Monday, July 23, 2012

Back from Iceland..prospect report

Just back but in recovery mode from whirlwind pace , 1400 + kilometer driving and jet lag..lots of pics [ 660+] that i have to go thru.. at least close to 10 life birds including Mary's and i first Ptarmigan, Long-tailed Jaeger ; Parasitic Jaegers ( or Arctic Skua there) preying upon Arctic Tern chicks in fields,abundant Puffins, kittiwakes and fulmars on sea cliffs, etc..will post a list later..spectacular country but scary road system including a fog shrouded high mountain pass with only 20 feet visibility and 3+ cliff wall high dirt gravel 2 way 16 ft wide drives (heading for famous Latrabjarg  Bird cliffs ) with no road shoulder barriers as most of the high roads were missing esp at curves..YIKES! We survived .)


Courtesy of Mary's online search effort, she found this You Tube video of segments of the difficult no shoulder drive to Latrabjarg Point Bird cliffs ( check out that far off person standing at the edge.... ( i still shudder)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDYkAuhein8&feature=related
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Only one local report in my Brooklyn absence

From Rafael

Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Kings, US-NY
Jul 22, 2012 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 kilometer(s)
Comments: Rare sighting of juvenile (?) Black-throated Green Warbler, at the Vale of Cashmere; ±10:15 am.
29 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) X
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 5
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) X
Green Heron (Butorides virescens) 1 Lower Lullwater.
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1 Perched, near Nelly's Lawn
Herring Gull (American) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus) 3 Flyovers, Nethermead.
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) X
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 2
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) X
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) 1 Lower Lullwater.
Warbling Vireo (Eastern) (Vireo gilvus gilvus) 2
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) X
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) X
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 2
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) X
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) X
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) X
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 1
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) 2
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) 1 seen at the Vale of Cashmere
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) X
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 2
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) X
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) X

Brooklyn is great birding!!!