Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Prospect Golden winged/Bluewinged trifecta , warblers move,past repts

(Note: I was away for two days in southern Jersey for shorebirding + Perseids watch , hence delayed reports posted now /today)

From Rob Jett, post to NYS Birds listserve

Subject: Prospect Park warblers
From: Rob Jett 
Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2013 12:46:01 -0400
X-Message-Number: 2

While birding in Prospect Park this morning, Peter Colen and I had an 
interesting experience.

We had walked up Lookout Hill to the Butterfly Meadow where there seemed to be a 
bit of activity on and within the assorted sunflowers, buddleia and other 
wildflowers. In the weeds below an oak tree at the East end of the meadow I 
spotted a gnatcatcher chasing a mostly yellow bird. It turned out to be a 
"Lawrence's" Warbler. We walked over to get a closer look, then spotted a 
Blue-winged Warbler in the oak tree above. The "Lawrence's" Warbler was 
subsequently chased across the meadow by one of many goldfinches in that area. A 
moment later the first blue-winged was joined by a second. I decided to circle 
around to the opposite side of the small meadow to track down the Lawrence's. As 
we walked the footpath on the North side of this opening on top of Lookout Hill 
I noticed a small bird feeding down low and just behind the meadow's surrounding 
fence. I think I may have made an audible noise when I focused in on a 
Golden-winged Warbler! I haven't seen a golden-winged in Prospect Park in many 
years. My last Lawrence's Warbler here was probably 15 years ago and, 
ironically, in this same location. This is the only time in my 20+ years of 
birding that I've seen Blue-winged Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler and their 
bastard offspring, Lawrence, together. I'm glad that there was someone else 
present to share this rare family portrait.

Good birding,

Rob

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Aug 12, 2013 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: Most time was spent around the Butterfly Meadow, but also birded in 
The Ravine.
36 species (+1 other taxa)

Mallard  X
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Rock Pigeon  X
Mourning Dove  X
Chimney Swift  X
Red-bellied Woodpecker  X
Northern Flicker  X
Eastern Phoebe  1
Great Crested Flycatcher  1
Eastern Kingbird  X
Warbling Vireo  1
Red-eyed Vireo  1
Blue Jay  X
Barn Swallow  6
Black-capped Chickadee  1
Carolina Wren  X
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  2
American Robin  X
Gray Catbird  X
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  X
Cedar Waxwing  X

Ovenbird  1     In understory behind the Upper Pool.
Northern Waterthrush  1
Blue-winged Warbler  3     2 at Butterfly Meadow, 1 in Ravine behind Upper Pool.
Golden-winged Warbler  1     Foraging among dense weeds and wildflowers at 
Buttefly Meadow.
Lawrence's Warbler (hybrid)  1     Feeding at Butterfly Meadow, associating with 
mixed flock consisting of 2 BWWA, 1 GWWA, 1 BAWW, 2 INBU and several BAOR.
Black-and-white Warbler  5
American Redstart  4
Yellow Warbler  1

Northern Cardinal  X
Indigo Bunting  2     Butterfly Meadow.
Red-winged Blackbird  X
Common Grackle  X
Baltimore Oriole  6
American Goldfinch  X
House Sparrow  X



****************************************

from Ryan Bass

Subject: Re: Prospect Park warblers
From: "Ryan J. Bass" 
Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2013 17:14:44 -0400
X-Message-Number: 4

This afternoon, I searched for (4) hours in Prospect Park, but
unfortunately did not relocate the Golden-winged Warbler nor the Lawrence's
Warbler. Although I missed these (2) rarities, there were was still a few
quality birds around, but this early in migration, you really had to work
for them!

Highlights include:

A mixed warbler flock at the wood-chip path near Quaker Cemetery (corner of
West/Center Dr):

2 Black-and-white Warblers
1 Chestnut-sided Warbler (Juvenile Type)
2 Blue-winged Warblers
2 American Redstarts
1 Canada Warbler

Birding the Lullwater, I came across another 2 American Redstarts - these
birds appeared very agitated. They were establishing a pecking order to
bathe in a rain filled plastic plate! The "birdbath" was occupied by a
bathing Worm-eating Warbler which was chased off by an ever bossier Gray
Catbird. The Redstarts finally got their turn after the Catbird left! The
location was near the Terrace Bridge, a few feet from the water, down the
path from where the feeders are placed in the winter. Other Lullwater
highlights include Wood Duck, Spotted Sandpiper, and Yellow Warbler.

Finally, I found an Ovenbird on the path that parallels Wellhouse Dr.

In total (20) warblers representing (8) species.

Full checklist:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14912256

Cheers,
Ryan
Brooklyn, NY
http://www.bassbirding.com

********************************

From Adam Welz:
(Sunday report)



Had a casual late morning wander around the Park. Pretty quiet. Adam Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Aug 11, 2013 35 species (+2 other taxa) Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  16 Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  X Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  X Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)  1     Long-staying bird on Prospect Lake. Probably injured, can't migrate Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1 Green Heron (Butorides virescens)  4 Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  1     Lullwater gull sp. (Larinae sp.)  1      prob Laughing Gull, too high to be sure Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)  1      Lake Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)  X Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  6 Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)  12 Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1 Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  2 Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1 Empidonax sp. (Empidonax sp.)  1     probably Least. Not seen for long. Lookout Hill. Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  4 White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)  1    Lookout Hill, singing Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  2 Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  2 Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  1 Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  1 White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  1 House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  2 Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1 American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  X     dozens Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  X European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)  25 American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  4 Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)  4 Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  5 Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  1 Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  X Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)  1     Switchback Trail American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  5 House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  X View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14905882 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
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8.11.13 http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/37965/images/common/space.gif
Dennis Hrehowsik t
Philly vireo, Canada warbler, indigo bunting today also. The boids are comming back,