Monday, September 24, 2012

Prospect Sept 23rd: windblown YBCH and warblers

Reports of YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS seen in the BBC centennial garden /Nellie's Lawn region along with a variety of warblers were reported in "small pockets" in various areas of Prospect. Sticking  with the same color--yellow--a report of YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO at the "sparrowbowl" upper slope area.

At least 14 species warblers on this windy day including Nashvilles, Tenneessee, Wilsons and other quality birds.

I received a report of Summer Tanager which is quite a rare sighting in autumn so needs further verification.This is newsworthy information to be on the lookout since sometimes Scarlets in weird molts can be confusing. See the post below where seen.

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

From Rafael:


3 September 2012

An early morning start, ±0730 hrs, I headed to PP. The wind was strong, temperatures low 60s, and expectations to see some birds,low, too.

But after I went around the Vale, everything made a big turn. First Warbler: Northern Parula, followed by Black-and-white, and Blackpoll (the most numerous warbler today).

From here to the "broken steps" area, and another pocket of activity, and the first and only Magnolia Warbler for the day.

Rick's Place, Nethermead arches, very quiet, also the Lullwater path. But the Peninsula (here I joined forces with Keir Randall), was full of surprises: Pine, Blackpoll, Nashville, Cape May, Black-and-white Warblers.

A brief look around the lake gave us 1 Ruddy Duck, 1 Pied-billed Grebe, and 2 American Coots + Several Northern Shovelers. Keir & I took different paths, and I went to Lookout Hill. No much, but I continued towards the pools, and the action here was getting slow, too.

Back to the Vale, and it was time to leave PP. A windy day, big reward: 14 sps of Warblers!!!

Some birds worth to mention: Baltimore Oriole, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Scarlet Tanager, Swainson's Thrush, White-throated Sparrow, Red-eyed Vireo, Nothern Waterthrush, Green Heron, Ovenbird, Tennesse Warbler (Lookout Hill), Cedar Waxwing, Wood Duck (1 male, Lullwater).

Brooklyn is great birding, even a very windy day: Rafa Campos R.


Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Kings, US-NY

Sep 23, 2012 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Protocol: Traveling

Observers: Rafael G Campos & Keir Randall (1 hr±)

3.0 kilometer(s)

Comments: Most of the morning was very windy, but the bird activity was quite good. Mostly pockets of birds, scattered through the park. At the Peninsula, I joined forces with Keir Randall for almost 1 hr. Temperatures bet 60s & low 70s; open skies.

51 species



Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) X

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) X

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 1 Lower Lullwater, male.

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) X

Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) 8

Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) 1 Lake

Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) 1 Lake

Green Heron (Butorides virescens) 1 Lower Lullwater

American Coot (Fulica americana) 2 Lake

Herring Gull (American) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus) 1 Flyover Nelly's lawn

Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) X

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) X

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 3

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 4

Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) (Colaptes auratus [auratus Group]) 3

Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) 2

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) 1

Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 8

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) X

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 2

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 1

White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 1

Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 1

Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) 1

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) X

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) X

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) X

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 10

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) 2

Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) 4

Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 6

Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina) 2

Nashville Warbler (Eastern) (Oreothlypis ruficapilla ruficapilla) 6

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 1

American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 5

Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) 1

Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 6

Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) 1

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) 1

Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 10

Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) 2

Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) 1

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 1

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 2 Vale.

Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) 1

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 10

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 2

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 2

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 1

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 2

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) X



Brooklyn is great birding!!!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

From KeirRandall:



Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY

Sep 23, 2012 6:45 AM - 2:15 PM

Protocol: Traveling

4.0 mile(s)

Comments: Windy early - best activity in sunny patches around Picnic House at 7am, Lookout switchback around 8am and Peninsula tip mid morning.

67 species (+2 other taxa)



Canada Goose 5

Mute Swan 6

Wood Duck 1

Mallard 15

Northern Shoveler 6

Ruddy Duck 1

Pied-billed Grebe 1

Green Heron 1

Sharp-shinned Hawk 1

Cooper's Hawk 1

Sharp-shinned/Cooper's Hawk 1

Red-tailed Hawk 1

American Coot 2

Laughing Gull 1

gull sp. 1

Rock Pigeon 8

Mourning Dove 14

Chimney Swift 25

Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1

Belted Kingfisher 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker 2

Downy Woodpecker 2

Northern Flicker 20

Merlin 1

Eastern Wood-Pewee 2

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 1 Lookout, switchback trail

Eastern Phoebe 2

Blue-headed Vireo 2

Red-eyed Vireo 8

Blue Jay 10

American Crow 1

Black-capped Chickadee 3

Red-breasted Nuthatch 3

House Wren 3

Carolina Wren 2

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1

Veery 1

Swainson's Thrush 1

American Robin 20

Gray Catbird 6

Brown Thrasher 1

European Starling 14

Cedar Waxwing 7

Ovenbird 1

Northern Waterthrush 3

Black-and-white Warbler 4

Nashville Warbler 6 including 5 together on Lookout switchback trail, 8am

Common Yellowthroat 8

American Redstart 4

Cape May Warbler 1 Immature at Peninsula tip (R. Campos also obs.)

Northern Parula 5

Magnolia Warbler 4

Blackburnian Warbler 1 Male on Lookout switchback trail, 8am

Yellow Warbler 1

Blackpoll Warbler 10 Picnic House early and Peninsula tip mid morning

Black-throated Blue Warbler 1

Pine Warbler 1 Peninsula tip mid morning

Black-throated Green Warbler 4

Wilson's Warbler 1 Adult male, Lookout switchback trail

Yellow-breasted Chat 2 Nellie's Lawn BBC plantings 7am and Nethermead horse trail

(btwn Nethermead Arches & Quaker gates) a little later

Song Sparrow 2

White-throated Sparrow 1

Northern Cardinal 7

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1

Red-winged Blackbird 2

Common Grackle 2

Baltimore Oriole 1

American Goldfinch 5

House Sparrow 30



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Peter:

We saw a female summer tanager by Litchfield Villa this morning about 11 AM.

About 5:30 in the afternoon we saw another near the Nethermead arches.



David