Water Rarity on sizzling Prospect Lake

Its been a really good winter year for Red-necked Grebes in the metro NYC area. And as hoped for, one finally appeared on Prospect Lake.

This morning, Klemens Gasser tipped me off of a RED-NECKED GREBE seen with Hooded Mergansers in the West Island section of the Lake. Before I arrived , the grebe disappeared. After a search that didn't take too long, I relocated the Red-necked Grebe diving in the lake middle in front of Three Sisters Islands. Subsequent observers afterwards included Keir Randall, Ed Crowne and Rob Bate. This is the first appearance by this species in Prospect in a good many years.As of Noon, it was still reported present.Also joining in of the grebe family, PIED BILLED reported by Klemens. Now we just need Horned for the very rare "double" trifecta along with the mergs.

Also on the Lake, 3 COMMON MERGANSERS ( 2 d,1 h), 11 HOODED MERGANSERS & 2 drake RED BREASTED MERGANSERS accommodated 3 drake & 1 hen RING-NECKED DUCKS.

In the Upper Pool by the Tennis House /Ballfields area, 23 WOOD DUCKS inhabited this small pond along with a lone hen RING-NECKED DUCK.

KILLDEER takes up the other hi light, 12 seen in center field of field #2 at the Parade Grounds ( Parkside Ave) while I got a report of 5 more on the ballfields construction fence area, west of the Tennis House. Total dropped to 17 from yesterdays 19.

A few RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen foraging along Binnen Creek on the south side of the Nethermead 3 Arches Bridge. I didn't have time to get a actual number with dense brush in the way.

first sighting photo by Klemens  (middle bird)

later photo, by Keir Randall

https://www.flickr.com/photos/22689183@N00/13244769574/player/71fc4a9d26


keir's list

Keir Randall report

Prospect Park--Prospect Lake, Kings, US-NY
Mar 18, 2014 9:15 AM - 10:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
21 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose 35
Mute Swan 3
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 22
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 2
Northern Shoveler 8
Ring-necked Duck 1
Hooded Merganser 14
Common Merganser 4 At least three drakes and one hen, probably 5 total (photos)
Red-breasted Merganser 3
Ruddy Duck 1
Red-necked Grebe 1 Quite rare at this location but not unexpected this winter. Active and diving, ranging from the middle of Prospect Lake to off of Three Sisters. "Ear tufts" were prominent. Found earlier by Klemmons Gasser.
<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/22689183@N00/13244769574/player/71fc4a9d26" height="375" width="500" frameborder="0"></iframe>
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot 7
Ring-billed Gull 300
Herring Gull 7
American Robin 11
European Starling X
Song Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal 1
Red-winged Blackbird 4
House Sparrow X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17492227

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Peter's report

Prospect Park--Prospect Lake, Kings, US-NY
Mar 18, 2014 8:45 AM - 9:15 AM
Protocol: Stationary
11 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  X
Mute Swan  7
American Black Duck  1
Mallard  X
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid)  X
Northern Shoveler  X
Ring-necked Duck  4
Hooded Merganser  11
Common Merganser  3     present all month
Red-breasted Merganser  2
Ruddy Duck  X
Red-necked Grebe  1     Photos  http://prospectsightings.blogspot.com/2014/03/water-rarity-on-sizzling-prospect-lake.html

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17493100

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

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Mar 18, 2014
Protocol: Incidental
17 species

Wood Duck  23     Upper Pool
Ring-necked Duck  1     Upper Pool
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Eastern Phoebe  1     Payne Hill
Blue Jay  3
Black-capped Chickadee  2
American Robin  40
European Starling  X
White-throated Sparrow  6
Dark-eyed Junco  3
Northern Cardinal  X
Red-winged Blackbird  X
Rusty Blackbird  2  at least subject to #change   Binnen Creek
Common Grackle  X
American Goldfinch  1

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17493133

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

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Frm Rob Bate:

Don't forget PHOEBE!  FOY for me.

41 species

Canada Goose  X
Mute Swan  X
Wood Duck  21     Large group tucked in behind island in Upper pool
Mallard  X
Northern Shoveler  6
Ring-necked Duck  4
Hooded Merganser  4
Common Merganser  3
Red-breasted Merganser  3
Ruddy Duck  20
Red-necked Grebe  1
Great Blue Heron  1
Red-tailed Hawk  2
American Coot  X
Killdeer  5
Ring-billed Gull  X
Herring Gull  X
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  X
Mourning Dove  X
Red-bellied Woodpecker  X
Downy Woodpecker  X
Eastern Phoebe  1
Blue Jay  X
Tufted Titmouse  X
White-breasted Nuthatch  X
Carolina Wren  X
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  200
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  100
Song Sparrow  4
White-throated Sparrow  8
Dark-eyed Junco  8
Northern Cardinal  X
Red-winged Blackbird  X
Rusty Blackbird  2     probably more, continuing flock
Common Grackle  X
Brown-headed Cowbird  2
House Finch  2
American Goldfinch  6
House Sparrow  X