April 27th reports Prospect

Trivial:  If only John Jay Audubon was alive today ( and he passed on penniless)

Check out the latest sale price of his first books:

http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2012/01/john_james_audubons_the_birds.html

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

Cold  , windy day was not the best conditions for birding, but some decent reports today , particularly for BLUE-WINGED WARBLER and a few other notable warblers.

But A BIG BIRD did fly in today, Over NYC harbor into JFK Airport. See the link below

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47204462?ocid=ansmsnbc11

--KB


From Keir:

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Apr 27, 2012 7:35 AM - 9:20 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
36 species

Canada Goose 1
Mallard 3
Great Egret 1
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Mourning Dove 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1 Butterfly Meadow
Blue-headed Vireo 2
Warbling Vireo 3
Blue Jay 1
Tufted Titmouse 3
House Wren 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Hermit Thrush 3
American Robin 14
European Starling 15
Blue-winged Warbler 1 singing Rick's Place
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Male, BBC plantings Nellie's lawn
Palm Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 18
Eastern Towhee 1
Chipping Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 2
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 12
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Rusty Blackbird 1 Vale pool
Common Grackle 2
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
House Sparrow 2

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

From Adam :

Lullwater and Lookout Hill pretty good for migrant activity.

A

Date: Fri, Apr 27, 2012 at 11:44 AM
Subject: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Apr 27, 2012


Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Apr 27, 2012 8:10 AM - 10:55 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments:     windy, mostly sunny. Birded most of time with Brendan Wessel -- he saw some other spp. before joining me.
43 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  X
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  X
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  X
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  1
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)  1
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  3
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)  1
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)  2
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  1
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  2
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)  8
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)  X
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)  X
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  5
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  2
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  2     1 found dead on path near Lullwater. Turned in to Audubon Center.
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  2
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  X
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  2
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  25
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  1
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)  5
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  50     approx
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)  1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)  3
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)  8
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  45     approx
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)  1
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)  2
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  4
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)  1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  2
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  4
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  X
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)  1     moulting male. Near famous lamppost #?
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  X
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  X
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)  X
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  1
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  X

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

Today Is John 's birdthday; Free Bird APP from Amazon

Today is John Jay Audubon's birthday

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_James_Audubon


for a free gift see below:

http://tinyurl.com/Audubonapp


From Valerie Bull:

Hi Peter,

Can you let people know that Amazon's free

 App of the Day today (April 26, 2012) is Audubon 

Birds: A Field Guide To North American Birds. You
 can download a complete species list so that you 

can use it without a data connection.

 Good for Free and just in time for Spring Migration.

 See you in the Prospect Park,
 Valerie

Prospect April 26th: UPSA records; first rare spring warbler showed....

Following up on yesterday's extremely rare Upland Sandpiper , here are the actual Prospect historical records

April 22nd ,1950
August 8th, 1947
September 16th,1939

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

Hilight for this overcast chilly day was CERULEAN WARBLER  (CEWA) seen by the First Thursday BBC walk led by Tom Stephenson, in the vicinity of the Binnen Bridge going back towards the viewing platform before CEWA taking off into the southern Midwood.

Both species orioles ORCHARD and BALTIMORE were reported in that group walk.A report is below , last item.

RUSTY BLACKBIRD was reported in the Vale Cashmere.(MWills)
Warblers NORTHERN PARULA and YELLOW are interesting finds for this so far slow season for this genera.(MYuan, CElliot); INDIGO BUNTING also reported.

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

From Matthew Wills :

Peter,

Walked along the southern end of the lake late morning, out of park via Vale. Spotted sandpiper. Yellow-rumps galore, a few Palm, one Northern Waterthrush. Rusty BB in Vale.

Canada Goose  X

Mute Swan X

Mallard  X

Double-crested Cormorant  X

Great Egret  X

Black-crowned Night-Heron  X     Juvenile

Red-tailed Hawk  X

Spotted Sandpiper  X

Laughing Gull  X

Ring-billed Gull  X

Herring Gull  X

Rock Pigeon  X

Mourning Dove  X

Belted Kingfisher  X

Red-bellied Woodpecker  X

Blue Jay  X

Tree Swallow  X

Barn Swallow  X

Carolina Wren  X

House Wren  X

Ruby-crowned Kinglet  X

Hermit Thrush  X

American Robin  X

Gray Catbird  X

European Starling  X

Northern Waterthrush  X

Palm Warbler  X

Yellow-rumped Warbler  X

Eastern Towhee  X

Chipping Sparrow  X

Swamp Sparrow  X

White-throated Sparrow  X

Northern Cardinal  X

Red-winged Blackbird  X

Rusty Blackbird  X     Male, Vale

Common Grackle  X

House Sparrow  X

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

From Mike Yuan birding with Chris Elliot:

Peter-

A few hours early with Chris Eliot brought us the following migrant highlights:

Northern Waterthrush - Lullwater
Yellow Warbler - Duck Island
Northern Parula - Lullwater Cove
Palm Warbler - Lookout
Baltimore Oriole, 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks- Midwood

Chris had Blue-headed Vireo, Gray Catbird, Indigo Bunting, and Black-and-white warbler after I left. 

-Mike

*******************************************
From Tom Stephenson , Thursday BBC walk

Hi Peter,

 

We had a great group today, about 20 or so, that braved the cold and clouds to help uncover some good birds. Warbler species were a bit scarce, but we had some really good birds including Cerulean Warbler, Ovenbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, Peregrine (twice..), Great Egret and Laughing Gull. Lots of Yellow-rumps, several Warbling Vireos seem to be in, 3 Hairy Woodpecker territories, and tons of robins making nests...

 

Here's the list.

 

Best regards,

Tom

 

 

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Egret

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Canada Goose

Mute Swan

Wood Duck

Mallard

Red-tailed Hawk

Peregrine Falcon

Laughing Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Herring Gull

Rock Dove

Mourning Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Blue-headed Vireo

Warbling Vireo

Blue Jay

American Crow

Tree Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Barn Swallow

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Carolina Wren

House Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Hermit Thrush

American Robin

Gray Catbird

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Palm Warbler

Cerulean Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

Ovenbird

Northern Waterthrush

Eastern Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

Brown-headed Cowbird

Orchard Oriole

Baltimore Oriole

House Finch

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

CERULEAN WARBLER @Binnen Br per tom s.

Prospect addendum April 25th CONFIRMED Upland Sandpiper

Reported for the first time in 62 years, UPLAND SANDPIPER is confirmed seen this morning in Prospect Park. Alex Wilson sent me a report that included among 4 species shorebirds seen today a lone UPLAND SANDPIPER seen at dawn on the baseball fields. It's only the fourth record , the first seen since April 22nd , 1950. The other two reports occurred in 1939 and 40's ( pending records search ) .

Congrats to Alex on a most spectacular find !  See Alex's report below.

In an early spring season that is amissed with usual missing warbler species and low numbers, two spectacular and new or long absent species so far is making Prospect's spring a most memorable season for the ages, following last week's Swallow-tailed Kite seen by Russ Aldertone.

Also noted for quality birds on Alex's list, WILSON's SNIPE, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, WORM-EATING WARBLER, PRAIRIE WARBLER, and RUSTY BLACKBIRD.

Click on Profile Upland Sandpiper--> http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Upland_Sandpiper/id

Alex's Ebird Yahoogroups listerve posting:

An UPLAND SANDPIPER was on the Long Meadow ball fields at
dawn this morning. It was just after 6:00, and still dim on the field,
with the sun not yet over the tree line. I was walking up the middle
of the field when the bird flushed (or perhaps it was just coming
down) from the direction of diamonds 5 & 6, crossing the field
and setting down near diamond 2. It walked a few paces, then
made two more short flights, passing around me at close range
and landing about 20 yards away, providing definitive looks
before it again took flight. This time it gained altitude and headed
north, where I lost it behind the elms near the Upper Pool. I walked
 up and down the length of the meadow and checked out
Nellie’s Lawn, but couldn’t find it again. I returned to the
original spot and had a brief thrill when I again saw a shorebird
flying north over the meadow, but this time it turned out
to be a WILSON’S SNIPE. Shortly thereafter I came upon
a SOLITARY SANDPIPER behind the Lower Pool; along
with a couple of Spotted Sandpipers that made for four shorebird
 species, probably the most I’ve had on one day in Prospect.
Spotted is the only one that’s ever common in the park; according
to Peter Dorosh’s blog, this is the first record of Upland since 4/22/1950.

As far as passerines go, it was a fairly slow day, with the
highlights being WORM-EATING and PRAIRE WARBLERS, and
a RUSTY BLACKBIRD.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Alex's report:

Begin forwarded message:

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY

Apr 25, 2012

59 species

Canada Goose  20

Mute Swan  9

Wood Duck  6

Mallard  30

Ruddy Duck  1

Double-crested Cormorant  2

Black-crowned Night-Heron  3

Red-tailed Hawk  4

American Coot  2

Spotted Sandpiper  2

Solitary Sandpiper  1     (Back gate of Lower Pool.)

Upland Sandpiper  1     (On Long Meadow ball fields at dawn. Flushed from diamonds area across center of field, paused on lawn for a moment, then moved again twice, flying around me at close range and standing about 20 yards from me before flying north.)

Wilson's Snipe  1     (Flying north over the Long Meadow ball fields and towards Pools around 7:00 AM.)

Ring-billed Gull  5

Herring Gull  10

Rock Pigeon  25

Mourning Dove  15

Chimney Swift  15

Belted Kingfisher  2

Red-bellied Woodpecker  6

Downy Woodpecker  3

Hairy Woodpecker  1

Northern Flicker  15

Warbling Vireo  2

Blue Jay  10

American Crow  1

Tree Swallow  6

Barn Swallow  15

Black-capped Chickadee  1

White-breasted Nuthatch  1

Carolina Wren  3

House Wren  4

Ruby-crowned Kinglet  5

Hermit Thrush  10

American Robin  60

European Starling  100

Worm-eating Warbler  1     (Singing in Bald Cypress on south shore of Lake.)

Northern Waterthrush  4

Black-and-white Warbler  2

Common Yellowthroat  1

Palm Warbler  4

Yellow-rumped Warbler  50

Prairie Warbler  1     (Female, Lookout south stairs area.)

Eastern Towhee  6

Chipping Sparrow  20

Field Sparrow  1

Savannah Sparrow  1

Song Sparrow  7

Swamp Sparrow  4

White-throated Sparrow  40

Northern Cardinal  15

Red-winged Blackbird  15

Rusty Blackbird  1     (Male, stream side between Pools and Esdale Bridge.)

Common Grackle  20

Brown-headed Cowbird  15

House Finch  5

American Goldfinch  5

House Sparrow  25

Prospect April 25th; possible exciting report

I received a secondhand and completely unexpected report that UPLAND SANDPIPER was seen at dawn on the ballfields. I am awaiting the identity of the birder though I have a good idea who before I confirm this report. If confirmed, it would be the first Upland Sandpiper in Prospect since April 22nd , 1950 !

On a more expected note for this species, INDIGO BUNTING reported by Adam at the Qcemetery.

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

From Adam

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Apr 25, 2012 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments:     sunny, breezy
39 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  X
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  X
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  5     Upper Pool
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  X
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)  1
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)  1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  1
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)  5
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)  X
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  X
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  2
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  3
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)  3
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  2
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  X
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  1
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  X
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  3
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  2
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)  5
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  40
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)  3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  30
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)  1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  2
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  8
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  X
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)  1     my f o s. Male transitioning into full br plumage. Quaker Cemetary.
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  X
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  X
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  3
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  1     my f o s. Lullwater.
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)  2
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  X

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

=====================================

From Chris Elliot:

Hi Peter,

Just species you haven’t already listed from this morning in Prospect:

Spotted Sandpiper (Lullwater North Cove, below viewing platform)
Ovenbird (3: Vale, Peninsula, Lullwater Bridge)
Black-and-white Warbler (Midwood)
Common Yellowthroat (just north of Rick’s Place)
Warbling Vireo (Midwood)
Pied-billed Grebe (unexpectedly in Lullwater, beside the Boat House)
Laughing Gull (2, flying over)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (2, Lullwater)
Black-crowned Night Heron (2 adults, Lullwater)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (only 1, numbers down)
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse (2)

Chris

Prospect /BBG April 24th

With a cold snap impacting bird migration, there were some keen observations recorded today.

The first spring Tuesday BBC walk led by Rob Bate took place today from Bartel Pritchard with the hilight of 3 INDIGO BUNTING taking first prize for the group. The buntings were seen in the Midwood by the zoo, thanks to Bobbi Manian spotting them.

SPOTTED SANDPIPER , NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS , SAVANNAH SPARROW, and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH were reported along the southern lake shore between West Island and 3 Sisters.

OVENBIRD and BROWN THRASHER were some other hilights, both seen earlier in the season.But first for the season (FOY) is WARBLING VIREO in the BBGarden.

From Adam Welz:

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Apr 24, 2012 8:10 AM - 10:20 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: breezy, cool, partly cloudy, Lake not surveyed
32 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 10
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) 1
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) 1
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 3
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 2
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) 2
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) X
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 1
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 2
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 40 approx count. 1 on nest.
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 1 my f o s
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) 1 my f o s
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) X
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) 1 my f o s. Lookout Hill. Singing.
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 8
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 35 approx count
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) 5
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 1 my f o s
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 2
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 20
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 4 late?
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) X
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) X
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) X
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) 6
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) X

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

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Hilights Tuesday BBC walk ( Bartel Pritchard location)
Leading : Rob Bate

We had a great walk with Rob this morning. Perfect size group, i think 7. some of our good birds - Indigo Bunting, Blue-headed Vireo, and baby Mourning Doves

From Rob Bate

(we also had 2 Palm Warblers)


Highlight of the day was 3 Indigo Buntings in the lower Midwood near the Zoo first spotted by Bobbi. Everyone got good looks.
Otherwise, pretty slow, one N Waterthrush heard singing above the Esdale Bridge but unable to spot, Blue Headed Vireos giving good looks.


42 species

Canada Goose 2
Mute Swan X
Wood Duck 2
Mallard X
Double-crested Cormorant 37
Great Egret 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Laughing Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Chimney Swift 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker X
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker X
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker X
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue-headed Vireo 4
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Barn Swallow X
Carolina Wren 3
House Wren 6
Hermit Thrush 7
American Robin X
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling X
Northern Waterthrush 1
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler X
Eastern Towhee 3
Chipping Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal X
Indigo Bunting 3
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
American Goldfinch 3
House Sparrow X

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

From Orrin:

BBG this morning

Warbling vireo (heard near Japanese pond)

Yellow warbler (singing outside rose garden)

Brown-headed cowbird

Red-winged blackbrd

European starling

White-throated sparrow

Palm warbler

Red-bellied woodpecker

Brown thrasher (singing in native plant garden)

Yellow-rumped warbler

Blue jay

American robin

House sparrow

chipping sparrow

Northern cardinal

Mourning dove

House wren

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

Peter's list:

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY

Apr 24, 2012

Protocol: Incidental

22 species

Canada Goose  7

Mute Swan  X

Mallard  X

Great Egret  1 west isl

American Coot  1 @3sisters isl

Spotted Sandpiper  1 south lake shore

Northern Flicker  1

Blue Jay  1

Northern Rough-winged Swallow  2 West Isl

Tree Swallow  3 lake

Barn Swallow  16 lake

American Robin  X

European Starling  X

Northern Waterthrush  1 south lakeshore

Palm Warbler  1 Ambergill

Yellow-rumped Warbler  3 Ambergill

Savannah Sparrow  1 south lakeshore

Northern Cardinal  2

Red-winged Blackbird  X

Common Grackle  X

American Goldfinch  2 ricks place

House Sparrow  X

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

April 23rd , Greenwood Cemetery, Prospect

From Orrin:

Green-Wood Cemetery, Sunday morning before the rain. Highlights were a blue-headed vireo and a world-class collection of robins:


Canada goose

Green heron
Belted kingfisher
Double-crested cormorant (3)
Barn swallow
Northern rough-winged swallow
Palm warbler
Yellow-rumped warbler
Blue-headed vireo
House wren (multiple, singing)

White-throated sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Song sparrow
Savannah sparrow
Eastern towhee
House sparrow
House finch (with nesting material)
Hermit thrush

Northern cardinal
Northern mockingbird
European starling
Mourning dove
Red-bellied woodpecker
Northern flicker
American robin (everywhere)

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


Peter's list:

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Apr 23, 2012
Protocol: Incidental
24 species

Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 6
Wood Duck 4-- 3 drakes, 1 hen Upper Pool
Mallard X
Ruddy Duck 12 lake
Double-crested Cormorant 2 lake
American Coot 1 lake
Herring Gull 9
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Tennis House
Downy Woodpecker 1
Tree Swallow 3 Lake
Barn Swallow 22 Lake, dominant species
American Robin X
European Starling X
Northern Waterthrush 1 along back shore Lower Pool
Palm Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 6 Esdale br
Chipping Sparrow 25 southern Nethermead
Song Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Common Grackle X

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

Earth Day April 22nd ; Prospect

Today is Earth Day ( albeit a wet one for Brooklyn)

 

All strangley quiet in these parts, most notable I saw was NORTHERN ROUGH--WINGED SWALLOW with BARNS and a few TREE SWALLOWS over Prospect Lake. Warblers are absent for most ; I presume most birds are keeping west of the park or bypassing for the most part .. ( reminds me of the Almond Joy candy bar commercial years ago: "Sometimes you get the nut, sometimes you dont..." )

 

A pair of  WOOD DUCKS at the new rink shoreline.

 

Here are some Earth Day qoutations:

 

It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.
Neil Armstrong

 

We are not going to be able to operate our Spaceship Earth successfully nor for much longer unless we see it as a whole spaceship and our fate as common. It has to be everybody or nobody.
R. Buckminster Fuller
 

***

 

From Adam :

 

( yesterday's report)

 

Hi Peter

Also had a very slow day yesterday.

A.

Subject: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Apr 21, 2012

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Apr 21, 2012 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments:     somewhat windy, partly cloudy
29 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  X
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  X
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  1
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  X
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)  X
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  1
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  1
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)  1
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)  3
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)  X
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)  10
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  3
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  2
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  1
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  8
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  1
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  40
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)  1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  10
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  4
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  X
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  X
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  X
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  X

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

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From Rob Jett:

Peter,

Below is my Prospect Park species list for Saturday. Like most birders, Heydi, Paige and I thought that the overnight South winds would bring some new migrants into the park, so we began our birding at dawn. While we did manage to see a few first-of-year species, for the most part it was a pretty quiet morning. The recent abundance of Hermit Thrushes had been reduced to just a single sighting. It was pretty much the same for Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Two new warblers for us for the year were Common Yellowthroat (seen in the Vale of Cashmere) and Yellow Warbler (Three Sisters and the Ravine). Also saw our first swift for the year (there had been previous sightings reported this past week). House Wrens have arrived with at least four seen or heard. Savannah Sparrows were spotted at Breeze Hill, the South side of the lake and Lookout Hill. Maybe we'll see a fallout with the next round of South winds ... and hopefully that will happen on the weekend.

Good birding,

Rob

**********

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Apr 21, 2012 6:29 AM - 10:29 AM
Protocol: Traveling
4.0 mile(s)
51 species

Wood Duck (2.)
Hooded Merganser
Ruddy Duck (7.)
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron (1.)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (2.)
Red-tailed Hawk
American Coot (1.)
Laughing Gull (3.)
477265617420486f726e6564204f776c
Chimney Swift (1.)
Northern Flicker (3.)
Blue-headed Vireo (1.)
American Crow
Fish Crow (4.)
Tree Swallow (4.)
Barn Swallow (5.)
House Wren (4.)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2.)
Hermit Thrush (1.)
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher (1.)

Louisiana Waterthrush (1.)
Black-and-white Warbler (2.)
Common Yellowthroat (1.)
Northern Parula (2.)
Yellow Warbler (2.)
Palm Warbler (2.)
Pine Warbler (1.)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (15.)

Eastern Towhee (4.)
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow (4.)
Swamp Sparrow (2.)
White-throated Sparrow
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch

Other common species seen (or heard):
Mute Swan, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Robin, European Starling, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, House Sparrow

Prospect April 21st

 Some birders mentioned --as I did not get out early today--that the day was very slow. Perhaps an anticipation of the coming storm just scared them birds away !

I did see a GREEN HERON perched on a water snag at Duck Island's back channel. Rob Bate saw on the same island an immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON . At Three Sisters Islands, a pair of WOOD DUCKS.

Perhaps most exciting to see could be at least 24 LAUGHING GULLS
I observed in the mid afternoon in a localized flurry at the Lake center. Fun to see....for a slow slow day

However Tom Preston looks like having a productive day.See his report below.

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Apr 21, 2012 7:50 AM - 12:10 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.5 mile(s)
51 species

Canada Goose  4
Mute Swan  7
Wood Duck  1
Mallard  13
Ruddy Duck  11
Double-crested Cormorant  14
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Laughing Gull  7
Ring-billed Gull  2
Herring Gull  9
Rock Pigeon  X
Mourning Dove  7
Chimney Swift  11
Belted Kingfisher  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  7
Downy Woodpecker  3
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  2
Eastern Phoebe  1
Blue-headed Vireo  3
Blue Jay  2
Tree Swallow  5
Barn Swallow  1
Tufted Titmouse  3
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
Carolina Wren  1
House Wren  7
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  3
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  X
European Starling  X
Black-and-white Warbler  1
Common Yellowthroat  1
Northern Parula  2
Yellow Warbler  3
Palm Warbler  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler  X
Eastern Towhee  3
Chipping Sparrow  2
Savannah Sparrow  3
Song Sparrow  2
White-throated Sparrow  30
Northern Cardinal  X
Red-winged Blackbird  6
Common Grackle  X
Brown-headed Cowbird  3
Baltimore Oriole  1
American Goldfinch  6
House Sparrow  X

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