Monday, July 31, 2023

Greenwood gets started...

Monday Greenwood Cemetery gets a heads up on an early fall migration with several species already on the move. Some are early I think. These follow a mysterious small Flycatcher that may be Mexican / central American originated.

First an Olive sided Flycatcher was reported on Cypress Ave between Grape and Vine Avenues. The same observer also watches earlier a flyover juvenile Red shouldered Hawk which I know is early , typically a late September ,October species.

A few warblers plus a Scarlet Tanager hit the spot as well.Ovenbird and a Louisiana Waterthrush ,the latter at Dellwater , were seen

Now that mysterious Flycatcher: on Sunday Michael Silber thought his sighting Least Flycatcher was good to report to Ebird. However , moderator thought otherwise suggesting an Elaenia genus based on Silber's photos. The bird was not seen today. If in the event it does reappear, you'll know it here or there on the twiiter tweet universe.

"Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance." -Yoko Ono

Prospect Red banded Hairstreak

First I've seen here, spotted by staff youth woodlands crew. The tiny butterfly perched on our office trailer in the picnic house lot.  Oaks a primary host,as we're surrounded by them here. Pretty good start for Monday morning!

Info What are the host plants for red banded hairstreak?
Larval host plants include fallen leaves of wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera), dwarf sumac (Rhus copallina), staghorn sumac (R. typhina), and several oaks.

"Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance." -Yoko Ono

Red banded hairstreak

A great find found by two youth woodland crew of our staff, the butterfly perched on our office trailer! This morning 8 am

"Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance." -Yoko Ono

Saturday, July 29, 2023

Scarlet tanager

Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) (1)
- Reported Jul 29, 2023 05:48 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/S145929203
- Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Early, female-type on Hammerhead"
Show quoted text

"Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance." -Yoko Ono

Early Louisiana

Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) (2)
- Reported Jul 29, 2023 11:24 by Radka Osickova
- 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/S145929925
- Comments: "Heard and seen in Lilly pond area by new chip path; second one by Esdale bridge, not much striking on neck"

"Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance." -Yoko Ono

Thursday, July 27, 2023

BBC Plumb Beach July 29th RESCHEDULED

To August 5th due to high heat advisory and potential severe thunderstorms..

 Check the Brooklyn BIrd Club website tomorrow for details. if you intend to go

-KB
--
" Preserve and cherish the pale blue dot,the only home we've ever known"

                                                                            --Carl Sagan

Lookout Hill butterfly meadow

Ablazed by dominant Jerusalem Artichoke and Cupflower

"Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance." -Yoko Ono

Wickman Prospect Chklist

Note Acadian FC

https://ebird.org/checklist/S145706066

--
" Preserve and cherish the pale blue dot,the only home we've ever known"

                                                                            --Carl Sagan

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Fw: solitary sandpiper at green-wood yesterday

Solitary at GWC Crescent per Orrin

"To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow."

--Audrey Hepburn


----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Orrin Tilevitz <tilevitzo@yahoo.com>
To: Peter Dorosh <prosbird@aol.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 05:13:56 PM EDT
Subject: solitary sandpiper at green-wood yesterday

At the Crescent Water.  My first reaction was, of course, "it has to be a spotted" except there are no spots and the bird wasn't wagging its tail very vigorously.

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Fw: nysbirds-l digest: July 25, 2023 Tom Johnson passing tributes

Passing of a rising birding star and cape may icon, gone too soon.
 Tom Johnson passed away too young Sunday morning of a massive heart attack. Shai Mitra and Field Guides paid tribute.


----- Forwarded Message -----
From: New York State Birds digest <nysbirds-l@list.cornell.edu>
To: nysbirds-l digest recipients <nysbirds-l@list.cornell.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 12:02:17 AM EDT
Subject: nysbirds-l digest: July 25, 2023

NYSBIRDS-L Digest for Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

1. Tom Johnson

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Tom Johnson
From: Shaibal Mitra <Shaibal.Mitra@csi.cuny.edu>
Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2023 03:55:20 +0000
X-Message-Number: 1

The birding world is suspended.

The sudden death of Tom Johnson rends the veil of ordinary life. We are bereft. I had hoped to win some and lose many debates with him in our future decades of life, over identification, taxonomy, or anything. It is so easy to be wrong, but I would never have guessed that our innocently anticipated future, shared with his sonorous voice and masterful birding touch, was ever in doubt.

Among so many impressions, I remember his enthusiasm at a talk I gave at the NYSOA meeting in Rochester, in September 2008. He and our own Long Island phenom, Shawn Billerman, were undergrads at Cornell then, recipients of the Lillian Stoner Award—our trusted guardians of the future. The next day, they found a Magnificent Frigatebird on Cayuga Lake, which Pat and I and Alex Wilson chased breathlessly and ultimately saw.

Tom was a giant in our world, one we needed and still need.

Shai Mitra
Bay Shore



---

END OF DIGEST

cooling our urban cities


--
" Preserve and cherish the pale blue dot,the only home we've ever known"

                                                                            --Carl Sagan

Monday, July 24, 2023

Prospect park mushrooms

According to INaturalist 

Chlorophyllum is a genus of large agarics similar in appearance to the true parasol mushroom. Chlorophyllum was originally coined in 1898, a time when spore color was the deciding factor for differentiating genera. It was termed in order to describe the poisonous green-spored C. molybdites which shared many characteristics of the mushrooms within the genus Lepiota but lacked the all important white spores. The name comes from Greek Chloro meaning green and phyll meaning leaves or gills.... (Source: Wikipedia)


"Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance." -Yoko Ono

Fwd: National Moth Week! July 22-30



---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Long Island Native Plant Initiative <info@linpi.org>
Date: Fri, Jul 21, 2023 at 12:53 PM
Subject: National Moth Week! July 22-30
To: <pdorosh@prospectpark.org>


Moth Week July 22-30

Photo courtesy of Jay Rand

Moths are important pollinators, too!


Did you know a recent study showed that some moth species are better pollinators than some butterflies? Just as with native butterflies, you can help our native moths by growing plants native to Long Island. Plants such as Virginia Creeper, milkweeds, grasses and any plant that you use to attract bees and butterflies help to support moths.


Learn more about National Moth Week

20% OFF All Plants for National Moth Week - July 22-30

Check out our current plant list


DIRECTIONS

Become a Volunteer

Help us preserve Long Island's biodiversity by volunteering with us at the Greenhouse!



VOLUNTEER THIS WEEKEND

Donate to our cause

Donate Today

Keep in Touch!

Facebook  Instagram  Web  Email
Long Island Native Plant Initiative | P.O. Box 1279, Hampton Bays, NY 11946
Unsubscribe pdorosh@prospectpark.org
Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice
Sent by info@linpi.org powered by
Trusted Email from Constant Contact - Try it FREE today.

Friday, July 21, 2023

Janet Schumacher a Memorial garden

In Greenwood Cemetery on Valley Water northwest side ( Magnolia Ave) where today I visited on a heads up on BBC Facebook.

Just a profusion of Black eyed Susans!

"Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance." -Yoko Ono

Thursday, July 20, 2023

Prospect Acadian


Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) (1) CONFIRMED
- Reported Jul 19, 2023 18:00 by Max Epstein
- 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/S145076286
- Comments: "continuing, perched near ricks place calling frequently. recorded audio. 2 seen together a couple weeks ago"
--
" Preserve and cherish the pale blue dot,the only home we've ever known"

                                                                            --Carl Sagan

Hildie Prospect chklist

Note continuing Acadian


--
" Preserve and cherish the pale blue dot,the only home we've ever known"

                                                                            --Carl Sagan

Friday, July 14, 2023

A weird prospect Park mega sighting

Today a weird timed flycatcher from southewestern USA /Mexico was spotted first in the Peninsula sumacs.A likely TROPICAL/COUCH KINGBIRD is in town among prospect habitats.

Purportedly found by an amateur photographer Jo Dahran when he spotted the mega rarity in the sumac with a good photo, the bird was later seen at the east edge of the Peninsula meadow.

Later tweets placed the mega fly catcher on Breeze hill west near Terrace bridge by a portable potty in midafternoon.

Tropical and Couch Kingbirds are identical so a call or chirp note -- audio evidence- is needed to nail the species.

Below screenshot from Sibley's field guide Tropical above, Couch below ( identical..in appearance







--

"And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer."
― F. Scott Fitzgerald

Continuing Prospect Midwood Acadian FC

 Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) (1)

- Reported Jul 11, 2023 08:07 by Martha Harbison
- 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/S144231807
- Comments: "Hanging out low in Midwood. Will upload audio."

Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) (1)
- Reported Jul 11, 2023 08:07 by IBA Program
- 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/S144232052

Summer reading history tidbit : a champion for conservation Florence Merriam

From Facebook post :

When Florence Merriam Bailey was born in 1863, birds were more often seen ornamenting women's hats than they were in the wild! In fact, on one walk through Manhattan in 1886, she counted 40 different species, stuffed and mounted for fashion. The pioneering ornithologist wanted to stop this trend, which killed an estimated five million birds a year. Her solution was to encourage people to go out and admire living birds through bird watching. "We won't say too much about the hats," she declared. "We'll take the girls afield, and let them get acquainted with the birds. Then of inborn necessity, they will wear feathers never more."

Bailey developed an early interest in birds, but when she went to Smith College in 1882, she learned that most ornithologists had little interest in bird behavior. Instead, they studied birds which had been killed, skinned, and mounted for private or museum collections. Bailey proposed that naturalists should learn to observe living birds in their habitats. She recommended an opera glass to allow bird watchers to see details: "The student who goes afield armed with opera-glass," she declared, "will not only add more to our knowledge than he who goes armed with a gun, but will gain for himself a fund of enthusiasm and a lasting store of pleasant memories."

In 1889, at the age of 26, she published "Birds Through An Opera-Glass." It was the first modern bird watching field guide: an illustrated guide to recognizing 70 common species in the wild, written for hobbyists and young people. Her approach of watching birds through magnification formed the basis of modern bird watching, which still uses binoculars today. Her book was also unusual because it was published under her own name, an uncommon practice at the time. Bailey's independent and feminist streaks come out in her writing about her beloved birds too. "Like other ladies, the little feathered brides have to bear their husbands' names, however inappropriate," she lamented. "What injustice! Here an innocent creature with an olive-green back and yellowish breast has to go about all her days known as the black-throated blue warbler, just because that happens to describe the dress of her spouse!"

Bailey went on to write over 100 journal articles and ten books, including the "Handbook of Birds of the Western United States," which remained a standard text for over 50 years. Bailey was named the first woman associate member of the American Ornithologists' Union in 1885; in 1929, she became its first woman fellow and received its Brewster Medal, which recognizes authors of exceptional work about birds, in 1931. In a fitting tribute to this trailblazing advocate for birds, eminent American biologist Joseph Grinnell named a subspecies of mountain chickadee after her in 1908: with the scientific name of Parus gambeli baileyae and the common name of Mrs. Bailey's Chickadee.

Florence Merriam Bailey's inspiring story is told in the lovely picture book biography, "She Heard the Birds," for ages 5 to 9 at https://amzn.to/3D8AtOg

Her book "Birds: Through an Opera-Glass" is also still available in print at https://amzn.to/3vLOY7s

For several great kids' books about Mighty Girls who love birds, we highly recommend "Bird Count" for ages 4 to 8 (https://amzn.to/43otriS), "Who Gives a Hoot?" for ages 6 to 9 (https://amzn.to/43lJOgj), and "Stand on the Sky" for ages 9 to 12 (https://amzn.to/3XMLXQJ)

To encourage children interested in birdwatching, we recommend the kid-friendly Kidwinz Binoculars for ages 3 to 8 (https://amzn.to/3XHv1eJ) and the Bird Log for Kids for ages 5 to 12 (https://amzn.to/3XMBViz)

Young birders will also love the "Beginning Birdwatcher's Book" for ages 7 and up (https://amzn.to/43ijCD9) and the field guide "The Young Birder's Guide to Birds of North America" for ages 9 and up (https://amzn.to/3lTAV7Q) -- and a colorful board book celebrating birds for toddlers at https://amzn.to/2VBv2oy

For more books, toys, gear, and clothing for kids who love birds, visit our blog post "Feathered Friends: Books, Toys, and Clothing for Mighty Girl Bird Lovers" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=30089

"Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance." -Yoko Ono

Monday, July 10, 2023

Fungus in the park

Identified by INaturalist as Meripilus genus. Most likely
Black-staining polypore
Scientific name: Meripilus sumstinei (Murrill) M. J. mycologist. Polyporus giganteus Fr. Common names: Black-staining polypore.

"Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance." -Yoko Ono

Monday, July 3, 2023

Fwd: Saturday's Insect walk list Brooklyn Brisge Park

Insect walk led by Matthew Wills to Brooklyn Bridge Park.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Matthew Wills <matthewwills@earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, Jul 3, 2023 at 7:21 AM
Subject: Saturday's Insect walk list Brooklyn Brisge Park
To: Peter Dorosh <prosbird@gmail.com>,>


Peter and walk attendees:

 

These are (most) of the insects and arachnids seen on Saturday's BBC walk in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Some IDs are tentative. (I added a couple of things I saw on Pier 6 on my way out to the park.)

 

Thanks to Rusty Harold for documenting many of these on iNaturalist.

 

For biodiversity purposes, this iNaturalist link shows all the arthropods reported in Brooklyn Bridge Park by all users: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=64626&taxon_id=47120

 

 

Lepidoptera

Question Mark Polygonia interrogationis

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui

Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta

Unidentified moth

 

Hymenoptera

Hibiscus Sawfly (adults and larvae) Atomacera decepta

Mexican Grass-carrying Wasp Isodontia mexicana

European Paperwasp Polistes dominula

Oak Button Gall Neuroterus umbilicatus

Oak Rough Bulletgall Wasp Disholcaspis quercusmamma

Typical aphid wasp, genus Pemphredon

Brown-belted Bumblebee Bombus grisecollis

Common Eastern Bumblebee Bombus virginica

Golden Northern Bumblebee Bombus fervidus

Long-horned bee, genus Melissodes

Western Honeybee Apis melifera

Eastern Carpenter Bee Xylocopa virginica

Small carpenter bee, genus Ceratina

Central European Bicolor Ant Lasius emarginatus

Carpenter ant, genus Camponotus

Odorous House Ant Tapinoma sessile

 

Diptera

Stiletto fly, genus Ozodiceromyia

Long-legged Flies, Condylostylus spp.

Long-tailed Aphideater Eupeodes americanus

Unidentified hover fly larvae: Syrphidae

Flesh fly, genus Sarcophaga

False Stable Fly Muscina stabulans

Common Picture-winged Fly Delphinia picta

Carbonifera Goldenrod Gall Midge Asteromyia carbonifera

Daylily Leafminer Ophiomyia kwansonis

 

Coleoptera

Asian Lady Beetle Harmonia axyridis

Two-spotted Lady Beetle Adalia bipunctata

Fourteen Spotted Lady Beetle Propylea quatuordecimpunctata

Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle (larva) Psyllobora vintimaculata

Seven-spotted Lady Beetle Coccinella septempunctata

Unidentified beetle

 

Odonata

Common Green Darner Anax junius

Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis

Fragile Forktail Ischnura posita

Slaty Skimmer Libellula incesta

 

Hemiptera

Asian Wooly Hackberry Aphid Shivaphis celti

Other aphid species, Aphididae

Soft scale on Viburnum, perhaps genus Pulvaria

Spotted Lanternfly Lycorma delicatula

False Milkweed Bug Lygaeus turcicus

Plagiognathus politus, a plant bug spotted by Rusty that may be the first sighting in NYC

Other plant bugs

Unidentified true bug

 

Arachnids

Bold Jumping Spider Phidippus audax

Other unidentified spiders

Poison Ivy Leaf Mite Aculops rhois

 

 


" Preserve and cherish the pale blue dot,the only home we've ever known"
 
                                                                            --Carl Sagan

 



--
" Preserve and cherish the pale blue dot,the only home we've ever known"

                                                                            --Carl Sagan

Saturday, July 1, 2023

GWC Black vulture

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) (1)
- Reported Jul 01, 2023 11:26 by MCHL ____
- Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=40.6523083,-73.9904281&ll=40.6523083,-73.9904281
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S143262031
- Comments: "Image"
Show quoted text

"The Journey of a Thousand Miles begins With One Step." --Lao Tzu