Tweet from Brooklyn Bird Alert (@BirdBrklyn) ring necked duck pplake

Brooklyn Bird Alert (@BirdBrklyn) tweeted at 2:10 PM on Tue, Jan 31, 2023:
A Ring-necked Duck is on the north side of the Prospect Park Lake.
(https://twitter.com/BirdBrklyn/status/1620499679384596480?s=03)

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

Research says one of the best things for your mental health is ... birds!

https://aleteia.org/2023/01/28/research-says-one-of-the-best-things-for-your-mental-health-is-birds/ 

Tweet from Ryan Goldberg (@goldbergryan) church falcon

Ryan Goldberg (@goldbergryan) tweeted at 0:08 PM on Mon, Jan 30, 2023:
One of the thrills of city birding: having a peregrine show up outside your apartment. By size I think it's a female, and going on a week now she's been spending hours each day, morning to evening, on the steeple of Immaculate Heart of Mary in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn. https://t.co/fz7wTIM0K3
(https://twitter.com/goldbergryan/status/1620106615516205062?s=03)

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

PP BAEA

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) (1)
- Reported Jan 30, 2023 10:30 by terry VP

- 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: https://ebird.org/checklist/S127303200
- Comments: "cont adult. seen (w Jo🐦 and BriAg) from lullwater flying from peninsula towards nethermead. large dark w white head/tail" 

Amazing report of bald eagle at picnic house

Last Friday I took the day off. It turns out my supervisor and staff were treated to an amazing experience pertaining to the Bald Eagle that has been hanging around in Prospect.

Our office moved from the tennis house to trailers in the parking lot adjacent to the picnic house. From my supervisor's account my coworker texted her to say the Eagle was perched in the large Oak outside the house south corner. And it was calling! A stunned crowd gathered to watch,obviously mesmerized. This never happened having this low perched eagle acting this way here in prospect.

In time the eagle took off,flying over my staff in the lot ,on a low flyover,outstretched wing just looking tremendous.

And I missed it by going to Jones beach.😄 ( but at least I saw a flock of dovekies out there).

--
""What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness."

- John Steinbeck

Today's sightings from my bird walk

I led the Brooklyn bird club walk today (6.88 miles) titled " Gullmania at western coast Brooklyn . Although there wasn't much to squawk about ,on this beautiful day a few things worth mentioning.

Off Veterans Pier (65th at), a nice number of Bonapartes Gulls I believe over 40 birds preoccupied our attention. Some were very close to the pier which offered good looks for new birders in my group.

Fast forward to Bush Terminal Pier park, a very unexpected and unusual sighting with two Black Vultures;Joe W spotted them thinking Ravens but turning out to be low flying Black Vultures. What's unusual is one bird perched on a light tower; it then flew off to landing on a rusty smokstack at Industry City, joining an already perched vulture there. Quite the highlight for our group not used to seeing perched vultures in the city.

The report including checklists will appear on my trips blog.

Good winter boiding

-Kb

Feeders purple finch

Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) (1)
- Reported Jan 27, 2023 07:46 by Benjamin Forbes
- 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: https://ebird.org/checklist/S127015322
- Comments: "At feeders. Distinct facial markings. Male." 

Bald eagle prospect report

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) (1)
- Reported Jan 27, 2023 07:43 by Forrest Wickman
- 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: https://ebird.org/checklist/S127016604
- Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Adult perched in large pine between ballfields and Upper Pool, getting mobbed by crows." 

Prospect bald eagle

 Our bald eagle resident of winter comforts itself in a  giant tulip tree on center drive.

After my volunteer event today, I casually drove along nethermead west edge when I spotted people looking up. There was the bald eagle perched in the tulip. The time was 1215. As I was texting a friend- one of my volunteers, our eagle flew off in the direction of lookout hill.

It's pretty nice to see it stick around in this now memorable season.

Pair of bald eagles spotted nesting in Brooklyn sparks excitement in borough - CBS New York

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/brooklyn-bald-eagle-nest/

Ruffle bar island below map (seen best from east shore Floyd Bennett field)

Brown Thrasher

Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) (1)
- Reported Jan 25, 2023 08:06 by MI YU
- Brooklyn Bridge Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6996104,-73.9973745&ll=40.6996104,-73.9973745
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S126906064
- Comments: "Continuing winterer. Quiet and skulky, doing stuff in the undergrowth. Pics through twig and branch traffic." 

perched Bald eagle photo on Prospect breeze hill

 Taken by Ryan Candee

Click on link

https://ebird.org/checklist/S126719181

Note also red shouldered hawk

Perched eagle

A report from another source of a bald eagle perched in a tall pine tree on breeze hill today.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) (1)
- Reported Jan 22, 2023 15:16 by Mia Weber
- Prospect Park--Prospect Lake, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6553787,-73.9686421&ll=40.6553787,-73.9686421
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S126735163
- Comments: "In tree" 

Early morning Monday Jan 23rd

https://starwalk.space/en/news/moon-in-conjunction-with-mars-venus-saturn-jupiter 

2:22 AM Monday

 Eastern Time (ET)

Lbbg at bbp

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) (1)
- Reported Jan 20, 2023 16:36 by Peter Paul
- Brooklyn Bridge Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6996104,-73.9973745&ll=40.6996104,-73.9973745
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S126584177
- Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Apparently long continuing adult. Smaller than HERG near it, fairly dark mantled, smudgy eye, multicolored bill. Wings not super long. Photos"

Prospect Park, Kings County, NY, US - eBird Hotspot

https://ebird.org/hotspot/L109516

From the past week,nice diversity

Lesser bbgull prospect lake

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) (1)
- Reported Jan 20, 2023 12:09 by Kathy Willens
- 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: https://ebird.org/checklist/S126564219
- Comments: "Possible LBBGU. Long primary projection, smudgy eye "make-up" grey on mantle and brown SB white from head to wings. Kathy Toomey has photos." 

BBP Brown thrasher

Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) (1)
- Reported Jan 18, 2023 09:05 by Maureen Matthews
- Brooklyn Bridge Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6996104,-73.9973745&ll=40.6996104,-73.9973745
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S126426150
- Comments: "Found previously reported Thrasher just south of the condo path at the beginning of the water park path, thrashing beneath thick evergreens. Rusty head and back, heavily streaked underneath, long beak, yellowish legs." 

Wickman Prospect list

https://ebird.org/checklist/S126420935 

Note purple Finch and winter wrens, bufflehead ,hooded mergansers

Bald Eagle Takes Up Perch In Prospect Park | Park Slope, NY Patch

https://patch.com/new-york/new-york-city/bald-eagle-takes-perch-prospect-park 

Tweet from The Kingsboider (@BBCKingsbirds) bald eagle center drive

Thanks to Seth Barr  alert

The Kingsboider (@BBCKingsbirds) tweeted at 3:08 PM on Wed, Jan 18, 2023:
Bald eagle on Prospect park center drive https://t.co/OYY0rrCesz
(https://twitter.com/BBCKingsbirds/status/1615803267375677440?s=03)

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

Fw: Special Zoom meeting on Prospect Park’s Vale Restoration Plans

Tonight's BBC program

"I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape — the loneliness of it; the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show."

- Andrew Wyeth"

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: "membership@brooklynbirdclub.org" <membership@brooklynbirdclub.org>

To: Membership <membership@brooklynbirdclub.org>

Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 10:13:34 AM EST

Subject: Special Zoom meeting on Prospect Park's Vale Restoration Plans

Dear Brooklyn Bird Club Members:

 

Prospect Park Alliance will be making a presentation exclusively for Bird Club members on the design plans for the restoration of the Vale in the northeast corner of the park. Join us to learn more about the proposed design for this woodland area of the park, which resulted from a multi-year community outreach process. The project encompasses roughly 8 acres in the Vale, and is bounded by recent improvements including the restoration of the Flatbush Avenue perimeter, and the restoration of the Vale woodlands (around the historic Children's Pool), and pathway and lighting improvements throughout the site. The Alliance will also restore an additional 3 acres of woodlands south of the site as part of this project. Learn more at www.prospectpark.org/vale.

 

Please register here for this important zoom meeting:

 

 https://us06web.zoom.us/ meeting/register/ tZwkdemuqTgoGdUGStcnWLYu7_ nkmUnoGVD5

 

Dennis Hrehowsik, President
Brooklyn Bird Club
www.brooklynbirdclub.org

Marsh wren reported in phragmites opposite wellhouse

Marsh Wren (palustris Group) (Cistothorus palustris [palustris Group]) (1)
- Reported Jan 17, 2023 13:25 by Ant Tab

- 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: https://ebird.org/checklist/S126383651
- Comments: "Late, and uncommon for the park in general. Reddish-brown wren with a white eyebrow and prominent streaking on upper back, hiding under the phragmites on the Peninsula across from the Wellhouse. Responded to song playback with "chk" calls and eventually came into view long enough for me to take photos (and some brief audio). Successfully pished it out again so that Kathy and Maureen could get a look at the bird as well.

I'd seen a handful of reports about it over the last month, but none had been confirmed due to lack of documentation. I'd passed by this spot several times since, but only gave quick glances to try and find it. Upon seeing a report from Philip P. today, I set out to not only find, but document this bird. Fortunately, it was cooperative enough!"

Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) (1)

- Reported Jan 17, 2023 11:30 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: https://ebird.org/checklist/S126403426
- Comments: "In the phragmites on the Peninsula across from the Wellhouse, pointed out to Maureen Matthews and I by Ant Tab, who had just photographed it.  (Thanks, Ant!)  Our first glimpse was of a reddish brown wren flying, then later Maureen and I had a better look at it working its way through the phrags, when we were able to see its reddish brown body with dark streaks, its white eyebrow and dark cap"

Park slope Wild Bird fund

Good news for injured birds in Brooklyn and their rescuers

7th Ave between 1st and 2nd streets a future urgent care site for injured birds.

https://www.brownstoner.com/brooklyn-life/brooklyn-wildlife-rescue-wild-bird-fund-183-7th-avenue-park-slope/

NYS Waterfowl count

this week is the count week when waterfowl from ducks,geese,swans grebes and even coots are counted statewide.

Join in for one section count for prospect park tomorrow on a Brooklyn bird walk count led by Tina Alleva. Check the club website for details.

It's a fun citizen science event that is vital yet relaxing for a winter walk.

🦆🦆

From this morning CBS Sunday morning

https://fb.watch/i3-6oXjkma/ 

PP BAEA

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) (1)
- Reported Jan 13, 2023 08:22 by Spencer Hildie

- 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: https://ebird.org/checklist/S126081842
- Comments: "Adult perched in a tree on Hammerhead at 8:30, photos" 

Raptors around the park

From Ryan G birding prospect park :

"Good winter raptor day in the park. Bald eagle on south side of lake, merlin perched on a dead snag at NE corner of Nethermead, peregrine soaring over the lake, and a juvenile Cooper's hunting around the peninsula meadow!"

Friday the 13th lucky day for an eagle

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) (1)
- Reported Jan 13, 2023 07:38 by Forrest Wickman
- 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: https://ebird.org/checklist/S126047300
- Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing adult around the lake. Spencer H told me it had been perched earlier above Hammerhead so I had an eye out, and then I found it perched above the green containers. Photo." 

Tweet from Brooklyn Bird Club (@BklynBirdClub) vale cashmere rose garden capital project plan s Zoom meeting

Brooklyn Bird Club (@BklynBirdClub) tweeted at 10:12 AM on Thu, Jan 12, 2023:
Please join us for a Special Zoom meeting on Prospect Park's Vale Restoration Plans Wed Jan 18th 7PM hosted by BBC and PPA.

https://t.co/oj6agO6EZm https://t.co/qyTR242uhb
(https://twitter.com/BklynBirdClub/status/1613554532482424833?s=03)

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

eBird Checklist - 11 Jan 2023 - Prospect Park - 25 species Deutsch chklist

https://ebird.org/checklist/S125964288

Note perched bald eagle

The eagle has landed.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) (1)
- Reported Jan 11, 2023 13:05 by Jacob Kramer-Duffield

- 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: https://ebird.org/checklist/S125944150
- Comments: "Perched by Well House" 

Cackling goose reported on Prospect yesterday

https://ebird.org/checklist/S125651061 

Prospect red Crossbill , wickman report

Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) (1)
- Reported Jan 07, 2023 08:20 by Forrest Wickman
- 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: https://ebird.org/checklist/S125628975
- Media: 1 Audio
- Comments: "Irruptive species recorded here in small numbers this winter, and more often heard than seen well. There was at least one making a circuit around the park. I heard and recorded it at various locations between 9:06 (feeders) and 1:28 (Upper Pool). Also heard (and seen by some as it flew) on the BBC Intro to Birdwatching walk, first in the group of tall pines on the peninsula (11:20) and then from the direction of the Maryland Monument (11:35). I figured it was probably just one bird circulating, but Ryan M and I both heard it within 90 seconds of each other while they were around the feeders and I was at the Upper Pool, so possibly more than one? Or just … a fast flyer. Will upload recordings when I'm back." 

Prospect red cross bill

-

Reported in the pines surrounding the prospect feeders

 Reported Jan 07, 2023 11:20 by Matthew Cook

- 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: https://ebird.org/checklist/S125634675
- Comments: "Reported earlier by Forrest W; relocated at the feeders by a large group as it flew over multiple times, calling. I was not able to obtain recordings to confirm type (Type 12 probably, I suppose) though I believe others in the group did get audio." 

Prospect Park, Kings County, NY, US - eBird Hotspot

https://ebird.org/hotspot/L109516

Note two species Mergansers prospect lake and yesterday red breasted Merganser making it a trifecta. Also yesterday greater scaup and iceland gull 

BBP NOWA

Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) (1)
- Reported Jan 04, 2023 07:25 by Doug Gochfeld
- Brooklyn Bridge Park, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6996104,-73.9973745&ll=40.6996104,-73.9973745
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S125437494
- Comments: "**Very rare in winter. Long staying bird from November (when it appeared to potentially have some kind of injury), but only intermittently seen. Seems to have settled into a ritual of spending some time around the Pier 6 meadow most mid-late mornings before disappearing to nobody knows where (of being very inconspicuous around P6). Audio recordings of contact calls today 

Tweet from The Kingsboider (@BBCKingsbirds) 2 COME

The Kingsboider (@BBCKingsbirds) tweeted at 2:57 PM on Thu, Jan 05, 2023:
Continuing two hen Common Mergansers close to prospect lake west shore
(https://twitter.com/BBCKingsbirds/status/1611089547630092288?s=03)

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

COME on PPLake

Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) (2) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jan 05, 2023 09:10 by B F
- Prospect Park--Prospect Lake, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6553787,-73.9686421&ll=40.6553787,-73.9686421
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S125459604
- Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "2 hens swimming in middle of lake among the gulls then floated over towards Peninsula.  Red head (clearly demarcated), white breast, white spot below bill.  Poor photos" 

Fwd: New Year's Day Friend's Walk

The traditional New Years Day walk in Prospect Park,led by Karen O'Hearn.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: karenohearn
Date: Monday, January 2, 2023
Subject: New Year's Day Friend's Walk
To: Peter Dorosh <prosbird@gmail.com>

Species list

https://ebird.org/checklist/S125114505

Iceland Gull spotted by Dennis H.

"What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness."

- John Steinbeck

Waterfowl count help

An update to a previous note on this blog.

Tom P. Who requested one or two birders who are good spotters and who possess waterfowl identification don't have to be Drivers. Non drivers are welcome and will accompany Tom as passengers. 

His count is on Jan 15th ( Sunday)

If interested, email me at prosbird@gmail.com

Brooklyn Bird Club NYD walk Ebird Checklist - 1 Jan 2023 - Prospect Park - 35 species

https://ebird.org/checklist/S125114505 

Led by Karen O'Hearn

Highlights were Iceland Gull,Winter wren,Purple Finch

Marsh wren Peninsula

https://ebird.org/checklist/S125181070 

Lbbgull continues ppLake

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) (1)
- Reported Jan 02, 2023 08:44 by Ant Tab
- 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: https://ebird.org/checklist/S125179395
- Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Slate-gray back, smudgy dark eye shadow, much smaller than nearby GBBG and closer in size to the HERGs. My first LBBG for the park." 

Out of season house wren

https://ebird.org/checklist/S125174510 

Iceland gull photos ( nadel)

https://ebird.org/checklist/S125096939 

PP chklist Danielles

https://ebird.org/checklist/S125096939 

Note Iceland gull, purple Finch,winter wren n high number of titmice

Prospect Park, Kings County, NY, US - eBird Hotspot

https://ebird.org/hotspot/L109516 

46 species on prospects first day.

Tweet from Ed Crowne (@ecrowne)

Ed Crowne (@ecrowne) tweeted at 11:24 AM on Sun, Jan 01, 2023:
Baltimore Oriole still here in Green-Wood Cemetery at Ft Hamilton entrance.
(https://twitter.com/ecrowne/status/1609586281465487360?s=03)

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

Willens PP Chklist

https://ebird.org/checklist/S125076369 

Note Iceland gull and purple Finch report

Greenpoint lbbgull

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) (1)
- Reported Jan 01, 2023 09:35 by Alan V. Bacchiochi
- Austin Nichols House, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.7191302,-73.9652481&ll=40.7191302,-73.9652481
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S125057033
- Comments: "Slate back, dark eye area and heavily streaked head. Yellow legs. Smaller than nearby HERG. Photos to come