Thursday, April 25, 2013

Prospect April 25th, the first array of migrants , very rare sightings

Thursday's birds produced a scattered infusion of migrants including collectively 15 species of warblers , culminating with very rare LAWRENCE's WARBLER in the morning, then into the midafternoon, as hardy birders stuck out despite a slow showing all day with the tail end rare sighting of EVENING GROSBEAK. Furthermore, some other nice birds, first of year's with incoming tyrant flycatchers and quality to ask for.As i expected in my gut feeling last night, it wasn't the quantity  even if 15 species warblers were reported but Quality.


First , a report on the LAWRENCE's WARBLER. The Brooklyn Bird Club Thursday walk  led by Tom Stephenson were treated to a show. Their fortune with this hybrid warbler ( of the Blue winged and Golden Winged Warbler complex), was first seen in the Elizabeth 's Tulip Tree side at the mouth of the southern Vale of Cashmere for a good five minutes before taking off to the  flowering Cherry overlooking the BBC Centennial Garden.When I arrived with several other birders, a search for over an hour was in vain. But I did get several new warbler species for my yearly list.


The Vale of Cashmere in the north end was productive with 3 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS in the pool, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER , NORTHERN PARULA WARBLER ,HOUSE WREN and a number of CHIPPING SPARROWS.


Throughout the day, 15 species warblers were reported, some of them uncommon, with the biggest surprise a very early BLACKPOLL WARBLER  (Keir) in the Lullwater. Here as well, the continuing WORM EATING WARBLER (Keir) frequented the west side just south of the cove. Adding to these , other warblers: BLACK-THROATED BLUE at Pagoda Bridge, PRAIRIE and NASHVILLE WARBLER at Maryland Monument, and both WATERTHRUSH species in the Vale Cashmere pool.


IN between the rare sightings,EASTERN KINGBIRD is in , seen at the Maryland Monument, and my GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Native Flora section.


Sparrows were good today , a number of SWAMP, a FIELD and SAVANNAH with good numbers WHITE-THROATED.


By midafternoon, another great bird. I received a note from Ryan that a Pat Palladino reported on  NYSBIRDS listserve Evening Grosbeak (EVGR). When I got over there with Bobbi Manian, Issaac Grant was already watching the EVGR, perched by the Lullwater southern shoreline, near the bottom of the slope trail from the former feeders site. The female EVGR moved along the shore towards the Rustic Arbor when after feeding on Yew Tree berries , then on the ground behind, moved  into the slope area above the Arbor when it disappeared. For one day , the White-winged Crossbills (Yes, spotted again , today by Keir ) were displaced by another winter species rarity.I speculated whether this was the same EVGR that visited the feeders around January and remembered on the return if the feeders were around. ( Sorry, milady..we took them down )


South winds are predicted late tonight after 10 pm according to Accuweather , which maybe might kick along a few more birds. It will be slow effort but  rewarding  if you put in the long walking hours ( that I spent 8.5 hours trying..gonna get harder as one gets older ). 


Good birding !


-KB



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From Tom Stephenson , leading the BBC Thursday series Spring walk



Hi Peter,
Fantastic group today with lots of great birds and wonderful weather.
The highlight will vie for the "bird of the year"...Lawrence's Warbler...perfect plumage affording great long looks.
All in all we had 13 species of warblers, and 72 species overall including Nashville, Black-throated Green, N. Parula, Ovenbird, Prairie, Rusty Blackbird, at least 3 Winter Wren, 5 species of woodpecker, Fish Crow (every week so far!), many Blue-headed Vireo and also White-eyed and Warbler, and Field Sparrow.
Here's the list.
Best regards,
Tom

Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck
Mallard
Ruddy Duck
Osprey
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Blue Jay
Fish Crow
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Winter Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Lawrence's Warbler !!!
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Palm Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler (heard once, seen by some when leaving
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Rusty Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

From Bobbi, with group




Hi Tom,

Thanks for a great day!  Here are some pics of the Lawrence's.  


Sandy thanks for finding this cool bird!  Mike/Chellie thanks for helping me stay on the bird to get some pics (and for getting me OFF the parula!!!!)

See you all next week!

Bobbi

PS - 1st pic - Mike, PeterD and I also had Evening Grosbeak later in day.

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

Ryan :

Hi Peter,

Seems like lots of reports of quality birds in the Park today. I had a few FOS, including a bright Adult Male Black-throated Blue Warbler at the Music Grove Bridge. I managed to photograph that Louisiana Waterthrush up in the Vale that we saw, links below:



Cheers,
Ryan

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

Adam :

I missed most of the real goodies, but a fantastic day to be out in the park anyway! Wren trifecta in Midwood, Vale nicely active.

Adam



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <do-not-reply@ebird.org>
Date: Thu, Apr 25, 2013 at 3:10 PM
Subject: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Apr 25, 2013



Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Apr 25, 2013 8:50 AM - 1:15 PM
Protocol: Traveling
4.0 kilometer(s)
Comments:     Sunny. Surveyed from Vale, through Midwood, to Quaker Cemetery, lower slopes of Lookout Hill, Peninsula, Lullwater.
57 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  X
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  X
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  X
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)  3
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)  2
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)  2
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)  1
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  1
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)  4
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)  X
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  X
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)  X
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  3
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  2
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)  3
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  5
White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)  1
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius)  7
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  X
crow sp. (Corvus sp. (crow sp.))  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  X
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  X
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  X
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  X
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)  1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  1
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  1
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)  1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)  16    large numbers, throughout Park
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)  4
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  X
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  1     my fos
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X
Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla)  1
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis)  2
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)  6
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)  3
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)  30
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  30
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)  1
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)  3
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  10
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  1
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  5
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  40
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  1     late?
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  8
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  X
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  X
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  1
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  1 my fos
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  4
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13878634

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

*************************************
 My list


Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Apr 25, 2013 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
5.0 mile(s)
55 species

Canada Goose  X
Mute Swan  X
Mallard  X
Bufflehead  1
Ruddy Duck  7
Double-crested Cormorant  1
Great Egret  1
Green Heron  1     Lullwater
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Laughing Gull  3
Herring Gull  X
Rock Pigeon  X
Mourning Dove  X
Chimney Swift  4
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  1
Eastern Phoebe  1
Great Crested Flycatcher  1     BBG native flora
Blue-headed Vireo  2
Blue Jay  1
Tree Swallow  4     Lake
Barn Swallow  3
Black-capped Chickadee  1
Tufted Titmouse  1
Brown Creeper  1
House Wren  1     Vale cashmere
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  3
Hermit Thrush  1     North Zoo slope
American Robin  X
Gray Catbird  1     Rose Garden
European Starling  X
Louisiana Waterthrush  1     Vale cashmere
Northern Waterthrush  2     Vale cashmere
Black-and-white Warbler  3
Northern Parula  1     Vale cashmere
Yellow Warbler  1     Terrace Br
Black-throated Blue Warbler  1     Pagoda Br , male
Palm Warbler  9
Pine Warbler  4
Yellow-rumped Warbler  15
Black-throated Green Warbler  1     Vale cashmere
Chipping Sparrow  11     Vale cashmere
Song Sparrow  1
Swamp Sparrow  3
White-throated Sparrow  X
Northern Cardinal  X
Red-winged Blackbird  3
Rusty Blackbird  3     Vale cashmere pool
Common Grackle  X
Brown-headed Cowbird  1
American Goldfinch  1
Evening Grosbeak  1     south Lullwater, m.obs Isaac Grant, Nidhin, Peter Colen, Bobbi Manian, Keir Randall
House Sparrow  X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13881430

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



WARBLER MASTER LIST - 15 species + 1 hybrid


date = 2013/04/25
site = Prospect Park
observers = collective

Prairie Warbler  Maryland Monument ( RBate)
Worm-eating Warbler Lullwater (Keir R)
Yellow Warbler 
Black-and-white Warbler 
Blackpoll Warbler Lullwater ( KeirR)
Ovenbird  Lullwater
Black-throated Green Warbler  Vale
Black-throated Blue Warbler  Pagoda Br (Ryan B, Peter D, Bobbi M)
Lawrence's Warbler  BBC group
Palm Warbler 
Louisiana Waterthrush  Vale
Northern Parula  Vale, other
Nashville Warbler  MaryMont (RobB )
Pine Warbler 
Northern Waterthrush  Vale
Yellow-rumped Warbler   all over

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

Keir Randall list:

Evening Grosbeak, Prospect Park 4.25.13
Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Apr 25, 2013 6:17 AM - 5:12 PM
Protocol: Traveling
4.0 mile(s)
Comments: 
Submitted from BirdLog NA for iOS, version 1.5.2
74 species 

 Canada Goose 5
 Mute Swan 4 
Wood Duck 2 
Mallard 7
 Bufflehead 2 
Ruddy Duck 11 
Double-crested Cormorant 18 
Great Blue Heron 1 
Great Egret 2 
Green Heron 2
 Black-crowned Night-Heron 2 
Osprey 1
 Red-tailed Hawk 1 
American Coot 1 
Spotted Sandpiper 1 Peninsula lakeside 
Laughing Gull 8
 Ring-billed Gull 1 
Herring Gull 3
Rock Pigeon 2 
Mourning Dove 13 
Chimney Swift 4 
Belted Kingfisher 1
 Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 
Downy Woodpecker 4 
Hairy Woodpecker 1 
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 5 
Peregrine Falcon 1 
Eastern Kingbird 1 Maryland Monument 
White-eyed Vireo 1 Wellhouse 
Blue-headed Vireo 18 A big influx, probably more.
 Blue Jay 7 
Fish Crow 1 Heard only
 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2 
Tree Swallow 9 
Barn Swallow 12 
Black-capped Chickadee 8
 Tufted Titmouse 5 
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Lullwater west 
House Wren 4 
Carolina Wren 1 
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6 
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6
 Veery 1 Lullwater west and east (same bird?) near Terrace Bridge 
Hermit Thrush 3
American Robin 55 
European Starling 25 
Worm-eating Warbler 1 Lullwater west just south of cove viewing platform 
Northern Waterthrush 2 1 singing early then 2 together later, Vale 
Black-and-white Warbler 4 
Nashville Warbler 1 Maryland Monument meadow edge 
Northern Parula 3 
Yellow Warbler 2 
Blackpoll Warbler 1 Lullwater west, adult male seen well, crisp head marking, yellow feet etc.
Palm Warbler (Yellow) 48 Groups of 5 or 6 everywhere, probably more. 
Pine Warbler 6 
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 60
 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Lullwater west 
Eastern Towhee 2 
Chipping Sparrow 9 
Field Sparrow 1 Peninsula meadow edge, Wellhouse Drive side
 Savannah Sparrow 2 Peninsula meadow and Lullwater west
 Song Sparrow 4 
Swamp Sparrow 6 
White-throated Sparrow 24 
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 3 
Northern Cardinal 11 
Rusty Blackbird 1 Ambergill 
Common Grackle 13
 Brown-headed Cowbird 4 
White-winged Crossbill 3 Lookout, butterfly meadow 
American Goldfinch 7
 Evening Grosbeak 1 Lullwater east on slope behind rustic arbor
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22689183@N00/8682259368/" title="Evening Grosbeak, Prospect Park 4.25.13 by keir randall, on Flickr">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8533/8682259368_0725d4fa68.jpg
" alt="Evening Grosbeak, Prospect Park 4.25.13" />
House Sparrow 22

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13881025

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

Peter Colen



Hi Peter,
I got a few of todays birds. What a day to start late!
I'll probably see you tomorrow.
Peter