Monday, November 12, 2012

Regional Parks Hurricane websites alert; Prospect report 11/12

The impact from Hurricane Sandy upon our regional parks and preserves has gotten many birders wondering whats open and whats closed. We know for a fact all Gateway National Seashore parks are closed, some due to severe damage ( such as Fort Tilden, Breezy Point) or some like Floyd Bennett or Riis Park which has been commandeered by the federal emergency agencies ( like FEMA and the military) for salvage and dumping operations.The same also applies for NYC parks due mostly to damage trees and natural litter. Below are links for updates on whats is open and closed. Hope it helps. If you are a Facebook user, the National Parks Service set up a Hurricane timeline ...

NYC Parks by borough

http://www.nycgovparks.org/news/notices

Gateway National Park

http://www.nps.gov/gate/index.htm

http://nyharborparks.org/index.html

Facebook for Gateway parks

http://www.facebook.com/n/?pdorosh%2Fposts%2F440018396045613&mid=70b0820G46ff3592G361ea88G3a&bcode=1.1352731378.AbkRLtQMaFRfQ9Ah&n_m=prosbird%40aol.com

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Prospect 11/12

Today all is quiet, my feeling the warm weather has put a damper on any winter bird movement. And evidence that it was warm , a GREAT EGRET makes the highlight !  Seen  knee deep in the water at West Island, its not often to see such a late bird "outrank" the HOODED MERGANSER drake on the island's shore.  There in that section of the lake ,I guess at least 250 NORTHERN SHOVELERs , many feeding in tight circles. In the Lullwater by the Terrace bridge, a pair GADWALL with the usual COOTS and RUDDY DUCKS.

ON Breeze Hill, most exciting was a patrolling PEREGRINE FALCON, maybe making feeder birds nervous despite being in the woods. A few PINE SISKIN with one PURPLE FINCH was seen; earlier Rafael saw a unusual FIELD SPARROW on the ground with the expected FOX SPARROWS.

Continuing with the feeders, MONK PARAKEETS were near as  observed by Rafael. And nearby a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was busy picking on the pine cones in the pitch pine in the oval lawn

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY


Nov 12, 2012 1:00 PM - 2:45 PM

Protocol: Traveling

2.0 mile(s)

5 species



Red-tailed Hawk 3 Breeze Hill

Peregrine Falcon 1 Breeze Hill

Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Breeze Hill

American Robin X

White-throated Sparrow 45



Prospect Park--Prospect Lake, Kings, US-NY


Nov 12, 2012 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Protocol: Traveling

1.0 mile(s)

15 species (+1 other taxa)



Canada Goose 60

Mute Swan 4

Gadwall 2

American Black Duck 5

Mallard X

American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) X

Northern Shoveler 250

Hooded Merganser 1 West Isl

Ruddy Duck 65

Pied-billed Grebe 2

Double-crested Cormorant 3

Great Egret 1

American Coot 17

Ring-billed Gull X

Herring Gull X

Great Black-backed Gull 1



Prospect Park--Feeders, Kings, US-NY


Nov 12, 2012 3:15 PM - 3:29 PM

Protocol: Stationary

9 species



Black-capped Chickadee 2

Fox Sparrow 1

White-throated Sparrow 15

Dark-eyed Junco X

Northern Cardinal 2

Purple Finch 1

House Finch 4

Pine Siskin 3

American Goldfinch 8



View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S12027630



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From Rafael :

Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Kings, US-NY


Nov 12, 2012 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Protocol: Traveling

Observers: Rafael Campos, Rob Bate, & Peter Dorosh

4.0 kilometer(s)

46 species



Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) X

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 2

American Wigeon (Anas americana) 2 Lake, with the numerous NOSHO

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) X

Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) 3 2 males, 1 female: Lake

Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) X

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 1 Lake

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 2

American Coot (Fulica americana) 10

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) X Lake, few individuals among the numerous American Herring Gull.

Herring Gull (American) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus) X

Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) X

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 3

Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 2

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 1 Vale

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 2

Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) 1 Rick's Place

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 1 seen flying away near the pools (RC & RB).

Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) 5 this small flock was seen flying by the Audubon center.

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1 A single individual observed in the Sparrow Bowl, (RC & RB)

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) X

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 4 mainly at the feeders

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 4

Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 1 single individual observed at the feeders of Breezy Hill (RC & RB)

White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 2

Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 1

Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) 2

Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 3

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 2

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 2

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) X

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) X

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) (Setophaga coronata coronata) 2 Penisnula

Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) 1 male

Fox Sparrow (Red) (Passerella iliaca iliaca/zaboria) 2 one seen at Vale, the 2nd one at the feeders of Breezy Hill

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) X

Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) 1

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) X

Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) (Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis) 2

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 4

Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) 3 Breezy Hill feeders

House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 4 Breezy Hill feeders

Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 10 mostly seen at the feeders of Breezy Hill

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) X Numerous, several locations (the feeders, too).

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) X



Brooklyn is great birding!!!!