Monday, October 31, 2011

Prospect October 31st; previous day reports


First , a Happy Halloween to all:

No spooks reported today in Prospect but for a few "in the flesh" good birds expected at this time of the year.

Early this morning, 5 AMERICAN PIPITS were reported in the baseball field  fence enclosure --by now a famous spot for its locality , reported by Mark Salvadalena visiting from Washington state. Later, at 12:30 during my lunch break , along with Mark, we saw 2 AMERICAN PIPIT in the baseball fields center part  walking on bare muddy ground.

Staying focused in this same area, the continuing VESPER SPARROW was reported by Rob Bate, the VESP seen inside the fence enclosure.

As expected this late fall, AMERICAN WOODCOCK usually comes in. I  flushed one around 1:15 above the Sparrowbowl near the top road .After its escape , it flew into the wooded berm along West Drive.

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Oct 31, 2011
Protocol: Incidental
12 species

Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Ravine, bathing in creek, flew up
American Woodcock 1 Sparrowbowl between Tennis and Picnic Houses
Golden-crowned Kinglet X
Ruby-crowned Kinglet X
Hermit Thrush X
American Pipit 2 baseball fields
Chipping Sparrow X
Vesper Sparrow 1 reported by Rob Bate
Savannah Sparrow X
Song Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco X
House Sparrow X

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







October 30th reports Prospect & Greenwood Cemetery





From Monica Berger



Hi Peter: Here's my day list for Prospect. Nothing unusual except a

Nashville warbler adjacent to the Wellhouse. As to quantity, it seemed

like everywhere I looked there was a hermit thrush. Best, Monica



Pied-billed Grebe

Mute Swan

Mallard

Northern Shoveler

Ruddy Duck

Cooper's Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

American Kestrel

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Eastern Phoebe

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Winter Wren

Hermit Thrush

American Robin

Tufted Titmouse

Blue Jay

European Starling

House Sparrow

Nashville Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Eastern Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinal









From Orrin :

I got to Green-Wood Cemetery too late today to sort through the plethora of golden-crowned kinglets, juncos and hermit thrushes, except for this gorgeous, cooperative EASTERN BLUEBIRD

American Pipit in Prospect

2 AMERICAN PIPIT walking in middle ballfield on bare ground 1230;  5  were  reported (by Mark Salvadalena) this morning inside the fence enclosure. MEADOWLARK also reported pending observer identity with info obtained from third party.

--Kingsboider

Sunday, October 30, 2011

WESTERN KINGBIRD along Riis Golf course northwest fence.flew into golf course afterwards
12 AMER PIPTS on fort tilden little legue field west

Saturday, October 29, 2011

October 29th Snowy Prospect

I looked out my window this early afternoon with unbelieving eyes: it's actually snowing before Halloween!

Dennis H reported the still present EASTERN MEADOWLARK at 9:10 this morning on the baseball fields as it has been the past week.

I hope it brought along cross country skis.....

--KB

Friday, October 28, 2011

Prospect Oct 28th: "At home" Meadowlark & Vesper Sparrow; better late than never

The lone EASTERN MEADOWLARK (EAME) and VESPER SPARROW continue to delight birders visiting the Baseball fields fence enclosure. In a rare occurrence for length of stay, this being the third straight day for EAME, Mary Eyster reported the bird early this morning.During my lunchtime hour, along with Mike Yuan, we saw the EAME fly out to a tree overshadowing field #3, where its bright yellow breast illuminated well from that distance.But it came back  for Chris Elliot, the EAME staying put in the medium high grass in the center of the enclosure. I got a later report from Mike Yuan that a second EAME joined in later.

Just as long ( if not longer) for the other local rarity, Mike reported the VESPER SPARROW along the west snow fence. So, it's great to see both these birds stick around in their protective enclosure despite all the human activity outside.

Here's a report from Mike with a photo of the VESPER SPARROW ( click on link)

peter-



a 2nd meadowlark joined the 1st at the ballfield enclosure.


a crop of the vesper sparrow, seen outside the ballfield enclosure in a flock of chipping sparrows:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/88884477@N00/6289926768/



On another note, Mary E. reported very good sparrow activity in a sizable smart weed meadow north of the Picnic House ( just past the picnic table area and east of the pedestrian road dumpster ).There are two sparrow infested meadow patches, the other more of a Beggar Ticks/smartweed mixed  meadow near the flooded depressed road that crosses the Long Meadow. I found a sizable flock of WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, likely 125 birds with some SONGs and 2 SWAMP. A WINTER WREN skulked around as well.. Nothing rare but its a great spot to observe and hope for a rarity.

On a last note, on the east side (or Long Meadow side) of that picnic tables area under the grand oak grove, numerous DARK-EYED JUNCOS were skittish and nervous as they fed on the bare lawn below two great Oaks. I saw one interesting junco, with good amount of pink flanks, likely a Pink -sided subspecies. I didn't get much of a chance to watch it more because a RED-TAILED HAWK flew right in and perched right above the flock.Zing...gone were the juncos. No wonder the "high anxiety". When I came back thru the area later, the Red-tailed came swooping in from behind me ( and I saw it close) ,barely missing a startled squirrel on the ground. Lots of action there! ( and nuts I missed seeing a grab)

High sparrows numbers came in late this fall, more the latter half of October instead of early October. Well, better late than never.

-Kingsboider

Ballfields fence enclosure

EASTERN MEADOWLARK + numerous sparrows @ ballfields fence enclosure per Mary Eyster; also VESPER SPARROW seen along west fence per Mike Yuan.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Bald Eagle at Bush Terminal Pier Park ( under construction); Prospect EAME & VESP

This post normally would not qualify under my "north Brooklyn" requirement but I will make an exception here due to the exciting potential of this new park I have been inside to advise an environmental activist friend on the Osprey platform there.

These Bald Eagle photos were taken by Mamdouh Elbahary,a
Senior Project Scientist with the company building the roughly 65 acre park looking out into NYC Harbor. The photos were taken October 6th & 7th. Pretty cool, huh ?












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

Today 10/27

Back on the home turf, during my lunchtime "dash" in this cold soaking rain, in Prospect Park, a second EASTERN MEADOWLARK join yesterday's EAME before one of them flew out just as I was looking at a VESPER SPARROW (VESP) perched on the northwest side snow fence of the reknown baseball fields fence enclosure. The VESP would fly down to bare area on the lawn to feed. Many PALM WARBLERS were seen along with DE JUNCO, SONG, SAVANNAH ,and CHIPPING Sparrows before I made haste back to the Tennis House office.

Not a nice day today with the cold bone chilling rain.

--Kingsboider

My List

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Oct 27, 2011 12:20 PM - 12:45 PM
Protocol: Stationary
10 species

Double-crested Cormorant 1 Duck Isl
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 Duck Isl
American Coot 7 Duck Isl
Hermit Thrush X
Palm Warbler 12 Baseball field and the rest below same spot
Chipping Sparrow X
Vesper Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow X
Song Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco X
Eastern Meadowlark-2

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
VESPER SPARROW on or below nrthwst snow fence baseball fence enclosure.1 EAME flew out.1 put.
TWO EASTERN MEADOWLARKS nside baseball fields fence enclosure.(prospark)

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

October 26th Prospect : "sacred ground"


Photos of today's ball fields birds by Chris Elliot including EAME (1st 9 photos )

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eliotc/archives/date-taken/2011/10/26/

On a day noted for a significant onrush of sparrows and Hermit Thrushes, rarities and good birds abound on  "avian sacred ground ", the baseball fields north snow fence enclosure. Beginning at daybreak into early afternoon, persisting into later hours, good luck ensued with 3 rarities and quality birds.

This is a chronology of those terrific birds at this now famed ball fields fence enclosure

  1. At daybreak, 2 WILSON'S SNIPES seen by Alex Wilson (see his report below)
  2. At 9:15 am, a pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS seen by Mary Eyster
  3. At 1:14 pm, EASTERN MEADOWLARK  (EAME) flying in and staying seen by Rob Jett
  4. At 1:39 pm, barely a half hour later, Rob Jett also reports VESPER SPARROW
Both the EASTERN MEADOWLARK and VESPER SPARROW stuck around into the late afternoon. During this time period, the group of 6 that gathered also saw flyover RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS -3 total--and a single BROAD-WINGED HAWK.

The day was noted for numerous HERMIT THRUSHES , DARK -EYED JUNCOS and other sparrow species, at least 7 sparrow species inside the ballfield fence enclosure.

Hermit Thrushes were abundant. Upon his entry into the park at the Litchfield Villa, Rob Jett reported a bunch of them in two fruiting shrubs, the thrushes simply oblivious to his presence.

Chris Elliot in an evening post mentioned he saw FOX SPARROW , by the Meadowport Arch which is located at the north end of the Long Meadow.

This makes it I believe, a "decade" of sparrows species for today. See list :

Eastern Towhee, Field, Chipping, Savannah, Vesper, White-throated, Song, DE Junco, Fox,  & Swamp

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From Alex Wilson:

> Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY

> Oct 26, 2011

> 66 species

>

> Canada Goose 60

> Mute Swan 10

> Wood Duck 12 (Flock seen flying around upper pool but never

> touched down.)

> Mallard 50

> Northern Shoveler 3

> Ruddy Duck 35

> Pied-billed Grebe 4

> Double-crested Cormorant 3

> Black-crowned Night-Heron 4

> Sharp-shinned Hawk 1

> Cooper's Hawk 1

> Red-shouldered Hawk 2 (Flyovers, Lake & Long Meadow.)

> Broad-winged Hawk 1 (Flyover, Long Meadow.)

> Red-tailed Hawk 3

> Merlin 1 (1 or 2, Long Meadow, early AM and late PM when it

> made a kill.)

> Peregrine Falcon 1

> American Coot 12

> Wilson's Snipe 2 (One flew in to the fenced area by the Long

> Meadow ball fields 7:30 AM, disappeared into a depression, then

> before I could move for a better look it flew out with a raspy

> call, flew past me at close range and was joined by another as it

> twisted south over the field.)

> Laughing Gull 2

> Ring-billed Gull 15

> Herring Gull 10

> Rock Pigeon 20

> Mourning Dove 10

> Belted Kingfisher 1

> Red-bellied Woodpecker 5

> Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2

> Downy Woodpecker 3

> Hairy Woodpecker 4

> Northern Flicker 25

> Eastern Phoebe 10

> Blue-headed Vireo 3

> Red-eyed Vireo 2

> Blue Jay 15

> American Crow 4

> Black-capped Chickadee 5

> Tufted Titmouse 1

> White-breasted Nuthatch 2

> Brown Creeper 1

> Carolina Wren 2

> Winter Wren 5

> Golden-crowned Kinglet 40

> Ruby-crowned Kinglet 40

> Eastern Bluebird 1 (Flyover, Long Meadow.)

> Hermit Thrush 30

> American Robin 50

> Gray Catbird 3

> European Starling 75

> Northern Parula 1

> Palm Warbler 20

> Pine Warbler 1

> Yellow-rumped Warbler 15

> Eastern Towhee 2

> Chipping Sparrow 35

> Field Sparrow 1

> Vesper Sparrow 1 (Long Meadow fenced area by ball fields, PM,

> spotted by Rob Jett.)

> Savannah Sparrow 5

> Song Sparrow 20

> Swamp Sparrow 10

> White-throated Sparrow 75

> Dark-eyed Junco 50

> Northern Cardinal 5

> Red-winged Blackbird 100 (Mostly in passing AM flocks.)

> Eastern Meadowlark 1 (Long Meadow fenced area by ball fields,

> PM.)

> Common Grackle 20

> House Finch 3

> House Sparrow 20

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From Rob Jett:

Peter,


Here's the species list from this afternoon at the fenced off area on the baseball fields. The highlight was a very cooperative meadowlark. I watched the bird fly in and land on the fence at 1:15pm. It was still on the field when we left over 3 hours later. There was also a Vesper Sparrow that I spotted at around the same time. This bird was much less cooperative, however, remaining hidden in the grass. We eventually relocated it a few hours later.

Good birding,

Rob

Prospect Park--Baseball Fields

Oct 26, 2011 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Protocol: Area

2.0 acres

24 species



Red-shouldered Hawk (3. All 3 individuals flying in kettle over Long Meadow from N to S.)

Broad-winged Hawk (1.)

Red-tailed Hawk (3.)

Merlin (1.)

Mourning Dove (3.)

Red-bellied Woodpecker (1.)

Northern Flicker

Eastern Phoebe (18.)

Golden-crowned Kinglet (6.)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (6.)

American Robin

European Starling

Blackpoll Warbler (1.)

Palm Warbler (10.)

Yellow-rumped Warbler (12.)

Chipping Sparrow (30.)

Field Sparrow (1.)

VESPER SPARROW (1.)

Savannah Sparrow (8.)

Song Sparrow (6.)

White-throated Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco (40.)

EASTERN MEADOWLARK (2. 1 on field, 1 flyover.)

House Sparrow



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

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
Peter's list:
Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY


Oct 26, 2011 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Protocol: Stationary

18 species


All Ballfields unless noted otherwise
Wood Duck 1 f/o Sparrowbowl

Red-tailed Hawk 1

Merlin 1  carrying a kill

Golden-crowned Kinglet 4

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2

Hermit Thrush X numerous in various park sites

American Robin 2

European Starling X

Palm Warbler 4

Chipping Sparrow X

Vesper Sparrow 1

Savannah Sparrow X

Song Sparrow X

Swamp Sparrow 2

White-throated Sparrow X numerous in typical habitat

Dark-eyed Junco 45

Eastern Towhee  Villa Woods

Eastern Meadowlark 1

House Sparrow X



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

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From Chris Elliot:

I wanted to tell you that in addition to the long list of sparrows I heard others mention, on the way back I had a Fox Sparrow double-scratching the leaf litter among a large group of White-throated, next to the Meadowport Arch. One more sparrow! And last, my Meadowlark photos from today (plus Palm, Savannah, Field) are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eliotc/archives/date-taken/2011/10/26/ (feel free to use one or more just if you want).



see you, Chris
EAST MEADOWLARK still present & close nside ballfields fence enclosure.repts of RED SHLDER hawks f/os
VESPER SPARROW same spot as as EAST MEADOWLRK per Rob j.
EAST MEADOWLARK currently inside ballfields fence enclosure per Rob J.
report of good sparrow action at prospects Sparrowbowl locale
EASTERN BLUEBIRD on Prospect baseballl fence enclosure ( Mary E.)

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Prospect Oct 25th

Just about the most "exciting" sighting on this offbeat day--besides a small flock of "chippies"--occurred at the baseball field fence enclosure. There were two PINE WARBLERS amongst 43 ( conservatively speaking) CHIPPING SPARROWS inside the fence. Originally , the whole flock--Pine Warblers included --were spotted between the dugouts of fields #2 & #3.

One of the PINES was a male adult, the second was drab, a first year female. Both birds kept dropping into the tall grass, but occasionally alighting unto the plastic mesh fencing that stand throughout within the enclosure. At this point in the season , with warblers becoming rare to see , its nice to watch with calm any warbler ( since you know how frenzied its gets in peak season). Adding to the Pines, a BLACKPOLL WARBLER on the Peninsula meadow edge , and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT  ( i forget where), it was "hot " warbler action today ;)>.

By now, watching the lake becomes a regular habit as winter slowly creeps in and waterfowl numbers increase. 37 RUDDY DUCKS looks like a growing population trend.

Peter's list

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY


Oct 26, 2011 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Protocol: Traveling

1.5 mile(s)

25 species

All waterfowl Prospect Lake

Canada Goose 80

Mute Swan 3

Wood Duck 1

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler 9

Ruddy Duck 37

Double-crested Cormorant 2

Great Blue Heron 1 f/o Nethermead

Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 f/o Nethermead

Red-tailed Hawk 1 f/o

American Coot 1

Blue Jay 1

Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 at LP 249

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 at LP 249

Hermit Thrush 4

American Robin X

Common Yellowthroat 1

Blackpoll Warbler 1 Peninsula

Palm Warbler 3 Baseball field

Pine Warbler 2 Baseball field

Yellow-rumped Warbler 3

Chipping Sparrow 43 Baseball field

Song Sparrow 4

White-throated Sparrow 2

House Sparrow X

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

Monday, October 24, 2011

Prospect Oct 24th : still decent sparrow activity

Hilights : VESPER SPARROW among 8 species sparrows, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO at Lamppost#249

From Keir:

[hey Peter, I tweeted earlier re Vesper Sparrow but I think my phone service is messed up. Anyway, nice bird! cheers, Keir]


Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY

Oct 24, 2011 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Protocol: Traveling

1.5 mile(s)

26 species



Canada Goose 4

Red-tailed Hawk 2

Rock Pigeon X

Mourning Dove 5

Red-bellied Woodpecker 1

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3

Hairy Woodpecker 1

Eastern Phoebe 3

Blue Jay 4

Tufted Titmouse 1

White-breasted Nuthatch 1

Carolina Wren 1

Golden-crowned Kinglet 3

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3

Hermit Thrush 5

American Robin 2

Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 male, Vale

Palm Warbler 3

Yellow-rumped Warbler 2

Vesper Sparrow 1 Long Meadow fenced in area by ballfields with Savannah Sparrows

Savannah Sparrow 2

Song Sparrow 2

White-throated Sparrow 30

Dark-eyed Junco 1

Red-winged Blackbird 15

House Sparrow 10

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

From Rob Bate:

Good numbers of Chipping Sparrows on the mounds behind the skating rink near the rustic shelter as well as Breeze Hill and the Musician's [Concert] Grove.


44 species

Canada Goose 18

Mute Swan 8

Mallard 30

Northern Shoveler 6

Ruddy Duck 14

Double-crested Cormorant 1

Great Blue Heron 1

Black-crowned Night-Heron 2

Red-tailed Hawk 1

American Coot 6

Ring-billed Gull 11

Herring Gull 5

Rock Pigeon 1

Mourning Dove 3

Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker 2

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3

Northern Flicker 1

Blue Jay 6

American Crow 1

Black-capped Chickadee 1

Carolina Wren 3

Golden-crowned Kinglet 1

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 11

Swainson's Thrush 2

American Robin 3

Gray Catbird 2

Northern Mockingbird 1

European Starling 1

Nashville Warbler 1

Blackpoll Warbler 3

Palm Warbler 1

Yellow-rumped Warbler 1

Chipping Sparrow 45

Field Sparrow 1

Song Sparrow 15

Swamp Sparrow 6

White-throated Sparrow 10

White-crowned Sparrow 1

Dark-eyed Junco 7

Northern Cardinal 1

Red-winged Blackbird 10

Common Grackle 8

House Sparrow 25

Prospect Oct 23rd: it's beginning to perk sparrows..



Traditional sparrow locations perked and showed life, particularly the southern park sections reliable for sparrows. IN the course of finding good numbers of  sparrows, the best I seen this fall, an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER added its highlight.

The usual sparrow spots of Lamppost #249, Breeze Hill , and the Peninsula Sumacs showed much life. Of these Lamppost #249 , along the Welldrive, showed the most diversity.

Lamppost #249 revealed   : SONG, WHITE-THROATED, SWAMP, DARK EYED JUNCO, CHIPPING and a nearby WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (Toomey and Goldstein).

The Peninsula Sumacs only had SONGS but the numbers were up and hopefully much more in later days with other species drawn in.

Breeze Hill , with its long dirt mounds showed the most numbers. This area was dominated by White-throated and Songs  followed by several SWAMPs but it was an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, a beauty, stealing the limelight, seen quite well and cooperatively at the tail west end of the mound, near the orange/white striped wood beams.

At the corner of west Binnen Bridge, a weedy section with loads of pinkish smartweed harbored alot of White-throated Sparrows. A fallen limb marks the spot and it would be good to check this location regularly.

Later, I swung by the baseball field fence enclosure and found decent numbers of SAVANNAH SPARROWS. Several PALM WARBLERS accompanied these sparrows.

For the day , 9 species sparrows were recorded, a better than nothing result given the poor sparrow numbers this fall.

Also of note, WINTER WREN appeared in several places. The Lamppost #249, Breeze Hill and the fenced in field adjacent to Nethermead Bridge had Winter wrens. Even Mary E's backyard at her home near Bartel Pritchard Square had a Winter Wren.

Speaking of a quintet, 4 PIED-BILLED GREBE now move on Prospect Lake. All four were pretty close together to see in my bins

A terrific fall day and great to see those sparrows finally in flocks, even if small sizes..

Peter's list

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY


Oct 23, 2011 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Protocol: Traveling

3.0 mile(s)

33 species



Canada Goose 9

Mallard X

Pied-billed Grebe 4 lake

Red-tailed Hawk 1 f/o LP249

Herring Gull X

Rock Pigeon X

Mourning Dove X

Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 sw Lookout Hill

Northern Flicker 2

Eastern Phoebe 3

Blue-headed Vireo 2 -LP 249,

Blue Jay 3

Winter Wren 4 LP249, Breeze Hill, Nethermead Br, Bartel Pritchard

Golden-crowned Kinglet 1

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 17

Hermit Thrush 3

American Robin 2

Gray Catbird 2

European Starling X

Orange-crowned Warbler 1

Common Yellowthroat 2  LP249, Nethermead br

Blackpoll Warbler 1 Terrace Br

Palm Warbler 5 Baseball field

Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 LP249

Chipping Sparrow 14 LP249

Savannah Sparrow 15 Bseball field

Song Sparrow 22

Swamp Sparrow 5--1 LP249, 4 Breeze Hill

White-throated Sparrow 45, many at Lily Pool

Dark-eyed Junco 3

Northern Cardinal 1

Common Grackle 4 flyovers

House Sparrow X



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



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

From Kathy Toomey


date = 2011/10/23


site = Prospect Park

observers = Kathy Toomey and Emily Goldstein

Pied-billed Grebe

Northern Shoveler

Canada Goose

Ruddy Duck

Mute Swan

Mallard

Red-tailed Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk

American Coot

Ring-billed Gull

Herring Gull

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Blue-headed Vireo

Blue Jay

Brown Creeper

Carolina Wren heard

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Hermit Thrush

Gray Catbird

Northern Mockingbird

European Starling

Common Yellowthroat

Palm Warbler

Northern Parula

Pine Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Swamp Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow Wellhouse Drive, by dumpster

Dark-eyed Junco

Field Sparrow

Eastern Towhee

Northern Cardinal

Common Grackle

House Sparrow

********************************************
From Gabriel Willow:
(Posting to NYSBIRDS Listserve)

Subject: Prospect Park: Field Sparrow, Orange-crowned Warbler
From: gabriel willow
Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 16:02:46 -0700
X-Message-Number: 11

While birding in Prospect Park, Brooklyn late this afternoon, I encountered huge flocks of sparrows throughout the park. Most were Chipping Sparrows; I probably saw 300 or more. I kept hoping to find a Clay-colored among them, but no dice.

However, over by the weed-covered gravel piles on Breeze Hill, I found a Field Sparrow in a flock of 20 or so Chippings; also saw about 25 Song Sparrows, two Winter Wrens, and got great looks at a bright male Orange-Crowned Warbler on the West (weediest) dirt pile.

Hopefully tomorrow will bring more good birds!
Gabriel WillowNYC Audubon

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Prospect: ORANGE CRWND WARB @ Breeze hill west end dirt mound nearest orng white stripes wood beams

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Prospect Oct 22nd

From Rafael:

22 October 2011


A nice walk around PP gave me some surprises, despite the noise (rock&roll concert @ Nethermead + Marathon), specially around the Ravine, when a single Ovenbird jumped in from of me.

Another nice surprise was 1 Lincoln's Sparrow at the Vale, taking a bath, among White-throated, Swamp, Song Sparrows. Unexpected, in the same place, 1 White-crowned Sparrow, came to join them.

The number of Blue-headed Vireos were amazing, 6 of them.

Warblers, beside the Ovenbird, and the numerous Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler, I saw at least 2 Northern Parula, 1 Black-throated Blue (female), and several Blackpoll Warblers.

Nothing else, except perhaps that the number of species of waterfowl are increasing in the lake.

Brooklyn is great birding!!!

Rafa Campos R.

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

From Orrin:

On a walk on Friday along the southwest side of the lake, up Wellhouse, across Terrace Bridge and then to and through BBG, we saw the following:


Mute swan

Ring-billed gull

Herring gull

Canada goose

American black duck

American Coot (3)

Mallard duck

Northern shoveler

Ruddy duck

Mallard duck

Palm warbler (3 on Terrace Bridge)

Song sparrow

Chipping sparrow

White-throated sparrow

Eastern towhee (3 in the BBG native plant garden)

Northern flicker (a flock near the feeders)

American robin

Mourning dove

European starling

House sparrow

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

Peter's list )very abbreviated b4 getting call about Scissortailed Flycather at Captree SP.

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY


Oct 22, 2011 8:15 AM - 9:00 AM

Protocol: Traveling

1.0 mile(s)

10 species

Lake or LP 249

Canada Goose 32

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler 28

Ruddy Duck 12

Pied-billed Grebe 1

Mourning Dove X

Blackpoll Warbler 2 at LP249

Field Sparrow 1  at LP 249

Song Sparrow X

White-throated Sparrow 1

Friday, October 21, 2011

Prospect Oct 21st, Chilly day

A chilly day that reached only a high of 54 degrees with mostly quiet action. During a busy work schedule on Lookout Hill, I noted a flock of CHIPPING SPARROWS eating newly planted Little Bluestem seeds in an open area near Butterfly meadow. Among the "chippies", a FIELD SPARROW crashed in but only got as far as the road edge before a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW chased it.

After work ,contending with a heavy overcast and brisk chills, I found HOUSE WREN in the Upper Pool wildflower/grass meadow the only thing there. In the nearby snow fence enclosure, in one corner as I approached, 7 PALM WARBLERS flushed and perched on the fence in the ball field, with a few SAVANNAH SPARROWS in the mix.

Also, one MERLIN flew over in the stiff wind , over the Sparrowbowl which was very quiet.

A good crisp sunny ( there ! finally) day is forecasted for tomorrow. It should be potentially good for something.

--KB

 Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY


Oct 21, 2011

Protocol: Incidental

9 species



House Wren 1

Palm Warbler 7

Yellow-rumped Warbler 1

Chipping Sparrow 11

Field Sparrow 1

Savannah Sparrow 3

Song Sparrow 2

White-throated Sparrow 1

House Sparrow X

Merlin

Northern Shoveler -9 Lullwater


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

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Oct 20th Prospect; blustery day



From yesterday's rainy day to today's blustery day, hopefully tomorrow a "sunny" day. Today's strong winds impacted birding, as birds usually hunker down. With sparrow numbers way down for puzzling reasons this season, birders do the best with whatever conditions.

With whatever sparrows around, the best in the "field" as follows:In the fence enclosure at Sparrowbowl ( Tennis House north), about 12 CHIPPING SPARROWS spooked easily by a high school racing competition after I left work .They mostly perched in the mesh fencing. An even better observation, two FIELD SPARROWS right behind the East Wood Arch building, along the upper path or next to that low roof building by the boathouse. SWAMP SPARROWS were spotted in several places, including the weedy field adjacent & west of Binnen Bridge.

A report from Larry revealed a few nice warblers : PINE, NASHVILLE, BLACK-THROATED GREEN , a late bird and NORTHERN PARULA; on the latter , Eni Falci reported several Parulas

The wind must have driven down Wood Ducks. From the west lake shore, I spotted inside the Three Sister strait or in front , 11 WOOD DUCKS. Nearby the assortment of RUDDY and NORTHERN SHOVELERS were the best right now.

From Larry:

Peter,
Good to see you this morning. Activity picked up later on, especially at the Sparrow Bowl and the Vale.

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


Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Oct 20, 2011 8:25 AM - 12:50 PM
Protocol: Traveling
4.0 mile(s)
37 species

Canada Goose 50
Mute Swan 10
Wood Duck 2 Upper Pool
Mallard 55
Northern Shoveler 20
Ruddy Duck 15
Double-crested Cormorant 1
American Coot 7
Spotted Sandpiper 1 Duck Island
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Eastern Phoebe 3
Blue Jay 10
Black-capped Chickadee 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4
Hermit Thrush 1 Lower Pool
American Robin 17
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 10
Nashville Warbler 1 Near G.A.P. entrance
Northern Parula 1 Vale
Blackpoll Warbler 1 Sparrow Bowl
Palm Warbler 4
Pine Warbler 1 Sparrow Bowl
Yellow-rumped Warbler 8
Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Sparrow Bowl
Savannah Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 6
Northern Cardinal 3
House Sparrow 35

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

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

Peter's list
Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Oct 20, 2011 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
26 species

Canada Goose 22 lake
Mute Swan 4
Wood Duck 11 Three Sisters Isls
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 13 Lake
Ruddy Duck 9 Lake
Double-crested Cormorant 1 West Isl
Great Blue Heron 1 West isl ( early am)
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 Lake
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Breeze Hill flyby
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Blue-headed Vireo X Eni sighting
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 Breeze Hill
American Robin X
Gray Catbird 1 Binnen br
Common Yellowthroat 1 Binnen br weeds
Chipping Sparrow 12 Sparrowlbowl
Field Sparrow 2 East Wood Arch building
Song Sparrow 2
Swamp Sparrow 6
White-throated Sparrow 3
Dark-eyed Junco 1 sparrowbowl
Northern Cardinal X
Indigo Bunting 1 Breeze Hill mounds
House Sparrow X

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

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Prospect Oct 19th, a washout....



The only sign of life I saw on this ugly day took place at the Upper Pool wildflower /grass meadow. Once a Ruby-crowned Kinglet appeared, following that tiny bird in succession,also a Song Sparrow and 2 SWAMP SPARROWS.
A BLUE-HEADED VIREO at the Well drive picnic tables ( or Lamppost 249) offer the only other bright note....a better day tomorrow.

--KB

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Oct 19, 2011
Protocol: Incidental
6 species

Blue-headed Vireo 1 Lamppost 249
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Upper Pool wildflower meadow (UPWM)
Hermit Thrush 1
Song Sparrow 1 UPWM
Swamp Sparrow 2 UPWM
White-throated Sparrow 1

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

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Brooklyn Bridge Park report Oct 18th

From Larry:

A late afternoon walk around Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pier One
didn't turn up a lot of birds but there was one of interest--
a Marsh Wren in, appropriately enough, the artificial marsh,
the section shaped like a half-moon at the southern edge of the park.

I got very good, close up views as it scurried in the high grass near
 the walk. It then flew across the path in the higher grass
behind the pilings and was out of sight.

Marsh Wren is the 64th species recorded at the pier.

The park was very active with people and I suspect that kept
 numbers down.

13 species:

American Black Duck 2

Mallard 2

Double-crested Cormorant 2

Ring-billed Gull 11

Herring Gull 3

Marsh Wren 1

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1

Gray Catbird 1

Palm Warbler 1

Yellow-rumped Warbler 1

Song Sparrow 1

White-throated Sparrow 10

Dark-eyed Junco 15

Larry Zirlin

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

Monday, October 17, 2011

reports received while I was away in Cape May

A really good trip for me in Cape May on top of my friend's wedding. The best  bird  , a lifer for me , Brown Booby seen from the boat Skimmer, Ash-throated Flycatcher I found, Eurasian Wigeon, and 106 species for the weekend. Just a magical place down there.

Here are reports I received while I was away:

From Kathy Toomey

date = 2011/10/17


site = Prospect Park

observers = Kathy Toomey, Emily Goldstein, Debra Sit

Pied-billed Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Green Heron

Great Blue Heron

Northern Shoveler

Canada Goose

Wood Duck female, Lullwater

Ruddy Duck

Mute Swan

Mallard

Cooper's Hawk

Osprey

American Coot one, seen from fisherman's beach on Peninsula

Ring-billed Gull

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Red-bellied Woodpecker heard

Northern Flicker

Eastern Phoebe

Gray Jay

American Crow

Black-capped Chickadee

White-breasted Nuthatch heard

Brown Creeper

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Swainson's Thrush

Gray Catbird

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Palm Warbler

Northern Parula

Pine Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Chipping Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Eastern Towhee

Northern Cardinal

Red-winged Blackbird

American Goldfinch heard

House Sparrow

*****************************************
FRom Rob Bate:
 
Very slow all around. I had a possible Tennessee Warbler on the wood chip path up to Lookout Hill and a definite Hooded Warbler in the Ravine just above the Boulder bridge by the falls there. The Hooded from the 3 Arches Bridge area may have moved upstream. The most active area was near the skating rink along the shore and the dirt mounds enclosed in the chain link fence. It's hard to see through the fencing sometimes and impossible to get close but the birds seem to like the weedy vegetation that has infested the area around the dirt mounds. I had good numbers of Chippies and at least a Song Sparrow; there were a number of birds that were just to far off to identify without my scope.


The ballfields were quiet, just one Savannah and a Palm, nothing at Sparrow Bowl.



29 species



Canada Goose 5

Mute Swan 4

Mallard 6

Great Blue Heron 1

Great Egret 1

Sharp-shinned Hawk 2

Mourning Dove 2

Chimney Swift 2

Downy Woodpecker 1

Northern Flicker 1

Blue-headed Vireo 2

Blue Jay 3

Carolina Wren 1

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1

American Robin 3

Gray Catbird 2

Hooded Warbler 1  Ravine at Boulder Bridge

Northern Parula 1

Palm Warbler 3

Yellow-rumped Warbler 2

Eastern Towhee 1

Chipping Sparrow 6

Savannah Sparrow 2

Song Sparrow 2

White-throated Sparrow 2

Dark-eyed Junco 1

Northern Cardinal 2

American Goldfinch 1

House Sparrow 20

Friday, October 14, 2011

A Weekend journey..

Gone birding to Cape May ( well,actually,it's my 3rd oldest birding friend's wedding too...)

http://tinyurl.com/Capemaybirding



Enjoy your weekend
-KB

Request from a Minnesota birder

I received this note from Gerald from Minnesota,

Please email him if you can take him around. I'll be in Cape May for my oldest birding friend's wedding.

P.

From Gerald:

Would you be willing to send this message to your group for me? I
contacted a birder in Brooklyn through Birding Pals. He was not
available but suggested I send a note to Brooklyn-birding-chatter. I
did, but it would not go through. GH


Fellow birders,


I will be in Brooklyn for the next few days and wonder if there is
someone who might be available for birding on Monday. I will be
staying with my son on 6th Ave near 15th St. I birded Prospect Pk in
August last year alone and will probably be able to get over there for
a few hours by myself Sat or Sun morning. I have also been to see the
parrots in the cemetery near there.


The time that would work best for me would be Monday between, say,
9:00-3:00 or so. We could do Prospect Park, but I would be
interested in doing other locations (Breezy Point? Jamaica Bay refuge?).
I am open to any suggestions. I'm a long-time experienced
birder but would by no means consider myself an expert.


Gerry Hoekstra (Northfield, MN)


hoekstra@stolaf.edu





Thursday, October 13, 2011

October13th Prospect: all quiet.

A slow day, too quiet. It appears that the weather low pressure system pushed out birds and simply knocked them out.

At the ballfields fence enclosure which was inactive at lunchtime, perked a little after work. I found 16 Savannah Sparrows that eventually flew out to bathe in the dugout at field 4. Talk about a "sinker" ( thats a type of pitch )

Other than the Savannah Sparrows, at least 8 Chipping Sparrows and 3 Palm Warblers with one Eastern Phoebe.

It was a busy day for me at work, so no time birding...

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Prospect October 12th, Vespers for good birds and ducks..

The VESPER SPARROW 
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Vesper_Sparrow/id )  hung over --at least one of them-- from yesterday's 2 seen at the Sparrowbowl; today's location for this quality sparrow was the Ballfield's north snow fence enclosure. Rob Jett refound the bird, and I found at lunchtime lingering at the west side fence of that enclosure, before the bird flew out to a nearby tree adjacent to field number three.It was tough to see in the high grass, my identification based on the white tail retrices and streaky body.

A late afternoon report from Alex Wilson highlights some nice variety of waterfowl and a quality wren along the water , specifically the Peninsula lakeshore. On the latter, MARSH WREN is a good one, rare for Prospect, maybe 1-2 seen yearly in these parts.

On the lake or waterways, 9 species duck means a good day at this early date. The best  were GREEN-WINGED TEAL , GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, WOOD DUCK for tops. But the best surprise was not on water for this water bird but overhead, a flyby COMMON LOON over Long Meadow. I guess those loons are on the move as well..

--Kingboider
***************************************

From Rob jett:

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY


Oct 12, 2011 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Protocol: Traveling

3.0 mile(s)

48 species



Canada Goose

Mute Swan (7.)

Wood Duck (4.)

American Black Duck

Mallard

Northern Shoveler (11.)

Pied-billed Grebe (2.)

Double-crested Cormorant (2.)

Green Heron

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk (2.)

American Kestrel

American Coot

Spotted Sandpiper

Ring-billed Gull

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Red-bellied Woodpecker (2.)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (2.)

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker (20.)

Eastern Phoebe (8.)

Blue-headed Vireo

Blue Jay

Brown Creeper (2.)

Winter Wren (1, Sparrow Bowl.)

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2.)

American Robin

Gray Catbird

European Starling

Common Yellowthroat (2.)

Magnolia Warbler (2.)

Palm Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler (5.)

Eastern Towhee

Chipping Sparrow (3, Behind snow fencing on baseball fields.)

VESPER SPARROW (1, Behind snow fencing on baseball fields.)

Savannah Sparrow (14, Behind snow fencing on baseball fields.)

Song Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinal

Indigo Bunting (1, Breeze Hill.)

Common Grackle

House Sparrow

**********************************
Peter "very short " list

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY


Oct 13, 2011 12:15 PM - 1:00 PM

Protocol: Random

0.5 mile(s)

7 species

Cooper's Hawk 1 f/o Long Meadow

Red-tailed Hawk 1 f/o ball fields

Eastern Phoebe 2 Ball fields

Hermit Thrush 2  Sparrowbowl

Chipping Sparrow 1 ( see below)

Vesper Sparrow 1  ball fields fence enclosure

Savannah Sparrow 1  (see above)

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

From Alex Wilson:

Begin forwarded message:




> Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY

> Oct 12, 2011

> 63 species (+1 other taxa)

>

> Canada Goose 50

> Mute Swan 10

> Wood Duck 5

> Gadwall 1 (Hen, West Island.)

> American Wigeon 1 (Hen, West Island.)

> American Black Duck 4

> American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 2

> Mallard 65

> Northern Shoveler 15

> Green-winged Teal 2 (Hens, Duck Island.)

> Ruddy Duck 1

> Common Loon 1 (Flyover, fairly low, Long Meadow.)

> Horned Grebe 1

> Double-crested Cormorant 1

> Green Heron 2

> Black-crowned Night-Heron 3

> Cooper's Hawk 2

> Red-tailed Hawk 4

> American Kestrel 1

> Merlin 1

> Peregrine Falcon 1 (First seen reflected in Lily Pond as it

> soared over Binnen Bridge, then diving towards Nethermead.)

> American Coot 1

> Ring-billed Gull 15

> Herring Gull 10

> Rock Pigeon 15

> Mourning Dove 10

> Chimney Swift 3

> Red-bellied Woodpecker 4

> Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3

> Downy Woodpecker 2

> Northern Flicker 20

> Eastern Phoebe 5

> Blue Jay 15

> American Crow 2

> Black-capped Chickadee 2

> White-breasted Nuthatch 1

> Carolina Wren 1

> Winter Wren 1

> Marsh Wren 1 (Heard calling, eventually seen, moving through

> phragmites along Peninsula lake shore.)

> Golden-crowned Kinglet 12

> Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6

> Swainson's Thrush 3

> Hermit Thrush 1

> American Robin 40

> Gray Catbird 5

> European Starling 50

> Cedar Waxwing 5

> Common Yellowthroat 3

> American Redstart 1

> Blackpoll Warbler 3

> Black-throated Blue Warbler 1

> Palm Warbler 1

> Yellow-rumped Warbler 20

> Eastern Towhee 1

> Chipping Sparrow 2

> Savannah Sparrow 8

> Song Sparrow 3

> Swamp Sparrow 1

> White-throated Sparrow 15

> Dark-eyed Junco 3

> Northern Cardinal 20

> Red-winged Blackbird 5

> Common Grackle 2

> House Sparrow 20

>

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

>
skittish VESPER SPAR still at baseball field fence enclsure along west fence.flew out to nearby #3 field tree
VESPER SPARROW inside north baseball field fence enclsur with savannahs (Jett)

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

request for birds trip list 10/9

If anyone attended the following walk, kindly send me ( the best u can) the bird species list for that day to prosbird@aol.com

Sunday October 9th, "Friends walk", Prospect Park



Trip Leader: There is no designated leader for this walk; birders can meet at the time designated and walk as a group this holiday weekend.


I keep tabs for the BBC trips blog page.

Thanks

--Kingsboider

Prospect October 11: A good sparrow ...make that 2 of one kind; misc reports

A reward  after work on this warm Indian Summer day were at least 2 VESPER SPARROWS at the well known "Sparrowbowl" , inside the black mesh fence enclosure adjacent & north of the Tennis house. This kettle pothole spot is very good for sparrows, and other things as well.

As my initial sighting, the sparrows with the prominent eye rings and white tail retrices flew over the mesh fence unto the grass lawn. I went over there to get closer but it was hard to see the rare sparrows in the un-mowed grass. I thought there was a third VESPER  but this was undetermined  as the easily spooked hidden birds split up , one flying into the tree next to me.

After a  group text , Rob Jett showed up and we searched in vain.By then all the multitudes of high school track runners converged unto the general region. And it also didn't help having a female SHARP-SHINNED HAWK fly over and perched in an nearby Oak.

ON the lake, 5 WOOD DUCKS, 13 NORTHERN SHOVELERS and 1 AMERICAN COOT ( a first of year ?)  were seen, the latter waterbird means I am not ready for winter just yet.

--KB

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY


Oct 11, 2011 3:35 PM - 4:45 PM

Protocol: Traveling

1.0 mile(s)

30 species



Canada Goose 21 Lake

Mute Swan 1

Wood Duck 5 Lake

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler 13 Lake

Ruddy Duck 3 Lake

Great Blue Heron 1 f/o Lake

Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Sparrowbowl

Red-tailed Hawk 1

American Coot 1 lake

Spotted Sandpiper 1 lake

Ring-billed Gull 3

Herring Gull 1

Rock Pigeon X

Mourning Dove X

Red-bellied Woodpecker 1

Eastern Phoebe 7

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3

Hermit Thrush 1 Sparrowbowl

American Robin X

Common Yellowthroat 1

Palm Warbler 3 Sparrowbowl

Vesper Sparrow 2 outer Sparrowbowl

Savannah Sparrow 3 Baseball field

Song Sparrow X

Swamp Sparrow 1 Sparrowbowl

White-throated Sparrow 50 various

Dark-eyed Junco 5

Eastern Towhee--Arlene's grove

Northern Cardinal 2

House Sparrow X



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

From Orrin 
at BBGarden

About 90 minutes in BBG this morning yielded the following:


Mallard duck (half a dozen)

Northern flicker (1 flock in lilacs)

Red-bellied woodpecker

Mourning dove

Eastern phoebe (2)

American crow

Blue jay

White-breasted nuthatch

Brown creeper

Ruby-crowned kinglet

Golden-crowned kinglet (many)

Gray catbird

Northern mockingbird

American robin

Northern parula (3)

Yellow-rumped warbler (several)

American redstart

Black-throated blue warbler

Nashville warbler

Common grackle

European starling

House sparrow

Northern cardinal

House finch

Eastern towhee

White-throated sparrow (everywhere)

Swamp sparrow

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

From Larry
at Brooklyn Bridge park

A late afternoon walk around Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pier One found

a lot of activity. Unfortunately the birds were very skittish because of

the constant thrum of those useless (and apparently deadly) tour

 helicopters.A Golden-crowned Kinglet was working the bushes by

 the pond. A Phoebe was on the lawn, as were quite a few

White-throated Sparrows and my first juncos of the season. 4 species

of warbler plus one that I didn't want to call as an orange-crowned

though that was the only feasible ID I could come up with.


Golden-crowned Kinglet is the 63rd species recorded at Pier One.

I'm moving to NJ soon so I won't be birding Pier One much longer.

I'm happy to see that some other birders check out pier occasionally

and hope they'll continue to bird this surprising hot spot.

Larry Zirlin

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

Monday, October 10, 2011

Reports received while I was away leaf peeping the western Catskills

Before I post the local reports, a note on what I saw up in the colorful Catskills

5 Wild Turkeys on the road edge ( as I drove by) and best birdy one today,  a Bald Eagle taking off from the Beaverkill Creek , a famous trout fishing tributary.The adult eagle ( carrying a fish, probably a prized Brown Trout ) was so close as I drove by. Perfect timing !

Now here are the local reports from oldest email to newest:

From Michele Dreger : BALD EAGLE flyover Boathouse 10/8 230pm

At that same general time 227 pm, Steve Nanz reports via text message a BALD EAGLE flyover Lookout Hill, carrying a big fish ( My presumption was the fish was over the legal limit)

From Michele:

After my walk I stopped for an ice tea at the center. Karen Meyers ask me what that hawk was that was leisurely flying over the boathouse. Unmistakable adult bald eagle flying towards the lake. Low enough to identify without binoculars. Score!!!!


Other observers : Adam Goldberger and nephew Leo, Keir
********************************************

From Keir:

hi Peter



Another great day in Prospect. I finally caught up with the Hooded Warbler in the regular spot then John Ascher and I found an active spot above the Boathouse. An Orange-crowned Warbler, a Tennessee too (which caused some initial confusion but then allowed us great comparisons) plus a Nashville. There was also the danger of standing on a Golden-crowned Kinglet, one of which we which we photographed on the ground at 1 ft distance!


As I headed home via Long Meadow a Broad-winged Hawk flew over quite low, I picked up my FOS Brown Creeper in the Vale and as I exited at Grand Army Plaza an adult Bald Eagle flew directly over towards Park Slope - my first for Brooklyn :)


cheers


Keir






Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY

Oct 8, 2011 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM

Protocol: Traveling

3.0 mile(s)

54 species (+1 other taxa)



Canada Goose 5

Mute Swan 3

Mallard 10

Northern Shoveler 2

Ruddy Duck 1

Double-crested Cormorant 2

Osprey 1

Bald Eagle 1 Adult flyover Grand Army Plaza, heading SW over park Slope, 2.30pm

Sharp-shinned Hawk 1

Cooper's Hawk 2

Broad-winged Hawk 1 Juv. quite low over Long Meadow, heading south, 2pm

Red-tailed Hawk 1

Rock Pigeon 10

Mourning Dove 10

Chimney Swift 15

Red-bellied Woodpecker 2

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 4

Downy Woodpecker 1

Northern Flicker 6

Eastern Phoebe 2

Blue-headed Vireo 3

Red-eyed Vireo 2

Blue Jay 8

crow sp. 1

Black-capped Chickadee 4

Brown Creeper 1 Vale, pm

House Wren 1

Golden-crowned Kinglet 15

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5

Swainson's Thrush 1

American Robin 10

Gray Catbird 1

European Starling 1

Black-and-white Warbler 1

Tennessee Warbler 2 Lookout switchback trail & slope above Boathouse

Orange-crowned Warbler 1 slope above Boathouse, looked like celata female

Nashville Warbler 2 Lookout switchback trail & slope above Boathouse

Common Yellowthroat 5

Hooded Warbler 1 continues in fenced in area s. of Nethermead Arches

American Redstart 1

Northern Parula 4

Magnolia Warbler 2

Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 fenced in area s. of Nethermead Arches

Black-throated Blue Warbler 3

Palm Warbler 6+

Yellow-rumped Warbler 2

Black-throated Green Warbler 1 bottom of Lookout switchback trail

Savannah Sparrow 3 reseeded field, Long Meadow

Song Sparrow 4

Lincoln's Sparrow 1 fenced in area s. of Nethermead Arches

Swamp Sparrow 3

White-throated Sparrow 30

Northern Cardinal 5

American Goldfinch 1

House Sparrow 30

*******************************************
Other Text messages

Greenwinged Teal at Three Sisters islands --John Ascher

Sunday, October 9, 2011

2 GWTEAL ducks @ 3 sisters island early eve per john ascher

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Adult BALD EAGLE carrying fish over Lookout Hill ,seen by Steve Nanz 2:28 pm
ORANGE CRWD WARB bridle trail abve boathouse near gray fir (Ascher) + TEWA & NAWA
correction: Lincolns sparrow at custer statue not lark
2 LARK Spar @ custer statue battle hill grnwood cem, 1 LASP Riis lawn adj golf course

Gone leaf-peepin'

Friday, October 7, 2011

10/7 Prospect : Sparrows trickle in

Although its not a tremendous sparrow infusion , there are some spots showing minor activity and some spots with very good sparrow action.

One of the best fall sparrow locations in Prospect is Breeze Hill. There are long dirt mounds dumped from the rink construction, overgrown with weeds galore. Well , this is where you will find the sparrows and a birders bonanza.

Mary Eyster texted me of the news saying " very birdy", and I went there after work. At least 9 species sparrows were recorded at Breeze Hill and it'll be good for a few weeks. The regulars were expected  topped by WHITE-CROWNED, FIELD, CHIPPING,SAVANNAH with a horde of WHITE-THROATED,with far fewer numbers of SONG, DARK-EYED JUNCO,  and SWAMP. Two LINCOLN's SPARROWS were sighted today; one in the dog beach wildflower meadow, the other in Sparrowbowl adjacent the Tennis House.

Besides the sparrows, there were warblers as well on the Breezelawn. BLACKPOLL, PINE, BLACKBURNIAN, YELLOW-RUMPED were some of these species.

RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET and GOLDEN CROWNED KINGLET showed an uptick in the park.

A last word: its EASTERN PHOEBE (EAPH) "convention weekend". Inside the baseball field fence enclosure, I counted 23 EAPH.Its quite a scene, these flycatchers perched on the snow fence, or rebar poles holding plastic fencing.

And  a word on the HOODED WARBLER: its still there in the west Nethermead Bridge flower meadow per Bobbi Manian. I guess the location has the right stuff for the density and food it has. See Bobbi's terrific photograph of the rare warbler.

Photo by Bobbi Manian




Peter's list

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY


Oct 7, 2011 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Protocol: Traveling

2.0 mile(s)

35 species


Canada Goose X

Mute Swan X

Wood Duck 1 at 3 sisters isl

Northern Shoveler 1 lake

Double-crested Cormorant 1 lake

Red-tailed Hawk 2

Rock Pigeon X

Mourning Dove X

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Breeze Hill

Northern Flicker 4

Eastern Phoebe 35--23 Ballfields

Blue-headed Vireo 1

Blue Jay X

Brown Creeper 1 reptd by Kathy Toomey Wellhouse

Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 Nethermead

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3

American Robin X

Gray Catbird 1 Breeze H.

Northern Mockingbird 1

European Starling X

Common Yellowthroat 3 Breeze Hill

Blackpoll Warbler 1 Breeze Hill

Palm Warbler 2 --1 Breeze Hill, 1 Ballfields

Blackburnian Warbler - Breeze Hill lawn

Hooded Warbler- west Nethermead Bridge, rept by Bobbi Manian

Yellow-rumped Warbler 4 Breeze Hill

Chipping Sparrow 5 Breeze Hill

Field Sparrow 1 rept by Mary E Breeze Hill

Savannah Sparrow 9 Ballfields

Song Sparrow X

Lincoln's Sparrow 2 x--Upper pool meadow, sparrowbowl

Swamp Sparrow 6--4 Breeze Hill; 2 Nethermead Br

White-throated Sparrow 30 Breeze Hill

White-crowned Sparrow 2 Breeze Hill --juvs

Dark-eyed Junco 4 Breeze Hill

Northern Cardinal 2

House Sparrow X



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

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Post from NYS BIRDS

observer Gabriel Willow


Subject: Sparrowy Day in Prospect Park
From: gabriel willow
Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2011 13:56:33 -0700

On an afternoon stroll from the Audubon Center up to
Breezy Hill and back today I hit a sparrow goldmine
and many other autumn migrants.� There are several big
piles of gravel on the hill covered in seeding mugwort,
Japanese knotweed, and goldenrod that seem to be a sparrow mecca.


There were about 5 White-throated Sparrows for every other bird seen.� Other species sighted were 2 Swamp Sparrows, several Song Sparrows, a Lincoln's Sparrow, an immature White-crowned Sparrow, numerous Dark-eyed Juncos, Chipping Sparrows, and a Field Sparrow.� Other species present included numerous Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, a Brown Creeper, a Winter Wren, American Redstart, Palm, Blackpoll, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Blue, and Black-throated Green Warblers, a flyover Common Nighthawk and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo.


Not a bad lunch break!

Good Birding,

Gabriel Willow
Prospect Park Audubon Center


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

From Orrin

In about an hour at BBGarden this morning, roughly in the order first seen (south to north)


White-throated sparrow (many)

Song sparrow (several)(

Blue jay

Red-bellied woodpecker

Mourning dove

European starling

Northern parula

Yellow-bellied sapsucker

American robin

House sparrow

Common yellowthroat

Ruby-throated hummingbird

Northern flicker

Black-throated green warbler

Golden-crowned kinglet

Palm warbler

Gray catbird

Yellow-rumped warbler

Ruby-crowned kinglet

Yesterday I saw, in addition to most of these birds, a brown creeper, several hermit thrushes, and a black-throated blue warbler.

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

From BBC birder Tom Stephenson on upcoming talks:

Hi Peter,

There are two talks coming up at the Linnaean Society, held at the American Museum of Natural History, I thought you might be interested in attending, and/or letting others know about.

This Tuesday, Oct 11, Peter Pyle (who wrote the bird bander's bible) is talking about how birds molt, and different systems for understanding the sequences birds go through maintaining their plumage. Should be interesting and also relevant for field ID.

This was the talk we tried to schedule for BBC but it didn't work out.
Turns out they were able to book him in Connecticut, so everything turned out OK.

Next month, Tuesday Nov 8, I'll be talking about warbler and other species' vocalizations, including how to understand and use sonograms and structural analysis to differentiate similar-sounding songs and contact calls.

I'll also discuss memory theory and some simple systems for memorizing vocalizations.
Someday you may be able to point your iPhone at a bird and see it's sonogram...easier than hearing them!


More details on time, location, etc:
http://linnaeannewyork.org/programs.html

Anyway, you probably already know about these, but wanted to be sure.

Best regards,
Tom

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Prospect 10/6 : A sparrow rarity named "Nelson's"

The rarest sparrow family ( or genus) in the northeast and most anticipated is the Ammodramus. For Prospect, its a bonus fall sighting since only one such ammodramus species is seen yearly ( most years) .That occurred today with the sighting of NELSON'S  SPARROW seen 2:35- ish by Rob Jett , along with Rob Bate at the baseball field's northeast fence enclosure, a somewhat annual fall tradition of these fence enclosures donefor reseeding purposes producing October rarities whenever on that now famous baseball venue.

Keir Randall reported a very good day today, with 16 species warblers and 11 species sparrows to his credit. Among the latter genus, LINCOLNS, WHITE-CROWNED & FIELD are his good sightings and a fleeting glimpse of NELSONS, once combined with the Salt-marsh Sharp tailed Sparrow before the "split" of the races.

For a profile of Nelson's from Cornell Ebirds, check this link

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Nelsons_Sparrow/id

*********************************
From Keir:


hi Peter

Glad I took today off work - 16 sp of warbler and 10 sp of sparrow on same day! Around 8-9am birds were streaming through the north end of the Rose Garden, especially BT Green & BT Blue warblers, both kinglets and BHVI. Nashville Warblers were everywhere. Later, good numbers of sparrows on the meadow edges, Sparrow bowl etc. In late afternoon I rechecked one of the fenced off reseeded areas of Longmeadow (nr the dog beach) I found the 2 Robs who had seen a Nelson's Sparrow. I got some flight views of a very skulky bird...



cheers

Keir

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY

Oct 6, 2011 7:45 AM - 4:45 PM

Protocol: Traveling

4.0 mile(s)

69 species (+2 other taxa)



Canada Goose 20

Mute Swan 3

Wood Duck 3

Mallard 20

Northern Shoveler 10

Ruddy Duck 1

Pied-billed Grebe 1 Lullwater

Double-crested Cormorant 2

Osprey 1

Sharp-shinned Hawk 1

Cooper's Hawk 1

Sharp-shinned/Cooper's Hawk 1

Red-tailed Hawk 1

Peregrine Falcon 1

Laughing Gull 1

Herring Gull 1

Rock Pigeon X

Mourning Dove 8

Monk Parakeet 13 flyover, Rose Garden

Chimney Swift 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker 1

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3

Downy Woodpecker 1

Hairy Woodpecker 1

Northern Flicker 10

Eastern Phoebe 25

Blue-headed Vireo 4+

Red-eyed Vireo 1

Blue Jay 6

Black-capped Chickadee 5

Tufted Titmouse 2

House Wren 2

Winter Wren 1

Golden-crowned Kinglet 10+

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 15+

Swainson's Thrush 1

Hermit Thrush 3

American Robin 15

Gray Catbird 5

European Starling X

Ovenbird 1 Peninsula tip


Northern Waterthrush 1


Black-and-white Warbler 2


Tennessee Warbler 1 Lookout switchback trail


Nashville Warbler 10+, often in groups of 2 - Rose Garden, Lookout, Peninsula


Common Yellowthroat 4


American Redstart 1


Northern Parula 2


Magnolia Warbler 2


Blackpoll Warbler 3


Black-throated Blue Warbler 7+


Palm Warbler 10


Pine Warbler 1 Peninsula tip


Yellow-rumped Warbler 5


Black-throated Green Warbler 8 incl 4 together Rose Garden am


Wilson's Warbler 1 Lookout switchback trail


Chipping Sparrow 2


Field Sparrow 1 Sparrow bowl


Savannah Sparrow 5


Song Sparrow 12


Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Sparrow bowl am and mid pm


Swamp Sparrow 4


White-throated Sparrow 100


White-crowned Sparrow 2-- 1 very bright adult and 1 Imm, S. Rose Garden to N. Vale path


Dark-eyed Junco 2 Ballfields


sparrow sp. 1 flight views of what was certainly Nelson's Sparrow - seen better by others - reseeded area, Long Meadow

Eastern Towhees 2

Scarlet Tanager 1 Butterfly Meadow

Northern Cardinal 5

Indigo Bunting 1 behind green containers nr L249

Common Grackle 4

House Sparrow 40

=
NELSONS SHARPTAILED SPARROW @ Baseball field fence enclosure (Jett) 235 Pm

Reminder: 10/6 Tonights BBC eve program Monk Parakeets

This is a reminder about tonight's Brooklyn Bird Club eve program on Monk Parakeets.

The lecture plus a Question and Answer session with the audience with guest speaker Steve Baldwin.

The venue is the Litchfield Villa conference room , 6:30 social 7 pm start inside Prospect Park's 5th street entrance at Prospect Park West Ave ( Park Slope side)..nearest train is the "F" train to 7th ave.

here's the BBC post http://brooklynbirdclub.org/meetings.htm

Peter

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Prospect Oct 5th Long Meadow is a hotspot.....

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


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

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

***************************************
 
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/

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

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)