Saturday, August 24, 2013

Beautiful day in GWC,PP reports, good birds

This beautiful day with cool winds produced a mixed bag of good birds in both Greenwood Cemetery (GWC) and Prospect, with raptors a mark in GWC and rarity a usual notation in Prospect.

Starting with GWC, besides warblers in sporadic observations, raptors took front stage. At least two OSPREY were spotted overhead by Sylvan Water where also two AMERICAN KESTREL chased one of the Ospreys. But coming out quickly from the south ridge of Sylvan,a juvenile BROAD-WINGED HAWK flew over me and Mary Eyster, when after follow thru, the hawk perched for a few minutes on a dead limb. About 10 minutes later, it soared over us.
However, nothing beats an eagle.

On a restroom break at the 25th Street entrance, of the "Castle" arch fame, with American Revolution battle flags adorning the hillsides to commemorate the Battle of Brooklyn this week, an immature BALD EAGLE soared high overhead. It was quite mottled, hence a young 1st or 2nd year bird.

Along the water spots, a few sandpipers to enjoy the day. On the Dell water wall ,  for a long time just sitting there, a SOLITARY SANDPIPER. Over at Sylvan Water,  SPOTTED SANDPIPER ( after I mentioned to Mary we haven't seen a Spotted yet, eat my words, seconds later , presto) and LESSER YELLOWLEGS were nice birds to see.

Warblers were enjoyable today  , with 10 species between GWC and Prospect for us. The best spots were Crescent Water and later the summit of Lookout Hill. On the latter, we spotted BLACKBURNIAN, NORTHERN PARULA, YELLOW and CHESTNUT SIDED .

In Prospect, reports from other birders were productive. Sean Sime saw MOURNING WARBLER at the Wellhouse puddle. Isabel Conte and Valerie Bull with Eni and Vinny Falci saw WORM-EATING WARBLER at Ricks Place.CAPE MAY WARBLER above the Wellhouse, in a Cherry ( RJett); Also 3 COMMON RAVENS over Lookout Hill per Rob Jett.

Right now, Rob is staking out from his roof, looking for nighthawks, but just reported a flyover EASTERN BLUEBIRD . No report yet if the bird is from NY State.

Lists later. I am off to look for Common Nigthhawks.

--KB




Keir's report from Friday the 23rd

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Aug 23, 2013 7:25 AM - 11:55 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.5 mile(s)
45 species (+2 other taxa)

Canada Goose 4
Mallard X
Double-crested Cormorant 11
Great Blue Heron 1
Green Heron 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Chimney Swift X
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker X
Downy Woodpecker X
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) X
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Empidonax sp. 1
Eastern Kingbird 2
Warbling Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 2
Black-capped Chickadee 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
House Wren X
Carolina Wren X
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
American Robin X
Gray Catbird X
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 2
Ovenbird 1
Northern Waterthrush 1
Blue-winged Warbler 1
Brewster's Warbler (hybrid) 1 First glimpsed around 8.45am in the Paper Mulberry tree on Lookout Hill near the top of the Maryland Monument steps. I thought it was a female Golden-winged but realized that it had distinct yellow wing bars and perhaps was a hybrid. Just as I gave up searching for it Kathy T and Emily G called me back and we had good eye level views for a minute or so in the trees opposite the Mulberry - overall light gray, yellow cap, black eyeline (like a BWWA), no strong dark cheek patch or throat patch as expected on GWWA. Unlike the last Brewster's I saw in PP there was no yellow discernible on breast.
Black-and-white Warbler 3
Common Yellowthroat 1
American Redstart 6
Yellow Warbler 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2
Canada Warbler 1
Song Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal X
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Common Grackle X
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Baltimore Oriole X
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14998861

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Aug 23, 2013 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
29 species (+1 other taxa)

Wood Duck 1
Mallard 2
Chimney Swift 12
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Empidonax sp. 1 At the foot of Lookout Hill west slope just south of the Quaker cemetery gates. A silent empid flycatching about 2/3 of the way up to the canopy. Observed both in direct sunlight and in shade. Buffy wingbars (must be a first year bird I assume?). Bill seemed moderately large and wide at base which suggested Acadian. But otherwise suggestive of Yellow-bellied: pale yellow throat and belly with gray streaks on belly. This wasn't a bright yellow bird, just a consistent yellow wash. No perceptible malar or contrast between head and throat (rules out Acadian?). Olive back. Big eyering that seemed whitish with teardrop at rear. Primary projection didn't seem overly long but was hard to be sure. The wings didn't seem to feel overly long in sense that they didn't project far along side tailed, there was a long tailed look. Tail seemed thin to medium in width and straight. Overall, it had a "cute" look that I associate with Least or Yellow-bellied and not Acadi!
an.
If it is an immature (?) can Acadian immature show the non contrast throat? Is the potential yellow throat on a Fall Acadian only on the newly molted adult?
Eastern Kingbird 1
Blue Jay 2
Black-capped Chickadee 1
House Wren 1
Carolina Wren 2
American Robin X
Gray Catbird X
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing X
Blue-winged Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Tennessee Warbler 1 Paper Mulberry, Lookout
Common Yellowthroat 1
American Redstart 5
Yellow Warbler 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal X
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14999012