BBC Leaders Choice bird list tally 10/5; todays under the weather birds; "be good eyes"

Leader Sandy Paci forwarded her bird list  from her BBC trip yesterday. Highlights continues to be -for the third consecutive BBC walk (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday)- the cooperative SORA rail on the Peninsula. So, many members were treated to this rare bird, for some a life bird. The SORA is here for the 7th straight day. Also a rare find is VESPER SPARROW as seen in Sparrowbowl and reported with the photo in the previous post.

I went out for a short spell under gray skies late morning; it appears the birds were under the weather as well. Slight mist and very little bird movement with little cooperation everywhere ( but high  movement especially humans); The best I could say for birdy-ness was at the Breeze Hill dirt mounds where I spotted an elusive WINTER WREN. This area will be the best sparrow spot in the coming weeks.Other than that, the most beautiful sight were 5 WOOD DUCK drakes on the fallen oak limbs in the back of the Upper Pool. Exquisite scene ! Made it a good walk then for me.

And one last issue. As birders concerned with conservation and habitats, we should be "good eyes" to report things that are dangerous or troublesome in the park, especially this early evening when a bonfire was spotted on the Peninsula meadow next to the woods, spotted by a birder who contacted me and sent me a pic. Fortunately and thanks to the birder, the fire department came as well as the police when he called.

Just call from a safe distance, don't go near or confront any perpetrators/miscreants. see the fire picture at the bottom


*****************************
BBC Walk list ( compiled by Sandy Paci)

We had a very successful walk today in Prospect Park with a group of about ten birders besides myself. We started the day with the contributing Sora at the lake near the Wellhouse shortly after 7am and ended with a first of season Vesper Sparrow at around 2:30pm in the Long Meadow. The birding was a little slow at times but through patience and persistence, and thanks to some skilled eyes and ears, we eventually netted  68 species including 12 warblers. Hope everyone had as much fun as I did!

Special thanks also to our sacrificial birders who left early and did not get the Vesper Sparrow. Those of us who remained appreciate it!

Hope to see everyone again soon,

Sandy Paci

68 species

Canada Goose

Mute Swan

Wood Duck (11 by my count - 3, 5 & 3 in the pools)

Mallard

Northern Shoveler

Ruddy Duck

Pied Billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Green Heron

Double Crested Cormorant

Accipiter sps (probable Sharp Shinned)

Red Tailed Hawk (H)

Anerican Kestrel

SORA (continuing bird)

Spotted Sandpiper

Herring Gull

Ring billed Gull

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Chimney Swift

Belted Kingfisher

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Wood Peewee

White Eyed Vireo

Red Eyed Vireo

Blue Jay

Black Capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

White Breasted Nuthatch (H)

Carolina Wren

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Golden Crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Swainsons Thrush

Hermit Thrush

Wood Thrush

Gray Catbird

Cedar Waxwing (H)

European Starling

Northern Parula

Magnolia Warbler

Black Throated Blue Warbler

Yellow Rumped Warbler

Black Throated Green Warbler

Palm Warbler

Pine Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler

Black and White Warbler

American Redstart

Ovenbird

Common Yellowthroat

Scarlet Tanager

Eastern Towhee

VESPER SPARROW (on Long Meadow between Sparrow Bowl and Ravine. Originally spotted near the fenced in, newly seeded area. Then flew to large tree in front of the Picnic House)

Savannah Sparrow 

Swamp Sparrow
Song Sparrow

White Throated Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

Common Grackle

Red Winged Blackbird

American Goldfinch (H)

House Sparrow

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

my list (pending)

date = 2013/10/07
site = Prospect Park
observers = Peter
Double-crested Cormorant Lake bouy
Canada Goose 
Wood Duck 5 drake Upper Pool
Mallard 
Mourning Dove 
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Lookout Hill, looking at New England Asters
Northern Flicker 14 Breeze Hill
Blue Jay several
Winter Wren Breeze Hill dirt mound
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
American Robin 
Gray Catbird 3
European Starling 
Common Yellowthroat 3, 2 Breeze Hill
Palm Warbler 2
Swamp Sparrow Butterfly Meadow
Chipping Sparrow  Breeze Hill , 1
White-throated Sparrow Butterfly Meadow
Song Sparrow 
Eastern Towhee Sparrowbowl, female
House Sparrow 

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

Photo of Peninsula bonfire. 

Bonfire (got larger after) back meadow Peninsula, tonight eve

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

First Sunday walk
leading Vinnie Falci

I lead the walk today. We had 25 attendees including one child. List is as follows:

 

Warblers

1) Oven Bird

2) Black Throated Blue

3) Black and White

4) Magnolia

5) Common Yellow Throat

6) Phoebe

7) King fisher

8) Great Blue Heron

9) Green Heron

10) Great Egret

11)Pied billed grebe

12) Rudy duck

13) Northern Shoveler

14) Mallard

15) Canada Goose

16) Swan

17) Carolina Wren

18) Ruby Crowned Kinglet

19) Golden Crowned Kinglet

20) Northern Flicker

21) Downy woodpecker

22) Gold Finch

23) Cardinal

24) Blue Jay

25) White Throated Sparrow

26) Swamp Sparrow

27) House Sparrow

28) Cat Bird

29) Robin

30) Pigeon

31) Starling

 

Vinnie Falci