Sunday, March 24, 2013

March 24th Prospect /GWC

The continuing VARIED THRUSH tops the news , with a report from Steve Nanz, the bird seen up the Quaker south slope, best seen from the bridle trail  that goes into the edge of the woods. See the map link I posted in previous posts.

For the next best thing today , RUSTY BLACKBIRD ( Rafael, Monica) in the Vale of Cashmere and WHITE -WINGED CROSSBILLS on Butterfly Meadow are continuing opportunities.

Over in Greenwood Cemetery, AMERICAN WOODCOCK  was reported from last Sunday by Orrin , the same bird from yesterday  ( since unlikely one spot must be that magnetic!)  , the second bird reported by Dennis , seen at the Heath Path from Sassafras Ave

Staying with GWCemetery, Rob Jett posted a tweet of COMMON RAVEN over the main entrance ( 25thst/5th Ave); if this species is still roaming Brooklyn skies, I wonder whether they are nesting ? RING-NECKED DUCKS  on the Sylvan Waters spruces up the scene.

--KB

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Rafael :


Sunday 24 March 2013
Observer: Rafael G Campos

The Varied Thrush is still around PP, more or less the same general area it was reported yesterday.  And again, I missed today by less than 5 minutes.  But I was rewarded to see a small group of Pine Siskins feeding on the dry fruits of Sweet Gum Tree. I estimated ±4 individuals.

At the Butterfly meadow, Lookout Hill, I got the nice surprise to see 2 pairs of White-winged Crossbills very active feeding on the fruits of the Sweet Gum tree.  Several times I saw the individuals getting into the ground, picking 1 fruit at the time, bringing to a low branch, and using her/his extraordinary bill, to extract the seeds.  They were so tame, that I took some relative good pixls with my point-and-shot camara.

Lily pond gave me a nice view of a pair of Wood Ducks.  At the pools, the Hooded Merganser & the Gadwall still around.

Early at the Vale of Cashmere, I found a single Rusty Blackbird (pictures taken).  Yesterday I got 2 Common Redpolls in the same general area.

To see my pictures go to: ticornis.tumblr.com

Brooklyn is great birding!!!: 


Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Kings, US-NY
Mar 24, 2013 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
OBSERVER: Rafael G Campos
Protocol: Traveling
3.5 kilometer(s)
Comments:     Still some boreal sps present in the park.  I saw White-winged Crossbills, and Pine Siskins.  The Varied Thrush still continues around Quaker Ridge. I missed it today.
42 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  X
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  X
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  4     2 males flewover Long Meadow; 1 pair at Lilly Pond.
Gadwall (Anas strepera)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  X
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)  X
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)  5
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)  3
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)  4
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)  6
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)  X
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  1
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
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)  2
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  2
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)  1     female.
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  4
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  X
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  X
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  6
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  2
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  X
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) (Setophaga coronata coronata)  1     seen by the edge of the Lower Pool.
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  4
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) (Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis)  8
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  6
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  X
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)  1     an adult seen at Vale of Cashmere.  Photos taken.
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  X
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  1     male, Nethermead.
White-winged Crossbill (American) (Loxia leucoptera leucoptera)  4     Two pairs, feeding on Sweetgum fruits: Butterfly meadow.  Photos taken.
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus)  4     feeding on Sweetgum seeds, Quaker Ridge.
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  2
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  X


Pictures at: ticornis.tumblr.com

Brooklyn is great birding!!!