A tale of three reputable sparrow spots were each dominated by a single sparrow species, with two of the spots revealing "field tendencies". But overshadowing the best sparrow numbers today for Prospect in this disappointing sparrow migration, the SORA rail and an accompanying MARSH WREN took the accolades.
Of the "Sparrowbowl" (Tennis House), the Picnic House BBQ area, and Breeze Hill, each site was dominated, respectively by CHIPPING , WHITE-THROATED and SONG SPARROWS. In the latter two, FIELD SPARROWS --totaling 4 on my afternoon post work walk-- made the top honor as the best sparrow species.; Breeze Hill north mound had 3 FIELD SPARROWS , that made my walk quite successful despite only 5 sparrow species.
But hearing news about the SORA, having not seen the second one even though I had seen the first Sora,I went for the bird. Three birders were already watching the cooperative SORA in that Phragmite marsh, including Kathy Toomey and Phil Malek and another. By adding some bonus, a singing MARSH WREN is within the SORA's domain, having been here since Friday. So still some excitement on the Peninsula with the hopeful buildup of those tardy sparrow numbers.
date = Oct 21
site = Prospect Park
observers = Peter
Pied-billed Grebe 2lake
Double-crested Cormorant 3 sisters
Great Blue Heron Duck Island
Canada Goose
Ruddy Duck 46 Lake
Mute Swan
Red-tailed Hawk f/o Terrace Br
American Coot 1 Lake
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Eastern Phoebe 4; 3 Sparrowbowl
Marsh Wren singing Peninsula marsh, Kathy Toomey +2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin
Hermit Thrush 4 Tennis House
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Chipping Sparrow ~45
White-throated Sparrow ~30 long meadow north of Picnic House
Song Sparrow 11 Breeze Hill; 7 Sparrowbowl
Dark-eyed Junco 7 Sparrowbowl; 4 Breeze Hill
Field Sparrow 4; 1 long meadow north of Picnic House;3 Breeze Hill north mound
Northern Cardinal 2
House Sparrow
From Orrin :
Green-Wood Cemetery this morning. Surprisingly birdy given the south winds.
Chipping sparrow (many)
Ruby-crowned kinglet
Golden-crowned kinglet
Blue jay
Common raven (4)
Red-bellied woodpecker
Canada goose
Palm warbler (many near Crescent Water and Sylvan Water)
Yellow-rumped warbler (many near Sylvan Water)
Belted kingfisher (2, flyover)
Wood duck (one, eclipse plumage, squawking on Dell Water)
white-throated sparrow (many)
American robin
Mourning dove
Blue-headed vireo
Blackpoll warbler
Black-capped chickadee
Tufted titmouse (heard)
Northern cardinal
Carolina wren
Song sparrow
Dark-eyed junco
Great blue heron
