Happy 450th Birthday to the great Playwright and Bard !

One touch of nature makes the whole world kin...

--William Shakespeare

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

Ridgewood Reservoir Kestrel

From Tinsley Perky

Earth Day;BBC walk

Today is Earth Day..think green

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

Watch channel 25.3 CUNY TV today at 7:30 am , 1:30, & 7:30 PM for Brooklyn Bird Club interview about the birds in Prospect Park..If you miss it , a rebroadcast this Saturday at 4:30 pm
*****************************************************

Don Riepe of American Littoral Society reported that Operation Milkweed to restore Milkweed flowers ( destroyed by Hurricane Sandy ) for Monarch Butterflies on the Jamaica Bay Island ( refuge)  raised so far $2565.00 ( $1000 past the objective money amount.)  A great job to the generosity of concerned folks on this Earth Day.


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

Tuesday Spring BBC walk

leading Rob Bate

report from Bobbi Manian

BBC walk , Rob Bate leading.

Report from Bobbi Manian

Thanks Rob!!!

Peter this includes my solo birding after walk ended. 

bobbiinbklyn

Apr 22, 2014

Prospect Park

Traveling

4 miles

427 Minutes

Observers: 10

All birds reported? Yes

Comments: Rob B Tues migration walk from BPSq

X Canada Goose

2 Mute Swan

3 Wood Duck

X Mallard

2 Ruddy Duck

47 Double-crested Cormorant

2 Great Egret

2 Green Heron

1 Black-crowned Night-Heron

1 Turkey Vulture

2 Red-tailed Hawk

1 American Kestrel

14 Mourning Dove

11 Chimney Swift

3 Red-bellied Woodpecker

4 Downy Woodpecker

1 Hairy Woodpecker

4 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)

2 Blue-headed Vireo

5 Blue Jay

1 Northern Rough-winged Swallow

5 Tree Swallow

4 Barn Swallow

1 Black-capped Chickadee

2 Tufted Titmouse

4 Carolina Wren

2 House Wren

3 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

3 Hermit Thrush

40 American Robin

X European Starling

5 Cedar Waxwing

25 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)

3 Pine Warbler

11 Palm Warbler (Yellow)

1 Worm-eating Warbler

2 Louisiana Waterthrush

25 White-throated Sparrow

30 Northern Cardinal

10 Red-winged Blackbird

11 Common Grackle

5 Brown-headed Cowbird

1 American Goldfinch

X House Sparrow

X Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)

Sent from my iPhone

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

About noon today,Rob Jett reported a young BALD EAGLE flyover Long Meadow

Fwd: Fwd: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Apr 21, 2014

-----Original Message-----
From: adamwelz@
To: Peter Dorosh ; 
Sent: Mon, Apr 21, 2014 7:33 pm
Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Apr 21, 2014

Quick walk around this eve to look for warblers - not much luck. Rusty Blackbird the best bird.

Cheers!

Adam

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <do-not-reply@ebird.org>
Date: Mon, Apr 21, 2014 at 11:31 PM
Subject: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Apr 21, 2014
To: adamwelz@


Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Apr 21, 2014 6:10 PM - 7:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 kilometer(s)
Comments:     Clear evening, Parkside across Terrace Bridge over Lookout to Pools down Ravine & through Lullwater, out. Lake not thoroughly surveyed.
34 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  X
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  X
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  4
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  X
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)  X
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  3
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)  1
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)  X
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Domestic type))  2
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  X
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)  3
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  X
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  X
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  X
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  X
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  X
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  3
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)  8
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  X
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X
Palm Warbler (Yellow) (Setophaga palmarum hypochrysea)  3
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  X
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  X
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  X
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  X
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)  1     Ambergill
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  X
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  X
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18024788

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

Favorable South wind tonight

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/brooklyn-ny/11210/hourly-weather-forecast/334651

Based on the latest forecast, south winds tonight should spur migrants to move, making tomorrow at least having favorable conditions for increased bird activity.

Typically, early warblers about this time include Hooded, Prothonotary,Kentucky, and other more common species like Black and White, Ovenbird, Northern waterthrush,Northern Parula, Black-throated Green. and other passerines.

Only one way to find out and see if I am a good prognosticator...Get out and make me look good!

By the way , tomorrow is Earth Day. ( Perfect)

-KB

also a reminder, to tune in or tape  CUNY TV at 25.3 for the Brooklyn Bird Club interview of members Rob Bate, Tom Stephenson, Bobbi Manian and myself   on Earth Day, April 22nd at 7:30AM, 1:30PM and 7:30PM and rebroadcast on Saturday the 26th at 4PM

http://www.cuny.tv/show/cunytvspecial/PR2002914

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

Today's birds were few ,thanks to a stationary cool front of continuous north wind. Of note though were

-- WORM-EATING WARBLER back of both Pools ( RJETT,HCLEVENS)

-- two GREEN HERON in a tree near the Lull water Bridge, towards Lull water cove.This could be a prelude to a nesting site ,historically this spot  GRHE of the last several years.(pointed out to me by a photographer)

-- HAIRY WOODPECKER in the west side Lull water,on a Pitch Pine full of holes.

Peregrines / Gowanus canal; Ebird Yahoo Prospect post

from Matthew Wills (NYSBirds listserve)

Subject: weekend update: peregrines, Gowanus kingfisher
From: Matthew Wills 
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2014 21:13:43 -0400
X-Message-Number: 11

The Peregrine scrapes at 55 Water St. in Manhattan and the Brooklyn Detention 
Complex on Atlantic Avenue both seem to be active as all get out. I was away for 
more than a week (search successfully for Aplomado Falcon among numerous other 
species in south TX), so yesterday was the first time I had a chance to check on 
these sites. 

I observe 55 Water St. from across the East River, so the distance is trying, 
but it looks like there is some movement in the little house of a scrape itself. 


Both yesterday and today, I observed falcons near and at the House of Detention 
(the old name, not sure why they made it a complex). 

Also, yesterday I had a male Kingfisher diving into the superfund site of the 
Gowanus Canal. There are fish to be had there, but I wouldn't recommend them.

Pics of both, among others, on the blog.


Matthew 
http://matthewwills.com

"The place to observe nature is where you are." — John Burroughs

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

Prospect Park 4/19





Sat Apr 19, 2014 5:26 pm (PDT) . Posted by:

"Peter Reisfeld" DrPinky




I ventured to Prospect this AM with Jeff Ritter. There were impressive numbers of pines along the Lullwater, along with good numbers of palms and yellow rumps.  Gnatcatchers were everywhere.  We were pleased to get the lingering prairie and worm eating warblers in the area between the pools and the Ravine.  And we enjoyed being welcomed from Queens by the boidmaster.  Here is a link to the prairie singing and preening:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/50403904@N03/13941637123/

Happy spring birding!

Peter Reisfeld

Fwd: Tree Swallow nest

PROSPECT,From Paul Chung



-----Original Message-----
From: guava1950@yahoo.com
To: prosbird
Sent: Sun, Apr 20, 2014 7:58 am
Subject: Tree Swallow nest

Hi Peter,

   Here are a couple of pictures of Tree Swallows and nest. I don't know if this is the same nest that Adam was. This one was located at the Peninsular.

Paul Chung

Fwd: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Apr 20, 2014

---Original Message-----
From: ticornis@
To: Peter Dorosh
Sent: Sun, Apr 20, 2014 12:26 pm
Subject: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Apr 20, 2014

Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Kings, US-NY
Apr 20, 2014 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Observer: Rafael G Campos R
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 kilometer(s)
Comments:    No much activity, but at least 3 sps of warblers were present.  FOY today was 1 Chimney Swift who over the Peninsula meadow.  Around the lake, 3 sps of Swallows were recorded. Sunny, open skies, ±12°Celsius.
37 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  X
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  5
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  2    One pair seen on the Upper Pool, and later they moved to the Lower Pool.
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  X
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)  1    male, lake
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)  10
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  1    Lower Lullwater
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)  1    Upper Lullwater
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  2
American Coot (Fulica americana)  1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Domestic type))  X
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  4
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  2
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  2
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  1    By the Peninsula Meadow
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)  2    flying over the lake
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  4    flying over the lake
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  6    flying over the lake
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  1    FOS.  Rick's place, seen going into the lamppost that have used as a nesting site in the previous years.
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)  3
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  42
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X
Palm Warbler (Yellow) (Setophaga palmarum hypochrysea)  1    Terrace Bridge
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus)  2    Terrace Bridge
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) (Setophaga coronata coronata)  3    Terrace Bridge, & Upper Pool
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  5
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) (Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis)  1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  8
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  3
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  2    One of the 2, seen carrying nesting material
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  2    females, Nethermead
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  1    Vale.
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  X

Brooklyn is great birding!!!!!

Easter sunrise

Over Prospect Lake 610 am. 

Happy Easter to friends and celebrants!

--Kingsboider

Fwd: Warbler Pictures from Paul Chung

-----Original Message-----
From: guava1950@yahoo.com
To: prosbird
Sent: Sat, Apr 19, 2014 7:34 pm
Subject: Warbler Pictures

Hi Peter,

    Attached are some pictures I took in Prospect Park on Saturday 4/19.

The Worm Eating Warble showed up 15 minuted after ?I spoke with you but I could not get a clear picture.

However /i was able to get some of the Prarie sat the pool.

The Louisiana was taken at the Vale.

The Yellow Rump and the Pine were at the peninsular.

Higher resolution pics are at my Flickr page:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/92050223@N02/

Paul Chung

Fwd: Fwd: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Apr 19, 2014

-----Original Message-----
From: adamwelz@
To: Peter
Sent: Sat, Apr 19, 2014 4:42 pm
Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Apr 19, 2014

Missed the exciting warblers even though I hung around the pools looking for em early this morn. Was happy to find a Tree Swallow nest in a natural situation -- the only others I've ever see have been in nestboxes. See below.

Weather was great.

Adam

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <do-not-reply@ebird.org>
Date: Sat, Apr 19, 2014 at 8:40 PM
Subject: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Apr 19, 2014
To: adamwelz@

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Apr 19, 2014 6:20 AM - 10:20 AM
Protocol: Traveling
4.0 kilometer(s)
Comments:     Clear, warm. Parkside to Breeze Hill to Lookout to Pools, Ravine, Rick's Place, Lily Pond, Peninsula
51 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  X
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  X
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  X
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)  X
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)  3
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  5
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)  2
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  2
American Coot (Fulica americana)  X
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)  5
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)  8
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Domestic type))  X
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  X
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)  1
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  9
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) (Colaptes auratus auratus/luteus)  3
White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  X
crow sp. (Corvus sp. (crow sp.))  2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)  2
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  4     The first nest of this species I've ever found in a natural situation: In a large woodpecker hole on the Peninsula. Male bird seen hanging on rim of hole and singing, female joining later, hanging on rim while male went into cavity.
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  6
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  3
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  5
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  1
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)  1
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  2
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)  5
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)  4
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  X
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)  1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)  2
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus)  3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) (Setophaga coronata coronata)  2
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)  1
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  4
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  X
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  X
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  X
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  X
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  X
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  2
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  10
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17968557

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

Fwd: Prospect 4/19/14

Note 6 species warblers

-----Original Message-----
From: joshuamalbin@
To: Peter Dorosh
Sent: Sat, Apr 19, 2014 3:56 pm
Subject: Prospect 4/19/14

This list combines two periods in Prospect Park today, 615 to 11 and 4 to 7. It was slow for the most part, but still, six warbler species today plus lots of other good things.

Canada Goose	7
Mute Swan	X
Wood Duck	4
Mallard	X
Red-breasted Merganser	1
Ruddy Duck	X
Great Egret	2
Green Heron	2
Black-crowned Night-Heron	1
American Coot	3
Laughing Gull	3
Herring Gull	1
Rock Pigeon	X
Mourning Dove	10
Red-bellied Woodpecker	8
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	1
Downy Woodpecker	11
Northern Flicker	8
American Kestrel	1
White-eyed Vireo	1
Blue Jay	15
American Crow	2
Barn Swallow	2
Black-capped Chickadee	1
Tufted Titmouse	6
White-breasted Nuthatch	2
Brown Creeper	1
House Wren	1
Carolina Wren	5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	9
Golden-crowned Kinglet	1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	6
Wood Thrush	1
American Robin	X
European Starling	X
Cedar Waxwing	9
Worm-eating Warbler	1
Louisiana Waterthrush	1
Palm Warbler	3
Pine Warbler	3
Yellow-rumped Warbler	5
Prairie Warbler	1
Eastern Towhee	1
Chipping Sparrow	5
Song Sparrow	5
White-throated Sparrow	18
Dark-eyed Junco	1
Northern Cardinal	X
Red-winged Blackbird	X
Common Grackle	11
Brown-headed Cowbird	6
American Goldfinch	3
House Sparrow	X

North wind stall

This north wind stalls migration,hence why we aren't seeing any new migrants today. We'll take though what we have now,namely the continuing Prospect Park PRAIRIE and WORM-EATING WARBLERS.

Both quality warblers are sticking around and also sticking to the same general area back of the Lower and Upper Pools. From the "Y" fork of Rocky Pass to the back view of the Upper Pool, there were sporadic sightings of these good warblers.. I was fortunate to see both,the Worm eating  with some Queens birders, on the hillside behind the Upper Pool, near where the Prairie was as well, next to the Rhododendron bush on the shoreline.

By the way,Chris Elliot reported a late RUSTY BLACKBIRD on the compost heap at north zoo,outside the fence. Its been awhile since this area been cited last.It was good for warblers a spring ago,with all the insects coming out of the decomposing piles.

Meanwhile,on the BBC walk led by Mike Yuan at north Brooklyn coast,  RED NECKED GREBE- late for this date-was seen at Brooklyn Bridge Park and a second one in Red Hook's Columbia Pier; a great year for this species.

When south winds come back,keep an eye on it.That will be a good day for the quality early warblers ,maybe Kingbird...

--kb

Prairie warb back view upper pool by rhododendron

Prospect Worm eat & Prairie warblers continue back lower pool towards upper pool back view,

On BBC walk,RED NECKED GREBE @ Brooklyn Bridge Park per leader Mike Yuan

@chebirds: Rusty blackbird on the steaming pile, north of zoo, prospect. m.twitter.com/chebirds

Fwd: Yellow-throated Vireo

--Original Message-----
From: klemens@
To: prosbird
Sent: Fri, Apr 18, 2014 7:51 pm
Subject: Yellow-throated Vireo

Dear Peter,

Attached is a photo of the Yellow-throated Vireo that Kristin Costello re-found at the Quaker Cemetery this afternoon.

Best,

Klemens