Same old Same old

Prospect Lake continues to reveal the same old duck species of the past weeks with the exception of the very recent hilight GREEN WINGED TEALS.

This morning as I passed the West Island Island cove, I spotted the three GREEN WINGED TEAL  wading across the mouth of that cove towards the Hammerhead Peninsula. When I drove over to the shore, I couldn't find them, a quick disappearing teal act. Perhaps they flew somewhere else; maybe they like to hide in the phragmites. In which case, the two drakes and single hen are hanging around.

The array of other ducks continue to be the same. A pair of drake RING NECKED DUCK by the teal spot; three AMERICAN WIGEON along the west Island mainland benches; Drake WOOD DUCK at the Duck island gazebo; RUDDY, with one or two birds showing reddish flanks, AMERICAN BLACK resting at West Island and three remaining NORTHERN SHOVELERS.

The long lingering SNOW GEESE pair were spotted at west shore; a single PIED BILLED GREBE was all over the lake .

Tweet from The Kingsboider (@BBCKingsbirds)

The Kingsboider (@BBCKingsbirds) tweeted at 8:08 AM on Mon, Feb 27, 2017:
3 Greenwinged teal continue by Prospect lake West island & Hammerhead peninsula
(https://twitter.com/BBCKingsbirds/status/836201320843472896?s=03)

Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download?s=13

Raven,woodcock & redheads

The slow pace of birding during this transitory period is peppered by a few nice sightings.

                                 

Namely,reports of nest minded Ravens,a stay put woodcock and Redhead Ducks close enough to Brooklyn.

This morning Tripper Paul spotted Common Ravens gathering nest material in Greenwood Cemetery Sylvan Water area. Then some time later,Gus Keri seeing Ravens carrying nest material over Bush Terminal park,flying north.Its believed the Ravens are heading back to the same spot last year,in the vicinity of 39th st and 1st Avenue on a warehouse roof.

Tripper also reported the stationary AMERICAN WOODCOCK by the " magic tree" ( so called for a spectacular warbler wave last fall in that big beech tree on Cypress & Vine Avenues). The Woodcock was closer to a nearby Tulip tree.

And last,Redheads are around. Thursday, Linda Ewing mentioned seeing 8 Redheads in Ridgewood Reservoir middle basin with some Ring necked Ducks. It appears to be a regular Redhead site, right next to Kings county line.

Fwd: [eBird Alert] Kings County Rare Bird Alert

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <ebird-alert@cornell.edu>
Date: Feb 25, 2017 2:53 PM
Subject: [eBird Alert] Kings County Rare Bird Alert <hourly>
To:
Cc:

*** Species Summary:

- Common Raven (1 report)

---------------------------------------------
Thank you for subscribing to the <hourly> Kings County Rare Bird Alert.The report below shows observations of rare birds in Kings County.  View or unsubscribe to this alert at http://ebird.org/ebird/alert/summary?sid=SN35645
NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated

Common Raven (Corvus corax) (1)
- Reported Feb 25, 2017 11:45 by Gus Keri
- Bush Terminal Piers Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6541609,-74.0204451&ll=40.6541609,-74.0204451
- Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S34789505
- Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "After I took these photos, the Raven picked up what it looked like a straw and flew north. I believe this was a nesting material. If it is true, this would be the third year in a raw that Ravens build a nest and have a family near Bush Terminal."

***********

You received this message because you are subscribed to eBird's Kings County Rare Bird Alert

Manage your eBird alert subscriptions:
http://ebird.org/ebird/alerts

Tweet from Tripper (@petersownbirds) day 2/25

Tripper (@petersownbirds) tweeted at 2:05 PM on Sat, Feb 25, 2017:
Magic tree woodcock continues as well as one on tulip near prospect path. https://t.co/Piqm3OXzui
(https://twitter.com/petersownbirds/status/835566437964054528?s=03)

Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download?s=13

Fwd: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Feb 23, 2017

Note number of Wood ducks

Sent from AOL Mobile Mail


-----Original Message-----
From: Kathleen Toomey <kathleentoomey@gmail.com>
To: Prosbird <Prosbird@aol.com>
Sent: Fri, Feb 24, 2017 12:36 AM
Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Feb 23, 2017

From: ebird-checklist@cornell.edu
Date: February 24, 2017 at 12:34:54 AM EST
To: Kathleentoomey
Subject: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Feb 23, 2017

Prospect Park, Kings, New York, US
Feb 23, 2017 1:28 PM - 5:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
35 species

Snow Goose  2
Canada Goose  40
Mute Swan  6
Wood Duck  13     Nine seen on the back side upper pool, then four more seen on north end island in upper pool
American Wigeon  3
American Black Duck  4
Mallard  65
Northern Shoveler  3
Ring-necked Duck  4
Red-breasted Merganser  1
Ruddy Duck  24
Pied-billed Grebe  2
Red-tailed Hawk  2
American Coot  12
Ring-billed Gull  16
Herring Gull  14
Mourning Dove  3
Belted Kingfisher  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Downy Woodpecker  3
Blue Jay  5
Fish Crow  32     Heard, and seen together
Black-capped Chickadee  10
Tufted Titmouse  5
White-breasted Nuthatch  3
Winter Wren  1
Golden-crowned Kinglet  6     Two seen together by back gate of upper pool, then two seen together on horse trail behind Pagoda, and two together in pines in Lullwater near Terrace Bridge
American Robin  1
European Starling  14
Fox Sparrow  1
Dark-eyed Junco  2     One with white face patches found by Cyrus, leucistic?  Photo later
White-throated Sparrow  2
Red-winged Blackbird  30
European Goldfinch  2     One at feeders, one in sweet gum near entrance to Ambergill
House Sparrow  3

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S34740817

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

Smallish goose.. fyi.

For anyone going to look.i don't like making assumptions from photos but it's a marginal Or borderline potential Richardson's ?? Geese vary with their genetics and hybridization.

spring minded ducks

One of the coolest looking ducks had spring on their mind stopping this afternoon on Prospect Lake. Three GREEN WINGED TEAL landed in . Thanks to Karen O' hearn' s tweet, I was fortunate to see the ducks along with duck friends close by.

The Green winged Teals were spotted by an orange  bouy 150 feet East of the West Island rustic shelter,in Prospect Lake' s southwest section. Two drakes ,with their yellow bottoms  showing prominently ,accompanied a hen. The one drake waded adventuresly swimming off then right of the bouy ,joined by a quartet of Drake RING NECKED DUCKS I spotted earlier adjacent to Three Sisters Islands. At one time the single teal Drake nestled within the frolicking Ringneckeds, making it a cool moment to watch.I stuck around watching these ducks as the sunlight was just brilliant illuminating the ducks especially the reddish and green heads of the Drake teals;Great watching these birds

Duck diversity abound on the lake during my time watching. Also present: Red Breasted Merganser,Northern Shoveler,American Black,Ruddy, American Wigeon, and Mallard. Wood Duck was present in the Upper Pool. So we are talking 9 duck species.

The still lingering pair SNOW GEESE waded along the Western shoreline..Spring must be on their mind as well.

Tweet from The Kingsboider (@BBCKingsbirds)

The Kingsboider (@BBCKingsbirds) tweeted at 4:24 PM on Thu, Feb 23, 2017:
3GREENWINGED TEAL 150' east of West island rustic shelter prospect lake,by orange bouy.2drake thx Karen.also 4 ringneck duck
(https://twitter.com/BBCKingsbirds/status/834876510330830852?s=03)

Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download?s=13

Tweet from ko (@KarenOhearn)

ko (@KarenOhearn) tweeted at 3:01 PM on Thu, Feb 23, 2017:
Hen & drake green-winged teal pp lake. Sw side w ruddys
(https://twitter.com/KarenOhearn/status/834855769279430656?s=03)

Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download?s=13

GW Teal Lake

Karen Ohearn reports hen and drake GREEN WINGED TEAL on Prospect Lake

Winter of Iceland Gull;a woodcock shows up

The ICELAND Gull continues its good showing at Prospect Lake. At its usual time after the 8 o'clock hour,it put in an appearance about 300 feet from the western shore.Still at that distance,it's a good looker , bright bird in the open.

The season's first AMERICAN WOODCOCK is here! Already. Rob Jett spotted a single bird under the " magic" tree,a large beech at Cypress & Vine Ave in Greenwood Cemetery.The beech is at the northwest corner of the intersection. This spot is close ,up Vine Ave from the Ft Hamilton entrance,open only weekends.Otherwise 25th &Fifth main entrance is the best bet.

Tweet from Ben Cacace (@NYCbirder)

Ben Cacace (@NYCbirder) tweeted at 1:53 PM on Tue, Feb 21, 2017:
Yellow-breasted Chat, a warbler no longer: 2017 AOS Classification Committee Proposals, Part 2 https://t.co/Iqh57AlvrR
(https://twitter.com/NYCbirder/status/834113744921882624?s=03)

Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download?s=13

Tweet from Rob Jett (@thecitybirder)

Rob Jett (@thecitybirder) tweeted at 10:33 AM on Wed, Feb 22, 2017:
Woodcock under the "magic tree" and Green-Wood Cemetery
(https://twitter.com/thecitybirder/status/834425825185431554?s=03)

Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download?s=13

PP ICELAND GULL

In middle western section Prospect lake 823 am.

GBBC HALFTIME REPORT

http://gbbc.birdcount.org/news/2017-halftime-update/

REMINDER BBC EVE PROGRAM

Tomorrow ( or tonight if you are reading this Tuesday) the Brooklyn bird club evening program on bird eggs. Grand army plaza library 7 pm. Sounds pretty interesting.

http://www.brooklynbirdclub.org/meetings.htm

Erie basin, Marisa's report



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[ebirdsnyc] Digest Number 4314
ebirdsnyc to you (Bcc) + 1 more
1 day agoShow Details
 eBirds NYC - bird sightings around NYC Group
5 Messages Digest #4314
1 red throated loon in Red Hook Brooklyn 2/18/17 by marisawohl
2.1 The New York Botanical Garden by "Debbie Becker"
3 NYS eBird Hotspots: Staten Island (Richmond County) by "Ben Cacace" msmythii
4a Re: Common Raven, Park Slope by "Cranky Critic" crankythecritic
5 Manhattan: Common Raven, Yorkville by "Ben Cacace" msmythii
Messages
1 red throated loon in Red Hook Brooklyn 2/18/17
Sat Feb 18, 2017 8:12 pm (PST) . Posted by: marisawohl
Red throated loon in the Erie Basin around 2:45 this afternoon plus 2 ruddy ducks. Other species seen at Erie Basin Park (behind Ikea) and Valentino (Coffey Street) pier included brant, gadwall, red breasted merganser, greater black backed gull, ring billed gull, Canada goose, mallard, Northern mockingbird, fish crow, house sparrow, European starling and rock pigeon.

eBird Checklist – Prospect Park, New York – Sat Feb 18, 2017 – 49 species (+2 other taxa)

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S34484457

Great Backyard bird count BBC walk led by Ann Murray &Kathy Toomey Prospect

Park slope raven

4 Common Raven, Park Slope
Sat Feb 18, 2017 1:42 pm (PST) . Posted by: "Phil Jeffrey" pdj1964
Around 2:30pm I heard a Common Raven at 8th Ave and 7th Street although I did not see it. EBird shows a few sightings from the general area in the last few weeks although nothing close to that particular spot.

---
Phil Jeffrey

Fwd: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Feb 17, 2017

Sent from AOL Mobile Mail


-----Original Message-----
From: Kathleen Toomey <kathleentoomey@gmail.com>
To: Prosbird <Prosbird@aol.com>
Sent: Fri, Feb 17, 2017 09:12 PM
Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Feb 17, 2017

Begin forwarded message:

From: ebird-checklist@cornell.edu
Date: February 17, 2017 at 8:59:29 PM EST
To: Kathleentoomey
Subject: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Feb 17, 2017

Prospect Park, Kings, New York, US
Feb 17, 2017 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments:     The pools, ravine to feeders and lake
35 species (+2 other taxa)

Snow Goose  2
Canada Goose  160
Mute Swan  5
Wood Duck  8     Seen at the same time at the Upper Pool
American Wigeon  4
American Black Duck  3
Mallard  80
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid)  1
Northern Shoveler  9
Ring-necked Duck  2
Red-breasted Merganser  1
Ruddy Duck  48
Pied-billed Grebe  2
Red-tailed Hawk  1
American Coot  23
Ring-billed Gull  200
Herring Gull  23
Great Black-backed Gull  1
Mourning Dove  4
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Downy Woodpecker  1
Blue Jay  5
crow sp.  1
Black-capped Chickadee  3
Tufted Titmouse  3
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
White-breasted Nuthatch  4
Brown Creeper  1
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  2
White-throated Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  3
Northern Cardinal  4
Red-winged Blackbird  5
Rusty Blackbird  1     Continuing at the feeders with Red-wings, black, with pale eyes, and some rust on its back
American Goldfinch  2
House Sparrow  5

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S34440314

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

Fwd: [eBird Alert] Kings County Rare Bird Alert

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <ebird-alert@cornell.edu>
Date: Feb 17, 2017 9:33 PM
Subject: [eBird Alert] Kings County Rare Bird Alert <hourly>
To:
Cc:

*** Species Summary:

- Rusty Blackbird (1 report)

---------------------------------------------
Thank you for subscribing to the <hourly> Kings County Rare Bird Alert.The report below shows observations of rare birds in Kings County.  View or unsubscribe to this alert at http://ebird.org/ebird/alert/summary?sid=SN35645
NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated

Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) (1)
- Reported Feb 17, 2017 12:30 by Kathleen Toomey
- Prospect Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6602841,-73.9689534&ll=40.6602841,-73.9689534
- Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S34440314
- Comments: "Continuing at the feeders with Red-wings, black, with pale eyes, and some rust on its back"

***********

You received this message because you are subscribed to eBird's Kings County Rare Bird Alert

Manage your eBird alert subscriptions:
http://ebird.org/ebird/alerts

Tweet from Rob Jett (@thecitybirder)

Rob Jett (@thecitybirder) tweeted at 8:05 PM on Thu, Feb 16, 2017:
Be sure to check out my new upcoming series of birding tours at Green-Wood Cemetery https://t.co/dzF1w9EwVV
(https://twitter.com/thecitybirder/status/832395497788809216?s=03)

Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download?s=13

Fwd: Saving Jamaica Bay to Air on PBS

Tomorrow on PBS ( Channel 13) 

-----Original Message-----
From: American Littoral Society <info@littoralsociety.org>
To: prosbird <prosbird@aol.com>
Sent: Fri, Feb 3, 2017 8:05 am
Subject: Saving Jamaica Bay to Air on PBS

Don't Miss This

"SAVING JAMAICA BAY" documentary to make PBS Television Debut _______________________ Saturday, February 18 1:00 pm New York/New Jersey public television station WNET 13 Sunday, February 26 9:00 pm New York/New Jersey PBS affiliate Channel 21 Learn how a community fought government inaction over environmental issues, and overcame the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy to clean up and restore the largest open space in New York City.   Gather your friends and family to watch this fascinating documentary, narrated by award-winning actress Susan Sarandon. A prominent voice in the film is Don Riepe, Director of the Littoral Society's Northeast Chapter and a resident of Broad Channel. Riepe, who is the Littoral Society's Jamaica Bay Guardian™, has dedicated his life to protecting and restoring Jamaica Bay. The location of Jamaica Bay, combined with the rich food resources found there, make it a regionally important fish, wildlife, and plant habitat. It's geographic location acts to concentrate marine and estuarine species migrating between the New York Bight portion of the North Atlantic, the Hudson River and the Raritan River estuary. Jamaica Bay supports seasonal or year-round populations of 300 species of birds, 100 species of finfish, 50 different kinds of butterfly, and a host of human residents. You can help save Jamaica Bay. Please, click here to support the American Littoral Society and our efforts to protect and restore the critical ecology of Jamaica Bay.   See what's happening on our social sites:

American Littoral Society | 18 Hartshorne Drive, Suite 1, Highlands, NJ 07732 Unsubscribe prosbird@aol.com Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by info@littoralsociety.org in collaboration with Try it free today

Algae Blooms in Prospect

From the PPA newsletter

https://www.prospectpark.org/news-events/news/prospect-park-alliance-tackles-algae-blooms/

GBBC begins

A good start to get the Prospect birds in the Great Backyard Bird count books. Although nothing spectacular to report, this day emphasizes citizen science at its best  in reporting birds of all kinds for the sake of science , research and ecetera for determining new trends, the health of our environment and the status of bird populations. Everyone should try to enter data no matter how few birds reported to a full day to wherever you are counting birds.

I took some time reporting two main venues in the park : the lake and the feeders. I didn't have much time for anything else. On the Lake , the good birds were missing with the exception of the two SNOW GEESE, seen sleeping on the black plastic by the Well Drive picnic tables. No merganser species were observed. A very high number of Canada Geese I found , likely staging occurring. The other very interesting observation regards the Northern Shoveler: they migrated out. I found only 7 birds, a steep drop from Decembers influx in the hundreds. February is dispersal month, when everything moves around or out when food supply is exhausted. RING NECKED DUCK continues to mingled, a drake seen by West Island. Likewise the pair of PIED BILLED GREBES hanging out by the Peninsula shoreline the other notable species.

The feeders are fine, after a refill, I waited and some birds came in. I had 12 species. Tops was the RED BREASTED NUTHATCH that zipped in and out quickly. Check the list embedded for the complete report.

Tomorrow the Brooklyn Bird Club has a walk to celebrate midwinter's event. Join in and relish the scientific participation and camaraderie.

http://ebird.org/ebird/gbbc/view/checklist/S34422471

http://ebird.org/ebird/gbbc/view/checklist/S34423239

http://ebird.org/ebird/gbbc/view/checklist/S34423380

Update: Kathy Toomey reported the RUSTY BLACKBIRD at the feeder saround 1:45 this afternoon...

Rusty

Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) (1)
- Reported Feb 16, 2017 15:00 by karen o'hearn
- Prospect Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6602841,-73.9689534&ll=40.6602841,-73.9689534
- Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S34411606
- Comments: "continuing bird, i think.  seen on the ground, under the feeders"
Show quoted text

Tomorrow begins the count

Its the first day of the Great Backyard Bird Count on Friday thru Monday.

Be sure to count even if just window counting or feeders of traveling outside.  Have fun ...

http://gbbc.birdcount.org/

Iceland Gull continues

Within a small gull flock 250 feet from the Lake west shore, I spotted the very prominent ICELAND GULL . It stands out quite well even at the distance.

Its a remarkable streak to see this species here at Prospect Lake that once in the past if seen one time would send folks rushing to the site in Prospect Lake. But this winter has been special for seeing this species on multiple days. As winter nears its end ( only a month to the equinox), this species might stick artound as a habitual visitor.

Tweet from The Kingsboider (@BBCKingsbirds)

The Kingsboider (@BBCKingsbirds) tweeted at 10:45 AM on Thu, Feb 16, 2017:
Prospect lake Iceland gull continue s.,wading.in small gull flock ~250' from West shore rescue ladder
(https://twitter.com/BBCKingsbirds/status/832254649793118208?s=03)

Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download?s=13

Valentine Common Merganser

...missing its mate

Thank you for subscribing to the <hourly> Kings County Rare Bird Alert.The report below shows observations of rare birds in Kings County.  View or unsubscribe to this alert at http://ebird.org/ebird/alert/summary?sid=SN35645
NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated

Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) (1)- Reported Feb 14, 2017 15:15 by Sean Sime
- Prospect Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6602841,-73.9689534&ll=40.6602841,-73.9689534- Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S34379004
- Comments: "Continuing drake on Prospect Lake. Long, elegant looking merganser, clean white on sides and chest with green head and dark back. Long, bright reddish orange, cerated bill. Swimming extremely low in the water, more like a wet cormorant than a duck."

Fwd: The Great Backyard Bird Count is this weekend

STARTING THIS COMING FRIDAY! BBC walk Saturday Prospect. See BBC website trips page

Sent from AOL Mobile Mail


-----Original Message-----
From: BirdWatching Magazine <newsletter@birdwatchingdaily.com>
To: prosbird <prosbird@aol.com>
Sent: Wed, Feb 15, 2017 09:01 AM
Subject: The Great Backyard Bird Count is this weekend

Plus, "hopeful hunkering" and a gallery of woodpeckers.

advertisement

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Count Birds This Weekend Photo by Deb Crouse   The 20th annual Great Backyard Bird Count is set for this Friday through Monday. Birdwatchers of all ages around the world will count the birds they see for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count, then enter their checklists online. All the data contribute to a snapshot of bird distribution. Last year, almost 164,000 birders from more than 130 countries took part. Learn how you can join the fun! Read More   advertisement   Seeing Birds Up Close Photo by Laura Erickson   Nothing beats being able to see birds up close. We can attract them to our yards with feeders, birdbaths, and improved habitat. Away from home, we may pish or, outside of the breeding season and without duly disrupting birds, play recordings. This can maximze the number that we see but doesn't give us a feeling for how birds behave when we're not watching. In our just-published April 2017 issue, Contributing Editor Laura Erickson reveals her method for getting close to the action. She calls it "hopeful hunkering." Read More   advertisement   Red-Belly and Its Cousins Photo by Michael Rossacci   This bird, the Red-bellied Woodpecker, is almost certainly recognizable to birders in the eastern United States, where it's a familiar year-round resident. The species is one of 24 members of the genus Melanerpes found in the Western Hemisphere. North America is home to the Red-belly and five of its cousins: Acorn, Golden-fronted, Red-headed, Gila, and Lewis's Woodpeckers. You can see reader-contributed photos that capture the colors and character of the birds in a special gallery on our blog. Read More

Copyright © 2017 Madavor Media, LLC. All rights reserved. No reproduction, distribution, or transmission of any portion of this newsletter is permitted without the express written permission of Madavor Media, LLC. Birdwatching, 25 Braintree Hill Office Park, Suite 404, Braintree, MA, 02184 Manage your preferences | Opt out | View this email online. Birdwatching 25 Braintree Hill Office Park, Suite 404, Braintree, MA | 02184 This email was sent to prosbird@aol.com To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.