After a busy morning weeding honeysuckle at Elephant Hill, my work crew came back to the Tennis House for equipment , when I happened to glance thru the truck's distorted windshield corner from my back seat and saw a large low flying dark shape over the 9th St bandshell. I quickly hopped out and saw the large bird about 300 feet away , all dark but heavily white mottled , obviously a juvenile BALD EAGLE. I follow the bird's flight thru my bins as it flew over the ballfields, into the high woods of Quaker Ridge where I lost the bird thereafter. I am not sure if it perched or kept right on going. Nevertheless, an exciting moment and very unusual to see such a low flying eagle only 200 feet high the most.
Todays' offerings concerns a RUSTY BLACKBIRD seen in the Vale of Cashmere , the usual continuing species seen here or the Ravine Ambergill; Warblers are now diversifying , a NORTHERN PARULA reported in the Upper Pool, also later at Lily Pool. ( the initial observer Rafael Campos). But , I just received a text now that Kristin Costello saw BLACK and WHITE WARBLER in the Lullwater. PINE WARBLERS, PALM WARBLERS and GOLDEN CROWNED KINGLETS continue but in far less numbers.I had Pines above the Wellhouse, south Nethermead pines.. Rob Bate reported still lagging WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS on Butterfly Meadow. ( when the heck are they going ?? )
And finally, I should visit Wendy's on Empire Boulevard and Flatbush more often-- the lot , not for fast food ( except they have great one dollar , any size deals with ice coffees !). From the lot, one can look up the Fire Department Radio transmitter tower and see the PEREGRINE FALCON perched next to the red beacon; of course, it wasn't wearing the fireman hat....
Reports will be forthcoming, and it looks like another nice evening for a birdy walk.
Addendum : I forgot to post SPOTTED SANDPIPER that Rafael and Rob Jett reported, seen on the Peninsula shore by the Terrace Bridge this early afternoon.
And forget the eve walk..had errands..lighting and thunder is unusual in spring........
From Rafael :
Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Kings, US-NY
Apr 10, 2013 10:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Apr 10, 2013 10:30 AM - 2:00 PM
OBSERVER: Rafael G Campos
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 kilometer(s)
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 kilometer(s)
Comments: Amazing, the warblers are, and today I saw 4 sps: Northern Parula, Palm, Yellow-rumped (Myrtle), & Pine. Plus the numbers of Hermit Thrush are increasing. Another newcomer to the park is the Spotted Sandpiper, one seen in the lower Lullwater. Other obsersers were: Rob B., Rob J., & Elizabeth W. Another surprise was seen 2 Rusty Blackbirds in the Vale of Cashmere.
42 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 2
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 2
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 1 male, Ambergill pool.
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) X
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) 2
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 9
Great Egret (Ardea alba) 1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1
American Coot (Fulica americana) X
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) 1
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) X
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) X
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 1
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 8
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) (Colaptes auratus [auratus Group]) 6
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) X
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 6
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 5
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 7
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 13
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 4
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 8
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) X A leucistic one was seen around the pools. Photos taken.
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) X
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 1 single individual seen at the edge of the Upper Pool. Two other observers saw it at the same time.
Palm Warbler (Yellow) (Setophaga palmarum hypochrysea) 12
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) (Setophaga coronata coronata) 3
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) 2 males.
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 3
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) X
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) (Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis) 8
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 4
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) 2 Vale of Cashmere
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 2
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 1
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) X
Brooklyn is great birding!!!
