GBBC begins 1st day

The Great Backyard Bird Count begins under very cold conditions. Heres the starting lists for Prospect early this morning + 1 PM, as many we please to list ( if any is brave to venture out)

3 lists . Most notable Common Mergansers, Purple Finch, Common Grackle

ebird-checklist@cornell.edu <ebird-checklist@cornell.edu>	Fri, Feb 13, 2015 at 10:51 AM
To: prosbird@
Prospect Park--Prospect Lake, Kings, US-NY Feb 13, 2015 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM Protocol: Stationary Comments:     very cold 10 degrees 11 species (+1 other taxa) Canada Goose  217 Mute Swan  11 American Black Duck  3 Mallard  167 American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid)  2 Northern Shoveler  58 Common Merganser  3 (rare) Ruddy Duck  5 American Coot  38 Ring-billed Gull  250 Herring Gull  1 American Robin  13 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S21795671 This report was generated automatically by the Great Backyard Bird Count (http://gbbc.birdcount.org)   Prospect Park--Feeders, Kings, US-NY Feb 13, 2015 9:00 AM - 9:10 AM Protocol: Stationary Comments:     very cold 9 degrees 15 species Mourning Dove  1 Blue Jay  1 Black-capped Chickadee  2 Tufted Titmouse  2 Fox Sparrow (Red)  1 Song Sparrow  2 White-throated Sparrow  13 Dark-eyed Junco  2 Northern Cardinal  1 Red-winged Blackbird  17 Brown-headed Cowbird  1 House Finch  2 Purple Finch  2   females (rare for date) American Goldfinch  8 House Sparrow  24 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S21795540 This report was generated automatically by the Great Backyard Bird Count (http://gbbc.birdcount.org) ********************** ebird-checklist@cornell.edu 3:06 PM (1 minute ago) to me Prospect Park--Feeders, Kings, US-NY Feb 13, 2015 1:05 PM - 1:20 PM Protocol: Stationary 15 species Mourning Dove  1 Downy Woodpecker  2 Blue Jay  3 Black-capped Chickadee  3 American Robin  1 Fox Sparrow (Red)  4 Song Sparrow  1 White-throated Sparrow  24 Dark-eyed Junco  1 Northern Cardinal  7 Red-winged Blackbird  9 Common Grackle  2 House Finch  2 American Goldfinch  7 House Sparrow  23 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S21801863 This report was generated automatically by the Great Backyard Bird Count (http://gbbc.birdcount.org)

Gbbc 3 Common Mergansers cont prospect lake west shore

GBBC 2 fem Purple Finch Prospect park feeders

Fwd: why it's so fun to find and report banded birds

-----Original Message-----
From: Karen ohearn@
To: prosbird
Sent: Thu, Feb 12, 2015 6:18 pm
Subject: why it's so fun to find and report banded birds

hey Peter,

i spotted this banded gull at Brooklyn Army Terminal Pier on feb 10th :

here's the info I just received back.  this gull is almost 10 years old.  a reason to keep the Pier open to the human on-lookers.

best

karen

Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC)

Tomorrow Begins the GBBC for the 4 day census, a relaxing way to count birds wherever you bird including your backyard. 

Here's the link below on details and submittance form

http://gbbc.birdcount.org/

Fwd: 58th Street Pier Ad Hoc Committee Meeting - February 25

This is the Army Terminal in Bay Ridge.important iff bklyn birders want to have another pier to see winter birds.attend the meeting.

Sent from my MetroPCS 4G Wireless Phone

-------- Original message --------

From: Mary Eyster 

Date:02/11/2015 9:39 AM (GMT-05:00)

Subject: Fwd: 58th Street Pier Ad Hoc Committee Meeting - February 25

Info to share with the birding community.  People should try to attend the meeting.  I will obviously not be able to be there.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: community board <communityboard7@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, Feb 10, 2015 at 3:55 PM
Subject: 58th Street Pier Ad Hoc Committee Meeting - February 25
To:

M-E-M-O-R-A-N-D-U-M

DATE:             FEBRUARY 10, 2015

TO:                  58^TH STREET PIER AD HOC COMMITTEE

FROM:            DANIEL MURPHY, CHAIR

                        CYNTHIA GONZALEZ, COMMITTEE CHAIR

SUBJECT:      COMMITTEE MEETING

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

Please be advised that the next meeting of the 58^th Street Pier Ad Hoc Committee will be held on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 @ 6:30 P.M. at the Board Office, 4201 4^TH AVENUE (ENTRANCE ON 43^RD STREET).

The agenda is as follows:

·        Discussion on the potential of the 58^th Street Pier in relation to the surrounding industries

·        Identities of stakeholders

Please make every effort to attend this meeting.  Please contact the Board Office to confirm your attendance.

--

Mary Jo Eyster
maryjo.eyster@gmail.com

3 Common Mergansers continue Prospect lake south shore nearest 3 sisters isl

Fwd: Evergreens

KB Note: Evergreen Cemetery is before the Reservoir ( and before Jackie Robinson Parkway or where Eastern Parkway terminates.  I have birded there a few times. ( very quiet,of course).

-----Original Message-----
From: Tinsley Perky 
To: Peter Dorosh <Prosbird@aol.com>
Sent: Tue, Feb 10, 2015 8:07 pm
Subject: Evergreens

Hi Peter, too icey to report from Ridgewood Reservoir today, here is the female am kestrel on a rooftop 4 floors up near the Bushwick Ave. entrance of Evergreens Cemetery. Also present; blue jays, a white breasted nut hatch, white throated sparrow and a pair of long, plank-winged raptors soaring too high up to get a good fix on, 

Best

T

Fwd: Pictures from Bush Terminal

-----Original Message-----
From: guava1950@yahoo.com
To: prosbird
Sent: Tue, Feb 10, 2015 4:28 pm
Subject: Pictures from Bush Terminal

Hi Peter,

  I took these pictures at Bush Terminal Park today.

American Tree Sparrow

Kildeer

More pictures at https://www.flickr.com/photos/92050223@N02/

Paul Chung

Fwd: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Feb 10, 2015

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <ebird-checklist@cornell.edu>
Date: Feb 10, 2015 6:31 PM
Subject: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Feb 10, 2015
To: <prosbird@
Cc:

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Feb 10, 2015
Protocol: Incidental
13 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  X
Mute Swan  11
American Black Duck  2
Mallard  X
Northern Shoveler  100
Common Merganser  3     Lake
Ruddy Duck  3
American Coot  20
Ring-billed Gull  X
Herring Gull  X
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Merlin  1     Lake west
crow sp.  18     Lake
American Robin  4

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S21763317

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

Fwd: eBird Report - Prospect Park--Feeders, Feb 10, 2015

As aforementioned the feeders were abuzzed.... 17 species

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <ebird-checklist@cornell.edu>
Date: Feb 10, 2015 6:40 PM
Subject: eBird Report - Prospect Park--Feeders, Feb 10, 2015
To: <prosbird@
Cc:

Prospect Park--Feeders, Kings, US-NY
Feb 10, 2015 10:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Protocol: Stationary
17 species

Downy Woodpecker  1
Blue Jay  2
Black-capped Chickadee  2
Tufted Titmouse  2
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Carolina Wren  1
Fox Sparrow (Red)  5
Song Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  18
Dark-eyed Junco  1
Northern Cardinal  12
Red-winged Blackbird  11
Brown-headed Cowbird  2
House Finch  1
Purple Finch  1
American Goldfinch  4
House Sparrow  25

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S21763412

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

Highlights of a February day

Not much goes on in early February ,usually the toughest birding month in regards to activity .Not so today for a few uncommon species.

On Prospect Lake, I initially found a trio of COMMON MERGANSERS in the west shore open water,not very large. Later in the day the trio moved to the far larger water opening along the lake southwest shore.They looked serene and settled in by Three Sisters Islands.

The Prospect feeders is abuzzed with birds,among them a single PURPLE FINCH  female holdover from two yesterday.

After work while I was viewing the mergansers, a MERLIN flew in and perched above me before taking off towards the Well house.

While I had my few good birds in Prospect,Bobbi Manian had her good birds at the coast of Bush Terminal Park. A BALD EAGLE came thru ,hunting and flying around for 5 minutes. There's no sign or evidence yet it will breed or nest there.  ;-)

Also of note at Bush Terminal, a COMMON RAVEN atop a 1 st Ave building, a sign this species makes its abode in that area.

Fwd: Fw: eBird Report - Bush Terminal Piers Park, Feb 10, 2015

Harbor Seal


-----Original Message-----
From: bobbi.manian@
To: Peter Dorosh
Sent: Tue, Feb 10, 2015 11:59 am
Subject: Fw: eBird Report - Bush Terminal Piers Park, Feb 10, 2015

Hi Peter,

I had *2* new species at Bush today.  An adult bald eagle scared everything up off the water, as it circled but didn't find anything to its liking and headed on over to Manhattan.  And secondly this fella.  Sea lion?  Seal?  He did not appear injured but i alerted park staff to his presence and they will keep an eye on him.

b.

On Tuesday, February 10, 2015 4:55 PM, "ebird-checklist@cornell.edu" <ebird-checklist@cornell.edu> wrote:

Bush Terminal Piers Park, Kings, US-NY
Feb 10, 2015 11:26 AM - 2:06 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments:    <br />Submitted from BirdLog NA for iOS, version 1.8
23 species

Brant  17
Canada Goose  21
Gadwall  27
American Wigeon  6
American Black Duck  5
Mallard  11
Bufflehead  50
Red-breasted Merganser  2
Red-throated Loon  2
Horned Grebe  1
Double-crested Cormorant  2
Bald Eagle  1    Adult. All of a sudden every goose duck and gull in the area took to the sky. As I sorted through the chaos overhead I saw a large dark bird, a soaring  plank w/ white head and tail.  Bird soared overhead for about 5 minutes eventually drifting towards city and out of view
American Coot  1
Killdeer  1
Ring-billed Gull  150
Herring Gull  75
Great Black-backed Gull  25
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  X
Fish Crow  2
Common Raven  2    Wedge/diamond shaped tail. Big crooked bull. Hanging out on buildings on 1st ave
American Tree Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  4
House Sparrow  X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S21759579

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

@BobbiInBrooklyn: Just had adult bald eagle soaring over bush terminal park for 5 minutes. Eventually drifted towards city. m.twitter.com/BobbiInBrooklyn

Purple finch female Prospect feeders

3 Common Mergansers Prospect lake west shore smaller open water.drake+2 hen

MEW GULL at Veterans Pier

Gull extraordinaire Shane Blodgett found his second and different MEW GULL in less than a month ( other last month at Caesars Bay Mall).

According to his Facebook post to New York Birders,it was present at Veterans pier for ten minutes before flying off towards Staten Island. Maybe it will come back.Veterans Pier is at the end of Brooklyn Bay Ridge Ave ,thru the tunnel under the Belt Parkway.

Check NY Birding List serve ABA birding news.

post below

Subject: another COMMON/MEW Gull in Brooklyn
From: Shane Blodgett 
Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2015 17:31:55 +0000 (UTC)
X-Message-Number: 3

There was a different first-winter Common/Mew (not certain of subspecies yet) 
roosting with ~ 400 RBGU and 1 BOGU on Veteran's Memorial Pier in Brooklyn 
(Kings County) this morning. First seen about 11:20 it was on the pier for about 
10 minutes before taking off and flying (more like sailing in the stiff NE wind) 
towards Staten Island where I eventually lost it. I spent another 15 minutes 
shivering to see if it would return but it did not. I will post pictures ASAP.
Shane BlodgettBrooklyn NY

Subject: new COMMON/MEW photos
From: Shane Blodgett 
Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2015 18:26:32 +0000 (UTC)
X-Message-Number: 5

Still trying to work out subspecies-input appreciated-plumage is a bit advanced 
actually for a first winter and I'm wondering if it is a delayed 2nd winter

https://picasaweb.google.com/aplomadoperegrine/CommonMewGullVeteranSMemorialPierFeb92015?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Shane BlodgettBrooklyn NY

Prospect feeders

Some interesting species at the feeders this mid afternoon. With ice all around,nothing deterred two rare female PURPLE FINCHES sharing the thistle feeder with Goldfinches. And just below them , several BROWN COWBIRDS picked the ground morsels. This is the first I seen the cowbirds this season.

Meanwhile,though not a native bird, Lynne Hertzog reported at the feeders a European Goldfinch, a pretty bird if worth your fancy to battle the ice and hard crusted snow.

My list http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S21750085

Need a native plant expert

Anybody out there who a native plant expert for the NYC area ?  I want to recruit for a Brooklyn Bird Club trip...  If you know someone  ( particularly a club member ) please send me names.. Thanks

Peter
prosbird@aol.com

Brooklyn west coast

A few notables today.
At Bush Terminal Pier Park ,Jennifer Kepler reported the GLAUCOUS GULL and a small flock of AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS.Also a resting Harbor Seal was spotted. See her photo gallery

http://snapshotofnature.blogspot.com/2015/02/more-brooklyn-firsts.html

Meanwhile at Owls Head Veterans pier, Joshua Malbin spotted REDHEAD Duck.I ventured out myself and spotted two drakes between the pier and the sewage treatment plant.

Fwd: Fwd: eBird Report - Green-Wood Cemetery, Feb 7, 2015

From: joshuamalbin@
To: Peter Dorosh
Sent: Sat, Feb 7, 2015 2:58 pm
Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Green-Wood Cemetery, Feb 7, 2015

Subject: eBird Report - Green-Wood Cemetery, Feb 7, 2015
To: joshuamalbin@


Green-Wood Cemetery, Kings, US-NY
Feb 7, 2015 1:57 PM - 4:26 PM
Protocol: Traveling
4.0 mile(s)
Comments:     Submitted from  BirdLog NA for Android v1.9.6
21 species

Canada Goose  60
Cooper's Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  2
Downy Woodpecker  2
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Blue Jay  15
American Crow  3
Fish Crow  1
Black-capped Chickadee  12
Tufted Titmouse  2
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
White-breasted Nuthatch  14
American Robin  12
Northern Mockingbird  3
European Starling  1
Fox Sparrow  4
White-throated Sparrow  2
Dark-eyed Junco  5
Northern Cardinal  8

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S21713704

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

Bush Terminal Park

A short stint in midafternoon at Bush Terminal Park continues to produce winter gems. From rare waterfowl to corvids, even a brief birding visit is good enough at this park.

First in , at the dilapidated docks, the EURASIAN WIGEON was seen gliding across at the end of the docks. It was the only one of two I heard was seen the past weekend.This species was among ten duck species which seems an attainable number at Bush for every visit.

As I approached the cottonwood or Locust Grove I spotted a perched large corvid. It's a COMMON RAVEN . It flew to another tree ,pecking at something.

Also noted that I thought was good for the area ,8 RED THROATED LOONS either close or distant.

No rare gulls which was a hoped for target species.Next time.

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S21718698

2012 Prospect Swallowtail Kite ACCEPTED

Congratulations to Prospect birder Russ Alderson whose sighting of the Swallowtail Kite in 2012 over Lookout Hill was accepted by the NY Avian Records Committee.

See the link and scroll down

http://nybirds.org/NYSARC/Reports/NYSARC2012.html

Meet the bird brains batty enough to go bird-watching in winter | New York Post

http://nypost.com/2015/02/07/meet-the-bird-brains-batty-enough-to-go-bird-watching-in-winter/

Fwd: Red-breasted nuthatch at feeder yesterday, around 1PM

-----Original Message-----
From: Marc Brawer 
To: Peter Dorosh <prosbird@aol.com>
Sent: Wed, Jan 28, 2015 10:14 am
Subject: Red-breasted nuthatch at feeder yesterday, around 1PM

   Sent from my iPad 

Fwd: Fox sparrow under thistle feeder yesterday

-----Original Message-----
From: Marc Brawer 
To: Peter Dorosh <prosbird@aol.com>
Sent: Wed, Jan 28, 2015 10:15 am
Subject: Fox sparrow under thistle feeder yesterday

   Sent from my iPad 

Fwd: Cardinal near feeders yesterday

I recd this photo during my Vacation.  Posting now of gorgeous shot by Marc

-----Original Message-----
From: Marc Brawer 
To: Peter Dorosh <prosbird@aol.com>
Sent: Wed, Jan 28, 2015 10:16 am
Subject: Cardinal near feeders yesterday

   Sent from my iPad 

Upcoming Rusty Blackbird blitz 3/1

read on the need to count from NYSBIRDS  Listserve

NYSBIRDS-L Digest for Tuesday, February 03, 2015.

1. 2015 Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: 2015 Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz
From: Derek Rogers <drogers0031@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2015 18:51:23 -0500
X-Message-Number: 1

Dear New York Birders,

With less than one month until kickoff we wanted to welcome everyone back to the 
Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz. We have been gearing up and planning for 
the 2015 season, the second year of a 3-year study headed up by the 
International Rusty Blackbird Working Group (IRBWG). Through a partnership with 
eBird, the Working Group seeks to collect as much data and information as 
possible in an effort to develop conservation strategies and management programs 
aimed at reversing the trend in the dramatic population decline of Rusty 
Blackbirds. Based on available data we know that the Rusty Blackbird’s 
population has declined at an alarming 85-99% in the past 40 years. To learn 
more about the Working Group and it’s purpose please check out this link: 
http://rustyblackbird.org/working-group/purpose/

So once again we are seeking your help! First, a huge thanks to all of last 
years participants who helped exceed the programs expectations. New York 
observers submitted 1696 checklists, a 46% increase in the number of checklists 
containing Rusty Blackbird sightings since 2013 (pre-blitz era). 

The target blitz period for New York State is March 1 - April 31. During this 
time period we are encouraging birders to head out and search for Rusty 
Blackbirds and to submit their data through eBird using the “Rusty Blackbird 
Spring Migration Blitz” protocol. This drop down will be available in eBird on 
March 1st and should be used whenever you are searching for Rusty Blackbirds, 
even if you don’t find any. Researchers are interested in both presence and 
absence of the species. Based on last years data, the researchers at IRBWG have 
developed an Areas of Interest Map. This map contains priority locations that 
should be surveyed in addition to your search efforts. We encourage everyone to 
check out this map and be sure to visit these sites during the blitz window: 
http://rustyblackbird.org/outreach/migration-blitz/2015-areas-of-interest/

There are often many excellent questions raised by blitz participants and as a 
result a Frequently Asked Questions page was developed on the rustyblackbird.org 
website: http://rustyblackbird.org/outreach/migration-blitz/2015-areas-of-interest/areas-of-interest-frequently-asked-questions/

Also, social media users should follow the blitz Facebook page at: 
https://www.facebook.com/rustyblackbirdspringblitz 

rustyblackbird.org contains a tremendous amount of information but we understand 
that there are always going to be questions. For this reason New York State has 
three Blitz Coordinators that are available to help answer questions and to get 
interested folks started on the blitz. Again, we encourage folks to check out 
the website but please do not hesitate to contact any of the coordinators listed 
below. Thank you again for helping to make the blitz successful and we look 
forward to another great season!!

Best,

Derek Rogers (drogers0031@gmail.com) - Long Island Blitz Coorindator
Mike Shanley (falecore@yahoo.com) - NYC/Staten Island Blitz Coordinator
Will Raup (hoaryredpoll@hotmail.com) - Upstate NY Blitz Coordinator

Keeping warm

From BBC Facebook  

http://smithsonianscience.org/2015/01/keeping-warm-winter-birds/

Fw: Eagle in GWC This Morning

Sent from my MetroPCS 4G Wireless Phone

-------- Original message --------

From: Orrin Tilevitz <tilevitzo@yahoo.com>

Date:02/04/2015 1:57 PM (GMT-05:00)

To: Peter Dorosh <prosbird@aol.com>

Cc:

Subject: Fw: Eagle in GWC This Morning

GWC this morning:

Song sparrow (2)

Junco

White-throated sparrow

Red-bellied woodpecker

Yellow-bellied sapsucker

Downy woodpecker

Herring gull (flyover)

Rock dove (flyover)

Blue jay (many)

European starling

Black-capped chickadee

White-breasted nuthatch

Eagle (see picture)

 

American Woodcock sitting in the snow next to path next to fallen tree 30 foot south of nethermead arches on the northside Of water.per klemens gasser

Groundhog news

Yep..6 MORE WEEKS OF WINTER !
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/02/02/groundhog-day-2015-punxsutawney-phil-sees-shadow-predicts-six-more-weeks-of-winter/

Bush terminal park feb1

This morning there was a 1st cycle ICELAND GULL at Bush Terminal Park, as well as, the previously reported GLAUCOUS GULL. Rob Jett reporting.

Sent from my MetroPCS 4G Wireless Phone

Bush terminal pier park jan31st

Earlier today Bobbi Manian and I Observed two make Eurasian wigeon in Brooklyn's bush terminal park. One is a continuing bird the other blew in last night possibly.

Dennis Hrehowsik

Brooklyn

Sent from my MetroPCS 4G Wireless Phone