BBP NOWA

Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) (1)
- Reported Jan 04, 2023 07:25 by Doug Gochfeld
- Brooklyn Bridge Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6996104,-73.9973745&ll=40.6996104,-73.9973745
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S125437494
- Comments: "**Very rare in winter. Long staying bird from November (when it appeared to potentially have some kind of injury), but only intermittently seen. Seems to have settled into a ritual of spending some time around the Pier 6 meadow most mid-late mornings before disappearing to nobody knows where (of being very inconspicuous around P6). Audio recordings of contact calls today 

Tweet from The Kingsboider (@BBCKingsbirds) 2 COME

The Kingsboider (@BBCKingsbirds) tweeted at 2:57 PM on Thu, Jan 05, 2023:
Continuing two hen Common Mergansers close to prospect lake west shore
(https://twitter.com/BBCKingsbirds/status/1611089547630092288?s=03)

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

COME on PPLake

Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 05, 2023 09:10 by B F
- Prospect Park--Prospect Lake, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6553787,-73.9686421&ll=40.6553787,-73.9686421
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S125459604
- Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "2 hens swimming in middle of lake among the gulls then floated over towards Peninsula.  Red head (clearly demarcated), white breast, white spot below bill.  Poor photos" 

Fwd: New Year's Day Friend's Walk

The traditional New Years Day walk in Prospect Park,led by Karen O'Hearn.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: karenohearn
Date: Monday, January 2, 2023
Subject: New Year's Day Friend's Walk
To: Peter Dorosh <prosbird@gmail.com>

Species list

https://ebird.org/checklist/S125114505

Iceland Gull spotted by Dennis H.

"What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness."

- John Steinbeck

Waterfowl count help

An update to a previous note on this blog.

Tom P. Who requested one or two birders who are good spotters and who possess waterfowl identification don't have to be Drivers. Non drivers are welcome and will accompany Tom as passengers. 

His count is on Jan 15th ( Sunday)

If interested, email me at prosbird@gmail.com

Brooklyn Bird Club NYD walk Ebird Checklist - 1 Jan 2023 - Prospect Park - 35 species

https://ebird.org/checklist/S125114505 

Led by Karen O'Hearn

Highlights were Iceland Gull,Winter wren,Purple Finch

Marsh wren Peninsula

https://ebird.org/checklist/S125181070 

Lbbgull continues ppLake

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) (1)
- Reported Jan 02, 2023 08:44 by Ant Tab
- Prospect Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6602841,-73.9689534&ll=40.6602841,-73.9689534
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S125179395
- Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Slate-gray back, smudgy dark eye shadow, much smaller than nearby GBBG and closer in size to the HERGs. My first LBBG for the park." 

Out of season house wren

https://ebird.org/checklist/S125174510 

Iceland gull photos ( nadel)

https://ebird.org/checklist/S125096939 

PP chklist Danielles

https://ebird.org/checklist/S125096939 

Note Iceland gull, purple Finch,winter wren n high number of titmice

Prospect Park, Kings County, NY, US - eBird Hotspot

https://ebird.org/hotspot/L109516 

46 species on prospects first day.

Tweet from Ed Crowne (@ecrowne)

Ed Crowne (@ecrowne) tweeted at 11:24 AM on Sun, Jan 01, 2023:
Baltimore Oriole still here in Green-Wood Cemetery at Ft Hamilton entrance.
(https://twitter.com/ecrowne/status/1609586281465487360?s=03)

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

Willens PP Chklist

https://ebird.org/checklist/S125076369 

Note Iceland gull and purple Finch report

Greenpoint lbbgull

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) (1)
- Reported Jan 01, 2023 09:35 by Alan V. Bacchiochi
- Austin Nichols House, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.7191302,-73.9652481&ll=40.7191302,-73.9652481
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S125057033
- Comments: "Slate back, dark eye area and heavily streaked head. Yellow legs. Smaller than nearby HERG. Photos to come 

New Year greetings!

 The Kingsboider wishes all

May 2023 be a year of new prospects, prosperity,good health,hope,and momentous highlights!

Friday iceland

Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) (1)
- Reported Dec 30, 2022 11:29 by Nate L-S
- Prospect Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6602841,-73.9689534&ll=40.6602841,-73.9689534
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124935056
- Comments: "Observed while preening on the ice. Larger than RBGU but smaller than nearby HEGU. Overall mostly white with faint grey along the back. White head, dark eye, dainty yellow bill with dark tip. Pink legs." 

Year end Wild Bird Fund

https://www.facebook.com/100064855175748/posts/pfbid02qbtwMwszoniRji9s9sS2JuYcPsd8CMjmBVjavaxf3zCGBGtRhiZdhudQt5igUjTXl/?sfnsn=mo 

Bird photo contest ,congrats to one our own Jeremy!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Meetup/NYC/Birds_of_NYC_Photo_Contest/Winners 

The Winter Season

"Wisdom comes with winters."

— Oscar Wilde

"In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy."

– William Blake

Waterfowl count Help wanted

The NYS waterfowl count takes place next month on Jan 14th to Jan 22nd. The club has one count area walk on Monday the 16th in Prospect Park ( check our field trips page). A friend Tom P would like expert waterfowl help / company ( up to 3 birders)  for his section area along Lower NYC harbor/ Gravesend bay - from Owls head park to Coney island Creek on Sunday the 15th. The requirements: you must drive ( your car), have a scope, be in for the long day making birding stops, be winter hardy and have good knowledge identifying waterfowl ( ducks,grebes,swans, geese,coots) .If interested,please email me at prosbird@gmail.com or prosbird@aol.com. and I'll put you in touch with Tom. Happy New Year! 🦆🎉

BBP waterthrush (& the importance of leaf litter.)

Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) (1)
- Reported Dec 29, 2022 10:50 by MI YU
- Brooklyn Bridge Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6996104,-73.9973745&ll=40.6996104,-73.9973745
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124853654
- Media: 10 Photos
- Comments: "Very late and continuing from 11/12/22. Spotted in the unswept (thank you bbp!) leaf litter under the benches along the hedge-lined walkway into pier 6. Finding food- a wood louse (potato bug) and another invertebrate. Chipping constantly. Flew over to Flower field to chip some more." 

continuing rarity in Prospect park and Bush Terminal park

Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) (1)
- Reported Dec 28, 2022 10:19 by Peter Paul
- Prospect Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6602841,-73.9689534&ll=40.6602841,-73.9689534
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124780230
- Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Looked like the same second winter bird from yesterday. Photos."

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) (3)
- Reported Dec 28, 2022 12:34 by Marcella Durand
- Bush Terminal Piers Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6541609,-74.0204451&ll=40.6541609,-74.0204451
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124778281
- Comments: "Mixed in with other gulls. Will submit sound files."

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) (1)
- Reported Dec 28, 2022 10:19 by Peter Paul
- Prospect Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6602841,-73.9689534&ll=40.6602841,-73.9689534
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124780230
- Media: 3 Photos
- Comments: "Sub adult - small, dark-backed gull, white eye, long wings."

--

" Preserve and cherish the pale blue dot,the only home we've ever known"

                                                                            --Carl Sagan

its a good time for rare gulls right now...

 Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) (2)

- Reported Dec 27, 2022 16:25 by Doug Gochfeld
- Brooklyn Bridge Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6996104,-73.9973745&ll=40.6996104,-73.9973745
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124729269
- Comments: "*Uncommon but regular in winter here. Subadult in marina (digiscoped video) - the first time this individual was detected here this winter. Long-continuing adult 

Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) (1)
- Reported Dec 27, 2022 11:51 by Doug Gochfeld
- Prospect Park--Prospect Lake, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6553787,-73.9686421&ll=40.6553787,-73.9686421
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124735716
- Comments: "*Continuing from earlier in day when found by Tripper Paul. Present through the entirety of my vigil."

Rare gulls prospect lake Tripper reports

Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) (1)
- Reported Dec 27, 2022 09:45 by Peter Paul
- Prospect Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6602841,-73.9689534&ll=40.6602841,-73.9689534
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124720297
- Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "First winter bird - small gull with red legs, red bill, white outer primaries seen in flight as well as dark underwing."


Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) (1)
- Reported Dec 27, 2022 09:45 by Peter Paul
- Prospect Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6602841,-73.9689534&ll=40.6602841,-73.9689534
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124720297
- Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Second winter bird with all white primaries, some adult mantle coming in on the upper back, and a dark bill, but darkest at tip. Moved around but spent most time in one of the open water bodies."

Herring x Lesser Black-backed Gull (hybrid) (Larus argentatus x fuscus) (1)
- Reported Dec 27, 2022 09:45 by Peter Paul
- Prospect Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6602841,-73.9689534&ll=40.6602841,-73.9689534
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124720297
- Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "My first view of this bird was mostly obscured, but I could see enough that it had a decidedly darker mantle than the nearby HERGs. Eventually it stood up and took its head out. The color never quite clicked for LBBG, and the structure seems a bit off. I never actually saw the birds legs, but photos show the reflection of them, and they appear to be pink.  The pink legs, in between mantle shade, and odd structure seem to add up to this hybrid pair."
Show quoted text 

Iceland gull prospect lake Smith chklist

https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S124701634 

Reported earlier by Tripper Paul who also found simultaneously a Black headed gull on frozen Lake

Iceland gull on Prospect lake

Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) (1)
- Reported Dec 26, 2022 11:15 by MCHL ____
- Prospect Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6602841,-73.9689534&ll=40.6602841,-73.9689534
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124637985
- Comments: "Reported by Josh M. Sean S. showed me in his scope. 

Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) (1)

- Reported Dec 26, 2022 10:30 by Sean Sime

- Prospect Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6602841,-73.9689534&ll=40.6602841,-73.9689534

- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124640202
- Comments: "1st winter

Tweet from Nicole Peyrafitte (@peyrafitte) yb sapsuckers video

Nicole Peyrafitte (@peyrafitte) tweeted at 0:31 PM on Sun, Dec 25, 2022:
Merry Xmas from Owl's Head Park with the lovely Yellow-bellied Sapsucker who was already there yesterday. @BirdBrklyn #bayridge https://t.co/PwC2IkGwkt
(https://twitter.com/peyrafitte/status/1607066428053622789?s=03)

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

Christmas greetings

 The Kingsboider wishes all a Merry Christmas and the blessings of the holiday with family, friends and fellow birders.

Peace, good will, and joy to you!

PPLake COME

Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) (2)
- Reported Dec 24, 2022 12:05 by R M

- Prospect Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6602841,-73.9689534&ll=40.6602841,-73.9689534
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124549847
- Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "big saw billed ducks with smooth dark green heads and white bodies" 

Bush teminal park rare gull

 Its that time of the year for special gulls.

Joshua Malbin found today a Black headed Gull at Bush Terminal pier park jetty rocks .

The gift of birds

 On likely the coldest Christmas Eve day in nyc, its the little gifts that count. A holiday season puts things in perspective especially for a birder. Frigid conditions rendered bird life inactive as I can attest all morning in Prospect park . With frozen toes to think about, I shortened my stay but seeing later Ryan Mandlebaums tweet of a pair of drake Common Mergansers, I needed to gift myself.

And so, I set out 315 to go see them,hopefully they stuck around. Arriving at West Island benches, I scanned Prospect Lake and found the distant rare ducks in the lake middle.Desiring a closer look but not much, my new spot from the rustic shelter improved the view as I watched admiringly the rare handsome large Common mergansers. Battling cold seeping thru my double layered gloves, I stuck out long as I could. I needed to enjoy them as what one does with a new gift.

All birds are gifts. To deeply appreciate them regardless the species means to do the best of our ability to preserve them for generations to come. They provide us with enjoyment, wonders, happiness,distraction from life and oneness with nature. So we need to return the gift of saving them and habitats.

As I turned to head home ,noting the fading light,the frigid cold getting to me- a battle hardened winter birder- I was met with surprise a large flock of Common Grackles feeding in a frenzy on the ground. I estimated about 350 of them as I followed them to the lawn Oval by Vanderbilt playground. Quite  a sight given the tough challenging circumstances.

But at the lucky moment, thats the gift of birds. 🌲🎁🐦

Merry Christmas everyone.

-kb

New Prospect fence

 

The Ravine Ambergill area gets a new rigid structure fence. And that's good news..( no more repair caused by misbehaving humans who'll get coal in their Christmas stockings 😄🤣)

LBBG on prospect lake

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) (1)
- Reported Dec 23, 2022 12:11 by Kathleen Toomey
- Prospect Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6602841,-73.9689534&ll=40.6602841,-73.9689534
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124481479
- Comments: "Smaller than nearby Herring Gulls, much darker backed than Herring and Ring-billeds, almost as dark as nearby Great Black-backed Gulls.  Long winged appearance, seeming longer winged and more slender than Great Black-backed Gulls.   Unfortunately, no camera to take photos"