December 12th Prospect + Brooklyn Bridge Park

 A rain soaked sleeping Red-tailed Hawk atop an air conditioner in Boerum Hill last night, photo sent to me today. Poor bird!

Finally as the rain ended, a brief mid afternoon walk under dreary skies to look  for anything still dry (I doubt it). Most interesting was the juvenile Red-tailed Hawk atop a cut off snag along the path from Terrace Bridge to the rink, that was feeding on prey.At one time, as the hawk fed, it almost slipped off the wet snag , just grabbing the bark at the last moment and flapping its wings to stay aloft. Must be a heck of a comedian to his folks.

In that area, an adult Coopers Hawk perched  at the hilltop. But it didn't stayed long.The juvenile Red tailed tried to intimidate it by flying all around and above it, finally chasing off the Coopers from its turf. I guess the Coopers wasn't amused.

No sign of the Rusty Blackbird as reported perhaps storm weary after a week's stay. But along that path , a flurry of birds that included Fox Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow and a female Red-winged Blackbird instead of its better cousin. But as I was viewing the action along with new birder Eric, a Golden-crowned Kinglet flew over, momentarily perched in a Hawthorne, before taking off up the hill.

On the lake, much open now, a lone drake HOODED MERGANSER and the usual population of Northern Shovelers. Better weather ahead but colder on Tuesday might be good for ducks spurred by a polar clipper. But I heard maybe in the long term forecast rain next weekend..Not a good sign for the Brooklyn Xmas Count...lets hope the storm misses..

Location: Prospect Park


Observation date: 12/12/10

Number of species: 28



Canada Goose X

Mute Swan 4 Lake

American Black Duck 2 Lake

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler 175 Lake

Hooded Merganser 1 drake Lake

Ruddy Duck X

Cooper's Hawk 1  Breeze Hill

Red-tailed Hawk 1 juv south lullwater


American Coot 5 Lake

Ring-billed Gull X

Herring Gull (American) X

Great Black-backed Gull 2

Rock Pigeon X

Mourning Dove 24  West Island triple sweetgums

Black-capped Chickadee X

Tufted Titmouse 2  south lullwater


Golden-crowned Kinglet 1  south lullwater
 
European Starling X

Fox Sparrow (Red) 2--West Island triple sweetgums, 1 south lullwater


Song Sparrow 1

Swamp Sparrow 3--2 West Island triple sweetgums,1 south lullwater


White-throated Sparrow 15--10 West Island triple sweetgums, 5 south Lullwater


Dark-eyed Junco X

Northern Cardinal 3

Red-winged Blackbird 3--one south lullwater,2 West Island triple sweetgums


American Goldfinch 10  West Island triple sweetgums

House Sparrow X


Feeder
 
Location: Prospect Park


Observation date: 12/12/10

Number of species: 4


Downy Woodpecker 2

Black-capped Chickadee 6

White-breasted Nuthatch 1

American Goldfinch 2



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

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

Brooklyn Bridge Park birding , reported by Larry Zirlin

(Ebirds listerve posting)

From: Larry Zirlin


To: ebirdsnyc@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Sun, December 12, 2010 4:07:54 PM

Subject: [ebirdsnyc] Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 1, 12/13


The latest bird to arrive at Pier 1 is a drake Bufflehead,

seen swimming and diving among the pilings. This brings

 the number of reported species at this (relatively) new site

up to 49. I'm hoping for a nice even 50 before year's end.

I've seen Mergansers nearby in the past so that's a possibility

A Gadwall was also present.Between Piers 3 & 4 there

were three more Gadwalls plus another drake

Bufflehead, and off Pier 6, yet another Bufflehead.


Birds on the ground were sparse--only sparrows and pigeons.

Number of species: 9

Gadwall 1

American Black Duck 6

Bufflehead 1

Double-crested Cormorant 8

Ring-billed Gull 35

Herring Gull 2

Great Black-backed Gull 1 On Manhattan shore beneath Brooklyn Bridge

Rock Pigeon 24 All but one on old National Cold Storage site

White-throated Sparrow 5 Larry Zirlin

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

Prospect December 11th OCWA reported;feeders Pine Siskin, Rusty BB continues

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER reported by Russ Aldertone today. See his note to me for more details

Highlight for me was an Orange-Crowned Warbler on
the Lookout Hill side of Wellhouse Dr. across from the
 reeds.

Russ

List

Location: Prospect Park


Observation date: 12/11/10

Number of species: 28



Canada Goose X 1 Hybrid. Looked like possible Canada X Snow Goose

Mute Swan 2

American Black Duck 1

American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 3

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler 50

American Coot 10

Ring-billed Gull 100

Great Black-backed Gull 5

Rock Pigeon X

Mourning Dove 10

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1

Downy Woodpecker 1

Blue Jay 2

American Crow 5

Black-capped Chickadee 40

Tufted Titmouse 4

Red-breasted Nuthatch 1

White-breasted Nuthatch 2

Carolina Wren 1

Northern Mockingbird 1

Orange-crowned Warbler 1

Fox Sparrow 1

White-throated Sparrow 6

Dark-eyed Junco 10

Northern Cardinal 2

House Finch 2

American Goldfinch 4

House Sparrow 20



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

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

From Rob Bate:

There was a Pine Siskin on the thistle feeders and


Rusty Blackbird continues on the Lullwater between the

rink and Terrace Bridge.


Rob

Prospect December 10th " first day of frozen waters"

The best bird  this day continues to be RUSTY BLACKBIRD (RUBB) , seen along the water edge by the chain link fence  on the path ( now blocked at the concert grove edge) leading from the rink to the Terrace Bridge, as I was informed by Larry in the field about RUBB . Gray Catbird follows with flourish second best.

The lake has frozen but thinly for the first time this season. All the ducks, mostly Northern Shovelers, my "guesstimate" about 220 birds are cornered by the west shore in the only open patch that included 3 Pied-billed Grebes. Many gulls out there on the ice, nothing unusual except the usual three regular occurring species.But its worth checking every day just in case  since this is peaking gull migration time. One Christmas count week "spectacular gull sighting" was a Glaucous Gull , fortunately seen on the count day many years ago, spotted as a flyover by famous Brooklyn legend Marty Sohmer ( and I was fortunate to be with him that day).

The feeders are holding up, with the usual complement of winter birds, especially the loyal RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, one of my faves. Its all flux and go. Lets hope for something great this winter at those feeders. They have been refilled today and squirrels seemed to note my added measures to deter them.You can see when you go there.

A last note for winter impacted birding activity.There was some activity under the triple sweetgum trees between the rustic shelter and West Island . Under neath , American Goldfinches, a FOX SPARROW , Swamp Sparrow ( + 2 more at the West Island benches), with BC Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse, fed in that area. So, a heads up to check these sweetgums, great trees right now for birds ( Historical note Common Redpolls on a Xmas Count as well, december sighting)

Enjoy the weekend,

--Kingsboider

Location: Prospect Park feeders


Observation date: 12/10/10

Number of species: 18


4 Mourning Dove


1 Downy Woodpecker

5 Black-capped Chickadee

1 Red-breasted Nuthatch

1 White-breasted Nuthatch

3 White-throated Sparrow

2 Dark-eyed Junco

6 House Finch


Total species reported: 8

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

Prospect Park (general)

232 Canada Goose  Lake

5 Mute Swan west shore

X American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid)

65 Mallard  Lake

220 Northern Shoveler  Lake

5 Ruddy Duck  Lake

3 Pied-billed Grebe  Lake

23 American Coot  Lake west shore

X Ring-billed Gull

X Herring Gull (American)

5 Great Black-backed Gull

X Rock Pigeon

X Mourning Dove

1 Black-capped Chickadee West Island rustic shelter

1 Tufted Titmouse West Island rustic shelter

X European Starling

1 Fox Sparrow (Red) West Island rustic shelter

3 Swamp Sparrow West Island shore

7 American Goldfinch West Island rustic shelter



Total species reported: 18

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

From Larry:

Rusty Blackbird continues between rink construction and Terrace Bridge. Late catbird in the construction site.


Larry

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

Location: Prospect Park

Observation date: 12/10/10

Number of species: 36



Canada Goose 12

Mute Swan 5

Mallard 50

Northern Shoveler 150

Ruddy Duck 5

Pied-billed Grebe 1 Lake

Great Blue Heron 1 Peninsula

Red-tailed Hawk 1 Boathouse

American Coot 31

Ring-billed Gull 400

Herring Gull 100

Great Black-backed Gull 2

Rock Pigeon 5

Mourning Dove 30

Red-bellied Woodpecker 2

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1

Downy Woodpecker 4

Hairy Woodpecker 1

Blue Jay 12

American Crow 10

Black-capped Chickadee 15

Tufted Titmouse 2

Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Feeders

White-breasted Nuthatch 2

Hermit Thrush 1 Lullwater Trail

Gray Catbird 1 In Rink construction site

European Starling 200

Fox Sparrow 1 Beneath feeders

White-throated Sparrow 30

Dark-eyed Junco 10

Northern Cardinal 19

Red-winged Blackbird 2 Feeders

Rusty Blackbird 1 Lullwater trail between Rink construction & Terrace Bridge

House Finch 9

American Goldfinch 10

House Sparrow 15



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

New Prospect Park administrator announced; Prospect report inc RUBlackbird; PLANYC COMM meeting

Tupper Thomas, President of Prospect Park and the Alliance has announced her successor in today's Prospect Park website. Emily Lloyd will assume the presidency at the end of January 2011.

http://www.prospectpark.org/1240764

Dear Prospect Park Community:



It gives me great pleasure to announce that Emily Lloyd has

accepted the dual positions of President of Prospect Park

Alliance and Administrator of Prospect Park. She will start


work at the Park on January 31, 2011.


Emily’s years of public service make her a well known and

respected figure in New York. She has served as Commissioner

of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection

 and Commissioner of the Department of Sanitation, as well as

 an Executive Vice President at Columbia University and most

recently Chief Operating Officer at Trinity Real Estate.




In 2004, the Alliance developed a management and

governance plan to address a variety of issues including

succession planning for me and our founding chairman,

Henry Christensen III. In 2007, Albert H. Garner became

chairman. Today, we are excited to have found our new

President.




The Alliance Board and Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe

 agree Emily will be a great leader for Prospect Park. She

 brings years of experience in nonprofit management, capital


projects, financial management, and city government.




I am so pleased with the selection of Emily. She is capable

of building on all that has been done in Prospect Park.

Emily lives in Brooklyn and is looking forward to getting to better


know the community of Park users.


Sincerely,


Tupper Thomas


President


Prospect Park Alliance






--Kingsboider

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

From Rob Bate:

Rusty Blackbird same location as yesterday, lullwater between rink and


Terrace Bridge,

Ruby-crowned Kinglet behind Wellhouse

Kestrel on Eastern Parkway near Museum


Observation date: 12/9/10

Number of species: 36



Canada Goose X

Mute Swan X

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler X

Ruddy Duck X

Great Blue Heron X

Sharp-shinned Hawk X

Red-tailed Hawk X

American Kestrel X

American Coot X

Ring-billed Gull X

Herring Gull X

Rock Pigeon X

Mourning Dove X

Red-bellied Woodpecker X

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker X

Downy Woodpecker X

Blue Jay X

Black-capped Chickadee X

Tufted Titmouse X

White-breasted Nuthatch X

Carolina Wren X

Ruby-crowned Kinglet X

Hermit Thrush X

Northern Mockingbird X

European Starling X

Fox Sparrow X

Song Sparrow X

White-throated Sparrow X

Dark-eyed Junco X

Northern Cardinal X

Red-winged Blackbird X

Rusty Blackbird X

House Finch X

American Goldfinch X

House Sparrow X

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

For news about biodiversity in NYC planning, check out this Link from my conservation blog which regards also community meetings on this topic in nyc planning

http://bbcnewsboard.blogspot.com/2010/12/biodiversity-planning-in-nyc-and-planyc.html

Prospect December 8th

Bird of the day is RUSTY BLACKBIRD reported by Rob Jett. A Gray Catbird and Chipping Sparrow are unusual or very uncommon "winter" sightings here in Prospect..

From Rob :

Location: Prospect Park


Observation date: 12/8/10

Number of species: 37

Canada Goose X

Mute Swan X

American Black Duck X

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler 175

Ruddy Duck 85

Pied-billed Grebe 2

Great Blue Heron 3

Red-tailed Hawk 3

American Coot 12

Ring-billed Gull X

Herring Gull (American) X

Great Black-backed Gull X

Rock Pigeon X

Mourning Dove 20

Red-bellied Woodpecker 3

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2

Downy Woodpecker 5

Blue Jay 4

Fish Crow 2

Black-capped Chickadee 36

Tufted Titmouse 8

Red-breasted Nuthatch 2

White-breasted Nuthatch 6

Carolina Wren 2

Gray Catbird 1 Lullwater path between rink and Terrace Bridge.

European Starling X

Chipping Sparrow 1 Breeze Hill, near bird feeders.

Swamp Sparrow 1

White-throated Sparrow 35

Dark-eyed Junco 50

Northern Cardinal 8

Red-winged Blackbird 1

Rusty Blackbird 1 Lullwater path between rink and Terrace Bridge.

House Finch 12

American Goldfinch 26

House Sparrow X


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

Audubon alert on Hydrofracking upstate New York

www.audubonaction.org/site/Advocacy?id=949

A heads up on Snow Geese migration

I pulled this report off the main birding state listserve and thought it might be helpful for any birder Wednesday  in our region. Apparently a major Snow Geese push occurred tonight .So, look up tomorrow...Usually way up , you might see a 'shimmering' white cloud; on closer inspection with bins, you might ascertain black wing tips ,indicating Snow Geese. This is how I often see them here over Prospect or the surrounding areas.

Here's the listserve report from Richard Guthrie ( a long ago Brooklyn Bird Club member) from Greene County in upstate NY.

Subject: Snow Geese - major flight tonight



From: "Richard Guthrie"
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2010 20:35:50 -0500



There is a major flight of SNOW GEESE tonight (Dec 7th).


Since I got home after dark, I've been hearing flight after flight of them


going over (southbound) from here in New Baltimore, The Greene County, NY.


(~1/3 NYC <------*-------->Montreal)

Rabies alert in Prospect Park

This item appeared in today's NY Times. If you see an erratic Raccoon, alert me.

December 6, 2010, 5:32 pm



Concern Over Rabid Raccoon in Prospect Park


By ANDY NEWMAN


A dead raccoon in Prospect Park in April. A wildlife advocate says it was thrown out rather than tested for rabies.Rabid raccoons in major city parks are no longer just a Central Park phenomenon. At Prospect Park in Brooklyn, a dead raccoon found near the lake and Vanderbilt Street Playground in the southwestern corner of the park last Thursday has tested positive for rabies, the city health department says.

Brooklyn has a very long way to go to catch up with Central Park and environs, where more than 100 raccoons have tested positive for rabies this year and raccoons are now being vaccinated. The Prospect Park raccoon was only the second rabid one found in Brooklyn since 1992, the health department said. The other was found in Boerum Hill in February of this year.

But a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and Prospect Park-watcher, Anne-Katrin Titze, says that there may be some undercounting going on. As evidence, she submitted the above photograph, which she said was taken April 18 in Prospect Park.

The health department said that while seven Prospect Park raccoons have been tested for rabies this year, it had no record of a Prospect Park raccoon being tested for rabies on or shortly after April 18, even though dead raccoons are supposed to be routinely turned over to the health authorities for testing. Health officials note that animals that have decomposed past a certain point cannot be tested for rabies.

Ms. Titze said she was told by witnesses that the April raccoon carcass was heaved by parks workers into the back of a garbage van.

The issue is a serious one, Ms. Titze said, because according to health rules, dogs and other pets exposed to rabid animals who do not receive booster shots within a few days can face a six-month quarantine and, in some cases, mandatory euthanasia.

“Dead animals, untested and left to decompose in a city park where children and dogs might stumble upon them, are a serious health hazard,” Ms. Titze said in an email.

***

From NYC Board of Health

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/zoo/10vet02.pdf

December 6th Prospect

A quiet day, with flurries accentuating the brisk cold air.And that type of climate makes the feeders most active. During one moment, the female PURPLE FINCH  with its cousin a female House Finch perched on the same feeder while all around them Black-capped Chickadees filled the air ( but not as many as flurries), with their flurry of energetic action. Both Nuthatch species stick to their regimen

( and I am still adjusting the feeders' positioning to deter those irritating squirrels ! )

ON the lake, 4 HOODED MERGANSERs, spilling over from yesterday's sighting, occupied mostly the lake middle most of their time.

Location: Prospect Park feeders


Observation date: 12/6/10

Number of species: 9



Mourning Dove 4

Downy Woodpecker 2

Black-capped Chickadee 7

Tufted Titmouse 1

Red-breasted Nuthatch 1

White-breasted Nuthatch 1

Northern Cardinal 1

Purple Finch 1

House Finch 1


Location: Prospect Park


Observation date: 12/6/10

Number of species: 12


Canada Goose 130  Parade grounds

Mute Swan 5 lake

Mallard X

Northern Shoveler X lake

Hooded Merganser 4 lake, 2 pairs

Ruddy Duck X

Pied-billed Grebe 3-2 lake, 1 Upper pool

Great Blue Heron 1 upper pool

American Coot 22-14 Boathouse lawn,2 boathhouse pond, 6 lullwater

Ring-billed Gull X

Herring Gull (American) X

Rock Pigeon X



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

December 5th Brooklyn Bird Club walk results

Results of today's Brooklyn Bird Club walk led by Eddie Davis were hilighted by AMERICAN WOODCOCK,RUSTY BLACKBIRD, PURPLE FINCH and several winter species of note.

Report from Eddie:

Seven Brooklyn dedicated Brooklyn birders decided to brave the near-freezing temperatures this morning and join me on a Prospect Park walk. We got most of the expected winter birds, plus a few nice surprises. Highlights included a Rusty Blackbird female at the Vale of Cashmere, both Kinglet species, a Purple Finch female at the feeders, and a surprising American Woodcock near the Lullwater arbor.

Location: Prospect Park

Observers: Eddie Davis with Dovid, Eni, Jess, Mike, Monica, Phil, and Sara

Observation date: 12/5/10

Number of species: 35


Canada Goose

Mute Swan

Mallard

Northern Shoveler

Ruddy Duck

Pied-billed Grebe 2 - upper pool and lower lullwater

Great Blue Heron 2 - upper pool and lullwater cove

Red-tailed Hawk

American Coot

American Woodcock 1 - lullwater path between arbor and boathouse—startled by the group, it flew across the path and landed close to us, offering great extended looks

Ring-billed Gull

Mourning Dove

Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 - lamppost 249

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 - lamppost 249

Downy Woodpecker

Blue Jay

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 - feeders

White-breasted Nuthatch

Carolina Wren 2 - lookout hill slope

Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 - peninsula

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 - lamppost 249

Hermit Thrush 1 - lamppost 249

European Starling

Fox Sparrow 2 - lamppost 249

White-throated Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinal

Red-winged Blackbird 1 - feeders

Rusty Blackbird 1 - vale of cashmere

Purple Finch 1 - feeders

House Finch 3 - feeders

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow