Thursday, May 16, 2013

Prospect May 16th, the second movement takes off, great birds to appreciate

Common Nighthawk, taken by Sandy Paci
In the second massed movement of birds this May, a really good nature show. Lookout Hill and the north  section of the park  between the Endale Arch and Rose Garden came thru with flying colors,literally as evidence of birds moved on last night's south wind.I would say spectacular  for visible action given the early doldrums of May but nevertheless better to see very good activity than nil this spring season. ( Or more appropriately said : Better late than never ? )  The highlights  besides at least 23 species warblers today  also a flyover AMERICAN BITTERN , a sitting COMMON NIGHTHAWK , a perched BALD EAGLE,adding to the delight of colors called warblers to match .

First on the bittern when Keir saw one flying over the north Long Meadow , which is a first for this year,a rarity for Prospect.Keir reported very good activity at the north east side of the park  and the sitting COMMON NIGHTHAWK that enriched the Brooklyn Bird Club (BBC) walk today , the group spending a great amount of time there above the Rose Garden into the Vale.


The BBC  walk counted some good birds which a report just came in from Tom S.  Text messages of 2 LINCOLN's SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW at Vale Cashmere, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER at GAP path to Vale and Lookout Hill stairs to Center Drive.But the best warbler was a female CERULEAN WARBLER by the Endale Arch, seen only by Tom Stephenson who led today's walk.But certainly the highlight besides the Common Nighthawk as the group walked up the mulch trail across from Nellies Lawn into the Payne ( Sullivan Hill)  east woods was a perched immature BALD EAGLE! But the initial realization that it was an eagle was not realized until photos taken and looked at carefully after the raptor flew away . See the photos below from Sandy Paci. What a treat for the group.


ON my mostly solitary  walk, sometimes joining up with either Rob Bate or Jett, I tallied 19 species warblers, including my first Canada Warbler. I mentioned to Ed Crowned that I needed one . When he departed atop Lookout Hill, about 5 minutes later, lo and behold, a CANADA WARBLER at eye level  right behind me. A genie must be in the area though I didn't see any lamps around ...


Also on my day, a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH on the north west slope of Payne Hill (section I called by the old name Sullivan Hill, which is on the prospect park maps).


One more good upcoming wave should be in store  .If you wish it, its your command....so whats next  ?



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Juvenile Bald Eagle  Photo by Phil Malek 


Juvenile Bald Eagle, taken by Sandy Paci


Warbler Master List

date = 2013/05/16
site = Prospect Park
observers = mult observers
23 species

Prairie Warbler 
Yellow Warbler 
Tennessee Warbler 
American Redstart 
Black-and-white Warbler 
Blackpoll Warbler 
Ovenbird 
Canada Warbler 
Black-throated Green Warbler 
Bay-breasted Warbler 
Black-throated Blue Warbler 
Common Yellowthroat 
Cape May Warbler 
Cerulean Warbler 
Chestnut-sided Warbler 
Northern Parula 
Magnolia Warbler 
Nashville Warbler 
Hooded Warbler 
Northern Waterthrush 
Yellow-rumped Warbler 
Blackburnian Warbler 
Wilson's Warbler 


My list

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
May 16, 2013 6:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.5 mile(s)
52 species

Observers , different times, Ed Crowne, Kevin Brooks, Rob Bate, Rob Jett,Paige Linden

Wood Duck  4     Pools, 3 drakes, 1 hen
Red-tailed Hawk  1     ballfields
Rock Pigeon  X
Mourning Dove  X
Common Nighthawk  1     sitting on high branch north end Vale Cashmere pool 
steps, by bamboo stand
Chimney Swift  X
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Eastern Kingbird  2
Blue-headed Vireo  1     Lookout Hill
Warbling Vireo  1
Red-eyed Vireo  3
Blue Jay  2
Barn Swallow  X
Black-capped Chickadee  2
House Wren  1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  1
Veery  1
Gray-cheeked Thrush  1     North west slope Payne Hill ( or Sullivan hill)
American Robin  X
Gray Catbird  X
European Starling  X
Cedar Waxwing  40     flyover Butterfly mead
Ovenbird  2
Northern Waterthrush  2     South Lookout , Vale Cashmere pool
Black-and-white Warbler  2
Nashville Warbler  3     2 Esdale Br birdbath, Lookout Hilltop
Common Yellowthroat  5
American Redstart  3
Cape May Warbler  2     femal Vanderbilt PG; male Vale Cashmere pool
Northern Parula  8
Magnolia Warbler  11
Bay-breasted Warbler  1     south Falkill Falls path, spotted by Paige Linden
Blackburnian Warbler  2     Lookout Hill slope, 1 elsewhere
Yellow Warbler  1
Chestnut-sided Warbler  2
Blackpoll Warbler  4
Black-throated Blue Warbler  3
Yellow-rumped Warbler  X
Black-throated Green Warbler  1
Canada Warbler  1     Lookout Hilltop, prob same lower west slope
Wilson's Warbler  1     Vale Cashmere Pool
Swamp Sparrow  1     south Lookout Hill
White-throated Sparrow  X
Scarlet Tanager  4     2 ricks place,1 lookout, 1 Ambergill creek
Northern Cardinal  X
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  6     mid path south Lookout, flock
Red-winged Blackbird  1
Common Grackle  X
Orchard Oriole  1     vale cashmere pool
Baltimore Oriole  3
American Goldfinch  3
House Sparrow  X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14135854

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

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Rob Bate:

2 Lincoln Sparrows in Vale with 1 White-crowned Sparrow.  Also Indigo Bunting fly by.  Nighthawk was continuing in the same spot as of about 1:30.

72 species
 Canada Goose  X Mute Swan  X
Wood Duck  X
 American Black Duck  X
Mallard  X Double-crested Cormorant  X Green Heron  X
Red-tailed Hawk  X
Spotted Sandpiper  X
Herring Gull  X
 Rock Pigeon  X
Mourning Dove  X
Yellow-billed Cuckoo  X
Common Nighthawk  1     Perched high in tree over Vale of Cashmere
 Ruby-throated Hummingbird  X
 Red-bellied Woodpecker  X
Downy Woodpecker  X
 Peregrine Falcon  X
 Eastern Wood-Pewee  1
Great Crested Flycatcher  1
Eastern Kingbird  1
Blue-headed Vireo  X
Warbling Vireo  X
 Red-eyed Vireo  X
Blue Jay  X
 American Crow  X
Tree Swallow  X
Barn Swallow  X
 Tufted Titmouse  X
House Wren  X
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  X
Veery  X
 Swainson's Thrush  X
Wood Thrush  X
 American Robin  X
Gray Catbird  X
European Starling  X
Cedar Waxwing  X
Ovenbird  6
Northern Waterthrush  6
 Black-and-white Warbler  5
 Nashville Warbler  1
 Common Yellowthroat  10
American Redstart  7
Cape May Warbler  4
Northern Parula  8
Magnolia Warbler  16
 Bay-breasted Warbler  1
 Blackburnian Warbler  3
 Yellow Warbler  2
Chestnut-sided Warbler  2
Blackpoll Warbler  6
Black-throated Blue Warbler  3
Yellow-rumped Warbler  5
Black-throated Green Warbler  3
Canada Warbler  2
Wilson's Warbler  2
Savannah Sparrow  1
 Song Sparrow  2
Lincoln's Sparrow  2
 Swamp Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  3
 White-crowned Sparrow  1
Scarlet Tanager  3
Northern Cardinal  X
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  5
 Indigo Bunting  2
 Red-winged Blackbird  X
 Common Grackle  X
Baltimore Oriole  X
American Goldfinch  X
House Sparrow  X
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Rafael Campos:

Peter:  An amazing short walked into the Park, with more than a dozen of warblers species.  From GAP to the Vale, 1 hr, 10 species of warblers.
Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Kings, US-NY May 16, 2013 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.5 kilometer(s) 40 species Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)  X
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)  1
Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)  1
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)  X
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)  1
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  6
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius)  1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  2
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  1
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  2
Ruby crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)  1
Veery (Catharus fuscescens)  1
Amrican Robin (Turdus migratorius)  X
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  X
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)  1
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis)  2
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)  1
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  2
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  3
Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina)  1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)  1
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)  3
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca)  2
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)  2
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata)  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) (Setophaga coronata coronata)  1
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)  1
Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis)  1
Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)  1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)  3
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  1
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  2
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  2
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  X
Brooklyn is great birding!!!
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Tom Stephenson , leading the BBC Thursday walk
 Hi Peter,
I guess the first thing that comes to mind to describe the day
 today is "wow"...so many warblers. We had a large and enthusiastic
 group today and it took us a couple of hours just to get to the vale!
We ended up with 90 species and 23 species of warblers. 
Highlights included a Bald Eagle that was perched near 
Rick's place (that we almost passed by as a ReTaHa....), 
many Cape May's, several Bay-breasteds, a female 
Cerulean (that unfortunately didn't hang around for long), 
several Blackburnian, great looks at Yellow-billed Cuckoo,
 Common Nighthawk (thanks to Keir for spotting this),
 the hummingbird nest (thanks to Rob Jett's stick), at least 
Wilson's, Hooded and probably 3 Canada warblers.
Here's the list.
Best regards,
Tom

Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck
Mallard
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Spotted Sandpiper
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Common Nighthawk
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Canada Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow