The impact from Hurricane Sandy upon our regional parks and preserves has gotten many birders wondering whats open and whats closed. We know for a fact all Gateway National Seashore parks are closed, some due to severe damage ( such as Fort Tilden, Breezy Point) or some like Floyd Bennett or Riis Park which has been commandeered by the federal emergency agencies ( like FEMA and the military) for salvage and dumping operations.The same also applies for NYC parks due mostly to damage trees and natural litter. Below are links for updates on whats is open and closed. Hope it helps. If you are a Facebook user, the National Parks Service set up a Hurricane timeline ...
NYC Parks by borough
http://www.nycgovparks.org/news/notices
Gateway National Park
http://www.nps.gov/gate/index.htm
http://nyharborparks.org/index.html
Facebook for Gateway parks
http://www.facebook.com/n/?pdorosh%2Fposts%2F440018396045613&mid=70b0820G46ff3592G361ea88G3a&bcode=1.1352731378.AbkRLtQMaFRfQ9Ah&n_m=prosbird%40aol.com
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Prospect 11/12
Today all is quiet, my feeling the warm weather has put a damper on any winter bird movement. And evidence that it was warm , a GREAT EGRET makes the highlight ! Seen knee deep in the water at West Island, its not often to see such a late bird "outrank" the HOODED MERGANSER drake on the island's shore. There in that section of the lake ,I guess at least 250 NORTHERN SHOVELERs , many feeding in tight circles. In the Lullwater by the Terrace bridge, a pair GADWALL with the usual COOTS and RUDDY DUCKS.
ON Breeze Hill, most exciting was a patrolling PEREGRINE FALCON, maybe making feeder birds nervous despite being in the woods. A few PINE SISKIN with one PURPLE FINCH was seen; earlier Rafael saw a unusual FIELD SPARROW on the ground with the expected FOX SPARROWS.
Continuing with the feeders, MONK PARAKEETS were near as observed by Rafael. And nearby a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was busy picking on the pine cones in the pitch pine in the oval lawn
Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Nov 12, 2012 1:00 PM - 2:45 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
5 species
Red-tailed Hawk 3 Breeze Hill
Peregrine Falcon 1 Breeze Hill
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Breeze Hill
American Robin X
White-throated Sparrow 45
Prospect Park--Prospect Lake, Kings, US-NY
Nov 12, 2012 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
15 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose 60
Mute Swan 4
Gadwall 2
American Black Duck 5
Mallard X
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) X
Northern Shoveler 250
Hooded Merganser 1 West Isl
Ruddy Duck 65
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Double-crested Cormorant 3
Great Egret 1
American Coot 17
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Prospect Park--Feeders, Kings, US-NY
Nov 12, 2012 3:15 PM - 3:29 PM
Protocol: Stationary
9 species
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Fox Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 15
Dark-eyed Junco X
Northern Cardinal 2
Purple Finch 1
House Finch 4
Pine Siskin 3
American Goldfinch 8
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S12027630
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From Rafael :
Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Kings, US-NY
Nov 12, 2012 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
Observers: Rafael Campos, Rob Bate, & Peter Dorosh
4.0 kilometer(s)
46 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) X
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 2
American Wigeon (Anas americana) 2 Lake, with the numerous NOSHO
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) X
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) 3 2 males, 1 female: Lake
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) X
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 1 Lake
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 2
American Coot (Fulica americana) 10
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) X Lake, few individuals among the numerous American Herring Gull.
Herring Gull (American) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus) X
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) X
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 3
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 1 Vale
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 2
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) 1 Rick's Place
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 1 seen flying away near the pools (RC & RB).
Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) 5 this small flock was seen flying by the Audubon center.
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1 A single individual observed in the Sparrow Bowl, (RC & RB)
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) X
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 4 mainly at the feeders
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 1 single individual observed at the feeders of Breezy Hill (RC & RB)
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 2
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 1
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) 2
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 2
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) X
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) X
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) (Setophaga coronata coronata) 2 Penisnula
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) 1 male
Fox Sparrow (Red) (Passerella iliaca iliaca/zaboria) 2 one seen at Vale, the 2nd one at the feeders of Breezy Hill
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) X
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) 1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) X
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) (Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis) 2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 4
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) 3 Breezy Hill feeders
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 4 Breezy Hill feeders
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 10 mostly seen at the feeders of Breezy Hill
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) X Numerous, several locations (the feeders, too).
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) X
Brooklyn is great birding!!!!
