Greenwood Cemetery and Prospect Park were lucky beneficiaries of quality birds today's cold brisk good wind brought forth . Overcast skies didn't discourage the birders in both the prime green spaces that generated rare birds that makes the day tolerable and satisfying.
First in Greenwood Cemetery where I birded with Mary Eyster and Sandy Paci, all three of us intent on heading for the "unofficial" hawk watch site at the Kiamie Crypt, located just east of the Civil War monument.But before that spot takeover, while we were admiring the RED-TAILED HAWK juvenile perched in an oak near 5th Ave cemetery boundary, a big raptor to our right (over Landscape Ave) caught my attention , coming from the Castle arch direction, stuck around while flying through the area particularly over the crematorium at one time, giving us enough time to study the large accipiter "gesalt" features. After seeing it swing by very near us at the Red Tailed Hawk oak (after the Red tailed left it and went after it ), I declared it a NORTHERN GOSHAWK , with it grayish front a key mark supporting the wing shape and Gos accipitae characteristics especially with that long tail.
The "oak" spot was very active with sparrows, the open area south of the Crematorium and Columbarium niche crypts, with Magnolia Ave a heighten area of 7 species sparrows we spotted. WHITE-CROWNED led the parade of the usual SWAMP, SAVANNAH, SONG , JUNCOS, WHITE-THROATEDS and CHIPPING. The hedges along this road harbored many birds.
At the Kiamie Crypt hawk watch, a terrific show. Besides 2 high up RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS & 4 TURKEY VULTURES had the much lower company of a perched AMERICAN KESTREL being harassed by a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK,and two RED TAILED HAWKS . But it was a crouched low ground hugging AMERICAN WOODCOCK under a yew tree 100 feet from the Kiamie that I was astounded that Sandy was able to spot. She was taking pictures of birds, namely sparrows that she saw a big beady eye as a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW looked on and realized it was a well camouflaged , secretive WOODCOCK ! Sandy took terrific photos that I will post Wednesday when she downloads the pics at her job.
Sylvan Waters was also very active with overflying SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, a COOPERS HAWK, an OSPREY but most noted with a very good number of GOLDEN CROWNED KINGLETS among the grounded pine needles near the magical elm tree on the north side of the Lake. A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER in a pine and PALM WARBLERS on the ground were spotted at this magic elm tree site. WOOD DUCK in the lake offered a good sighting.Will Pollard reported PINE WARBLER and FIELD SPARROW in the area as well.
Meanwhile over at Prospect Park, the "big bird" is a juvenile RED-HEADED WOODPECKER , spotted by Linda, reported byKeir , the bird in the oaks along the south side of the Picnic House. Several birders saw this bird and at last report, it was seen storing acorns in an oak at the south edge of the Picnic House parking lot. Hopefully it will stick around.
Also reported in the park, a VESPER SPARROW on the south Nethermead snow fence and RUSTY BLACKBIRD at the Upper Pool back shore , both species reported by Rob Jett.
Its always great to get these cold north winds, especially after a warm slow day like yesterday. The direction of a wind changes the whole picture and creates real excitement.
Addendum : Late reports received also reported 10 species Prospect Park sparrows and flyover COMMON LOON , LESSER SCAUP ,AMERICAN WOODCOCK and MARSH WREN. A truly terrific day in the park
date = 2013/11/03 site = Greenwood Cemetery observers = Peter D, Mary E, Sandy P
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture 4 over Battle Monument Kiamie Crypt
Canada Goose Flyover flocks, Sylvan Waters
Wood Duck Sylvan Waters
Ruddy Duck
Mallard
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 over Battle Monument Kiamie Crypt
Red-tailed Hawk over Battle Monument Kiamie Crypt, one juv chased Goshawk
Osprey
Northern Goshawk Circling soar, flyby, then flythru woods south of Columbarium /Crematorium, young adult
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3
American Kestrel Kiamie Crpyt
American Woodcock Kiamie Crypt yew
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe 4
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
Brown Creeper 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet 20 Sylvan Waters elm tree /ground north side
American Robin
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Swamp Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed Junco abundant
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Sparrow
Palm Warblers
From Joshua:
Didn't get the Red-headed but overall a beautiful day. 10 sps of sparrows including Fox and Vesper, plus the Marsh Wren.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Joshua Malbin
Date: Sun, Nov 3, 2013 at 3:46 PM
Subject: BirdsEye-Prospect Park-2013-11-3
TObserver: Joshua Malbin
2013-11-03 09:49
Prospect Park
Protocol: Traveling
2 Miles
315 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
45 Canada Goose
X Mute Swan
4 Wood Duck
8 Gadwall
X Mallard
60 Northern Shoveler
2 Lesser Scaup
2 Bufflehead
9 Hooded Merganser
50 Ruddy Duck
5 Pied-billed Grebe
1 Double-crested Cormorant
2 Great Blue Heron
1 Cooper's Hawk
3 Red-tailed Hawk
17 American Coot
1 American Woodcock Sparrow bowl, flushed and flew into the woods between Picnic House and the road.
4 Ring-billed Gull
X Rock Pigeon
9 Mourning Dove
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
2 Downy Woodpecker
1 Hairy Woodpecker
1 Northern Flicker
3 Eastern Phoebe
2 Blue-headed Vireo
X Blue Jay
1 Black-capped Chickadee
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Brown Creeper Breeze hill.
2 Winter Wren
1 Marsh Wren Sora reeds. (Peninsula lakeshore , first phragmites)
1 Carolina Wren
7 Golden-crowned Kinglet
8 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
X Hermit Thrush. Probably the most common bird in the park.
16 American Robin
3 Gray Catbird
1 Common Yellowthroat Breeze hill.
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 Eastern Towhee Peninsula.
10 Chipping Sparrow
1 Field Sparrow Tennis House.
1 Vesper Sparrow Nethermead, near fenced off area. Found by Rob.
2 Savannah Sparrow By music pagoda.
1 Fox Sparrow Peninsula.
20 Song Sparrow
4 Swamp Sparrow
X White-throated Sparrow
55 Dark-eyed Junco
X Northern Cardinal
55 Common Grackle
X House Sparrow
From: Joshua Malbin
Date: Sun, Nov 3, 2013 at 3:46 PM
Subject: BirdsEye-Prospect Park-2013-11-3
TObserver: Joshua Malbin
2013-11-03 09:49
Prospect Park
Protocol: Traveling
2 Miles
315 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
45 Canada Goose
X Mute Swan
4 Wood Duck
8 Gadwall
X Mallard
60 Northern Shoveler
2 Lesser Scaup
2 Bufflehead
9 Hooded Merganser
50 Ruddy Duck
5 Pied-billed Grebe
1 Double-crested Cormorant
2 Great Blue Heron
1 Cooper's Hawk
3 Red-tailed Hawk
17 American Coot
1 American Woodcock Sparrow bowl, flushed and flew into the woods between Picnic House and the road.
4 Ring-billed Gull
X Rock Pigeon
9 Mourning Dove
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
2 Downy Woodpecker
1 Hairy Woodpecker
1 Northern Flicker
3 Eastern Phoebe
2 Blue-headed Vireo
X Blue Jay
1 Black-capped Chickadee
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Brown Creeper Breeze hill.
2 Winter Wren
1 Marsh Wren Sora reeds. (Peninsula lakeshore , first phragmites)
1 Carolina Wren
7 Golden-crowned Kinglet
8 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
X Hermit Thrush. Probably the most common bird in the park.
16 American Robin
3 Gray Catbird
1 Common Yellowthroat Breeze hill.
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 Eastern Towhee Peninsula.
10 Chipping Sparrow
1 Field Sparrow Tennis House.
1 Vesper Sparrow Nethermead, near fenced off area. Found by Rob.
2 Savannah Sparrow By music pagoda.
1 Fox Sparrow Peninsula.
20 Song Sparrow
4 Swamp Sparrow
X White-throated Sparrow
55 Dark-eyed Junco
X Northern Cardinal
55 Common Grackle
X House Sparrow
From Keir:
 |
| Note "black circle" |
Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY Nov 3, 2013 8:00 AM - 12:15 PM Protocol: Traveling 2.5 mile(s) 39 species Canada Goose 18
Mute Swan 6
Gadwall 2 Upper Pool
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 22
Northern Shoveler 32
Lesser Scaup 2 With Ruddy Ducks off of L249
Bufflehead 2
Hooded Merganser 8 Together on lake Ruddy Duck 45
Common Loon 1 Flyover, Long Meadow
Pied-billed Grebe 4
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Cooper's Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Ring-billed Gull 12 Herring Gull 8
Red-headed Woodpecker 1 In the oaks between the Picnic House and the picnic tables on Long Meadow. First spotted (by Linda L!) working low on the trunk and then seen collecting acorns from the ground. Immature - light brown head, big white patch on secondaries. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22689183@N00/10657821383/" title="Red-headed Woodpecker, Prospect Park 11.3.13 by keir randall, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5521/10657821383_2f074ef802.jpg" alt="Red-headed Woodpecker, Prospect Park 11.3.13" /></a>
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Eastern Phoebe 3 Long Meadow, Breeze Hill, Vale
Blue Jay 2
Winter Wren 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 7
Hermit Thrush 21
American Robin 17
Gray Catbird 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 2 Field Sparrow 1 L249
Song Sparrow 13
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 24
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 21
Northern Cardinal 8
Common Grackle 71
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 26
View this checklist online at http://ebir
