Saturday, September 14, 2013

Excellence in Brooklyn interior greenspaces; Northwest wind giveth..

Excellent  fallout in average terms ( I rarely use the word fallout in any sense hence the scale "Average" unless its VISIBLY spectacular numbers wise) fell upon Prospect and Greenwood Cemetery with birding activity still  visible thru the early afternoon. Hilights included HOODED WARBLER, MOURNING WARBLER in both greenspaces, PHILADELPHIA VIREO and quality warblers of BAYBREASTED, PRAIRIE, CAPE MAY, TENNESSEE, BLACKPOLL & WILSONs WARBLERS adding enrichment to group lists. My and Mary E's personal list was 21 species warblers in both greenspace Prospect and GWC; Mike Yuan reported 19 warbler species from his perspective.Likely there were 22-23 Warbler combined species for both locales.

My day was measured by the "coffee break hawk watch" ( with just reporting a perched though gorgeous AMERICAN KESTREL on a tall conifer)  at Greenwood Cemetery with nearby yew trees laden with Redstarts , providing good theater. Before in Prospect , at an early hour of 7 am, the northwest corner of Butterfly Meadow was insane, with waves of birds moving super fast and preventing us any identification ability. It was about a half hour later when these birds settled down from their morning flight we were able to pick out in the small birch grove, and above Ash tree, PARULA'S ( 5 in same birches spot) , TENNESSEE'S (2) ,BAYBREASTED, BLACKPOLL and other usual birds.

After the break on GWCemetery's Kiamie Crypt ( highest point in Brooklyn), we proceeded to the Dellwater, where we met Joe Borker and here at this placid water, MOURNING WARBLER  cooperatively obliged us , along the brush edge of the Boocock crypt, sharing the spot with a pair of low TENNESSEE WARBLERS. Overhead two YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOs flew over while birding activity was very good in this alcove ridge area. A juvenile /female INDIGO BUNTING was present as well.

 Reports from Tom Preston in GWC (when we met later)  as well as our pursuit later to Sylvan Water added more good birds.At Sylvan Waters south ridge/slope, GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH , HOODED WARBLER female,  & CAPE MAY Warblers from Tom's observations; and handsome BLACKBURNIAN and BLACKTHROATED GREEN Warblers made a day truly worthwhile for us with the latter two species our sightings and those Cape May's again.

Meanwhile over in Prospect , good things for a number of birders. Best were a spectacular bright HOODED WARBLER male spotted by Dennis H, followed quickly by a MOURNING WARBLER, making a " twin billing" for Prospect and Greenwood today. PHILADELPHIA VIREO was seen very well  atop the Maryland Monument stairs by multiple observers.
The HOODED persisted into early afternoon as reported by Mike, seen by jewel weed along the former bridle path in the north Midwood , just south of the Tunnel Arch. Then a report of a female HOODED at Ricks Place. HOODEDS in the right residencies....

An exhausting long day yet very satisfactory for many birders. I can't write nor think any much longer ..  see the list below for all details. Tomorrow should still be good, hopefully some birds sticking around. Northwest wind galore !

--KB

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From Mike Yuan :

Not a bad day.  19 warbler spuhs, with the highlight a Hooded and Mourning in quick succession, seen with Dennis H. and Chris Eliot. Life Philly Vireo(s) for me, finally.    
Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Sep 14, 2013 6:25 AM - 2:35 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments:     <br />Submitted from BirdLog NA for iOS, version 1.6.3
67 species (+2 other taxa)

Canada Goose  12
Mute Swan  4
Wood Duck  1
Mallard  8
duck sp.  2
Pied-billed Grebe  1
Double-crested Cormorant  1
Great Blue Heron  2
Green Heron  3
Black-crowned Night-Heron  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  2
Laughing Gull  1
Herring Gull  2
Rock Pigeon  10
Mourning Dove  16
Yellow-billed Cuckoo  1     Path above Wellhouse.
Chimney Swift  20
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  5
Red-bellied Woodpecker  4
Downy Woodpecker  3
Hairy Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  5
Eastern Wood-Pewee  5     On Lookout and in Midwood.
Eastern Phoebe  1
White-eyed Vireo  2
Blue-headed Vireo  1
Philadelphia Vireo  2     First individual viewed high up in sweetgum in Midwood near Stairs to Nowhere. Compact body.  Yellow breast. Thin tail with dark solid undertail.  Second individual seen on Lookout at top of MD monument stairs and mulch path.  Plump body with bright yellow breast.  Dark cap  and dark primary coverts.  Seen well feeding, with M.O.B. Plucked insects from between leaf stems, and ate them while sitting on a branch.
Red-eyed Vireo  14
Blue Jay  7
Barn Swallow  2
Black-capped Chickadee  2
Tufted Titmouse  1
House Wren  1
Carolina Wren  3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  4
Veery  2
Swainson's Thrush  2
American Robin  35
Gray Catbird  9
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  6
Cedar Waxwing  2
Ovenbird  5
Northern Waterthrush  3
Black-and-white Warbler  15
Nashville Warbler  1
Mourning Warbler  1     Seen low in jewel weed, Midwood near closed underpass. Distinct dark blue-grey hood. Yellow underparts. No eyering.
Common Yellowthroat  18
Hooded Warbler  1     Male. Midwood near broken stairs. Briiliant yellow below, olive on top.  Full black hood covering top of head, sides of neck, and throat.  Feeding low. Seen at 7:50am, then again in jewel weed near underpass at 2pm.
American Redstart  30
Cape May Warbler  1
Northern Parula  5
Magnolia Warbler  21
Yellow Warbler  2
Chestnut-sided Warbler  11     All over the park, sometimes two at a time.
Blackpoll Warbler  1     Yellow feet.  Light streaks on back.
Bay-breasted/Blackpoll Warbler  1     Viewed from below, approx. 30 ft in tree on Center Drive. White wingbars on dark wings. Dark legs. Yellow head, faint yellow underparts with light streaking on breast. Long white tail spots.
Black-throated Blue Warbler  6
Prairie Warbler  2
Black-throated Green Warbler  9     Seen all over park.
Canada Warbler  3
Wilson's Warbler  2

Scarlet Tanager  1
Northern Cardinal  12
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  8     Flock of 5 in Midwood perched on fruit tree.
Common Grackle  1
American Goldfinch  7
House Sparrow  40

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15170676

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

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Joshua Malbin report:

Observer: Joshua Malbin
2013-09-14 07:52
Prospect Park
Protocol: Traveling
2 Miles
480 Minutes
Observers: 2
All birds reported? Yes
    X    Canada Goose     
    X    Mute Swan     
    8    Wood Duck     
    X    Mallard     
    2    Double-crested Cormorant     
    2    Great Blue Heron     
    1    Green Heron     
    2    Red-tailed Hawk     
    X    Rock Pigeon     
    X    Mourning Dove     
    1    Yellow-billed Cuckoo     
    8    Chimney Swift     
    2    Ruby-throated Hummingbird     
    1    Red-bellied Woodpecker     
    7    Downy Woodpecker     
    1    Hairy Woodpecker     
    2    Northern Flicker     
    9    Eastern Wood-Pewee     
    1    Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's Flycatcher)     
    1    Least Flycatcher     
    2    Eastern Phoebe     
    2    Great Crested Flycatcher     
    4    White-eyed Vireo     
    15    Red-eyed Vireo     
    X    Blue Jay     
    3    Black-capped Chickadee     
    1    Tufted Titmouse     
    1    White-breasted Nuthatch     
    1    House Wren     
    5    Carolina Wren     
    6    Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     
    1    Veery     
    3    Swainson's Thrush     
    X    American Robin     
    X    European Starling  

   
    1    Ovenbird     
    1    Northern Waterthrush     
    15    Black-and-white Warbler     
    5    Common Yellowthroat     
    2    Hooded Warbler    Female at ricks. Bright male orig seen by dennis in midwood below broken steps, refound by mike. 
    36    American Redstart     
    1    Cape May Warbler     
    5    Northern Parula     
    17    Magnolia Warbler     
    1    Blackburnian Warbler     
    1    Yellow Warbler     
    6    Chestnut-sided Warbler     
    1    Blackpoll Warbler     
    7    Black-throated Blue Warbler     
    15    Black-throated Green Warbler   
  


    1    Eastern Towhee     
    1    Scarlet Tanager     
    X    Northern Cardinal     
    6    Rose-breasted Grosbeak     
    1    Common Grackle     
    1    Baltimore Oriole     
    X    American Goldfinch     
    X    House Sparrow       

This report was created and sent using BirdsEye BirdLog (http://birdseyebirding.com/)


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Greenwood cemetery  ( after coffee break)


date = 2013/09/14
site = Greenwood cemetery
observers = Peter Dorosh, Mary Eyster, Joe Borker 

Double-crested Cormorant Sylvan Water
American Kestrel Battle Path monument
Mourning Dove 
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2 Dellwater
Chimney Swift 
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 
Downy Woodpecker 
Northern Flicker 
Willow Flycatcher Traill's
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 
Red-eyed Vireo 
Blue Jay 
House Wren 
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2 Dellwater
American Robin 
Swainson's Thrush 3
Wood Thrush Tom P
Gray-cheeked Thrush Sylvan Water south ridge, Tom Preston
Veery Dellwater
Gray Catbird 
Northern Mockingbird 
European Starling 

Tennessee Warbler 2 Dellwater, pair
American Redstart 
Black-and-white Warbler 
Blackpoll Warbler 
Ovenbird 
Canada Warbler Dellwater
Black-throated Green Warbler Sylvan 
Black-throated Blue Warbler Dellwater and Sylvan
Common Yellowthroat common
Cape May Warbler Sylvan ridge south , adult and 1st yr
Palm Warbler 3 Dellwater south
Chestnut-sided Warbler 
Blue-winged Warbler Joe Borker, Dellwater
Northern Parula 
Magnolia Warbler good numbers
Nashville Warbler Sylvan Ridge
Hooded Warbler fem-Sylvan south ridge, Tom P
Northern Waterthrush Dellwater
Mourning Warbler late year bird 
Blackburnian Warbler Sylvan ad male

Scarlet Tanager 
Chipping Sparrow 
Song Sparrow 
Northern Cardinal 
Indigo Bunting Dellwater, immature or female type
Brown-headed Cowbird 
American Goldfinch 
House Sparrow 


Prospect  ( before Coffee break)

date = 2013/09/14
site = Prospect Park Lookout Hill , most at Butterfly Meadow
observers = Peter Dorosh, Mary Eyster

Chimney Swift 
Northern Flicker 
Willow Flycatcher Traill's
Great Crested Flycatcher 
Eastern Wood-Pewee 
Red-eyed Vireo 
Tufted Titmouse 
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
American Robin 
Veery 
Gray Catbird 
Cedar Waxwing 3 16th St entrance

Prairie Warbler 2 south slope Butterfly Meadow
Tennessee Warbler 2 Butterfly Meadow
American Redstart 15
Black-and-white Warbler 4
Blackpoll Warbler Butterfly Meadow
Ovenbird 2
Black-throated Green Warbler 2
Bay-breasted Warbler Butterfly Meadow
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 12
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2
Northern Parula 5 together birches west Butterfly Meadow
Magnolia Warbler 7
Northern Waterthrush 
Wilson's Warbler south slope Butterfly Meadow

Scarlet Tanager Butterfly Meadow, female
Rose-breasted Grosbeak switchback trail
Northern Cardinal 
American Goldfinch Butterfly Meadow
House Sparrow