More spring harbinger 4/4 report

I received a text from Sandy Paci on Rob Jett's Linnaean Society Prospect Walk that they saw a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in the Vale of Cashmere. Among our earliest spring migratory species, a blue-gray is certainly a delight to see.

Rob Jett's Linnaean Society Prospect walk

Date: April 4, 2009 12:53:41 PM EDT>
Subject: eBird Report - Prospect Park , 4/4/09>>>>
Location: Prospect Park>
Observation date: 4/4/09>
Notes: Linnaean Society field trip.>
Number of species: 48>>

Canada Goose X>
Mute Swan 4>
Wood Duck 1>
American Black Duck X>
Mallard X>
Northern Shoveler X>
Ring-necked Duck 2>
Ruddy Duck X>
Pied-billed Grebe 1>
Great Blue Heron 2>
Great Egret 2>
Red-tailed Hawk 4>
American Coot X>
Ring-billed Gull X>
Herring Gull (American) X>
Rock Pigeon X>
Mourning Dove X>
Red-bellied Woodpecker X>
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker X>
Downy Woodpecker X>
Northern Flicker X>
Eastern Phoebe 5>
American Crow X>
Fish Crow X>
Black-capped Chickadee X>
Tufted Titmouse X>
Red-breasted Nuthatch X>
Brown Creeper 3>
Carolina Wren 3>
Golden-crowned Kinglet 12>
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4> (first of yr)
American Robin X>
European Starling X>
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3>
Pine Warbler 4>
Eastern Towhee 2>
Chipping Sparrow 2>
Fox Sparrow 3>
Song Sparrow X>
White-throated Sparrow X>
Dark-eyed Junco X>
Northern Cardinal X>
Red-winged Blackbird X>
Common Grackle X>
Brown-headed Cowbird X>
House Finch X>
American Goldfinch X>
House Sparrow X

********************
From Rafael:

Date: 04 April 2009
Site: Prospect Park
Observer: Rafael Campos
While I was around 8:30 am at the Farmer's market, Grand Army Plaza, a flock of about ~10 Fish Crows flew over. ID by their vocalizations.
Happy birding: Rafa Campos

Laughing gulls are back 4/2

Rob Jett just texted me that Laughing Gull is present on Prospect Lake. Even though a common species,the first of year seen Laughing Gull to many of us represents a wonderful harbinger of Spring...

Peter

April 1st Bald Eagle flyover + Alex's report

Rob Bate reported a high flyover 1st year BALD EAGLE above Lookout Hill around 3 pm.The eagle was heading in a generally southern direction.Rob also mentioned that about 12 Eastern Phoebes were present in both the Brooklyn Botanic Garden & Prospect ( 4 in Lullwater).

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From Alex Wilson:

Location: Prospect Park>
Observation date: 4/1/09>
Number of species: 52>>

Canada Goose X>
Mute Swan X>
Wood Duck 2 (Pair, Lower Pool.)>
American Black Duck X>
Mallard X>
Northern Shoveler X>
Ring-necked Duck 2 (Pair, Lower Pool.)>
Ruddy Duck X>
Double-crested Cormorant 3>
Great Blue Heron 1>
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1>
Osprey 1 (Taking a fish from the Lake, then passing > eastward. FoS.)>
Red-tailed Hawk X>
Merlin 1 (1 or 2, Nethermead; Lake/Peninsula.)> American Coot X>
Laughing Gull 4 (On and over Lake.)>
Ring-billed Gull X>
Herring Gull X>
Great Black-backed Gull X>
Rock Pigeon X>
Mourning Dove X>
Red-bellied Woodpecker X>
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1>
Downy Woodpecker X>
Hairy Woodpecker X>
Eastern Phoebe 12>
Blue Jay X>
American Crow X>
Tree Swallow 2 (Over Lake, FoS.)>
Barn Swallow 1 (Over Lake, FoS.)>
Black-capped Chickadee X>
Tufted Titmouse X>
White-breasted Nuthatch X>
Carolina Wren X>
American Robin X>
Northern Mockingbird X>
European Starling X>
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 1 (Upper Lullwater.)>
Pine Warbler 3 (2, Lower Pool back gate; 1 or 2 Upper > Lullwater.)>
Eastern Towhee 1 (Terrace Bridge.)>
Fox Sparrow (Red) 7>
Song Sparrow X (Fairly common migrant.)>
Swamp Sparrow 3>
White-throated Sparrow X>
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) X>
Northern Cardinal X>
Red-winged Blackbird X>
Common Grackle X>
Purple Finch 3 (Singing below Nethermead Arches; at least 2 > at Vale.)>
House Finch X>
American Goldfinch X>
House Sparrow X

March 31st "brief observations"

It was a busy day planting the ravine slope and some on Lookout Hill but these birding sightings i quickly saw while in the field

5 Ring-necked Duck in Lower Pool ( 3 drake, 2hen) with drake Wood Duck

Back shore of Duck Island,on fallen snags
5 Black-crowned night herons
Great Egret
3 Great Blue Heron plus one in treetops -4 total

Hairy Woodpecker - Lookout Hill above steps from Mary Monument

Lake: 100+ Ruddy, ~25 N.Shoveler, 2 Coots.
2 Red-tailed Hawk over West Island
Grackles common.

Cool sight: 3 descending Great Blue Herons upon duck island, flying over Lullwater .

March 30th : "Woody" came to town,

Timberdoodle..Yep , thats the moniker often applied to the American Woodcock.Its a funny name, and i wondered why. I mean , if you look at the bird and the way it behaves when spotted, you can't hold back the inner amusement . This morning, while picking up new plants for our planting site on Lookout Hill, a chunky bird flew behind my back , spotted by my coworker. .It landed among the leaf clutter along the chain link fence of our nursery area -the Propagation site- near the 9th Street entrance. I watched with amusement as the Woodcock sauntered along slowly with its odd gait , then it sat down, camouflaged so well among the leaves. Really cool to see.

This is also a day of the Ring-Necked Duck, besides 7 seen by Mary Eyster at the Lower Pool,I found 11 more on Prospect Lake, along the western shore. 5 drakes and 6 hen seemed tame enough to hug the shore even though they have wild dispositions. To cap off a nice day, early spring's omen is the return of swallows, especially when one is Barn Swallow, one bird i caught sight of flying over the Lake during my lunch hour. On the way back to my office, two adult Black- crowned night herons stood motionless above the back shore of Duck Island, while the Great Blue Heron near them didn't care about being in the open,apparently.

American Woodcock -9th Street Propsite west fence
Barn Swallow- flyover- Lake
Ring-necked Duck - 11 Lake, 7 Lower Pool ( M.Eyster) total 18
Ruddy Duck - easily 60 Lake
Northern Shoveler- easily 40 Lake
Black Duck
Coots- 6 Lake
DC Cormorant- 1 West Island
Mallards
Herring Gull- easily 45 Lake
Ring-billed Gull
Mute Swan - 2 Lake
Canada Goose- 120 Lake
Grackles Rink Cove (12)and feeders ( 6)
Red-winged Blackbird- feeders ( 15)
Downy WP -feeders
American Goldfinch-feeders
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow- feeders
Dark Eyed Junco Propsite
House Finch- feeders
BC Chickadee- feeders
Cardinal
Red-tailed Hawk -Lake( took a swipe at Ruddy Ducks which ducked underwater)
Great Egret- Lullwater near rink
Great Blue Heron - Duck Island
Black-crowned Night Heron- 2 back shore duck island

March 29th sightings : 4 reports

From Mike Corzine:

Hey Peter! I was out for a short walk today. Of note were two Double- crested Cormorants on the lake. One on the buoy, the other swimming. A Great Egret flew over and landed on the Parade ground side of the lake. The Peninsula held several Grackles & R.W. Blackbirds and on my way out, a singing Goldfinch in breeding colors. All 4pm-ish. Also, as I write this, 7:30 pm, a Mockingbird has started, yet again, singing his car alarm tune in the courtyard outside my window...
Best,Michael

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From Rusty Harold (2 reports . 3/29, 3/28)

Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 3/29/09
Number of species: 33

Canada Goose X
Wood Duck 1
Mallard X
Ring-necked Duck 6
Great Egret 2
Red-tailed Hawk X
gull sp. X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Red-bellied Woodpecker X
Downy Woodpecker X
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) X
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay X
Black-capped Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse X
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Brown Creeper 2
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin X
European Starling X
Eastern Towhee 1
Fox Sparrow X
Song Sparrow X
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow X
Northern Cardinal X
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)

Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 3/28/09
Number of species: 28

Canada Goose X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Ruddy Duck X
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Red-bellied Woodpecker X
Downy Woodpecker X
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay X
Black-capped Chickadee X
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
American Robin X
European Starling X
Song Sparrow X
White-throated Sparrow X
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)

*********************************
Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 3/29/09
Number of species: 28
Note: with Rob Jett

Canada Goose 75 lake
Mute Swan 1
Gadwall 1 drake sitting on peninsula shore
American Black Duck 1 west isl
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 30 mostly on Duck Island shore
Ruddy Duck 55 lake
Double-crested Cormorant 1 west island
Great Blue Heron 1 perched on Three Sister Island
Great Egret 1 flyby peninsula shore ( Rob saw two others elsewhere)
Cooper's Hawk 1 flyover Peninsula
American Coot 1 Three sisters
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull (American) X
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 Peninsula
Blue Jay 2
Tufted Titmouse 2 Peninsula
American Robin X
European Starling X
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 1
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle 3

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org

March 27th sightings

From Rafael:

Site: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY
Date: 27 March 2009

Observer: Rafael Campos

Nice day for a walk thru PP. The best bird for the day was 1 Turkey Vulture seen catching a thermal over Long Meadow, and later heading NW.Nothing else new around PP, at least til 1 pm. But I saw 2 Eastern Phoebes, & 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers.The following is the list of the birds recorded:

Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Ring-necked Duck (3 m, 1 f: Pools)
Ruddy Duck
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk (1)
American Coot
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1 m)
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren (heard only)
American Robin
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Fox Sparrow (1)
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco (3)
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle (1 seen carrying nesting material: Peninsula)American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

************************************
From Alex Wilson:

Location: Prospect Park>
Observation date: 3/27/09>
Number of species: 48>>

Canada Goose X>
Mute Swan X>
Wood Duck 1 (Drake, Lower Pool.)>
American Black Duck X>
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 2>
Mallard X>
Northern Shoveler X>
Ring-necked Duck 7 (4, Pools; 3, Lake.)>
Ruddy Duck X>
Pied-billed Grebe 1>
Double-crested Cormorant 1>
Red-tailed Hawk X>
Merlin 2 (1 or 2: perched and preening, Nethermead; lower >
Lullwater flyover.)>
Peregrine Falcon 1 (On signal tower at east corner of park/ > BBG.)>
American Coot X>
Ring-billed Gull X>
Herring Gull X>
Rock Pigeon X>
Mourning Dove X>
Belted Kingfisher 1 (Lake.)>
Red-bellied Woodpecker X>
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2>
Downy Woodpecker X>
Hairy Woodpecker X>
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1>
Eastern Phoebe 4>
Blue Jay X>
American Crow X>
Black-capped Chickadee X>
Tufted Titmouse X>
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 (1 or 2: Lookout pines; near feeders.)>
White-breasted Nuthatch X> Brown Creeper 1>
Carolina Wren X>
American Robin X>
European Starling X>
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 (Lullwater above Terrace Bridge.)>
Eastern Towhee 2 (Feeders; Lookout.)>
Song Sparrow X>
Swamp Sparrow 4 (A couple were singing.)>
White-throated Sparrow X>
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) X>
Northern Cardinal X>
Red-winged Blackbird X>
Common Grackle X>
House Finch X>
American Goldfinch X>
House Sparrow X

**************************
From Peter:

Three Wood Ducks on the Lake, 2 drake, one hen. (PM)

March 24th sightings inc Snow Goose

Observer :peter


Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 3/24/09
Number of species: 32

Snow Goose 1 on peninsula lake shore, but flew away towards Greenwood Cemetery 4 pm
Canada Goose 120 mostly on peninsula meadow
Mute Swan 1 lake
Wood Duck 1 Lower pool drake
American Black Duck 2 lake
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 90 lake
Ring-necked Duck 8 -- 7 lower pool, 5 drakes, 2 hen; 1 drake upper pool
Ruddy Duck 80 lake
Pied-billed Grebe 1 lake
Great Blue Heron 1 duck island
Red-tailed Hawk 2 f/o lake
American Coot X lullwater
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay X
Black-capped Chickadee 1 feeder
Tufted Titmouse 1 feeder
White-breasted Nuthatch 1 feeder
American Robin X
European Starling X
Song Sparrow 2 peninsula
White-throated Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco X
Northern Cardinal X
Red-winged Blackbird 13 duck island
Common Grackle X
House Sparrow X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Request for Volunteers Breeding Bird Surveys in Prospect

Dear birders,

I received this request for volunteers from Sara , who will be conducting Breeding Bird Surveys in Prospect Park this spring. Please contact her directly if you are interested on helping and for more details

Peter


Subj:Volunteers
Date: 3/24/2009 6:06:53 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time
From: slj2111@columbia.edu

Peter-I was wondering if you could help me find volunteers for my project? I would need volunteers to help nest search mon-sat 6am to 3:30pm (not necessarily all days, could be single day/week). the study would run from May 10th through August 10th. I also need volunteers to assist with point counts (must know Northeastern bird calls and identify Northeastern birds) and spot-mapping (same). Must be able/willing to meet me at the first site, transportation between sites (three sites per day) I can provide. Oh yes, and must bring their own set of binoculars! I only have one pair.

-Sara

March 23rd sightings

Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 3/23/09
Number of species: 28

Canada Goose X
American Black Duck 2
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 85
Bufflehead 2 drake, hen Lake
Hooded Merganser 4 2 drake,2 hen Lake
Common Merganser 2drake and hen Three sisters
Ruddy Duck 65
Red-tailed Hawk 1 perched LP249
American Coot 18
Ring-billed Gull XHerring Gull (American) X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 2
Black-capped Chickadee 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
American Robin 45
European Starling X
White-throated Sparrow 20
Northern Cardinal 1
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle 5
American Goldfinch 1
House Sparrow 2

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)