sparrow 1 LP 249

Song Sparrow 10

White-throated Sparrow 75

Dark-eyed Junco 50

Northern Cardinal 2

House Sparrow 30

Larry

http://birdsandwords-larryz.blogspot.com/
3 EAST BLUEBIRD perched on baseball fence enclosure west fence
6 EAST BLUEBIRD @ Sparrowbowl per mary n larry; 40 AMER PIPIT F/o ballfield (mary)

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

New tree identification guide out

Brooklyn Bird Club member Leslie Day's new book is now published and on sale.

 Field Guide to the Street Trees of New York City is available as Kindle and thru Amazon.com

Google or Bing the book title and Ms Day's name.

--Kingsboider

Prospect November 1st

From Larry :

Hey Peter,
Lots of sparrows, no Vesper that I could find.

list for the day
34 species
Mute Swan 9
Mallard 25
Northern Shoveler 9
Ruddy Duck 47
Pied-billed Grebe 3 Lullwater south
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Red-tailed Hawk 2 f/o Long Meadow
American Kestrel 1 Male, perched in tree, Long Meadow
American Coot 11 Lullwater
Ring-billed Gull 45
Herring Gull 2
Rock Pigeon 10
Mourning Dove 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 7 Six grazing in Sparrow Bowl
Eastern Phoebe 4 Three Sparrow Bowl, one ball field enclosure
Blue Jay 7
American Crow 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 7
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3
Hermit Thrush 7
Gray Catbird 1
European Starling 20
Palm Warbler 3
Chipping Sparrow 10
Savannah Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 10
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 30
Dark-eyed Junco 20
Northern Cardinal 4
House Sparrow 10


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

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

Lake sightings

67 Canada Geese
42 Ruddy Duck
2 Pied Billed Grebe

after work 10/31 (340 pm) , I saw 2 VESPER SPARROWS together on the northwest snow fence baseball field enclosure. EASTERN PHOEBEs also present along with the gamut of juncos and sparrows.