Saturday, May 5, 2012

Prospect May 5th ...blast..its the weather again....

Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get.
                                                
                                                   ----Mark Twain

Low cloud ceiling,heavy overcast skies,  and  misty conditions deflated bird numbers today, no doubt everything or most birds skedaddled last night. My Brooklyn Bird Club walk was an experience of much effort, with whatever birds that sang refusing to cooperate or heavy leaf foliage a nuisance. Despite the hard earned sightings, we counted 13 species warblers--among an impressive 55 total species, at the expected speed we went  ;)  -- most warblers seen but a few identified by song alone.

For us the best birds was not a warbler but a vireo and unexpected flyby terns. Atop the Maryland Monument stairs, while i stopped to explain some bird matter with a member, one of the other members spotted YELLOW-THROATED VIREO first in a oak , then most of the observation in the adjacent large cherry . It salvaged the list for lack of quality. After the stairs sighting, along the Peninsula meadow, Mary E spotted two terns flying along the lake edge, which I identified as COMMON TERNS for the black i spotted in their underside wings. Salvage bird #2.

Warblers were few, but a very good look and satisfying for all was PRAIRIE WARBLER along the south edge of Butterfly Meadow. It was a handsome bird with its bold flank streaking and bowl shape mark on the cheek.

Other reports from the field added BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER ( TPreston, JZinn, ABaratz) in the giant oak overlooking Pagoda Bridge; INDIGO BUNTING ( MBerger, BBC)and CANADA WARBLER (NTim, RCampos)  in the Midwood, and SOLITARY SANDPIPER along the back shore of Upper Pool ( MYuan).

Speaking of the last species, SOLITARY SP (SOSA) , a whimsical scene to relate. First ,a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON (BCNH)  was seen on the fallen oak limb in the water under heavy natural cover ; then one of the members spotted the Solitary , though hard to see in the water a few feet from shore with all the brush in the way. As the SOSA approached the shore for a better look for us, the BCNH suddenly darted off its limb and chased the SOSA!  Not on his turf, mind you; Brooklyn neighborhoods can be tough ! Then we watched the BCNH limbered back to its perch in a hunchback funny way. We have our moments.


Latest : COMMON LOON flyover was reported by Rafael. HOODED WARBLER (c newest post)

From Peter
Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
May 5, 2012 7:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
5.0 mile(s)
Comments:    BBC  Group walk
55 species
Canada Goose  X
Mallard  X
Great Egret  1 south Lullwater
Green Heron  1 Peninsaula shore
Black-crowned Night-Heron  2-Lullwater; Upper Pool
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Solitary Sandpiper  1 Upper Pool, 1st reptd by Mike Yuan)
Herring Gull  X
Common Tern  2 flyby along Lake northshore
Rock Pigeon  X
Mourning Dove  X
Chimney Swift  X
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1 perched west side woods QCemetery
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker  1
Eastern Kingbird  2-1 Lullwater cove
Yellow-throated Vireo  1 Maryland Monument stairs
Warbling Vireo  2
Red-eyed Vireo  3
Blue Jay  X
Tree Swallow  2 Lullwater
Barn Swallow  X
House Wren  1 Lookout
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  2-one Binne water, 1 Lookout
Veery  1
Swainson's Thrush  1 Upper Pool backslope
Wood Thrush  X QCemetery
American Robin  X
Gray Catbird  X
European Starling  X
Cedar Waxwing  4 high in tall Tulip Tree Midwood
Ovenbird  X QCemetery
Northern Waterthrush  3--2 Peninsula, 1 Upper Pool
Blue-winged Warbler  1 QCemetery
Black-and-white Warbler  X
Nashville Warbler  1 Butterfly Mead
Common Yellowthroat  2
Northern Parula  2
Magnolia Warbler  1 QCemetery
Yellow Warbler  X
Black-throated Blue Warbler  1 Lookout south
Yellow-rumped Warbler  X
Prairie Warbler  1 Butterfly Meadow
Black-throated Green Warbler  X 
Song Sparrow  X
Scarlet Tanager  5
Northern Cardinal  X
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  2 , one Ctr DR
Indigo Bunting  1 male Midwood
Red-winged Blackbird  X
Common Grackle  X
Brown-headed Cowbird  X
Baltimore Oriole  X
American Goldfinch  X
House Sparrow  X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

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date = 2012/05/05
site = Prospect Park
observers = Warbler master list all park observers


Prairie Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler --Dale Dyer
Ovenbird
Canada Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler

HOODED WARBLER-Vale Cashmere (Chris Holden)

18 species

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From Rafael Campos:

Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Kings, US-NY
May 5, 2012 7:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 kilometer(s)
Comments:    I led a bird walk for Saw Mill River Audubon (Westchester Co., NY).  The weather was no good, overcast, with sporadic rain, but we had a good number of warbler sps (15).
56 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  X
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  X
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  2    Lily Pond
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  X
Common Loon (Gavia immer)  1    flyover Long Meadow.
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)  2
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  1
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)  2    Lake
Herring Gull (American) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus)  2    Flyovers
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)  X
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  4
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  2
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  2
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  1
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  1
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius)  1    Litchfield Villa entrance
Warbling Vireo (Eastern) (Vireo gilvus gilvus)  2
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  1    Lookout Hill
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  4
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  1    Lake
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  8    Lake
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  2
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  2
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)  2    Long Meadow & Upper Pool
Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)  1    Litchfield Villa
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  X
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  X
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis)  1    Upper pool
Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera)  1    Central drive, edge of Quaker Hill
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)  2
Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina)  1    Nethermead Arches
Nashville Warbler (Eastern) (Oreothlypis ruficapilla ruficapilla)  2
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  2
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)  2
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)  4
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)  1
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)  2    Nethermead arches
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata)  3    Near Audubon Center
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens)  1    Lookout Hill
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) (Setophaga coronata coronata)  X
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)  8
Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis)  2    Ravine & Battle Pass
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  4    Nelly's lawn
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  X
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)  4
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  X
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  X
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  4
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  4
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)  1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  2
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  X
Brooklyn is great birding!!!

From Tom Preston:
Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
May 5, 2012 5:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments:     +Alan Baratz + Janet Zinn for the 2nd half of the trip
65 species

Canada Goose  X
Mute Swan  X
Wood Duck  2
Mallard  X
Double-crested Cormorant  1
Great Egret  1
Black-crowned Night-Heron  2
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Spotted Sandpiper  1
Laughing Gull  5
Herring Gull  X
Rock Pigeon  X
Mourning Dove  X
Chimney Swift  8
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1     Lily Pond
Red-bellied Woodpecker  3
Downy Woodpecker  3
Northern Flicker  2
Great Crested Flycatcher  1     Lookout
Eastern Kingbird  3
Warbling Vireo  7
Red-eyed Vireo  3
Blue Jay  15     Including a flock of 13 up on Lookout early.
American Crow  1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  1
Tree Swallow  1
Barn Swallow  6
Black-capped Chickadee  1
Tufted Titmouse  3
Carolina Wren  1
House Wren  6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  3
Wood Thrush  1
American Robin  X
Gray Catbird  X
European Starling  X
Ovenbird  4
Northern Waterthrush  2
Black-and-white Warbler  9
Nashville Warbler  4
Common Yellowthroat  3
Northern Parula  10
Magnolia Warbler  3
Blackburnian Warbler  1     Upstream from Pagoda
Yellow Warbler  4
Chestnut-sided Warbler  3
Blackpoll Warbler  4
Black-throated Blue Warbler  3
Yellow-rumped Warbler  X
Prairie Warbler  1     Singing across from Pagoda around 9:15 and 11:30
Black-throated Green Warbler  4
Canada Warbler  1     Vale
Eastern Towhee  1
Song Sparrow  2
White-throated Sparrow  20
Scarlet Tanager  1
Northern Cardinal  X
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  2
Red-winged Blackbird  X
Common Grackle  X
Brown-headed Cowbird  X
Baltimore Oriole  9
American Goldfinch  8
House Sparrow  X

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