Friday, October 31, 2014

Per Sandy p: vespers sparrow along outfield fence field 1. Very skittish.

Halloween greetings

Results of today's birding

Post work at 330, a large flock of DARK EYED JUNCOS (220+) was seen along the whole Chain link fence of Field 1 outfield. Among them , and most unexpected was a female PURPLE FINCH that had me intrigued initially. CHIPPING SPARROWS(8 ) and a single FIELD SPARROW ( of course) among the juncos.Inside the chain link a small flock of GOLDEN CROWNED KIGLETS (7) hopping about with a single PALM WARBLER.

Over head two RED TAILED HAWKS.  At one point trying to discern the junco flock near the orange crane before anybody flushed them instead were flushed anyway by a Red tailed Hawk that perched on one of the chain link poles.  Cant complain.

Earlier in the morning Sandy Paci reported a skittish lone VESPER SPARROW at chain link that was not seen for the BBC walk.

Today's BBC bird walk at 1 pm at Well Drive Picnic Tables : results



  BBC walk group photo and list below

Raven I heard won the best costume...

From:Bobbi Manian , leading
Date: Oct 31, 2014 7:54 PM
Subject: Fw: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Oct 31, 2014
To: "Peter Dorosh" <prosbird@gmail.com>

Hi Peter,

We had a good group for today's walk.  definite decline in birds from yesterday (from last night's change of winds??), but Karen picked out wigeon and green-wing teal for us on lullwater.  Lot's of sparrows and a few drones overhead as well.  

Dennis/Karen let me know if i missed anything.

b.

On Friday, October 31, 2014 7:36 PM, "ebird-checklist@cornell.edu" <ebird-checklist@cornell.edu> wrote:


Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Oct 31, 2014 1:00 PM - 4:41 PM
Protocol: Traveling
4.0 mile(s)
Comments:    BCC Halloween walk
45 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  X
American Wigeon  1
American Black Duck  X
Mallard  X
Northern Shoveler  21
Green-winged Teal  1
Hooded Merganser  1
Ruddy Duck  60
Double-crested Cormorant  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Ring-billed Gull  X
Herring Gull  1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  X
Mourning Dove  6
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  2
American Kestrel  2
Merlin  1
Peregrine Falcon  1
Eastern Phoebe  3    Both at same time lookout. . 3rd on ballfields
Blue Jay  2
American Crow  3
Black-capped Chickadee  1
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Brown Creeper  2
Winter Wren  2
wren sp.  1
Golden-crowned Kinglet  5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  3
Hermit Thrush  7
American Robin  X
European Starling  X
Palm Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  1
Chipping Sparrow  2
Savannah Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  3
Swamp Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  12
White-crowned Sparrow  1
Dark-eyed Junco  78
Northern Cardinal  5
Red-winged Blackbird  1
House Finch  2
House Sparrow  X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20395824

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


Thursday, October 30, 2014

Fwd: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Oct 30, 2014

 

 

Sent from my MetroPCS 4G Android device

 

 

 

------ Original Message ------
From: Rafael Guillermo Campos-Ramírez
Date: 10/30/2014 7:24 PM
To: undisclosed recipients: ;;
Subject:  Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Oct 30, 2014

 


 
Another big sparrow day.  This time, everywhere I went White-throated & Juncos were the most numerous.  I saw a single Vesper by Ballfield 7.  Also 1 White-crowned near the Upper Pool meadow.
Raptors were also present, I saw Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine, & Red-tailed.
Warblers, still present in very low numbers.  The big surprise was 1 male Redstart near the Maryland Monument while I was looking for the OCWA (no luck!!!). The others were: Yellowthroat, Palm & Myrtle.


 


Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Kings, US-NY
Oct 30, 2014 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Observer: Rafael G Campos R
Protocol: Traveling
3.5 kilometer(s)
47 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  19
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  4
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  13
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  X
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)  18
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)  34
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  3
Herring Gull (American) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus)  2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon))  7
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  4
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  4
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  3
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) (Colaptes auratus auratus/luteus)  4
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)  2
Merlin (Falco columbarius)  1
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)  1    Flyover peninsula meadow.

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  4
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  11
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  10
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  4
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  2
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)  3
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)  4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)  11
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)  8
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  11
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  2
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  1    Butterfly Meadow.
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  1    Male, near the Maryland Monument.
Palm Warbler (Yellow) (Setophaga palmarum hypochrysea)  1    Ballfield 7.
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) (Setophaga coronata coronata)  1    Ballfield 7.

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  11
Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)  1    Ballfield 7.
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  10
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  2
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  30
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)  1
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) (Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis)  20
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  4
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)  1    Peninsula meadow.
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  3
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  2
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  5

Brooklyn is great birding!!!


Fwd: Fwd: eBird Report - Lefrak Greenroof, Oct 30, 2014





-----Original Message-----
From: robsbate@
To: Peter Dorosh
Sent: Thu, Oct 30, 2014 1:09 pm
Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Lefrak Greenroof, Oct 30, 2014



Date: Thu, Oct 30, 2014 at 5:07 PM
Lefrak Greenroof, Oct 30, 2014
18 species

Mourning Dove  2
Eastern Phoebe  1
Blue-headed Vireo  1
Blue Jay  2
Golden-crowned Kinglet  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2
Hermit Thrush  17
Gray Catbird  1
Northern Mockingbird  2
Chipping Sparrow  4
Field Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  35
Lincoln's Sparrow  1
Swamp Sparrow  15
White-throated Sparrow  45
Dark-eyed Junco  20
Red-winged Blackbird  3
House Sparrow  X

I had a Broad-winged Hawk over Lefrak too but this list is only for birds specifically on the roof and adjacent plantings.

Rob

Fwd:Vesper Sparrows at field One

Photo from Heidi Clevens



-----Original Message-----
From: heidicleven@
To: Peter Dorosh
Sent: Thu, Oct 30, 2014 12:50 pm
Subject: (No subject)


Hi Peter,

It was nice to see you today.

I didn't get a decent photo of all three vesper sparrows, but I at least got two of them. 

Heidi

@robsbate: Orange-crown Warbler on Lookout by Butterfly and top. Warbler sweep NYState - 36 m.twitter.com/robsbate

Update On Ridgewood Reservoir

What I said in the very beginning ...( When I presided over BBC): improve the existing ballfields outside the reservoir...

http://ridgewoodreservoir.blogspot.com/2014/10/highland-park-improvements-planned.html


3 VESPER SPARROWS refound Field 1 centerfield section at chain link fence
3 vesper sparrows by chain link fence ballfield 1.per heidi clevens
Orange crowned warbler Maryland monument steps per Ed C;Vesper Spar Field7 per Rafael

Weekday Halloween BBC walk & 1st Sunday reminder

Friday, October 31st, Halloween walk in Prospect Park
Meet: 1:00 PM at the picnic tables on Well Drive near the Lake northwest shore (access Vanderbilt St park entrance)
Leader: Bobbi Manian
Note: Closest subway is F line to Ft Hamilton Parkway, back entrance ; or #68 bus

( KB note: informed that costumes are welcomed)






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

ALSO:

   This Sunday, November 2nd is the First Sunday Early Bird Walk.  We meet at the Boathouse at 8am.  Bring your binoculars and join us for a walk.  This past weekend, the park was alive with incoming northern migrants.  There was a Vesper Sparrow and a Lapland Longspur.  On the lake there was a Green-winged teal and Wood Ducks.  

There are several issues you need to be aware of.  

It is Marathon Sunday.  Be aware of street closings.

It is also the morning of the time change.  So you get an extra hour of sleep.

Looking forward to seeing you there!!

Michele, Eni, Vin and Neal

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Prospect park kings

Field 7 of Prospect's Ballfield continues to produce Intrigue with a
second VESPER SPARROW of this season visiting the diamond.I spotted the
bird along the construction fence before VESP flew towards the tupelo
tree overlooking third base.

Peter
BBC

Fwd: Vesper Sparrows in Long Meadow


-----Original Message-----
From: pepaul@
To: Prosbird ; Simon Taylor
Sent: Wed, Oct 29, 2014 3:51 pm
Subject: Vesper Sparrows in Long Meadow


Peter,
Per your request, I wanted to write to recount our (mine and Simon's) encounter with a small flock of three Vesper Sparrows.  On Monday evening at around 5:30 P.M., we were walking North in Long Meadow, and had made it to the northern most plot (just about 50 yards from the tunnel leaving the meadow), when we saw three birds - white eye rings, white on tails when they flew - which we confidently identified as Vesper Sparrows.  They were quite tame, allowing good, long looks. 

Best,
Tripper

Tweet from will pollard (@billmiky)

will pollard (@billmiky) tweeted at 5:09pm - 29 Oct 14:

Pair of oc warblers at bbg native flora meadow (https://twitter.com/billmiky/status/527567854393376768?s=17)

Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download?s=18
OC is ORANGE CROWNED
BBG is Brooklyn botanic garden

Nov 1st BBC walk rescheduled and revised Nov 2nd

Due to inclement weather Saturday and marathon Sunday impact, the Terminal Moraine Ridge birding walk has changed.Northwest winds Sunday better day. Please click on the link for BBC Trips.

http://www.brooklynbirdclub.org/trips.htm
Vesper Sparrow orig n chain link fence by orange crane,flew to field 7 's 3rd base area tupelo tree

Photo of American Woodcock

From this past Monday ,photo taken by Peter Colen , in the Lullwater on the bird found by Linda Ewing

A well hidden bird I refound in the late afternoon , in darkening light.


Documenting dead birds

Post on BBC Facebook by Rob Bate

From Rob :
New York City Audubon has a new tool for logging dead and injured birds and it's called "D-bird" (in Brooklyn we may call it "Da-Bird"). When you find a bird, often near a building with glass, you log the relevant info into D-bird, species, where found, age or sex if known, or anything relevant. If people make it a part of their regular birding activity D-bird can potentially map where high concentrations of bird mortality occur and thereby lead to remedies.

http://nycaudubon.neocities.org/D-Bird.htm

Connecticut Warbler report

Orrin Tilevitz reported Connecticut Warbler in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Native Flora section new ( or expanded section this morning...

I like to get over there but am unable....hope someone does for this late date...

-KB

Update Nov 1st BBC walk

Nov 1st club walk GWC and Sunset Park in jeopardy, weather and marathon impact. Check back Thursday for revised details.

Fwd: Hawk video




Sent from my iPhonePoor Squirrel sequel 2

To: prosbird <prosbird@aol.com>
Sent: Mon, Oct 27, 2014 3:28 pm
Subject: Hawk video

  

Fwd: Hawk video 2




Sent from my iPhone
Poor Squirrel....video taken by a coworker


To: prosbird <prosbird@aol.com>
Sent: Mon, Oct 27, 2014 3:21 pm
Subject: Hawk video 2

  

Fwd: todays birds


from: Orrin Tilevitz 
To: Peter Dorosh <prosbird@aol.com>
Sent: Tue, Oct 28, 2014 11:41 am
Subject: Fw: todays birds

An extraordinarily cooperative palm warbler, and one of probably more than 100 flickers (showing the yellow shaft), both at Green-Wood this morning.  Other brids included a kestrel and a swainson's thrush.



  

Fwd: Found Camera Bag

Lost and Found


-----Original Message-----
From: BarbaraWasserman <BarbaraWasserman@aol.com>
To: prosbird <prosbird@aol.com>
Sent: Tue, Oct 28, 2014 11:19 am
Subject: Found Camera Bag

Hi, Peter.
 
Could you possibly publicize this on your blog, or any where else you think appropriate?  Thanks.
 
Barbara Wasserman
 
 
Found on Marine Park Nature Trail on Sunday 10/26. If yours, please email petermaloney@lycos.com and put 'lost bag' in subject line.





 
 

LALO NO; VESP YES

Keir's twitter AM tweet note reports NO sighting of the Lapland Longspur this morning but as a consolation prize found the Ballfield's Season 2nd VESPER SPARROW. I'm out to explore my lunch time ballfields tour.


Joshua sent a note that Vesper was between field 5 & 6 this morning.


@railbabbler: Several people have been looking for the PP longspur without success. There is a Vesper Sparrow at the ball fields

m.twitter.com/railbabbler

Monday, October 27, 2014

Fwd: Longspur photos

Spectacular photos from Janet Zinn



-----Original Message-----
From: Janet Zinn 
To: ProsBird <prosbird@aol.com>
Sent: Mon, Oct 27, 2014 7:13 pm
Subject: Longspur photos

Here's two for the blog.


Janet Zinn
Brooklyn, NY
www.janetzinnphotography.com

Prospect shines in late October

By now to everyone's knowledge ,the very big news is Prospect ' s very first LAPLAND LONGSPUR.Found by birding maestro Rob Jett,the  rare for Kings County bird was observed on Field 7 at southwest Ballfields which barely two weeks ago hosted a Vesper Sparrow .Unfortunately any other good birds seen today were greatly overshadowed yet were pursued nevertheless.

First an update on the Longspur. Staying true to field 7, when I arrived after work 330 ,I found several local birders watching the bird along the first base side dugout.Then it flushed and landed near us by third base at a puddle before taking off ,flying over us a few times before landing in the construction fence of field 1 outfield. .We hope it sticks around like the Vesper Sparrow. Home plate  for Vesper, 1st base for Lapland; whats in store  for second base next at Field 7 ? ( yes , I recalled the Abbott & Costello gig. A What ?)

While the longspur celebre had full attention , there were other good birds seen today. Linda Ewing reported AMERICAN WOODCOCK , EASTERN BLUEBIRD, respectively at Lullwater Cove and Nethermead.The Woodcock was observed walking along the fence in the leaf clutter by Linda originally. I re found the bird around 445 well hidden in the leaf clutter under some branches of a limb hanging down, in the same area 20 feet inside from the fence, just west of the Lullwater cove observation platform , along the descending trail to the water.The Bluebirds were not refound despite a search.There certainly will be more.

Sparrows are in very good numbers dominated by WHITE THROATED and DARK EYED JUNCOs. But among them, good sparrows FIELD at Upper Pool Wildflower Meadow, several WHITE CROWNED ( Breeze Hill  lawn by the feeders site,and the green roof above the rink) , and LINCOLNS , one at southeast Nethermead, and one at the Peninsula Sumacs.

Speaking of Lakeside's green roof, some really good reports of birds there from Rob Bate. Today after  the Longspur sighting, seen on that Rink green roof, Rob Bate reported a late PRAIRIE WARBLER, possible briefly seen Vesper Sparrow and WHITE CROWNED SPARROWS there as well. Last, a good bird in EAGLE, namely BALD spotted by Rob Jett , a juvenile over Long Meadow. But all those good birds  on any given day would be great sightings except in today's case, trumped by an arctic bird called LAPLAND LONGSPUR. A good one, Rob Jett.

By the way, NYC Audubon has a talk tomorrow eve 6 pm on Green Roofs and their wildlife benefit at the Arsenal at Central Park headquarters of the NYC Parks department. Check their website  http://www.nycaudubon.org/calendar


 http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lapland_Longspur/id



Tweet from Rob Jett (@thecitybirder)

Rob Jett (@thecitybirder) tweeted at 6:33pm - 27 Oct 14:

A baseball backstop is clearly NOT the typical place to find a Lapland Longspur. Brooklyn's Prospect Park today. pic.twitter.com/rbkpwosbNq (https://twitter.com/thecitybirder/status/526864293757603840)

Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download

Lincolns sparrow Peninsula sumacs grove
Prev reported White crowned sparrows Breeze hill lawn by 2nd western hydrant
Amer woodcock refound.well hidden.lullwater cove first path trail to water.bhind fence 20 feet
Lincoln sparrow lawn soutthheast Nethermead near curve path

LAPLAND LONGSPUR in Prospect

A phenomenal find for Prospect , likely the first ever pending a records search, Rob Jett found a LAPLAND LONGSPUR on Field Seven (7) at the southwest corner of the Ballfields at the the western terminus of Long Meadow.( by the way this was the same field the Vesper Sparrow visited over a week ago at Home plate most of the time)

When I got there, I had to borrow Janet Zinn's bins to look at the very rare bird  , this LAPLAND LONGSPUR seen at 1st base, along the edge of the grass with the base path.

Congrats to Rob Jett for this terrific find.  So for magical Field 7 , what will show up at second base ??

photos will be coming.

--KB

Woodcock and Bluebirds Prospect

Linda ewing repts American Woodcock lullwater cove fence west of ovrlook platform; 5 Eastern Bluebirds Nethermead

BBC Nov 8th trip

For any member or trip participant relying on the Clapper Rail newsletter , please note the registrar for the November 8th trip has changed. Peter Dorosh is the new registrar

Saturday, November 8th, Jones Beach, Long Island
Leader: Joe Giunta
Focus: Coastal winter birds and waterfowl, gulls, raptors
Car fee: $25.00
Registrar: Peter Dorosh, Email Prosbird@aol.com or TEXT Message 347-622-3559
Registration Period: Oct 23th - Nov 6th

Fwd: PP Oct 27th


Prospect Park

-----Original Message-----
From: keir randall 
To: peter dorosh <prosbird@aol.com>
Sent: Mon, Oct 27, 2014 10:28 am
Subject: PP Oct 27th

Quite active in the park this morning, especially the new habitat around the ice rink area.

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20351291

Keir

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Fwd: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Oct 26, 2014

Back from New England leaf peeping.Here's Rafael's report



-----Original Message-----
From: ticornis@yahoo.com
To: undisclosed recipients: ;
Sent: Sun, Oct 26, 2014 2:07 pm
Subject: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Oct 26, 2014


Another great day full of sparrows: Swamp, Song, Chipping, Savannah, Junco, Towhee.
And warblers, too.  Seven sps seen today: Tennesee, Magnolia, Palm, Yellowthroat, Nashville, Black-throated Blue, & Redstart.
Among the Wood Ducks in the Lullwater, 1 drake  Green-winged Teal.




Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Kings, US-NY
Oct 26, 2014 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Observer: Rafael G. Campos R
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 kilometer(s)
49 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  10
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  3
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  10
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  12
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)  20
Green-winged Teal (American) (Anas crecca carolinensis)  1    male.
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)  40
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)  4
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  2
American Coot (Fulica americana)  12
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  1
Herring Gull (American) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus)  6
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon))  4
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  3
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  3
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) (Colaptes auratus auratus/luteus)  3
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  1
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  6
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  2
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)  1    near the Music Pagoda.
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)  1    Rick's Place.
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1    Heard only.
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)  3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)  13
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)  28
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  6
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  2
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  2
Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina)  1    Photos taken.
Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla)  1    Midwood. Photos taken.
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  1    Peninsula meadow.
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  1    Seen near the Endale Bridge.
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)  1    Lullwater cove.
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens)  1    female, taken a bath; Vale.
Palm Warbler (Yellow) (Setophaga palmarum hypochrysea)  1

Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)  1
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  4
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)  1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  8
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  2
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  14
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) (Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis)  17
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)  2    females.
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  14

Brooklyn is great birding!!!



Fwd: Ridgewood Reservoir walk this morning


From: janets33@
To:; Peter Dorosh
Sent: Sun, Oct 26, 2014 9:52 am
Subject: Ridgewood Reservoir walk this morning


Steve and Heidi led a very successful Ridgewood Walk this morning with 16 people attending, including some new birders.

Steve is multi-tasking below: he was giving a brief history of the site when whoa- an accipitor flew by.  That's a sharpie he shouted and immediately jumped into a demo of the sharpie's diagnostic flight pattern.



The walkways have been redone and are quite nice. 

Highlights of the walk included a small flock of female purple finches and a larger flock of pine siskins.


Phragmites are encroaching on this reservoir pond. Rob says the plan is to remove them.

Ring-necked ducks, Gadwalls, Ruddy ducks, mallards and several pied billed grebes were diving/dabbling in the shallow water.


We had a nice raptor show here: sharp-tailed, Cooper's, Red-shouldered and Red-tail hawks plus a turkey vulture. And a skein of geese.

P1010163

List

courtesy of Heidi Steiner Nanz

Ridgewood Reservoir, Queens, US-NY
Oct 26, 2014 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
3.0 mile(s)
41 species (+1 other taxa)

Mute Swan  8
American Wigeon  1
Mallard (Domestic type)  4
Ring-necked Duck  2
Ruddy Duck  6
Pied-billed Grebe  5
Green Heron  1
Turkey Vulture  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  4
Cooper's Hawk  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  2
Red-tailed Hawk  2
Herring Gull  6
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  X
Mourning Dove  X
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
American Kestrel  2
Eastern Phoebe  3
Blue Jay  6
Black-capped Chickadee  X
Tufted Titmouse  X
Brown Creeper  1
Carolina Wren  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  6
Hermit Thrush  6
American Robin  2
Gray Catbird  X
European Starling  X
Cedar Waxwing  2
Eastern Towhee  1
Chipping Sparrow  1
Field Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  15
White-throated Sparrow  60
Dark-eyed Junco  30
Red-winged Blackbird  4
Common Grackle  X
Purple Finch  2
Pine Siskin  25
American Goldfinch  X
House Sparrow  X

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Fwd: RE: Blue-headed vireo in Greenwood Cemetary





-----Original Message-----
From: CageFamily@aol.com
To: prosbird
Sent: Sat, Oct 25, 2014 4:25 pm
Subject: RE: Blue-headed vireo in Greenwood Cemetary

Peter, I saw a Blue-headed Vireo on the low bent over tree (sorry don't remember the name of the tree) on Sylvan lake about 4:30 today. It flew across the lake after this.
 
cindy cage

Fwd: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Oct 25, 2014





-----Original Message-----
From: ticornis@yahoo.com
To: undisclosed recipients: ;
Sent: Sat, Oct 25, 2014 1:19 pm
Subject: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Oct 25, 2014

Sparrows, sparrows!!, everywhere I walked, the White-throated Sparrows were the most conspicous, followed by Hermit Thrushes.
But to see 6 sps of warblers was a big bonus. They were: Northern Waterthrush, Tennesee, Black-throated Blue, Palm, Myrtle, & Palm.
Other sps of sparrows seen were: Junco, Song, Savannah, Swamp, Towhee,Chipping.




Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Kings, US-NY
Oct 25, 2014 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
Observer: Rafael G Campos R
3.5 kilometer(s)
44 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  12
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  8
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  14
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)  1
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  5
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)  37
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)  20
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  2
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)  1
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)  1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  1
American Coot (Fulica americana)  16
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon))  5
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  2
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) (Colaptes auratus auratus/luteus)  1
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius)  1    Rick's Place.
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  8
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  2
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  2
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)  2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)  17
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)  12
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  2
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  1
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis)  1    along the water's edge, Peninsula.
Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina)  1    Seen along the Lullwater path.  Vent white, breast greenish, supercilium withish.
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens)  1    female, Midwood.
Palm Warbler (Yellow) (Setophaga palmarum hypochrysea)  1    Nelly's lawn.
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) (Setophaga coronata coronata)  3    Peninsula.
Wilson's Warbler (Eastern) (Cardellina pusilla pusilla)  1    Male, with a well marked black crown.  Lullwater Cove (11:23 am)

Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)  1
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  4
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)  1    Nelly's lawn.
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  6
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  2
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  21
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) (Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis)  25
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)  1
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)  1    Female.
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  4

Brooklyn is great birding!!!



Prospect's 'lark

Greetings again from Rhode Island

A note on my email from Donna Evans reports an EASTERN MEADOWLARK  seen on the Peninsula meadow  hence meadow Lark before it was flushed by a passerby at 1 pm. So it didn't stay long. but it encourages us to observe the meadows especially the ballfields for such species.

Fwd: Prospect Park 10/24

 

 

Sent from my MetroPCS 4G Android device

 

 

 

------ Original Message ------
From: Kathleen Toomey
Date: 10/25/2014 9:16 AM
To: Peter Dorosh;
Subject: Prospect Park 10/24

 

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Oct 24, 2014 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments:     The Lake, the Peninsula and the Lullwater only
51 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  46
Mute Swan  5
Wood Duck  13     Lullwater
Mallard  40
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid)  1
Northern Shoveler  30
Green-winged Teal  1     Lullwater
Hooded Merganser  1     Lower Lullwater, female
Ruddy Duck  70
Pied-billed Grebe  2
Double-crested Cormorant  2
Great Blue Heron  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
American Coot  15
Spotted Sandpiper  1     On black plastic at southern edge of Lake near West Island, seen with Karen O'Hearn, brown above, white below with white scallop at shoulder, teetering
Ring-billed Gull  2
Herring Gull  2
Great Black-backed Gull  1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  3
Mourning Dove  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Downy Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker  3
Eastern Phoebe  1
Blue-headed Vireo  1
Blue Jay  1
Black-capped Chickadee  1
Tufted Titmouse  1
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Golden-crowned Kinglet  3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  15
Hermit Thrush  6
American Robin  3
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  6
Black-and-white Warbler  1     Possibly two, seen on the Peninsula by three of us, then later seen by me in phrags at edge of lake near West Island
Common Yellowthroat  1
Palm Warbler  3
Pine Warbler  1     Peninsula tip, thanks to Torin
Yellow-rumped Warbler  10
Wilson's Warbler  1     Possibly the same one seen on 10/21.  Female first year type, yellow below, black underside of tail, yellow-olive above extending onto the top of the head where the cap would be
Eastern Towhee  1     Heard
Chipping Sparrow  20
Song Sparrow  10
Swamp Sparrow  2
White-throated Sparrow  30
Dark-eyed Junco  20
Northern Cardinal  2
Rusty Blackbird  1     On the black plastic, south side of Lake, thanks to Karen
American Goldfinch  1
House Sparrow  40

Friday, October 24, 2014

Fwd: Green-wood Dickcissel





-----Original Message-----
From: will@greenskydesigns.com
To: Peter Dorosh
Sent: Fri, Oct 24, 2014 3:23 pm
Subject: Green-wood Dickcissel

Hi Peter,

I went looking for the Nelson's Sparrow at Green-wood this afternoon. Couldn't find it but found a Dickcissel instead! It was south of Sylvan Water between Spruce and Maple Ave with a mixed flock of sparrows (Juncos, Chipping, and Song). Photos attached.






Sincerely,

Will Pollard
Science Educator / Naturalist
423-299-5043 | will@greenskydesigns.com | http://bkphenology.tumblr.com

Tweet from will pollard (@billmiky)

will pollard (@billmiky) tweeted at 5:12pm - 24 Oct 14:

Dickcissel south of sylvan water between road and south fence. (https://twitter.com/billmiky/status/525756756732153857)

Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download

Details on Nelsons Sparrow

Greetings from Rhode Island for some leaf peeping

On my off day ,a lucky one. Mary Eyster and I went to Greenwood Cemetery and wandered about.Hawks flew about ,seen from the Kiamie Cypyt near Battle Hill ,then we ventured to the Hill of Graves where we  discovered a great bird: NELSONS SPARROW.

Seen at the edge of the lawn under a mature cedar tree,the rare sparrow looked quite obvious in the sunlight where we were able to discern the field marks : blurry breast streaks on faded orange grey nape , no streaking in the wide orange supercilium,etc.


The spot was the first hill to the west of the Prospect Park West avenue cemetery entrance.Look for the 4 set of steps straight ahead take the path to the right.on the  left is the. Public lot where two large cedar trees stand,the right one the Nelsons fed under.

of other good sparrows,we sspotted LINCOLNS and FIELD with SWAMP by Sylvan Waters northwest shore.

Raptors flew well overhead with a pair of REDTAILED HAWKS taking to the sky. A great show by a MERLIN added suspense, two COOPERS HAWKS and a few TURKEY VULTURES fulfilled our raptor watch.

That's for now.I'm beat from the long drive "Escape from NY!"
@robsbate: Green-winged teal male opp rustic arbor on lull with wood ducks m.twitter.com/robsbate
Red Breasted Merg female on Lower Lullwater.
Lincoln,Field.Sparrows bhind Smallman crpyt.northwest side Sylvan water.GWCemetry
NELSONS SPARROW GWCemetety.hill graves lot8918 near 9th st Mcdonald entr.mature cedars

Thursday, October 23, 2014

After 2 days rain

"The happy camper sees the blue skies beyond the gray clouds"  _ Anon

 

Sent from my MetroPCS 4G Android device

FW: Archives Prospect Park Photo of the Week

How excellent birding spot “Ricks Place” got its name?   Read on….

From: Amy Peck
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2014 10:10 AM
To: All Staff
Subject: Archives Photo of the Week

By popular demand, the Headless Horseman and the story of Ranger Rick.

                   
Haunted Walk, 1992                                                                                                                                                                              Enrique Garcia, aka Ranger Rick, in 1989


In the early 1980s an urban park ranger named Enrique Garcia originated the Headless Horseman costume for the Halloween Haunted Walk
and even, according to former PPA president Tupper Thomas, persuaded a local mortician to loan a coffin.  Ranger Rick, as he was known, was an avid birder and also
kept bees on the roof of the old Elephant House, a former zoo building located in the upper Midwood.  The Elephant House was demolished
in the 1990s, but the area is known as Rick’s Place and is marked with a Parks Department sign.  

 courtesy of 

Amy Peck l Archivist l Historian


KB note: sign was vandalized,no longer there


Wednesday, October 22, 2014

very wet day

 About the only interesting thing today on this wet day occurred at the "Sparrowbowl", the vale north of the Tennis House where a sizable flock of CHIPPING SPARROWS moved around.Among them a single FIELD SPARROW, several Juncos filled out the rest of the wet parade. . Otherwise, a good day to stay indoors unless one has to work outdoors planting... ( yes ..me). oh I say the Chippy flock numbered up to 200 birds.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Fwd: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Oct 21, 2014





-----Original Message-----
From: ticornis@yahoo.com
To: undisclosed recipients: ;
Sent: Tue, Oct 21, 2014 1:33 pm
Subject: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Oct 21, 2014


Sparrow's day!!! With great hopes to find the Grasshopper Sparrow seen yesterday at the Peninsula, I left around 8:30 am to the Park.  My first group of sparrows was around the North Woods, large numbers of White-throated were seen forraging.  This sps was very abundant, almost everywhere I went.  At the Peninsula, I joined forces with K. Tommey, and together we saw the Lincoln's Sparrow  (see pictures). Other sparrows seen in the same area were Swamp, White-crowned, Song, Junco, Chipping, House, White-throated.  And warblers, too.  The most unusual was a female look-alike of Wilson's.  Also we saw Myrtle, Palm, & Yellowthroat.
No luck with the Grasshopper.




Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Kings, US-NY
Oct 21, 2014 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Observer: Rafael G Campos R
Protocol: Traveling
3.5 kilometer(s)
47 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  8
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  6
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  6
American Wigeon (Anas americana)  1    Upper Pool.
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)  1
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  X
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)  7
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)  X
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)  1
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)  1
American Coot (Fulica americana)  5
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  1
Herring Gull (American) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus)  4
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon))  X
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  3
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  1
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) (Colaptes auratus auratus/luteus)  1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  2
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  6
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  2
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  1
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)  4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)  10
Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)  2
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)  15
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  10
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  2    Peninsula.
Palm Warbler (Yellow) (Setophaga palmarum hypochrysea)  2    Peninsula.
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) (Setophaga coronata coronata)  1    Peninsula.
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)  1    Lullwater Cove.
Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)  1    female look-alike.  Undertail coverts dark; the crown was barely seen, kind of green-olive color. Peninsula. Observer by 2 other birders.

Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)  1
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  8
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)  1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  4
Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)  1    Peninsula.
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  X
White-crowned Sparrow (Eastern) (Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys)  2    Peninsula.

Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) (Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis)  3
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  5
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  X

Brooklyn is great birding!!!!



Fwd: Red-tail Hawk means business ?

Today's photo .At West Woods Restoration site.



-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Bate 
To: Peter Dorosh <prosbird@aol.com>
Sent: Tue, Oct 21, 2014 2:55 pm
Subject: Red-tail


I posted this to BBC Facebook too.

photo by Rob Bate

Heads up Oporornis species

Rob Bate reported an Oporornis warbler species yesterday afternoon next to the path from the Concert Music Grove just before reaching Breeze Hill.  

The specific species is pending but only brief looks were given.. If u happen to be in the area, let me know


more detail : the path is thru the south slope of Breeze Hill , one that rises from the hairpin turn.

so far no luck relocating the bird today.  No luck also with the Grasshopper Sparrow, a one day wonder.


Fwd: RE: Grasshopper sparrow pictures



(Click on pic to enlarge)

-----Original Message-----
From: CageFamily@
To: prosbird
Sent: Mon, Oct 20, 2014 3:15 pm
Subject: RE: Grasshopper sparrow pictures



Peter attached are two of the best pictures.


cindy

The really GOOD sparrow Prospect

With the masses of sparrows coming into the park today,it was very likely there would be a good one lurking among the sparrows.It would be a matter of time and luck,for someone to find one. And there was early this evening just before dusk.

Cindy Cage was the observer who snapped photos of a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW ,remarkably only 100 feet from last week's Nelsons Sparrow,along the Peninsula dirt track near the Well house. This area should be landmarked not only as a rail hotspot but now an Ammodramus sparrow utopia!

I got to the area a tad late despite an achy back from working today but seeing the critical photos on Cindy' s camera plus a few friends with her helped clinched the identity. Showing an eye ring ,Buffy front,yellowish eye lore and yellowish edging in the wing wrist marks this species. I am waiting for photos to post here.

Hoping the good sparrow sticks around, look for the first phragmite marsh ( named Virginia Rail marsh?) Along the dirt track trail on the right side of the Peninsula,just a few feet from the sidewalk. The bird was hanging out along the phragmite edge and the tree stump with mulch around it. Best of luck and please text me if u see it. 347 622 3559 with your name in the note. Thx

_kb


Per kathy,possible grasshopper sparrow or ammodramus sps peninsla dirt trail by wellhouse

Abundant is the word-Prospect

No doubt the most abundant bird today in Prospect were WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS,  about any weedy place you stumbled upon  .Loads of them . As I mentioned this morning's post, as I entered the park around 6:55 am  heading for work , about 300 White-throated Sparrows moved thru the breaking dawn lit lawn areas into the woods near the 16th Street entrance. Then there were HERMIT THRUSHES  popping up everywhere, in brush, in woods even lawns. Why even as I birded the West Woods restoration site on my lunch hour, even a HERMIT THRUSH on my Toro vehicle cargo wall as I looked from within the enclosure... ( nothing in my cargo hold fella.)

WINTER WREN took advantage of the brush piles of weeds that were pulled out from past weeks inside the West Woods, about 5-6 birds I observed.

A report from Karen O'Hearn alerted me via Tweet message a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO seen above the shipping containers at Vanderbilt Playground ( by the Vanderbilt Street park entrance)

Along the lake west shore, I found a SPOTTED SANDPIPER on the black plastic covering phragmites while kinglets, EASTERN PHOEBES, CHIPPING SPARROWS flew around  in the trees along the shoreline..

At Lamppost 249 at Well Drive picnic tables, single LINCOLN SPARROW and WHITE CROWNED SPARROWS with the sparrow assortment; also LINCOLNS at West Woods, and WHITE-CROWNED in "Sparrowbowl ", the vale north of the Tennis House with the assortment there as well.

Prospect Lake   most interesting species were two GREEN WINGED TEAL , hens or immatures from a short distance while I was cleaning up the south shoreline. Over 50 RUDDY DUCKS seen.

Its a great day if you like fall migration in dynamic waves..( but its a Monday, alas work no full day birding.)

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

From Sean Zimmer

Hi Peter,

West Woodland Restoration area very active this morning; I was there from about 7:45 to 8:15. 
The leaf litter and weeds were alive with White Throated Sparrows in large numbers.
Also seen:
- Eastern Towhee
- Golden Crowned Kinglet
- Yellowthroat
- Goldfinch
- Tufted Titmouse
- Blue-headed Vireo
- Hermit Thrush
- Flicker
- Chipping Sparrow
- Song Sparrow
- Juncos
- Phoebe

All the best on this birdy Monday!

-Sean

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

From Orrin Tilevitz birding GW Cemetery

White crowned Sparrow Juvenile

Green-Wood Cemetery this morning.  Flickers were partying on the Central Ridge--dozens if not more, and sparrows were partying by the Sylvan Water; I picked out  white-crowned and field sparrows, but I didn't have time to look at all of them.  Here is what I saw in an hour or so:



Ruby-crowned kinglet
Downy woodpecker
Blue jay
White-throated sparrow
Hermit thrush
Wood duck (5 on Valley Water)
Canada goose
Northern flicker
Eastern phoebe
Song sparrow
White-breasted nuthatch
Red-bellied woodpecker
White-crowned sparrow
Palm warbler
Yellow-rumped warbler
Common yellowthroat
Chipping sparrow
Swamp sparrow
Winter wren
Mallard duck
Field sparrow
Northern mockingbird
American crow
Dark-eyed junco