Good movement of Crossbills in both locations, REDS in Greenwood,WHITE- WINGEDS in Prospect with the former carrying greater numbers.
In the same reliable Greenwood spot that has seen White winged Xbills in past weeks, today it was the cousin species, 30 RED CROSSBILLS seen feeding in a pine cone abundant large spruce along the Heath Path from Cypress Ave in the southwest section of Greenwood. After 20 minutes in the same tree, the flock flew to other surrounding large spruces.
In the same reliable Greenwood spot that has seen White winged Xbills in past weeks, today it was the cousin species, 30 RED CROSSBILLS seen feeding in a pine cone abundant large spruce along the Heath Path from Cypress Ave in the southwest section of Greenwood. After 20 minutes in the same tree, the flock flew to other surrounding large spruces.
To get here on weekends, it is best to enter the weekend only Fort Hamilton Ave entrance opposite Burger King, go straight 3 "plot sections" to Cypress Ave, turn left and go about 3 or 4 plot sections to the Heath Path( just before Dale Avenue )with the spruces to the right and up above the Hazel path as well. Further west there is another large Spruce, I believe near Border Avenue. Pick up a free large map at the security booth at the entrance. Otherwise, only the 25th /5th Avenue entrance is open on weekdays and a map is essential for the approximate 45 minute walk to this southwest section of conifers.
A further note : Keir , who was fortunate to see the Reds, recorded their songs and inquired Matt Young of Cornell , who identified the species as TYPE 3 ( there are 5 different sub-species listed on ebird checklist)
See "Winter Finch Superflight in this link attached"
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/november-bird-movements
Meanwhile, in text messages I received for Prospect, reports of 6 WHITEWINGED Xbills at Binnen Bridge and two birds seen bathing at Ricks Place backed up the continuing EVENING GROSBEAK female seen initially at Binnen Bridge, then making later on sporadic visits to the Prospect feeders.Siskins ,Bluebirds are usual; 3 Hooded Mergansers , 3 Pied billed grebe near Three Sister Islands adds interest at the Lake..So, rarity has a field day today....
A further note : Keir , who was fortunate to see the Reds, recorded their songs and inquired Matt Young of Cornell , who identified the species as TYPE 3 ( there are 5 different sub-species listed on ebird checklist)
See "Winter Finch Superflight in this link attached"
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/november-bird-movements
Meanwhile, in text messages I received for Prospect, reports of 6 WHITEWINGED Xbills at Binnen Bridge and two birds seen bathing at Ricks Place backed up the continuing EVENING GROSBEAK female seen initially at Binnen Bridge, then making later on sporadic visits to the Prospect feeders.Siskins ,Bluebirds are usual; 3 Hooded Mergansers , 3 Pied billed grebe near Three Sister Islands adds interest at the Lake..So, rarity has a field day today....
Going back to Greenwood Cemetery, earlier , before the Crossbill extravaganza, a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was discovered on the dirt berm excavated from the new Mausoleum near Crescent Water.
And last, 8 Brooklyn Bird Club members volunteers helped cleaned the storm debris filled paths along the south side of Prospect Lake, coordinated by Rob Bate; so as my rare bird alerts were going out, they stayed true to their task, nerves of steel their noble attribute. Many thanks to Rob, Tracy Meade,Stanley Greenberg, Dennis Hrehowsik, Mike Yuan, Bob O 'neill, Ed Crowne and Janet Schumacher. A hat tip from the BBC.
--KB
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From Rob:
Peter,
Thanks to Mike, Dennis, Janet S, Bob, Ed, Stanley Tracy and myself who put in a good 3 hours cleaning up on the paths from West Island towards 3 Sisters today as part of a BBC volunteer effort helping in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. For once we were working in the park while Peter was out birding and tweeting rare bird alerts. Turn about is fair play.
Rob
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Reports for Prospect and GWC
Keir:
Green-Wood Cemetery, Kings, US-NY
Nov 18, 2012 11:35 AM - 12:45 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments:
Submitted from BirdLog NA for iOS, version 1.5.1
16 species
Mallard 1
Mourning Dove 5
American Kestrel 1
Monk Parakeet 12
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
American Robin 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
White-throated Sparrow 8
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 6
Northern Cardinal 2
Red Crossbill 16 Found by M. Eyster and P. Dorosh, in spruces in Cypress Avenue/ Heath path area. Mix of adult male & females. Recordings of their calls have been identified by Matt Young of Cornell Lab as Type 3.
Pine Siskin 3
American Goldfinch 6
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From Adam, birding with Tom Stephenson,
Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY Nov 18, 2012 10:05 AM - 12:50 PM Protocol: Traveling 2.0 mile(s) Comments: Much of route birder with Tom Stephenson. Midwood down Lullwater to feeders/Breeze Hill and Peninsula. Did not survey Lookout Hill. Clear, light breeze. 38 species (+1 other taxa) Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) X tens present. Not counted accurately. Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) X Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) X Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) X many Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 1 Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) X many Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1 Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) 1 Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 2 American Coot (Fulica americana) 6 gull sp. (Larinae sp.) X many. Not identified. Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) X Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 18 Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 2 Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 3 American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 1 Overflying Peninsula. Merlin (Falco columbarius) 1 Chasing Cooper's Hawk, Peninsula. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) X Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) X Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 3 Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 1 White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 3 Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 1 Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) 2 American Robin (Turdus migratorius) X Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) 5 Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 2 White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) X many Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) X Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 6 Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) 3 House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 6 White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) 4 At least 4 birds in tree just north of Binnen Bridge near group of American Goldfinch. Seen well by Tom Stephenson and I. 2 males, 2 females. White in wing seen clearly on all birds, far larger than nearby goldfinch. Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 4 American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 70 approx count, includes a flock of about 40 on Breeze Hill. Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) 1 Breeze Hill. Clearly seen by many obsvers, calling. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) X View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S12067114 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org**Note added by TomHi Adam,Looks good. I did have Golden-crowned Kinglet and there was a White-crowned Sparrow near the Binnen.The WW Crossbills came down to the puddle under the boulder bridge, but got scared up by police officer on horse and then there were a lot of joggers going through, so they didn't come back while I was there...I believe there were 6 at the first spot, and then I only saw 2 at the puddle...probably same group.Bluebirds were still near the pagoda.
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Peter's lists, with Mary Eyster
Green-Wood Cemetery, Kings, US-NY Nov 18, 2012 9:00 AM - 12:45 PM Protocol: Traveling 3.0 mile(s) 24 species (+1 other taxa) Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Mourning Dove X Red-bellied Woodpecker X American Kestrel 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 attacking RedTailed Hawk flying over Blue Jay X Black-capped Chickadee X Tufted Titmouse X Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Hermit Thrush X American Robin X Northern Mockingbird X Chipping Sparrow 9 Clay-colored Sparrow 1 Spizella adult, no black in front of eye Fox Sparrow (Red) 1 Song Sparrow X White-throated Sparrow X Dark-eyed Junco X Northern Cardinal X Red Crossbill (type 3) 30 irruptive invasion in northeast US. Pine Siskin 20 American Goldfinch X House Sparrow X Monk Parakeets - 4View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S12070403Prospect Park--Feeders, Kings, US-NY Nov 18, 2012 2:30 PM - 3:05 PM Protocol: Stationary 8 species White-throated Sparrow X Dark-eyed Junco X Northern Cardinal 2 Purple Finch 2 House Finch 7 Pine Siskin 2 American Goldfinch X Evening Grosbeak 1 3rd consec day , multiple observersProspect Park, Kings, US-NY Nov 18, 2012 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Protocol: Traveling 1.0 mile(s) 17 species Canada Goose 135 Mute Swan 7 Mallard X Northern Shoveler X Hooded Merganser 3 3 Sister Islands, 2 drake Ruddy Duck X Pied-billed Grebe 3 Lake Double-crested Cormorant 3 3 sister islands Great Blue Heron 1 Lily Pool American Coot X Ring-billed Gull X Herring Gull X Rock Pigeon X Mourning Dove X Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Blue Jay X Cedar Waxwing 3 Binnen Bridge View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S12070479*******************************
From Rafael :
18 November 2012
Prospect Park was a box full of surprises. Everything started with some tex-mess early aboutWW Crossbill, and the EVGR seen around the feeders of Breezy Hill.
I started in the Vale, but nothing rare around here. By the time I get to Rick's Place, with some hope to see theWWCR, was starting to vanish, but...
First at the spot, I noticed a good number of White-throated Sparrows around the little pool of water, followed by Goldfinches, and Pine Siskins, and at least 3-4 Fox Sparrows. But a bird up in the trees, called my attention, a quick look, and here is a White-winged Crossbill, female. I lost track of her, but suddenly, a male & female landed near the water, followed by another female, and seconds later, a 2nd male!!! Four WWCRs, and all of them in the ground. Great.
By the time I arrived to Breezy Hill where the feeders are place, the EVGR was seen but already gone. I spent a good amount of time there, but no Grosbeak. But good numbers of PISIs, House & Purple Finches, White-throated & Fox Sparrows, both sps of Nuthatches. I went around the Peninsula, and the best, was 2 Buffleheads.
I came back to the feeders, and this time, with a little help of modern devices, the Evening Grosbeak, showed up, perched on top a high tree, flew across the driveway. A little later other birders, had the experience to see her landing on the feeders, and gave us the best of her.
Brooklyn is great birding: Rafael G Campos
Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Kings, US-NY Nov 18, 2012 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM Protocol: Traveling 3.5 kilometer(s) Observer (s): Rafael G Campos (+ Tom Stevenson, Heidi Lopez) 48 species Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) X Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) X American Wigeon (Anas americana) 2 Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) X Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) X Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 2 Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) X Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 1 lake Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1 Lily Pond Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) 1 juv landed behind the feeders of Breezy Hill Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 2 flyover Lookout Hill American Coot (Fulica americana) X Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) X Herring Gull (American) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus) X Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) X Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) X Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 2 Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 3 Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) 1 American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 1 Seen perched on a oak tree, near the Audubon house Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) X Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) X Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 4 Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 1 White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 2 Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 1 Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 2 Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) 1 Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 1 American Robin (Turdus migratorius) X European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) X Fox Sparrow (Red) (Passerella iliaca iliaca/zaboria) 4 Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 2 White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) X White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) 1 seen near the Binnen Bridge Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) (Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis) 3 Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) X Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 1 Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) 4 House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 6 White-winged Crossbill (American) (Loxia leucoptera leucoptera) 4 2 males, 2 females, seen at Rick's Place, feeding on the ground. Later with T.S. & H.L., we saw a pair from Boulder Bridge, briefly after they flew away.
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) X
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) X Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) 1 A female was observed yesterday at the feeders of Breezy Hill. Same today, at least twice came back to them. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) X Brooklyn is great birding!!!!
