Sunday, March 23, 2014
Received thru the BBC website
This inquiry from an author received from the Brooklyn Bird Club website contact page if anyone is interested in reviewing :
http://virginiaarthurauthor.com/
Greetings Avian-Inclined Kindred Spirits:
My name is Virginia Arthur and I just completed a novel entitled Birdbrain. I would be grateful for reads/reviews specifically by birders/field biologists as it is somewhat obvious from contacts from non-birders that they do not understand our weird (to them anyway) joy-inducing ever diminishing world. I might have attempted the impossible with my first novel but I combined ribald humor, environmental politics, romance, relationships, western travel within a fiction novel that focuses on birds. It's a tall order (or stork?).
I would be very grateful if BIRDERS/similarly inclined types would read my book and post reviews. You don't have to love it though hey...but I know you will understand it more than any other sector of the population and in some way, this book was written for you.
It was written and published independently--democracy in action if you will--with no involvement of marketing professionals, corporate editors, or folks who suggested changes including "there is too much science in it for a fiction novel". (What?). Sorry, it's my book and also, last I checked, attempting a literary fiction novel was/is still legal.
Please forward and thank you. I look forward to your reviews.
Virginia Arthur, Birdbrain
http://virginiaarthurauthor.com/
http://virginiaarthurauthor.com/
Greetings Avian-Inclined Kindred Spirits:
My name is Virginia Arthur and I just completed a novel entitled Birdbrain. I would be grateful for reads/reviews specifically by birders/field biologists as it is somewhat obvious from contacts from non-birders that they do not understand our weird (to them anyway) joy-inducing ever diminishing world. I might have attempted the impossible with my first novel but I combined ribald humor, environmental politics, romance, relationships, western travel within a fiction novel that focuses on birds. It's a tall order (or stork?).
I would be very grateful if BIRDERS/similarly inclined types would read my book and post reviews. You don't have to love it though hey...but I know you will understand it more than any other sector of the population and in some way, this book was written for you.
It was written and published independently--democracy in action if you will--with no involvement of marketing professionals, corporate editors, or folks who suggested changes including "there is too much science in it for a fiction novel". (What?). Sorry, it's my book and also, last I checked, attempting a literary fiction novel was/is still legal.
Please forward and thank you. I look forward to your reviews.
Virginia Arthur, Birdbrain
http://virginiaarthurauthor.com/
Saturday, March 22, 2014
A foot in all three spots; red headed woodpecker
A rare venture setting foot in all three green spots today for me. And it wasn't a marathon of any sort. A morning trip to Greenwood Cemetery to do a little birding especially for a rare duck , a favorite; a noon family outing to Brooklyn Botanic Garden; then last in the evening to see if that rare grebe is still prospect bound.
The intent of my going to Greenwood was to see if the Redhead Duck was around.And it was. At Valley Water, near the Chapel, I had the mixed REDHEAD pair, along with two hen RING NECKED DUCKS. It was my first in the cemetery a lifetime for this duck.At Sylvan Water, a pair of WOOD DUCKS was the other good species, drakes apparently there all week. ( makes me wonder then with Redhead ..whats wrong with Prospect Lake ? Its got great size, yet Valley Water ?? Go figure)
A family outing to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden led to some incidental sightings since I bought my small bins.Driving to the garden, as I was stopped for a light on Ocean Avenue before Flatbush, I spotted a flock of 6 TURKEY VULTURES over the Fireman's radio tower. Inside the garden, the usual suspects, but a FLICKER and an EASTERN PHOEBE inside the native garden is nice to see.
And finally, not hearing any prospect reports ,especially the grebe, I took a quick run to Prospect Lake around 7 pm with still remnants of daylight. And scanning the lake quickly, the RED-NECKED GREBE could be seen on the east side of Three Sisters islands. Getting over there, I spotted it again thru the strait of Three Sisters. In this center lake area, 15 HOODED MERGANSERS flocked together. Other ducks of interest was a lone RED-BREASTED MERGANSER and three drake , 1 hen RING-NECKED DUCK by West island.
Getting back to Greenwood , Ed Crowne reported PINE WARBLER in a Pine tree at the Hydrangea path by Greenbough Ave, the second Pine Warb this week after Shane's earlier in the week.
BELTED KINGFISHER at Duck Island per Rob bate.
The intent of my going to Greenwood was to see if the Redhead Duck was around.And it was. At Valley Water, near the Chapel, I had the mixed REDHEAD pair, along with two hen RING NECKED DUCKS. It was my first in the cemetery a lifetime for this duck.At Sylvan Water, a pair of WOOD DUCKS was the other good species, drakes apparently there all week. ( makes me wonder then with Redhead ..whats wrong with Prospect Lake ? Its got great size, yet Valley Water ?? Go figure)
A family outing to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden led to some incidental sightings since I bought my small bins.Driving to the garden, as I was stopped for a light on Ocean Avenue before Flatbush, I spotted a flock of 6 TURKEY VULTURES over the Fireman's radio tower. Inside the garden, the usual suspects, but a FLICKER and an EASTERN PHOEBE inside the native garden is nice to see.
And finally, not hearing any prospect reports ,especially the grebe, I took a quick run to Prospect Lake around 7 pm with still remnants of daylight. And scanning the lake quickly, the RED-NECKED GREBE could be seen on the east side of Three Sisters islands. Getting over there, I spotted it again thru the strait of Three Sisters. In this center lake area, 15 HOODED MERGANSERS flocked together. Other ducks of interest was a lone RED-BREASTED MERGANSER and three drake , 1 hen RING-NECKED DUCK by West island.
Getting back to Greenwood , Ed Crowne reported PINE WARBLER in a Pine tree at the Hydrangea path by Greenbough Ave, the second Pine Warb this week after Shane's earlier in the week.
BELTED KINGFISHER at Duck Island per Rob bate.
Date and Effort
Sat Mar 22, 2014 7:00 PM
- Protocol:
- Traveling
- Party Size:
- 1
- Duration:
- 25 minute(s)
- Distance:
- 0.5 mile(s)
- Observers:
- Peter Dorosh
- Comments:
- N/A
Species
10 species total
X | Canada Goose | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
X | Mute Swan | ||||||||||||||||||||
2 | American Black Duck | ||||||||||||||||||||
X | Mallard | ||||||||||||||||||||
X | Northern Shoveler | ||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Ring-necked DuckAge & Sex
| ||||||||||||||||||||
15 | Hooded Merganser | ||||||||||||||||||||
1 | Red-breasted Merganser | ||||||||||||||||||||
X | Ruddy Duck | ||||||||||||||||||||
1 | Red-necked Grebe
present 6th straight day
|
Are you submitting a complete checklist of t
******†********************
A second " redhead" reported in Greenwood Cemetery. Though this involves a woodpecker. Rob Jett reported a second RED HEADED WOODPECKER at Zephry Path and Cypress Avenue that is n the south section of the cemetery.Closest weekend entrance is Fort Hamilton Parkway.One of six woodpecker species reported Saturday
******†********************
A second " redhead" reported in Greenwood Cemetery. Though this involves a woodpecker. Rob Jett reported a second RED HEADED WOODPECKER at Zephry Path and Cypress Avenue that is n the south section of the cemetery.Closest weekend entrance is Fort Hamilton Parkway.One of six woodpecker species reported Saturday
Friday, March 21, 2014
Fwd: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Mar 21, 2014
From: Rafael Guillermo Campos-RamÃrez
Date: 3/21/2014 5:55 PM
To: Peter Dorosh;
Subject: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Mar 21, 2014
Mar 21, 2014 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Observer: Rafael G Campos R
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 kilometer(s)
29 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) X
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 2
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 9
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) X
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) 2
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) 1
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) 3 photos taken.
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) 1
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) X
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) 1 photos taken.
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) X
Herring Gull (American) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus) X
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Domestic type)) X
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 2
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 9
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) X
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) 1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 6
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) (Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis) 5
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 3
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 7
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 12
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) X
Brooklyn is great birding!!!!
***************†*******
Adam Welz
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 65 approx count Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) X American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) 3 Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) X American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) (Anas rubripes x platyrhynchos) 2 Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) 24 Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) 5 southern shore of Lake Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) 13 Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) 5 Same number as yesterday, but different combo of males/females Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) 5 Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) X Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) 1 southern shore of Lake, in company of Common Merganser American Coot (Fulica americana) 14 Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) X Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Domestic type)) 1 Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 6 Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 4 Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 3 Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) 1 Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 3 Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 1 White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 1 Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 1 American Robin (Turdus migratorius) X European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) X Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 1 Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 4 White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 2 Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 3 Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 4 Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) X Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) X House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 2 House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) X
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17543154
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Adve
Fwd: Red tailed hawk
-----Original Message-----
From: greenbergphoto@
To: Peter Dorosh
Sent: Fri, Mar 21, 2014 12:35 pm
Subject: Rth
Near 15th street just now.
Red necked grebe continues;twitter posts
Red necked grebe in front of Three Sisters islands with 5 Common mergansers
**********************
Rob Jett tweets
**********************
Rob Jett tweets
24 wood ducks on upper pool in Prospect Park
Brown creeper singing at ricks place in Prospect Park
Red-necked Grebe Prospect records
Thanks to Rob Jett in providing the alltime for Prospect for Red-necked Grebe that is the 7th record with the current bird.
see Rob's search efforts
I cross referenced the data from my Filemaker Pro database with eBird's records and they are the same. Anyway, thought you might be interested in the Red-necked Grebe sightings for Prospect Park. Our current visitor is the 7th one since 1918.
see Rob's search efforts
Peter,
**********
Red-necked Grebe records on Prospect Lake:
03/16/1918 (from Carlton's "Birds of Central and Prospect Parks".)
03/03/1921 (from Carlton's "Birds of Central and Prospect Parks".)
04/21/1940 (from Carlton's "Birds of Central and Prospect Parks".)
04/22/40 (from Carlton's "Birds of Central and Prospect Parks".)
04/23/40 (from Carlton's "Birds of Central and Prospect Parks".)
04/24/40 (from Carlton's "Birds of Central and Prospect Parks".)
04/25/40 (from Carlton's "Birds of Central and Prospect Parks".)
02/28/1996 (Observers - Bob Bains, Rob Jett.)
03/03/96 (Observers - Bob Bains, Peter Dorosh.)
03/05/96 (Observers - Bob Bains, Peter Dorosh.)
03/09/96 (Observers - Bob Bains, Robert Gochfeld, other.)
03/02/2003 (Observers - Alan Baratz, Janet Zinn, Peter Dorosh, Steve Nanz, Starr Saphir, Marty Sohmer, Jerry Layton, Heidi Steiner, other.)
02/25/2007 (Observers - Elliotte Rusty Harold, Mary Eyster, Peter Dorosh, Rob Jett, other.)
02/25/07 (Observers - Mary Eyster.)
03/01/07 (Observers - Orrin Tilevitz.)
03/01/07 (Observers - Orrin Tilevitz.)
**********
Rob
@thecitybirder
Late posts for March 20
From yesterday, RED-NECKED GREBE still reported on the Lake, well into sunset per Adam Welz.
******
Note Merganser numbers
From Larry Zirlin:
******
Note Merganser numbers
From Larry Zirlin:
Larry
Zirlin observer March 20th,214
Hi
Peter,
Just got
back from the big city. Thanks for the Rusties. As I said, saw one, clearly,
that's all I need for my year list. The Common Mergansers were also on the lake
and the Red-necked Grebe I saw pretty clearly from that little lookout in the
southwest corner of the lake. Also 1 American Tree Sparrow along the
Lullwater.
the day's
list (I was moving fast, limited time to bird)
36 species
(+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose 100
Mute Swan 5
Wood Duck 4 Upper Pool
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 100
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 1
Northern Shoveler 10
Ring-necked Duck 3 Upper Pool
Hooded Merganser 15
Common Merganser 6 Lake, large, white-bodied mergansers with green heads on drakes, red heads on hens, much larger in comparison to RBME nearby. Continuing birds
Red-breasted Merganser 5
Ruddy Duck 26
Red-necked Grebe 1 Largish grebe with long, dagger-like bill. Black capped head. Lake. Continuing.
American Coot 10
Ring-billed Gull 50
Herring Gull 5
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 1
Mourning Dove 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Heard
Downy Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 8
American Crow 1 Heard
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
American Robin 125
European Starling 100
American Tree Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 4
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Rusty Blackbird 1 Only saw 1 of the 6 reported, in bush on side of Binnen Creek. Black bird, bill pointier than blackbird, no red epaulets, much smaller than grackle, bill smaller than grackle, pale iris. Continuing bird.
Common Grackle 15
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 20
Canada Goose 100
Mute Swan 5
Wood Duck 4 Upper Pool
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 100
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 1
Northern Shoveler 10
Ring-necked Duck 3 Upper Pool
Hooded Merganser 15
Common Merganser 6 Lake, large, white-bodied mergansers with green heads on drakes, red heads on hens, much larger in comparison to RBME nearby. Continuing birds
Red-breasted Merganser 5
Ruddy Duck 26
Red-necked Grebe 1 Largish grebe with long, dagger-like bill. Black capped head. Lake. Continuing.
American Coot 10
Ring-billed Gull 50
Herring Gull 5
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 1
Mourning Dove 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Heard
Downy Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 8
American Crow 1 Heard
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
American Robin 125
European Starling 100
American Tree Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 4
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Rusty Blackbird 1 Only saw 1 of the 6 reported, in bush on side of Binnen Creek. Black bird, bill pointier than blackbird, no red epaulets, much smaller than grackle, bill smaller than grackle, pale iris. Continuing bird.
Common Grackle 15
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 20
*************************
Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Mar 20, 2014 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
Comments: Evening. Breeze Hill, feeders, east & southern shore of Lake.
31 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) X inc. neck-collared individual NA03 black text on yellow collar
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) X
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) 3
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) X
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) (Anas rubripes x platyrhynchos) 1
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) 23
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) 2 south end of Lake
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) 12 probably more
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) 5 Seen near southern shore of Lake. Seen very well by multiple observers.
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) 1 possibly 3. Single male on Lake but 2 more mergansers seen flying up from Lake, seemed to be Red-breasted but flew in front of sun, views bad.
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) 18
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) 1 Seen well near north shore of Lake at about 18:50. This bird had been present for a few days and has been recorded by multiple observers.
American Coot (Fulica americana) 14
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) X dozens
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Domestic type)) 1
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 1 feeders
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 2 feeders
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 1 feeders
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 25
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) X
Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) 1 feeders
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 3
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 4
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) X
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 10
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) X
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17538138
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Thursday report from Adam Welz
Mar 20, 2014 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
Comments: Evening. Breeze Hill, feeders, east & southern shore of Lake.
31 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) X inc. neck-collared individual NA03 black text on yellow collar
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) X
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) 3
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) X
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) (Anas rubripes x platyrhynchos) 1
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) 23
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) 2 south end of Lake
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) 12 probably more
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) 5 Seen near southern shore of Lake. Seen very well by multiple observers.
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) 1 possibly 3. Single male on Lake but 2 more mergansers seen flying up from Lake, seemed to be Red-breasted but flew in front of sun, views bad.
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) 18
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) 1 Seen well near north shore of Lake at about 18:50. This bird had been present for a few days and has been recorded by multiple observers.
American Coot (Fulica americana) 14
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) X dozens
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Domestic type)) 1
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 1 feeders
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 2 feeders
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 1 feeders
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 25
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) X
Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) 1 feeders
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 3
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 4
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) X
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 10
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) X
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17538138
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Blooming Witch Hazel
Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love!
Sitting Bull, Sioux Medicine man and chief
The earliest blooming shrubs in Prospect regarding color, Witch Hazel at the Picnic House.
In the news :" chicken from Hell"
Fortunate we don't have to run into these nowadays...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/19/chicken-from-hell-dinosaur-anzu-wyliei_n_4980617.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/19/chicken-from-hell-dinosaur-anzu-wyliei_n_4980617.html
Fwd: redheads + bonus fox sparrow
In Greenwood Cemetery on first day of spring.photos by Orrin Tilevitz
--
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Spring sprung forth with good birds
The first day of spring sprung forth in Prospect with the continuing RED-NECKED GREBE, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, WOOD DUCKs ,holdovers from late winter's grasp; also a great bird for the area, REDHEAD Ducks in Greenwood Cemetery and a sure spring symbol with AMERICAN WOODCOCK.
The RED-NECKED GREBE still favors Prospect Lake, tucked in at the center of the lake , and especially nice to see it sleeping with three merganser species at that locale.COMMON, HOODED and a lone RED-BREASTED hen in almost side by side with each other . Rob Bate reported 19 HOODED off the Peninsula tip.
At Upper Pool, 12 WOOD DUCKs favor this spot along the back shore and the island.It was what I was able to see despite the dense snags perhaps hiding more.
And as the sun came out, I was delighted to see 6 RUSTY BLACKBIRDs next to the Osage Orange at north Nethermead, before they flushed back to the Binnen creek /pool area.
And last, Ed Crowne mentioned at my lunch break stop, an AMERICAN WOODCOCK at the north Payne Hill woods, near the Long Meadow. A later search proved fruitless, Timberdoodle gone astray by then.
A lone Killdeer at the Ballfields this morning with March roaring with its characteristic winds.
Orrin Tilevitz reported REDHEAD at Valley Waters, the first main pond in from the main cemetery entrance at 25th Stand 5th ave.Pics later.
--KB
Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY Mar 20, 2014 Protocol: Incidental 24 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 6
Wood Duck 12
American Black Duck 2
Mallard X
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 2
Northern Shoveler 4
Ring-necked Duck 3 Upper pool
Hooded Merganser 12
Common Merganser 5
Red-breasted Merganser 2
Ruddy Duck 21
Red-necked Grebe 1 Lake
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot X
Killdeer 6 Ball fields fence field 1 late afternoon
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Tufted Titmouse 1
American Robin 45
European Starling X
Dark-eyed Junco 5
Northern Cardinal X
Rusty Blackbird 6 Nethermead north
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17528689
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
The RED-NECKED GREBE still favors Prospect Lake, tucked in at the center of the lake , and especially nice to see it sleeping with three merganser species at that locale.COMMON, HOODED and a lone RED-BREASTED hen in almost side by side with each other . Rob Bate reported 19 HOODED off the Peninsula tip.
At Upper Pool, 12 WOOD DUCKs favor this spot along the back shore and the island.It was what I was able to see despite the dense snags perhaps hiding more.
And as the sun came out, I was delighted to see 6 RUSTY BLACKBIRDs next to the Osage Orange at north Nethermead, before they flushed back to the Binnen creek /pool area.
And last, Ed Crowne mentioned at my lunch break stop, an AMERICAN WOODCOCK at the north Payne Hill woods, near the Long Meadow. A later search proved fruitless, Timberdoodle gone astray by then.
A lone Killdeer at the Ballfields this morning with March roaring with its characteristic winds.
Orrin Tilevitz reported REDHEAD at Valley Waters, the first main pond in from the main cemetery entrance at 25th Stand 5th ave.Pics later.
--KB
Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY Mar 20, 2014 Protocol: Incidental 24 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 6
Wood Duck 12
American Black Duck 2
Mallard X
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 2
Northern Shoveler 4
Ring-necked Duck 3 Upper pool
Hooded Merganser 12
Common Merganser 5
Red-breasted Merganser 2
Ruddy Duck 21
Red-necked Grebe 1 Lake
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot X
Killdeer 6 Ball fields fence field 1 late afternoon
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Tufted Titmouse 1
American Robin 45
European Starling X
Dark-eyed Junco 5
Northern Cardinal X
Rusty Blackbird 6 Nethermead north
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17528689
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Crocus bloom
From the Midwood, spring bloom
And Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.
~Percy Bysshe Shelley, "The Sensitive Plant
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Miscellaneous
4 things to mention:
My Florida bird list is now up if anybody is interested ( some pics included, later more until i get a gallery server .MY Smugmug went kaput ),Its a temporary post
http://bbcprevioustripreports.blogspot.com/2014/03/personal-trip-list-florida-37-316.html
*************
Janet Schumacher sent me this link about Chickadees breeding
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/18/science/a-chickadee-mating-zone-surges-north.html?rref=science&module=Ribbon&version=origin®ion=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Science&pgtype=Blogs
*************
The feeders are in the stretch run. As mandatory I imposed in past years, spring equinox is the countdown deadline to last remaining seeds. Then they come down.
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and last . The New York Historical Society is about to open the Audubon Prints Part 2 gallery this friday.
here's the info
https://www.nyhistory.org/
Audubon’s Aviary: Parts Unknown (Part II of The Complete Flock)
Parts Unknown will consider Audubon as an established artist-naturalist, a world citizen, and a celebrity in an expanding nation—no longer the young Frenchman who created the “early birds” displayed in the first installment. This once-in-a-lifetime exhibition follows Audubon into unchartered territories—geographic, artistic, and scientific—as he encountered and mapped new species and grappled with the disappearing illusion of America’s infinite wilderness. It galvanized his awareness about the necessity of conserving species and habitats. Most of the watercolors in Parts Unknown (studies for Havell plates 176-305) depict water birds, many of which are among Audubon’s most spectacular and largest birds, with numerous studies begun during his southeastern explorations and on his Labrador Expedition.
· Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica), which Audubon witnessed during his trip to Labrador, an area known for its puffin colonies. Determined to illustrate the nesting behavior, he depicted one of the two adults head-on and foreshortened in its burrow to showcase its breeding plumage, and the other positioned on guard in profile to display its rainbow-colored beak. Audubon recounted that some puffins “flew past us with the speed of an arrow, others stood erect at the entrance of their burrows, while some withdrew within their holes.”
· Snowy Egret (Egretta thula), of which Audubon observed thousands arrive in Charleston, South Carolina, in March 1832, “in the marshes and rice fields, all in full plumage.” Audubon’s male model, in flamboyant breeding plumage executed in heavy gouache, measured twenty-two and a half inches in length to the end of its tail, but weighed a mere twelve ounces. The bird was over-hunted for its aigrettes, or tufted crest or head-plumes, and became endangered. Only strict conservation measures have restored it to its wetland habitats.
· Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), painted from a specimen that Audubon purchased as an injured adult female in Boston. Struggling for weeks with how to euthanize the bird in order to paint it, Audubon suffered a seizure from the stress, after which he spent two weeks drawing this eagle. Audubon represented it straining to carry off a hare in a complex composition based on a work by the Neoclassical painter Jacques-Louis David. Showing the eagle preying on the hare, the composition parallels how the artist preyed on the eagle, with his self-portrait dressed in buckskins and carrying a shot eagle in the lower left.
My Florida bird list is now up if anybody is interested ( some pics included, later more until i get a gallery server .MY Smugmug went kaput ),Its a temporary post
http://bbcprevioustripreports.blogspot.com/2014/03/personal-trip-list-florida-37-316.html
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Janet Schumacher sent me this link about Chickadees breeding
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/18/science/a-chickadee-mating-zone-surges-north.html?rref=science&module=Ribbon&version=origin®ion=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Science&pgtype=Blogs
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The feeders are in the stretch run. As mandatory I imposed in past years, spring equinox is the countdown deadline to last remaining seeds. Then they come down.
************
and last . The New York Historical Society is about to open the Audubon Prints Part 2 gallery this friday.
here's the info
https://www.nyhistory.org/
Audubon’s Aviary: Parts Unknown (Part II of The Complete Flock)
Audubon’s Aviary: Parts Unknown (Part II of The Complete Flock)
March 21 – May 26, 2014
OVERVIEW: Audubon’s Aviary: Parts Unknown (Part II of The Complete Flock) will offer an unprecedented opportunity to explore the evolution of John James Audubon’s watercolors in the order in which
they were engraved. The second in a multi-year series of three exhibitions, New-York Historical will showcase these masterpieces from its collection of Audubon’s preparatory watercolors for the sumptuous double
elephant-folio print edition of The Birds of America (1827–38). New-York Historical holds all 435 watercolor models for its 435 plates, engraved by Robert Havell Jr., plus an additional 39 avian watercolors by Audubon.
HIGHLIGHTS: Exhibition highlights will include the following species:
CURATOR: Dr. Roberta J.M. Olson, Curator of Drawings at the New-York Historical Society
ABOUT AUDUBON: During his lifetime John James Audubon was awarded many honors, including election to England’s prestigious Royal Society, the highest scientific honor of his era. He and Benjamin Franklin were the only American members until after the Civil War. Audubon is considered America’s first great watercolorist, and his ability to bring together science and art equally during the age of Romanticism reveals the range of his genius. It has only been in the last one hundred years, however, that his name has become solidly linked with efforts to preserve America’s wildlife and wilderness areas.
ABOUT N-YHS: The New-York Historical Society, one of America's pre-eminent cultural institutions, is dedicated to fostering research and presenting history and art exhibitions and public programs that reveal
the dynamism of history and its influence on the world of today. Founded in 1804, New-York Historical has a mission to explore the richly layered history of New York City and State and the country, and to serve as a
national forum for the discussion of issues surrounding the making and meaning of history.
SELECTED IMAGES: http://bit.ly/Aud2014
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