Photo by Peter, taken by Cherry Blossom mall.
This day came about with an early seasonal sighting of PINE WARBLER (PIWA) , two bright males spotted by Dennis Hreshowsik and Monica Berger at the Lullwater Bridge ( one nearest the Boathouse). A late morning observation drawn out into early mid-afternoon as the 2 warblers worked their way along the Lullwater towards the Terrace Bridge, on the west side. I need to look at the office records (for Prospect) since Ebird doesn't distinguish by season for first time records.Pine Warbler is sometimes an overwintering species over the years ( for example a search i did just now on Cornell Ebirds showed a specimen seen Jan 1st, 2001, obviously not a spring migrant)
Another hilight for today is the continuing RUSTY BLACKBIRD, but not one , but two. Donna Evans after I ran into her this late afternoon in my unsuccessful search for PIWA, found the pair working the edge of the mudflat of the upcoming fish rescue operation , the 3 acre section closed off by cofferdams between the Peninsula north shore and the new rink complex under construction.
On my PIWA search, I saw an immature COOPERS HAWK just to the east of the Breeze Hill feeders.No wonder no birds around there. Another early typical migrant, BROWN CREEPER was seen going along up an old Red Maple at the end of the Lullwater Bridge west side shore. Dennis also reported the latter species by the Lullwater platform.
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET was reported by Ben in the Lullwater Cove. So everything is Lullwater, nary a lull today for sure..
But an omen for a very early spring wasn't birds as I visited the BBGarden with my mom and one observation I feel unnerved is the sight of flowers typically seen in early April : blooming Daffodils and a Japanese flowering cherry tree.. See the picture up there ( it just means if trees bloomed too early as neotropic bird migration peaks, its gonna be darn hard to see them warblers in the thick foliage in May....)
:( --KB
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From Dennis:
Peter,
Great to see first prospect pine warblers of the season! Monica and I spotted them near terrace bridge after the BBC walk today. Two very bright males, perching on railing and near by low branches as well as walking on ground beneath pine tree. We later saw one of the birds in the woods with two brown creepers near the lullwater viewing platform.
earlier in the day i said, "the weather today feels exactly the same as the day the first pine was spotted last March, maybe we'll get lucky."
best,
Dennis
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <do-not-reply@ebird.org>
Date: Sat, Mar 10, 2012 at 4:39 PM
Subject: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Mar 10, 2012
Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Mar 10, 2012 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: BBC Walk
35 species
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Wood Duck X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Ruddy Duck X
Pied-billed Grebe X
Red-tailed Hawk X
American Coot X
Ring-billed Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Red-bellied Woodpecker X
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker X
Downy Woodpecker X
Hairy Woodpecker X
Blue Jay X
Black-capped Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse X
White-breasted Nuthatch X
Brown Creeper X
Golden-crowned Kinglet X
Hermit Thrush X
American Robin X
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling X
Pine Warbler X
Song Sparrow X
White-throated Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco X
Northern Cardinal X
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
House Finch X
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
From: <do-not-reply@ebird.org>
Date: Sat, Mar 10, 2012 at 4:39 PM
Subject: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Mar 10, 2012
Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Mar 10, 2012 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: BBC Walk
35 species
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Wood Duck X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Ruddy Duck X
Pied-billed Grebe X
Red-tailed Hawk X
American Coot X
Ring-billed Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Red-bellied Woodpecker X
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker X
Downy Woodpecker X
Hairy Woodpecker X
Blue Jay X
Black-capped Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse X
White-breasted Nuthatch X
Brown Creeper X
Golden-crowned Kinglet X
Hermit Thrush X
American Robin X
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling X
Pine Warbler X
Song Sparrow X
White-throated Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco X
Northern Cardinal X
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
House Finch X
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
From Rafael:
Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Kings, US-NY
Mar 10, 2012 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
4.0 kilometer(s)
Comments: Blue skies, sunny, but low temperatures (1° to 8°C)
32 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) X
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) X
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) X
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) 6
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) X
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) 1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 2 1 adult siting on the nest around Nelly's lawn.
American Coot (Fulica americana) X
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) X
Herring Gull (American) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus) X
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) X
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) X
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 5
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) X
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 3
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) X
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) X
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 4
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) X
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) (Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis) 6
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) X
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 4
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 2
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) 1
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) X
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 6
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) X
Brooklyn is great birding: Rafa Campos R.
