May 3rd, May 4th Prospect, still quiet and bird "slump"

The puzzling trend and nature's stiff hand continues in early May ( since Thursday) , when migration is what now should be in peaking form. Scant bird reports and sightings are few , especially those prize warbler numbers. Birders in our parks have to work hard for those birds that are here, many of those uncooperative as well with budding foliage an added hindrance now. Blame the lack of birds ( for numbers) on  the weather as north winds and a blocking high pressure system are obstinate.

For Saturday's Prospect  ,as I was leading the BBC in Central Park, the best to hear of were COMMON RAVEN, WOOD THRUSH, ORCHARD ORIOLE and  NASHVILLE WARBLER.Common Raven reported by Steve Nanz, was seen over the Lullwater, flying towards Breeze Hill.Wood Thrush (with Ovenbird) , in the Midwood ( Bobbi Manian ), and likely the same bird in the Ravine; Orchard Oriole at Terrace Bridge ( RJett), and Nashville Warbler in the Vale of Cashmere ( Dennis H).

I know spring migration is at a low point when I have yet to see Ovenbird ! Not that I didn't pursue it  but this species is usually quite numerous that I would be able to hear it given its common presence at this date. A strange yet disappointing spring so far with weekends our best time in short spring migrations.Call it a slump for this region.( maybe birds went west ? as we get western species ( snicker),   we are in reverse switcheroo trends nowadays ?)


Bird reports from May 3rd, 4th

Joshua Malbin:

.Very slow.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Joshua Malbin"
Date: May 3, 2013 7:28 PM
Subject: BirdsEye-Prospect Park-2013-5-3
To: "Joshua Malbin" 

Observer: Joshua Malbin
2013-05-03 16:40
Prospect Park
Protocol: Traveling
1 Miles
168 Minutes
Observers: 1
    8    Canada Goose     
    X    Mute Swan     
    15    Mallard     
    1    Great Egret     
    1    Green Heron    On the nest 
    1    Black-crowned Night-Heron     
    1    Turkey Vulture     
    1    Red-tailed Hawk     
    7    Laughing Gull     
    4    Herring Gull     
    8    Mourning Dove     
    25    Chimney Swift     
    2    Red-bellied Woodpecker     
    4    Downy Woodpecker     
    1    Northern Flicker     
    2    Eastern Kingbird     
    2    Warbling Vireo     
    4    Blue Jay     
    4    Fish Crow    Flying over the midwood, id'ed by voice 
    9    Northern Rough-winged Swallow     
    1    Tree Swallow     
    12    Barn Swallow     
    5    Tufted Titmouse     
    1    Wood Thrush     
    X    American Robin     
    X    European Starling     
    1    Yellow-rumped Warbler     
    1    Chipping Sparrow     
    3    Song Sparrow     
    2    White-throated Sparrow     
    X    Northern Cardinal     
    X    Red-winged Blackbird     
    3    Common Grackle     
    8    Brown-headed Cowbird     
    X    House Sparrow       
This report was created and sent using BirdsEye BirdLog (http://birdseyebirding.com/)

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Adam Welz

Where did all the birds go? I mean, I know that I went really late in the day, but I didn't even see a single Butter-butt!

A

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <do-not-reply@ebird.org>
Date: Fri, May 3, 2013 at 9:59 PM
Subject: eBird Report - Prospect Park, May 3, 2013



Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
May 3, 2013 6:15 PM - 7:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments:     Quick evening walk around Breeze Hill, Peninsula, lower east slope of Lookout, Lullwater. Clear, light breeze.
32 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  9
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  2
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  1
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  X
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)  1
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  1
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)  1
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)  3
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  1
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)  X
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)  X
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)  X
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  X
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)  X
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)  1
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  3
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  X
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)  X
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  X
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  2
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  1
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)  1     Southern Lullwater. Prob the same bird that's been hanging around here in recent weeks.
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  X
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)  2
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  5
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  X
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  X
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  X     Building nest in conifer on Breeze Hill
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13980411

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

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

Rafael:

Peter:  A very slow morning in PP.  The most abundant warbler was the Yellow-rumped (Myrtle), followed by Yellow.  Nice to see both sps of orioles in the park.  Otherwise, Spring migration is kind of slow, not too many species, specially warblers.  Maybe tomorrow.

Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Kings, US-NY
May 4, 2013 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 kilometer(s)
44 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  X
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  3
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  X
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)  1
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)  2     1 upper pool, 1 peninsula
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)  1
Herring Gull (American) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus)  1
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)  X
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  X
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)  X
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  2
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  1
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)  1
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  1
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  5     flyovers lookout hill
White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)  2
Warbling Vireo (Eastern) (Vireo gilvus gilvus)  2
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  X
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  6     flyovers upper pool
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  X
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  2
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  1
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)  1
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  3
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  X
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)  1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)  1
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) (Setophaga coronata coronata)  5
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  4     vale
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  5
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  6
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  4
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  3
Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)  1
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  2
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)  1     female
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  X

Brooklyn is great birding!!!