Fwd: Thursday Walk 5/16

Led by Tom Stephenson

"The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings." 
― J.M. Barrie, The Little White Bird

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Stephenson <12toms@gmail.com>
To: ProsBird@aol.com <ProsBird@aol.com>
Cc: Roberta Manian <roberta.manian@gmail.com>; Dennis Hrehowsik <DeepSeaGangster@gmail.com>; Robert Bate <robsbate@gmail.com>
Sent: Thu, May 16, 2019 05:59 PM
Subject: Thursday Walk

Hi Peter,

Well, I guess the only word that best describes today's walk is "WOW"...

I know this language is uncharacteristic, but other words fail me at the moment.

It took us 2 hours just to get from the GAP entrance to the Vale. There were many "I've never seen so many..." moments including Wilson's Warblers (8+), Spotted Sandpipers (6), Common Yellowthroat (x+), Veery (10+) and more. 

Highlights might include a very cooperative Gray-cheeked Thrush, 5 species of raptors including Osprey and Merlin, Bank Swallows, cooperative Bay-breasted and Prairie, and lots more: 84 species in total.

Here's the list. Please post it somewhere as several people wanted to see it.

Best regards,

Tom

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Green Heron

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Canada Goose

Mute Swan

Wood Duck

Mallard

Osprey

Cooper's Hawk

Broad-winged Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Merlin

Spotted Sandpiper

Laughing Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Rock Dove

Mourning Dove

Chimney Swift

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Least Flycatcher

Great Crested Flycatcher

Eastern Kingbird

Warbling Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo

Blue Jay

Tree Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Bank Swallow

Barn Swallow

Tufted Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

Carolina Wren

House Wren

Veery

Gray-cheeked Thrush

Swainson's Thrush

Wood Thrush

American Robin

Gray Catbird

European Starling

Cedar Waxwing

Tennessee Warbler

Northern Parula

Yellow Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Cape May Warbler

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Prairie Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

American Redstart

Ovenbird

Northern Waterthrush

Common Yellowthroat

Hooded Warbler

Wilson's Warbler

Canada Warbler

Scarlet Tanager

Eastern Towhee

Song Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Indigo Bunting

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

Brown-headed Cowbird

Baltimore Oriole

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Home : BirdCast

http://birdcast.info/

Good migration prospects for Friday

Fwd: white-crowned sparrow at GWC today

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Orrin Tilevitz <tilevitzo@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, May 15, 2019, 7:46 PM
Subject: white-crowned sparrow at GWC today
To: Peter Dorosh <prosbird@gmail.com>

picture attached

Virginia sabbatical

Tomorrow I lead the Brooklyn bird club on the longest -- by distance and days to the Great Dismal Swamp in southeast Virginia. We'll be stopping at reknown Chincoteague NWR on the long drive down. I'm looking forward to exploring and discovery the great southern forest and marshes of this huge 115,000 acre refuge .

As usual with these jaunts,I will refrain from my phone and post brief notes in the evening if I can.  Cause it's a birdcation. 😋

Enjoy Brooklyn migration for the next several days!

Fwd: [eBird Alert] Kings County Rare Bird Alert

It's a family!

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: <ebird-alert@cornell.edu>
Date: Wed, May 15, 2019, 3:25 PM
Subject: [eBird Alert] Kings County Rare Bird Alert <hourly>
To:

*** Species Summary:

- Common Raven (1 report)

---------------------------------------------
Thank you for subscribing to the <hourly> Kings County Rare Bird Alert.The report below shows observations of rare birds in Kings County.  View or unsubscribe to this alert at https://ebird.org/alert/summary?sid=SN35645
NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated

Common Raven (Corvus corax) (6)
- Reported May 15, 2019 07:30 by Matthew Wills
- Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6523083,-73.9904281&ll=40.6523083,-73.9904281
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56311841
- Comments: "Family seen together on ground, air, and tree perches. Massive corvid, distinctive bills, tail-shape, voice. This crew was noisy & frisky. Individuals chased by Common Grackles. Individuals chased Fish Crows and Red-tailed Hawk.  Pictures."

***********

You received this message because you are subscribed to eBird's Kings County Rare Bird Alert

Manage your eBird alert subscriptions:
https://ebird.org/alerts

Prospect Park | eBird Hotspots | eBird 91 species reported today

https://ebird.org/hotspot/L109516

Hilight A MOURNING WARBLER female at the slope between Rose Garden and Compost yard next to Zoo ,found by Paige

Home : BirdCast

http://birdcast.info/

A decent migration forecast for Brooklyn tomorrow. I'm off but alas on the long road for Virginia.

So far this morning there were two active zones in prospect. The south lake side saw good action of Warblers. So did the Peninsula where Kevin brooks said he saw 9 species Warblers

Top early morning bird was PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. In fact there two found: one continues at 3 Sisters Islands area; the other at Binnen Falls before it flew towards nthe Boathouse.

Happy family of Ravens

Matthew Wills reported Family of 6 (six!) Common Ravens in Green-Wood this a.m.

A new growing family to croak about..

Also Orrin reports Eastern bluebird Dell Ave. Also 5 ravens in a tree

Tweet from Heidi (@heidicleven) Wilson's warbler video

Heidi (@heidicleven) tweeted at 9:42 PM on Tue, May 14, 2019:
This clip of a Wilson's Warbler that lasts 1 min 12 secs - in slow motion - only took me 3 hrs to film today 🤣. Prospect Park. https://t.co/t8wQGrZ5TF
(https://twitter.com/heidicleven/status/1128475685104885761?ref_src=twcamp%5Eshare%7Ctwsrc%5Eandroid%7Ctwgr%5Egmail%7Ctwcon%5E7090%7Ctwterm%5E3)

Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download?s=13

timing....

.

Timing is everything.

Last Saturday on my own, I birded the south woods of Prospect Lake. I started at 630 and saw nothing, not a single warbler. An acquaintance of mine said at 8 am , she saw a bunch of Blackpoll Warblers. Then this morning...

Sean Sime was out in this still dreary drizzly morning and reported 15 species of warblers. Apparently it was a pocketful of birds that included a singing CERULEAN WARBLER followed by a BAYBREASTED WARBLER.

The birding forecast BIRDCAST says tomorrow morning birding activity will be low. But given the same expectations sometimes as this morning, coming in to the park even with the low expectation, you may --like Sean cross paths with a good wave of birds.

Update: From Russ A. 440pm
Cerulean, Baybreasted(f) and Prothonotary Warblers at 3 Sisters islands, Prospect Park.

Tweet from Brooklyn Bird Club (@BklynBirdClub) Birdathon epilogue

Brooklyn Bird Club (@BklynBirdClub) tweeted at 11:18 AM on Mon, May 13, 2019:
For those who pledged for the birdathon based on the cumulative total of species seen: 161 species seen by all teams combined. Thanks Mike Yuan for running the numbers!  You can still make a donation https://t.co/FqTAmr3bVt
(https://twitter.com/BklynBirdClub/status/1127956209674252290?ref_src=twcamp%5Eshare%7Ctwsrc%5Eandroid%7Ctwgr%5Egmail%7Ctwcon%5E7090%7Ctwterm%5E3)

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Great looking warbler head guide put out by Schwanagunk NWR

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/fr/cp0/e15/q65/60337991_2146732422029732_2083570647690117120_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=07bd14e634b08616c95840720e32d851&oe=5D66832D

Our seasons are out of whack, which is really bad for migratory birds | Popular Science

https://www.popsci.com/spring-earlier-migratory-birds

eBird Checklist - 12 May 2019 - Fort Greene Park - 19 species

https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56175574

BBC Walk led by leader Auguste best effort despite rain.

Tweet from Heidi (@heidicleven) RBwoodpecker video termite feast

Heidi (@heidicleven) tweeted at 9:23 PM on Sat, May 11, 2019:
Birdathon 2019. Best part was this Red-bellied Woodpecker stuffing himself on termites. Please donate generously to the Brooklyn Bird Club's beneficiary this year https://t.co/MXTpIBHioi Birds will love you for it 💕 https://t.co/pMFMbpD8zo https://t.co/ihOV34vLJ2
(https://twitter.com/heidicleven/status/1127383695483199488?ref_src=twcamp%5Eshare%7Ctwsrc%5Eandroid%7Ctwgr%5Egmail%7Ctwcon%5E7090%7Ctwterm%5E3)

Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download?s=13

Plant Trees that Turn Your Yard Into a Bird Oasis—and Carbon Sponge | Audubon

https://www.audubon.org/news/plant-trees-turn-your-yard-bird-oasis-and-carbon-sponge

Tweet from Brooklyn Bird Club (@BklynBirdClub) Birdathon results

Brooklyn Bird Club (@BklynBirdClub) tweeted at 11:04 AM on Sun, May 12, 2019:
Congratulations to the winners!  The Laughing See Gulls and the Cuckoos-for-Chocó-puffs each saw 128 species during yesterday's birdathon!
(https://twitter.com/BklynBirdClub/status/1127590459977736192?ref_src=twcamp%5Eshare%7Ctwsrc%5Eandroid%7Ctwgr%5Egmail%7Ctwcon%5E7090%7Ctwterm%5E3)

Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download?s=13

eBird Checklist - 11 May 2019 - Prospect Park - 74 species

https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56165871

Rob Bates birdathon team Trees a Crowd prospect checklist 

PROSPECT'S BIG DAY NUMBER

According to the Prospect ebird checklist,  Prospect recorded 110 species today

wow.. guess it helps with all the EXTRA eyes... Must have been at least 50 birders around (I didnt count them)
number changes at midnight'

https://ebird.org/hotspot/L109516

birdathon day in prospect

Birdathon day or more technically International Bird Migratory Day by my account in Prospect wasn't a spectacular day.If we are talking fallouts or surges of birds, that didn't happen. By through patience (especially me birding all day), determination and hard work, it paid off not only for me but also  numbers of other birders ( well..there were teams actually that zealously pursued Prospect's birds) with a good diversity of the low species numbers. In the end when I finally finished around 435, thanks to help from birders and friends, I was able to garner a very respectable fifteen species of warblers.

To start, Lookout Hill was the place. Not only did it have two termite hatchouts, it held a very early songbird flight that paced quickly, and a perched Common Nighthawk seen well .

The termite hatchout was found by Rob Bate who led a morning only team. A large decomposing tree stump along the middle path 300 feet west of the Maryland Monument, it attracted a very nice number of warblers. In fact when I was there when Rob fetched me as I was viewing the Nighthawk, i counted ten warbler species. I believed at least eleven were seen. Among the birds, a very cooperative WILSON'S WARBLER approached us mere feet, a great looking MAGNOLIA WARBLER, both sexes CAPE MAY, and BLACK THROATED BLUES, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, AMERICAN REDSTART, OVENBIRD, and several more kept the birding crowd transfixed. It was a great opportunity to see the gems up close without craning our necks upward into the trees.

Regarding the nighthawk, it's amazing someone spotted it. About 200 feet upslope behind the Maryland Monument , a dead snag held a perched COMMON NIGHTHAWK. Many birders recorded it for their day. Most had to stand at the lower slope base to see the bird on the limb about 11 o'clock from the Monument's ball at the top. A cool bird to watch even though there was no movement.

The Monument also hosted a PHILADELPHIA VIREO that I lack more details.

Early in the morning the warbler early flight attracted all the team birders. In the northwest corner of Butterfly Meadow, over twenty birders watched BAY BREASTED and CAPE MAY WARBLERS within the passage. In the Butterfly Meadow, BLACK BILLED CUCKOO in the low brush got Nancy Tim's attention. It apparently alighted on the young Oak tree. I didn't succeed with the cuckoo, but did watch an energetic EASTERN KIGNBIRD fly catching.



Speaking of Cuckoos, Karen Ohearn hit the double whammy. She witnessed both YELLOW BILLED and BLACKBILLED  together in the same tree  at Lily Pool.

On my account, if it wasn't for friends and acquaintances helping me out as my eyes were affected by pollen and damp woods allergies, I would not have achieved my 15 warbler species. Among my best, a great looking PRAIRIE WARBLER  flew along the edge of the Vale Cashmere pool in the midsection, thanks to Jeffrey's help. Above us in the Horsechestnut tree, a NORTHERN ORIOLE picked at the chestnut flowers. In the same tree on a bare branch, a posing RUBY THROATED HUMMINGBIRD  competed for our attention, and Jeffrey helped again getting this bird. Eni Falci helped getting my focus on a male BLACK THROATED WARBLER  that kept evading my observation but finally when it stayed still, I got it. And later after the hatchout viewing, Kathy T walked with me into the Peninsula where along the meadow lake side, we watched a small pocket of seven warblers in the late afternoon, These birds : WESTERN PALM WARBLER,CHESTNUT SIDED, BLACKPOLL, REDSTART, PARULA,YELLOW, and I forget the last one.

There was a warbler rarity highlight to mention here. Ed Crowne , always reliable and modest, a superstar in my book, heard a singing MOURNING WARBLER at the Tunnel Arch stairs. This closed off broken stairs is across the road from the Dongan Oak eagle monument. The bird was a true skulker staying hidden in the undergrowth to the left and top area of the stairs if you stand at the base.
It was a long day but very satisfactory after all the wet , overcast weather we been having.When the sun did shine there was a breakout of birds. Obviously I cant tell what everyone else saw ,only by what I saw and observed. But in all,it likely was very good birding today with numbers on a wide scale. But a high count for one of the teams was 77 species.

In time, i will certainly get the birdathon team numbers and first place winner. but regardless, all the efforts of birders are doing it for a good conservation cause while enjoying themselves with loads of fun.

Tweet from The Kingsboider (@BBCKingsbirds)

The Kingsboider (@BBCKingsbirds) tweeted at 1:36 PM on Sat, May 11, 2019:
Lookout 300 feet west of Maryland Mt on mid slope path hatchout . Warblers Wilson's cape May incld
(https://twitter.com/BBCKingsbirds/status/1127266156644130819?ref_src=twcamp%5Eshare%7Ctwsrc%5Eandroid%7Ctwgr%5Egmail%7Ctwcon%5E7090%7Ctwterm%5E3)

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eBird Checklist - 10 May 2019 - Prospect Park - 59 species

https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56086859

Sample checklist by top birder Shane. Note siskin

Birdcast radar for tonight overnight

Red color indicates density. Mild to moderate migration for our area forecasted

Evening southwest wind

🌬🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦

The current forecast says southwest wind this evening with a quick shift north west around 2-3 am.

This might bode well for Saturday good boiding... ( We hope! 🙏 )


With the past 30 days having seen 27 days precipitation some part of a the day,clouds ( always) ,bad backlight,harsh glare ( for me),heavy overcast,etc,we birders deserve a big break..

Eni Falci text Vale cashmere

White eyed vireo vale & active, cape Mays 2 path junction grand army & rose garden maple. Eni

Tweet from RobBate (@robsbirder) pp summer ranager

RobBate (@robsbirder) tweeted at 11:09 AM on Fri, May 10, 2019:
Fem summer tanager top of lookout
(https://twitter.com/robsbirder/status/1126866737335554048?ref_src=twcamp%5Eshare%7Ctwsrc%5Eandroid%7Ctwgr%5Egmail%7Ctwcon%5E7090%7Ctwterm%5E3)

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Another grounded SCARLET TANAGER

Seen yesterday mid-afternoon in the brushy street triangle back exit of the Prospect garage as I exited in my park vehicle. Bird was still there an hour later. Cellphone photo from my vehicle

Tomorrow is Migratory Bird Day & the Birdathon

A good cause to support conservation and birds .If you are not in a BBC team ( listed at bottom of post ), sponsor a team or member or self. See the info below for the BBCs charity they're supporting the Choco.

Otherwise join Paul Keims walk at Prospects Grand Army entrance Stranahan statue 7 am.

There is also a beginners walk from the Boathouse.Noon.

Good luck,loads of fun, help your birds!

http://brooklynbirdclub.org/events/

EVENTS FOR MAY 11

“The Birdathon”, World Migratory Bird Day (For Teams)

May 11

The Brooklyn Bird Club celebrates World Migratory Bird Day every year by holding a Birdathon, in which members form or join a team and go out and count bird species. Typically participants reach out to friends and family for donations, usually a set amount per bird species counted during the course of the day. This […]

Find out more »

“The Birdathon Walk” In Prospect Park

May 11 @ 7:00 am

Meet 7:00 at the Grand Army Plaza park entrance (Stranahan Statue) Leader Paul Keim Note: Participants can elect to support this year's Birdathon beneficiary, "Save the Choco." Save the Chocó’s mission is to build awareness and collaborate with local and global organizations to help protect vital areas and species throughout the Chocó region of Ecuador–a […]

Find out more »

Prospect Park: Birdwatching For Beginners

May 11 @ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Leader: Cyrus Baty Birdwatching for Beginners meets at the Prospect Park Audubon Center at The Boathouse at 12 noon. Bring binoculars if you have them; otherwise, binoculars are available for loan.

Prospect Park | eBird Hotspots | eBird. Birds of this week

https://ebird.org/hotspot/L109516

Peak migration

Tweet from Brooklyn Bird Club (@BklynBirdClub) birdathon teams of Saturday

Brooklyn Bird Club (@BklynBirdClub) tweeted at 4:29 PM on Thu, May 09, 2019:
the 2019 Birdathon teams are ready to rumble, check out these formidable contenders!  Join us or sponsor a team.  The birds love you and thank you. https://t.co/qv5AbHoP21
(https://twitter.com/BklynBirdClub/status/1126585117995085825?ref_src=twcamp%5Eshare%7Ctwsrc%5Eandroid%7Ctwgr%5Egmail%7Ctwcon%5E7090%7Ctwterm%5E3)

Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download?s=13

Todays birds

An East- Northeast wind put the big damper on bird migration today.

The best I can offer from reports is the HOODED WARBLER.Reported in the vicinity of Rocky Pass Ravine, it moved farther west near the road fork south of Falkill Falls, on the back slope towards Center Drive. Then a tweet from Dan Smith placed the bird in the Ravine. Obviously it likes to travel.

Near Rocky Pass along the high fence, a WORM EATING WARBLER continues its stay on the Ravine west slope. On the pond shore of Lower Pool, a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH appeared.

Drone nest infraction in Prospect Park

ALERT 

I been told by a birder that he witnessed some photographers photographing a raptor nest (that i wont reveal the location for obvious reasons) but what was egregious , one of the photographers was using a drone to take pics over the nest !

Drones in NYC parks are illegal. Even worse because it was used near a nest , its a violation of the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty act (MBTA) .

If you witness such misbehavior call Park Enforcement Patrol. I'm told though that the number usually used 728 437 1350 is useless ( a birder told me it rang 25 times no answer) The Central number is 646 613 1200

Otherwise call 311 and have them connect to PEP.

if you still cant connect , text me and I'll forward to my coworker Marty who has a personal number of a PEP Officer.

What more stupid stuff birds have to d go through.

Link to ethical rules  & MBTA

http://www.nycaudubon.org/ethics-of-birding-and-the-law-of-birds

https://www.fws.gov/birds/policies-and-regulations/laws-legislations/migratory-bird-treaty-act.php

http://www.sialis.org/mbta.htm

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918

It is illegal to disturb an active nest, even if it is in an inconvenient location (like this morning dove nest on construction equipment), without a permit from the U.S. FWS and sometimes from the State also. Permits are seldom granted.

Many people do not know that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it illegal to disturb the nest any native bird without a permit (see exceptions).

It is also illegal to collect or have in your possession live or dead non-game native birds (adults or young), bird feathers, nests or eggs, to try to incubate wild bird eggs, to keep nests or eggs even for "show and tell" educational purposes, or to have road-killed birds in your possession without a permit. (Note: Injured native birds should be brought immediately to a licensed, trained wildlife rehabilitator who handles songbirds. More info)

It is illegal to remove or move active nests, even if:

• they are in an inconvenient location
• the babies create piles of poop underneath the nest (like Barn Swallows)
• they build an unsightly nest and drop pigeon and rat remains on the sidewalk in front of an upscale Fifth Avenue housing coop in NYC, ala the Pale Male Red-tailed Hawk.)

It is illegal to transport, trap or kill native non-game adult birds like Blue Jays or Mockingbirds without a permit, even if they are harassing birds at nestboxes or feeders.

Despite the title, the Act protects birds that are not considered "migratory" (like Mourning Doves and Chickadees).

Permits are seldom granted to individuals, even for research. A state permit may be required in addition to a federal permit - contact your State game warden/wildlife management agency for more information.

Tweet from Daniel Smith (@PPbirder) PP HOODED WARB

Daniel Smith (@PPbirder) tweeted at 0:54 PM on Thu, May 09, 2019:
Hooded Warbler in the ravine
(https://twitter.com/PPbirder/status/1126531016418562048?ref_src=twcamp%5Eshare%7Ctwsrc%5Eandroid%7Ctwgr%5Egmail%7Ctwcon%5E7090%7Ctwterm%5E3)

Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download?s=13

Be careful out there !

ALERT

A birding friend approached me late morning to tell me he was almost mugged in the mid morning. The location was the Butterfly Meadow * Lookout Hill.

The friend whom I will keep anonymous told me he was approached by a 30-ish person in a hoodie swaetshirt who tried to grabbed my  friend's $$ telescopic camera several times but my friend was able to fend him off. It was a dicey situation none of us want to experience. In the end, my friend was able to get away and tell a mounted police officer on Center Drive

It is wise even when we are under the impression the park is safe with crime rate dropping off in recent years, there is still a danger of aggressive confrontation, when we oftentimes let our guard down, IT IS WISE TO:

1) bird with a friend or hook up with another birder (ask if they are fine with it)  2 is better than one

2) be alert of your surroundings especially in remote or isolated areas (  an area can become remote after the early morning busy hours as I've have always seen late mornings for example during my work hours)

3) if you feel unsafe or threaten by suspicious person(s) (hunches help) , not to make it obvious ( look from a distance), get out of the area to  where other park patrons are ( or call 911, not PEP)

 4) don't advertise your optics though hard to hide, if only bins, that can be under your jacket,ect)

 ( oftentimes I just bring my cheap bins pair into the park)

5 ) if you are held up or shown a weapon, give up your optic or whatever the perpetrator wants , don't fight or resist. Your optics can be replaced, not your life!

Be Safe, street smart and alert !


more tips below:

https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=cVTUXMmGO4-c5wLU5reYCQ&q=PREVENTING+A+MUGGING+TIPS&oq=PREVENTING+A+MUGGING+TIPS&gs_l=psy-ab.12...2279.7862..8100...0.0..1.1201.1201.7-1......0....1..gws-wiz.....0.y7gcP7zcVt4

https://www.today.com/news/how-avoid-getting-mugged-veteran-thief-tells-all-t108927

mixed bag day

A sort of a mixed bag day with reports of birds actually coming in but sporadic in various locations in Prospect. Although i was quite busy today when during a staff birding walk  we didn't see any evidence of numbers but here and there single sightings of birds.

My staff walk that only went for an hour  was successful especially with coworkers and staffers  having birded their first time.So how about a male adult SCARLET TANAGER and a posed close GREEN HERON  to make an impression?  The tanager was behind the Pagoda bandshell and the heron in front of the Lower Pool gate. WE also picked up  song sparrow, common yellowthroat, magnolia warbler, blue gray gnatcatcher and gray catbird among our list birds.

The word from birders I met say there were numbers and diversity. Scattered throughout the park, and more of here and there: for example PARULA,CHEST NUT SIDED. BLACKPOLL WARBLERS at Lookout Hill summit; INDIGO BUNTINGS at Butterfly Meadow and Lamppost 249 at Well Drive; YELLOW THROATED VIREO at Lower Pool.

I hope to see more reports later when possible


ps  more reports:  White crowned sparrow in Prospect, bay breasted warbler on Lookout Hill summit, orchard oriole in Greenwood Cemetery, Blue Grosbeak continues in Owls Head Park