Fwd: Fwd: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Dec 8, 2013

 From Joshua Malbin

To: Peter Dorosh
Sent: Sun, Dec 8, 2013 9:26 am
Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Prospect

From: <do-not-reply@ebird.org>
Date: Sun, Dec 8, 2013 at 2:24 PM

Note RUSTY BLACKBIRDS,number of HOODED MERGANSER

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Dec 8, 2013 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
29 species

Canada Goose  10
Mute Swan  4
Mallard  25
Northern Shoveler  100
Hooded Merganser  12
Ruddy Duck  40
Red-tailed Hawk  3
American Coot  12
Ring-billed Gull  200
Great Black-backed Gull  2
Rock Pigeon  X
Mourning Dove  70     Several large flocks: one in the trees over Nellie's Lawn, one even larger on the ballfields, plus a lot more at the feeders.
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  2
Downy Woodpecker  1
Blue Jay  5
White-breasted Nuthatch  3
Carolina Wren  2
American Robin  2
Fox Sparrow  1     Feeders.
White-throated Sparrow  10
Dark-eyed Junco  1
Northern Cardinal  6
Red-winged Blackbird  2
Rusty Blackbird  3     In the reeds where the Sora was earlier this fall.
Brown-headed Cowbird  1     Among a big flock of Mourning Doves on the ballfields.
House Finch  10
American Goldfinch  8
House Sparrow  X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15899001

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

Prospect brief

Hi light today of a perched MERLIN harassed by another MERLIN ! In the center of the Nethermead,it was falcon drama where I watched thru my scope from the meadow's southwest corner.

The other quality bird was a female type /juvenile LESSER SCAUP among the Shovelers inside the West Island cove. Adding to feeders in play,a female PURPLE FINCH grabbing seed.

Over at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a flyover juvenile COOPERS HAWK at the Native flora section.

--kb

72 nd PH Day

more about Snowy Owls..why they here

There's an interesting article by Kenn Kaufman in Audubon Magazine about this year's Snowy Owl irruption.http://www.audubonmagazine.org/articles/birds/notes-snowy-owl-invasionThere's an interesting article by Kenn Kaufman in Audubon Magazine about this year's Snowy Owl irruption. <a href="http://">

Aging Snowy Owls

With this winter's irruption,something to get interested in if aging is your curiosity

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/snowy.htm

Xmas bird count past

(click on pic to enlarge)

From my past, 12 years ago when I was interviewed along with my then Natural Resources supervisor Dave Diaz ; by the NY Daily News reporter Amy Sacks about the Christmas Bird Count. I am on the left,Dave to my left. The Kings County Xmas Bird count is next week on December 14th.

Upcoming Geminds Meteorids

http://earthsky.org/space/everything-you-need-to-know-geminid-meteor-shower

**

http://wild.enature.com/blog/dont-miss-the-geminid-meteor-shower-next-week?utm_source=eNature+Master+List&utm_campaign=160160af80-On_The_Wild_Side_December_5_201312_5_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fdc5c25bf0-160160af80-58212816

**

reports are quiet today for birds. I had a low flying COOPERS HAWK over the 9th St Propsite. Kathy Toomey had BELTED KINGFISHER at the Boathouse.

A fogged out Prospect Lake this morning

Post work walk home Prospect

In the southwest pines of the Nethermead, what I thought might have been something really good, the adult COOPERS HAWK silently perched half way up the pine. It had me fooled for another species and also had me working hard to get decent looks through the pine boughs.It was so stilled.

The Upper Pool continues to harbor GADWALL, but previously a reported two doubled to four.On the lake, no sign of the previously reported Red breasted Merganser but it's possible it went into south Lullwater where I didn't go. I was too puckered after today..

Of note if one is looking for scarcity  was a single CHIPPING SPARROW on Breeze Hill. To the right of the feeders upper slope trail , along the lawn  in front of lamppost m150 ( if i remembered correctly) was the lonesome "Chippie".

 Earlier, as I was watching Rob Bate fix the feeders , on that same slope trail head , I happened to flush a female PURPLE FINCH.Rob mentioned RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, I forget where. So, lets hope for these birds to stick around not only thru the CBC count but thru most of winter.

Just one other note I forgot to mention from the other day. While  checking out an area along the horse trail just on the south side of the Nethermead, several sparrows popped out along the slope , among them a male EASTERN TOWHEE. This is a nice bird for winter seasons.

Prospect isn't known as a spectacular winter location that usually is reserved for coastal areas, but we do get those nice birds to mitigate winters gloom. ( A premise that I never find winter ever so dreary  as I am winter's advocate; its the most beautiful and serene of seasons , better than summer for me).  Later , a photo of me in the Daily News many years ago, about the Xmas count. Soon.

--KB

Addendum :  Karen got back to me with more details about the phoebe. She mentioned tail wagging among some field marks, therefore,an EASTERN PHOEBE. Again, good bird right now for its tardiness..stick around fellas !

date = 2013/12/05
site = Prospect Park
observers = PeterD

Pied-billed Grebe 2 Lake
Double-crested Cormorant Lake
Great Blue Heron Lake shore Peninsula, didn't even budge
Northern Shoveler many Lake
Gadwall 4 Upper Pool
Canada Goose Lake 63
Ruddy Duck numerous Lake
Mute Swan 7 Duck Island
Mallard 
Cooper's Hawk perched in pine southwest Nethermead
Red-tailed Hawk 
American Coot 3 Lake
Ring-billed Gull 
Herring Gull 
Mourning Dove 
Downy Woodpecker feeders
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet reported by Rob Bate
Hermit Thrush Peninsula sumacs
Chipping Sparrow Breeze Hill east of feeders
White-throated Sparrow several
Eastern Towhee male seen Monday  horse trail south of Nethermead Bridge

Northern Cardinal 2
Purple Finch east of feeders top trail, female
House Sparrow