Thursday, April 11, 2013

April 11th Prospect, the prelude to Friday's soaker, very good numbers

 The first 2013 Spring series weekday walk kicked off today and very good results were achieved. Among the highlights was WILSON's SNIPE, a bird found by Keir Randall that Tom Stephenson's Thursday walk  also counted among its 68 species seen for the group.Furthermore, according to Tom, the numbers were above expectation in "birdy" Prospect, with high numbers for PINE WARBLERS, PALM WARBLERs and surprisingly BROWN CREEPER , in the 20 to 30 range. Sometimes, with oncoming bad weather, the day before can be very productive as birds come down for "Safe Refuge".(like last night)

Regarding the WILSONs SNIPE, the rare shorebird was spotted along the northwest shore of the Upper Pool , this pool directly southeast of the Tennis House. Later, when I finally got around at lunchtime, Eni Falci refound it from the back path , the Snipe feeding along the isthmus shore behind the island. It was quite camouflaged against the leaf clutter where we ( also Bob O'Neill observing) barely saw the distant bird. It was better seeing it from the dog beach , with closer look at the snipe next to a tuft  of blooming green grass. A good bird for the park and oftentimes the Upper Pool a reliable locale for this species. ( I had this species here about 2 years ago)

From Tom's report, mentions of high numbers for Pines, Palms and Brown Creepers were found throughout but supplemented as well with  good birds  of rare BLUE-WINGED TEAL, LOUISIANA WATER THRUSH,  BLUE HEADED vireo, and still lingering winter species WHITE WINGED CROSSBILLS on Lookout Hill , as well as PINE SISKINs

PURPLE FINCH came in, a singing male and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER Keir noted besides his good find with the snipe, and a nice assortment of other birds. See his report below and links he attached.

Finally, just to mentioned a belated report,Joe Borker , with his son Abie in Greenwood Cemetery saw another ( or maybe the same one I saw) immature BALD EAGLE 630 pm over the 25th street arch main entrance, heading southwest Tuesday eve.



Hi Peter,

I wanted to report in on the walk today.
It was a small but hardy and energetic group and the park was incredibly birdy. I have never seen so many Pine and Palm Warblers or Brown Creepers in one day...(maybe higher than all other days combined for the creepers!) There were also many kinglets and Hermit Thrush.
The large numbers of some of these species gave us great opportunities to study their calls and songs. All told we have 67 species including a couple seen by Rob on the way in to the park.
Highlights included 40+ Pine Warblers, 40+ Palm Warblers, 20-30 Brown Creepers, Wilson's Snipe (thanks to text tip from Keir), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, brilliant Blue-headed Vireo, Blue-winged Teal, 6+ White-winged Crossbills, Chipping and American Tree Sparrows (6 sparrow species), a brilliant Louisiana Waterthrush, 3 species of swallow, 5 species of woodpecker, 4 species of warblers, and more. Migration has begun...
The list is below.
Best regards,
Tom


Pied-billed Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck
American Black Duck
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Ring-necked Duck
Ruddy Duck
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
American Coot
Wilson's Snipe
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler
Palm Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Purple Finch
White-winged Crossbill
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow


From Mike Elliot
Louisiana WaterThrush

West side of Ravine bridge, just above the little falls. 


-mte

From Keir

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Apr 11, 2013 6:58 AM - 9:40 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments:
Submitted from BirdLog NA for iOS, version 1.5.2

48 species (+2 other taxa)

Canada Goose 22
Mute Swan 4
Wood Duck 4 Together, flyover Binnen pool
Mallard 13
Northern Shoveler 14
Ruddy Duck 55
loon sp. 1 Flyover
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot 1

Wilson's Snipe 1 Feeding on the mud edge of the NW corner of the Upper Pool, best viewed from the dog beach. 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22689183@N00/8640662034/" title="Wilson's Snipe, Prospect Park 4.11.13 by keir randall, on Flickr">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8124/8640662034_e72b39d1b7.jpg
" alt="Wilson's Snipe, Prospect Park 4.11.13" />


Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 8
gull sp. 4
Mourning Dove 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Blue Jay 7
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2 -2 at the Upper Pool and then 2 with Tree Swallows on the lake later
Tree Swallow 6
Black-capped Chickadee 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Brown Creeper 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2 Over Esdale Bridge then heading in to the Ambergill
Golden-crowned Kinglet 9
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3
Hermit Thrush 5
American Robin 68
European Starling 14
Palm Warbler (Yellow) 11
Pine Warbler 10
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 2
Chipping Sparrow 1
Fox Sparrow (Red) 5
Song Sparrow 8
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed Junco 8
Northern Cardinal 11
Red-winged Blackbird 4
Rusty Blackbird 1 Vale, early.
Common Grackle 2
Purple Finch 1 A singing male above the the Lower pool inlet which flew off in the direction of the Ambergill. Raspberry red upperparts, reddish brown flanks and notched tail visible in my bad record shot.

White-winged Crossbill 3 At least 3, 2 males and a female. Lookout Hill, butterfly meadow. Photos.
Pine Siskin 5 Possibly up to 7. Feeding on the ground in the butterfly meadow. The one very yellow individual was among them, suggesting this is still the same flock that frequented the feeders last winter,
American Goldfinch 1
House Sparrow 13

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13708003



From Joe Borker, reporting from Greenwood Cemetery

I sent this by my cellphone earlier but am not sure it went thro. Abie and I saw an immature Bald Eagle flying over the 25th street arch Tuesday around 6:30pm. It was heading southwest. I saw your posting of the 10th and thought you would be interested in our sighting.