My lunch hour was productive--sort of. With sparrow numbers still lacking, a few good sightings sufficed. Running into Sean Sime in the "Sparrowbowl" the low area between the Tennis and Picnic Houses, Sean pointed out a great looking Nashville Warbler feeding in a flower laden Goldenrod. Sean was looking for a wren reported by Will Pollard that might have been a rarity. Suffice to say, no such bird appeared except a cooperative House Wren. After saying good bye to Sean, I stuck around and was treated to a collective gathering. On a weld wire fence within 4 foot range, simultaneously, 3 Eastern Phoebes overlooked below in the fence a Chipping sparrow,a Song Sparrow, a White throated Sparrow-all single birds but two Savannahs. Not much number wise but its cool to look at that momentous collection.
As the heat built up, I left the Sparrowbowl to walk along the mugwort border on the Tennis House's south fence. And there what I initially thought was a Field Sparrow, tuned out to be a juvenile White-crowned Sparrow, staying close to the Mugwort but well seen. Both species look very similar but my closer approach enable me to identified it as White Crowned.
Other good birds were reported in Prospect Park. Charles Tang had himself a good day . In early am, in the Butterfly Meadow, he showed me a photo that after a few moments I identified it as a Lincolns Sparrow. It was deep inside the meadow though. Later at 226 pm, he texted me seeing a Black billed Cuckoo in the Vale of Cashmere north end. Charles had mentioned that kinglet numbers were pouring through. Since Monday's massed migration of Golden crowned, they Rubies followed thru with lesser numbers. A quantity resided in the Butterfly Meadow.
Continuing more reports in Prospect included an aerial show. Russ reported seeing three Red tailed Hawks chasing late Chimney Swifts above the Upper Pool. That's chasing small prey in my opinion unless the hawks needed some fun.
Tom Coughlin reported very birdy areas in Prospect. A Yellow billed Cuckoo by the Wellhouse; Black throated Green warbler in the Vale Cashmere and possible Canada Warbler by the Carousel.The hen Bufflehead continues in the Lake.
Last, in what we birders call their Patch of woods, Bushwick Inlet Park shone with decent numbers. Prominent were numbers of Yellow Rumped Warblers, Yellow bellied Sapsucker, Magnolia Warbler Red bellied Woodpecker ,goldfinches and shorebirds not identified. The strip sits along a former industrial spot but bearing enough green to attract migrating birds needing a place to stay.
