If you were a birder off today, you might have been a lucky one as an irruption of Mississippi Kites invaded Prospect and Greenwood Airspace.
It is presumed that 4 kites were distinguished among the sightings reported today . That's a tremendous number as this species is considered extremely rare in these parts. But due likely to climate change and a hot air southern flow ,these kites ride the wind as overshoots. For birders , that's a great opportunity to add a new patch bird or county bird or even a state bird.
Here is the timeline of reports for Prospect and Greenwood: 8:31 am , a kite flew over Prospect Lake going due northwest; 11:58 am , one kite flew over the sparrow bowl by the Picnic house ,heading southwest; 3:11 pm ,A kite is spotted above the 20th Street entrance at Greenwood Cemetery; 3:12 pm , a kite is observed heading west over the Prospect ballfields; and last, late afternoon at 5:37, a fast moving northerly kite is spotted from over the Pool southwest of the picnic house..
Mind you , all these birds are flying high, some actually descended low enough for great photos . A birder mentioned that Mid May, particularly around the 19th offers optimal opportunities for Mississippi Kites . In any case ,what a day! And very likely more were missed especially the high fliers.
Overshadowed by the kites , a Kentucky Warbler must be miffed he's not the main actor in Prospect. Heard singing a lot, a Kentucky was located just east of the Boulder Bridge, eventually settling in the north Midwood near the broken stairs ( called Tunnel Arch Stairs). It sang infrequently so this is your best bet locating those skulker by voice.
Another quality bird is the Olive sided Flycatcher. Two is confirmed: one at the zoo mulch yard, West of there and a second one over north side Quaker Cemetery, seen from the ballfields.Borh birds perched on snags.
To boast more for Prospects great ability attracting rare birds, how about a Prothonotary warbler seen at the Ambergill Creek South of the closed off Esdale Bridge?
Want me to continue? Try Acadian Flycatcher singing at the base of the Tunnel Arch Stairs, heard first by Dongan Oak monument.
At the Nethermead West donor tree plots , a Lincoln Sparrow popped out .
And last in Midwood central, a Yellow Billed cuckoo was heard and eventually spotted high up on the canopy .
A great day in the park.now here come the storms as I write this.🪁🪁🪁🪁⛈️🌧️🌩️
"There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of the birds, the ebb and flow of the tides, the folded bud ready for spring." — Rachel Carson
"Everyone likes birds. What wild creature is more accessible to our eyes and ears, as close to us and everyone in the world, as universal as a bird?"
David Attenborough
100 years old May 8th
