The elusive Prospect CONNECTICUT WARBLER made two appearances today. Both sightings were at the back gate of the Lower Pool where tall weeds grow in front of that gate that offers the secretive bird some cover.
Kathy Toomey in midmorning had the first sighting as the bird walked along the fence into the narrow land strip . After I happen to drive by with my supervisor,she points to the bush on the right where it disappeared. Then it was not seen again until 4 pm.
After work,I sauntered down to the area for a last try (4 hours and counting collectively :-( ). With Melanie from NYC and Jim Merwin,we lucked in as Sean Sime spotted the Connecticut at the same back gate ,hidden by the tall weeds ,walking along the concrete shoreline.It soon flew up into a Hawthorne tree and stayed there for a few minutes before flying towards the Upper Pool direction. There we lost it after having seen the spot it landed ( where by the way, a WORM EATING WARBLER was perched above )
For a bird like COWA with a slow sluggish gait,it knows how to disappear.like a ghost. It moves back and forth between the uprooted tree at Upper Pool to the back shore of the Lower Pool. Where it goes is anybody's guess for this slow moving bird.You need luck and patience. Yet it takes its time exploring that general area and the Lower pool shoreline
True to its species skulking nature,we expect it to be the Connecticut Warbler.
In other news,I had a drab PHILADELPHA VIREO seen well in the willow tree over a phragmite marsh at the mainland behind Three Sisters western island.
Good luck tomorrow if you go on Sean Zimmers debut BBC walk from Grand Army Plaza park entrance.
Peters list
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S19741287
