Driving up snowy East Drive

Sent from my MetroPCS 4G Android device

Great Backyard Bird Count

Today begins the Great Backyard Bird Count , 1st day of the 4 day period ( ends Monday)

See the previous post below for more details and posting numbers

--KB

Prospect Records ( not the snow.... that be birds)

AS promised now that my work office servers are back up , these are the records for Snow Bunting and Red Throated Loon , both rare species for Prospect Park. Snowy days are here, watch your step ( and your back), enjoy the beautiful scenery. Snowshoeing is a great delight in this deep snow.

Snow Bunting, last record Nov 2013, only 4 previous recs.

Snow Bunting      1     11/21/13    Breeze Hill

Snow Bunting      1     11/21/13    Nethermead

Snow Bunting      2     1/13/01     Three Sisters  Islands

Snow Bunting      1     11/3/46     Prospect Park

Snow Bunting      1     2/22/1914     Prospect Park

Red Throated Loon, last record April 2011,only prev 10 recs

Red-throated Loon 1     4/30/11     Prospect Lake

Red-throated Loon 1     4/30/11     Prospect Lake

Red-throated Loon 1     4/14/11     Vale/Rose Garden

Red-throated Loon 1     11/25/08    Three Sisters  Islands

Red-throated Loon 1     11/24/08    Prospect Lake

Red-throated Loon 1     11/23/08    Three Sisters  Islands

Red-throated Loon 1     11/23/08    Prospect Lake

Red-throated Loon 1     11/22/08    Three Sisters  Islands

Red-throated Loon 1     11/20/08    Prospect Lake

Red-throated Loon 1     11/19/08    Prospect Lake

Red-throated Loon 1     11/19/08    Prospect Lake

Red-throated Loon 1     11/19/08    Peninsula

Red-throated Loon 1     11/18/08    Prospect Lake

Red-throated Loon 1     11/17/08    Prospect Lake

Red-throated Loon 1     11/16/08    West Island

Red-throated Loon 1     11/16/08    West Island

Red-throated Loon 1     11/16/08    Prospect Lake

Red-throated Loon 1     10/16/07    Nethermead

Red-throated Loon 1     4/7/03      Prospect Lake

Red-throated Loon 1     2/25/03     Prospect Lake

Red-throated Loon 1     2/24/03     Prospect Lake

Red-throated Loon 1     2/23/03     Prospect Lake

Red-throated Loon 1     2/22/03     Prospect Lake

Red-throated Loon 1     2/21/03     Three Sisters  Islands

Red-throated Loon 1     5/16/02     Prospect Park

Red-throated Loon 1     4/2/00      Prospect Park

Red-throated Loon 2     5/10/47     Prospect Park

Red-throated Loon 1     5/4/47      Prospect Park

Red-throated Loon 1     4/25/47     Prospect Park

Red-throated Loon 1     4/20/42     Prospect Park

Red-throated Loon 1     5/10/38     Prospect Park

Fwd: prospect lake

Present as well later afternoon, pair HOODED MERGANSERS

-----Original Message-----
From: Karenohearn@
To: prosbird
Sent: Thu, Feb 13, 2014 12:00 pm
Subject: (no subject)

hey Peter,

I had a fast look at the open water from peninsula - around 2PM today - in the rain/sleet/wind.  Along with the regulars, there was a pair of RB Mergansers and this little Ruddy:

BBC evening program

Tonight's Brooklyn Bird Club evening program on American West has been CANCELED due to heavy snow storm 

Hopefully rescheduled at a later date

Subject: BBC Evening Program
From: Dennis Hrehowsik >
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2014 07:32:15 -0500
X-Message-Number: 1

Just a quick reminder to join the Brooklyn Bird Club tomorrow evening for
Heidi Steiner and Steve Nance's Presentation.

 The American Southwest: Utah and Nevada

Thursday, Feb 13 at the Litchfield Villa 6:30PM.

http://www.brooklynbirdclub.org/meetings.htm

Fwd: Prospect Park, this afternoon

----Original Message-----
From: kathleentoomey@
To: Peter Dorosh
Sent: Wed, Feb 12, 20
14 2:24 pm
Subject: Prospect Park, this afternoon

date = 2014/02/13  site = Prospect Park  observers = Kathy Toomey   

Northern Shoveler   

American Black Duck 

  Canada Goose   

Ring-necked Duck   one male, two females

  Red-breasted Merganser   

Common Merganser 

  Ruddy Duck   

Mute Swan

   Mallard  

 Red-tailed Hawk 

  American Kestrel  

 American Coot 

  Ring-billed Gull  

 Rock Pigeon 

  Downy Woodpecker   

Red-bellied Woodpecker 

  American Crow  

 Blue Jay   Black-capped Chickadee  

 Hermit Thrush   close to Terrace Bridge

  Brown Thrasher   behind the fence near the Osage Orange tree 

 European Starling   White-throated Sparrow  

 Song Sparrow 

  Dark-eyed Junco 

  Northern Cardinal  

 Red-winged Blackbird  

 House Finch  

 American Goldfinch

   House Sparrow 

The Great Backyard Bird Count

It begins this Friday. Regardless where you are,  




                             .........count the birds! ( not just your backyard;anywhere )

For more details and the reporting form ,go to

                           http://gbbc.birdcount.org

BBC Thursday evening program is a go

With the coming storm, the word is the Brooklyn Bird Club evening program at the Litchfield Villa is going FORTH as planned Feb 13th. 630 pm.

the topic is Steve and Heidi Nanz American west trip.

See the link. http://www.brooklynbirdclub.org/meetings.htm

Per Kathy T: Common and red breasted mergs on prospect lake

Ducks on Lake,NY Times article

On my snowshoe commute home from work, I noted a drake RING NECKED DUCK joined the continuing drake RED BREASTED MERGANSER along with the usual assortment lot on Prospect Lake

*************

Of interest to Jamaica Bay birders, the NY Times came out with a piece on the Jamaica Bay WEST POND which still is a salt lagoon, the breach cause by storm Sandy never repaired and the trail truncated. See more about the delay and funds that was an issue As well as the US parks wrestling with this breach problem.West Pond bird diversity has declined from sources reporting in past.A proposal put forth by NY Audubon is covered in the article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/11/nyregion/environmental-group-proposes-options-for-breached-pond-at-jamaica-bay.html?ref=science&_r=0

Delayed records search

Due to server problems here at work, the bird records search for yesterday's Red Throated Loon and Friday's Snow Bunting will be delayed for awhile..When Its back, will post.

Where am i?

Seen late in the day last week,an odd spot for this canada goose with the tennis house behind.it stayed until a passerby got "too close" and the goose flew.Wild Birds fly,missus.

 

Sent from my MetroPCS 4G Android device

CBS news extreme bird feeding leads to a ban

In Hempstead:

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/video/9803182-new-law-bans-extreme-backyard-bird-feeding/

Bird biologists and animal experts  like to discourage wildbird waterfowl feeding due to unsanitary conditions created and avian addictions. Disease (avian flu, botulism from dense flocks) and human imprinting are some results

See this excellent link why. http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7001.html

Prospect Sunday excellent sightings

Today's hi lights are continuing RED BREASTED MERGANSER, BROWN THRASHER,RUSTY BLACKBIRD, murder of AMERICAN CROWS not seen for numbers of late, and a rare RED THROATED LOON ,seen flying low from typical high loon flyovers.


From Rob Bate:

-----Original Message-----
From: robsbate@
To: Peter Dorosh
Sent: Sun, Feb 9, 2014 11:54 am
Subject: PP Sunday

Hi Peter,

There was good activity in spots today.  The feeders had the usual suspects and the lake hole by the Penninsula also the usual gang.  The Red-breasted Merganser was there and by my photo it appears his upper bill tip is broken off which somehow may account for his continued presence.

Other birds of note.  40 Crows gathered and flying around Quaker Cemetery hill but no sign of an owl or hawk drawing their attention.  Brown Thrasher in woods by path on the west side of Three Arches Bridge.  Rusty Blackbird feeding with sparrows and Red-wings on path from Breeze Hill to Lakeside.  As I was leaving the park I saw a Red-throated Loon flying over the park.

Hope you survived snow duty ok,

Rob

******************

A Twitter tweet from Dennis H, reported rare RED THROATED LOON. Along with Bobbi Manian, the loon was observed not too high , just a bit above the trees of the southern Lake shore where it made several circuits but never descended, obviously due to lack of open water .A terrific sighting for the park.Records search tomorrow.

***********************

Over in Greenwood Cemetery,the RED HEADED WOODPECKER continues at the beginning of Battle Ave, per Rob Jett's Twitter tweet

Fwd: snow bunting

From Karen O'

-----Original Message-----
From: Karenohearn@
To: prosbird
Sent: Fri, Feb 7, 2014
Subject: snow bunting

hey Peter,

here's two photos of Kathy T's pretty great Snow Bunting.  I have been crazy to seen one.   Kathy very generously waited until I got there, and the Bunting very conveniently flew in again just as I arrived.

best,

karen

If there is snow..theres got to be a bunting!

My tracks up Payne Hill

I had embarked on a snowshoe adventure in the park ,much along into my tour when I get a text from Kathey Toomey.At Long Meadow,near the edge of the ballfields, she was watching a very rare SNOW BUNTING !

This Snow Bunting sighting was about 330 this afternoon.Unfortunately for me I left work early, at 3 than my usual 330 ,eager to get into my snowshoeing and my homeward "commute".The Bunting hung around close to under an hour...

I did get to see the continuing RED BREASTED MERGANSER where it stuck around for the third consecutive day at Prospect Lake. More interesting, 14 AMERICAN CROWS --call this murder ?-- were right above the waterfowl flock, cawing and chattering noisily atop first the ginko then the big mulberry.I thought they had an owl but that wasn't to be.

Winter is great for birds and recreation...An exhausting work week trumped by the double pleasure of xc skiing and snowshoeing in the same week  for me, that rarely happens in NYC.

My tracks across southern Nethermead

form Matthew Will:

Hey, Peter

I took a brief walk in the park today, highlights were 15 Am. crows, haven't seen this many at one time in BK for a while, and a female Rusty BB. Four unleashed dogs beat me to the waterfowl at the open water by the Peninsula, unfortunately.

Frm kathy t: Peter! I just saw a snow bunting in Prospect Park. Along the path between the Great Meadow and the Ballfields

Snowshoe commute

Commuting home from work ,tennis house in prospect. Whats next ? Hmmm,maybe snowmobile

 

Sent from my MetroPCS 4G Android device

Fwd: park this morning

-----Original Message-----
From: Karenohearn
To: prosbird
Sent: Thu, Feb 6, 2014 2:57 pm
Subject: park this morning

hey Peter,

there were 10 Cardinals in one tree at the feeders this morning.  made up for the fact that trudging there was near impossible. 

best,

karen

RB Merg

In treacherous icy Prospect, the RED BREASTED MERGANSER continues in Prospect Lake, aheads up from Bob O'Neill who alerted me and we both watched the drake.

Miserable weather, merganser trio completed

Red breasted Merganser, photo by Klemens Gasser

It was simply miserable out there this morning...working a very early shift under freezing rain while pine boughs were breaking from heavy soaked snow resting on them, birding took a holiday .I even lost a boot, casualty of ice and water, with later the best line for humor from my boss when he repeated my line  "I LOST MY SOLE". ( I think you get it..no halo yet for me)

As I mentioned yesterday , with bad weather, the lake might be yielding opportunities with arrivals or rare birds. That happened this mid afternoon.From my distance on lake drive, I saw something in the only remaining open water in Prospect Lake. Obviously, a closer look was needed. Among the close knit waterfowl array, a drake RED BREASTED MERGANSER dove incessantly.This species completes the merg trio seen this past week after Hooded and Common. After a really miserable day with frostbite and backbreaking work, a Red breasted Merganser helps warm the spirit.

Oh, since you might have heard on this blog my cross country skiing adventures in Prospect, during a TV interview yesterday with CUNY with Rob B, Tom S and Bobbi M present, Bobbi snapped this picture of me on the Peninsula, with the lake behind me. This was after work, my unique commute yesterday.Thanks to Bobbi for the great photo.

Stay warm ( & DRY!)

Drake RED BREASTED MERGANSER Prospect lake peninsula shore open water

more snow

Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it

                                                           --Mark Twain 

Grin and bear it,more coming. But its not much tomorrow ( but Sunday nite a different story)

In any case, its worthwhile to check the lake and feeders...........

New early 2014 Brooklyn Bird Club eve programs

Mark your calendars for the dates BBC has it evening programs

Next week February 13th is the first one,    Steve and Heidi's trip to the American Southwest

http://www.brooklynbirdclub.org/meetings.htm

Thursday, February 13th, 6:30 P.M. The American Southwest: Utah and Nevada Presenters: Steve Nanz and Heidi Steiner

Heidi Steiner and Steve Nanz will present a photographic journal of their spring 2013 trip to the national parks and monuments of southern Utah and Nevada, including Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, as well as other nature preserves and conservation areas. Heidi, a retired art and photography teacher, is an accomplished photographer of urban street life and natural scenery, while Steve is well known in the New York community for his wonderful bird and insect photography. Come journey with them through the spectacular scenery and wildlife of our American Southwest.

Prospect Lake ducks

From Karen O'Hearn:

Hey Peter,

7:30 this a.m, i wasn't able to locate the Ring-necked Duck from last night, but 4 Hoodies and 1 Common Merganser, and 1 female Bufflehead were present with the Coots, Ruddies, Mallards, & Shovelers.

best,

Karen

*******
hen BUFFLEHEAD continued late this afternoon,with 4 HOODED MERGANSERS.Prospect Lake

Snowbound ducks

The snows blanketed Prospect Park and provide beautiful scenery in that I took many pictures with my phone, some of the lake. Huddling together , ducks revealed some better moments in the waning snowfall. I found two species of interest near the Peninsula shore, by ladder 18.

Deep snow slowed my movement on the peninsula meadow, but the good ducks weren't going any where. Right near the shore, 5 floating HOODED MERGANSERS stayed close together, two drakes and three hens among some RUDDY DUCKS.But right behind, unsurprisingly for their wild disposition,a drake RING NECKED DUCK sailed along the ice edge. Shovelers stayed active in several spots with sleeping Canada Geese on the ice.

Tonight I went cross country skiing, the opportunity arose with new soft ,yet deep snow; its far better depth for snowshoeing, but what the heck, I skied anyway.

--kb

Seve Nanz reported 4 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS at his home backyard feeder per Heidi's observation.This is just southwest of Bartel Pritchard Square.

Neal Frumpkin reported the hardy RED HEADED WOODPECKER at Greenwood Cemetery as usual, along Battle Avenue.Snow isn't an issue for this bird.See Neal's photo below ( copy only if you cant see it)

BBG report

From Dennis, covering Bklyn Botanic Garden

Peter,

Kristin and I took a weekend off of birding to do a little casual bird watching. Please find today's BBG list below. Highlights included 4 chipping sparrows. we also obs a red tailed hawk in the peregrine's usual spot on the antenna. the falcon has found a new perch atop the elevator shaft of the Tivoli Towers where it could be observed harassing the resident piegons.

see you in the field,

dennis

Location,location..location

In a most exciting discovery in Brooklyn, one I just found out this week, a new Brooklyn location that offers a rare vantage into NYC harbor from the northwest shoreline dominated by industrial facilities, best known as Bush Terminal and the Army Terminal. This vast section was restricted and off limits to the public forever.
And thanks to Karen O'Hearn for the tip with her early report of Red Necked Grebe that led me to find out more about this spot.

The exciting new location is a duck haven for diversity,particularly for today. Its the Pier 4 massive drive in dock at 58 th street, behind the Brooklyn Army Terminal.There we spotted and refound RED NECKED GREBE, by the pilings to the east.

For ducks, the number of species seen by me and Mary Eyster was a dozen, equaling the total I saw on my BBC trip around Jamaica Bay last Sunday. One spot, us stationary most of the time, 12 species.Go figure. Best among the quack lot was a drake REDHEAD on the west side of pier 4,hanging out with some GREATER SCAUP.Other nice ducks was close in LONGTAILED DUCKs and farther by the pilings,our RNGrebe spot a first winter COMMON GOLDENEYE. Will Pollard whom we ran into as well, just new to this pier that serves as a NYC Taxi Ferry dock, reported EURASIAN WIGEON, the same bird visiting the Veterans Pier on the other side of the Sanitation treatment plant.13 species ducks then.One spot...awesome.

See the list below that included other waterfowl,including loons for 19 total waterfowl species.

Great to see this spot and hoping future good vibes.Its not often to see Brooklyn birders gain a potential treasure.

To get here, by car go to 1st Ave to make a right on 58th, just before the Brooklyn Army Terminal entrance. Also could do from 2 nd Ave,right on 58th.Follow signs for Sea streak Ferry. By train,take the N or R to 59th Street stop, walk I presume 4 or 5 blocks west.The elevated highway can be seen for landmark.

date = 2014/02/02
site= BROOKLYN ARMY TERMINAL PIER 4
observers = Peter D,Mary E

Note 19 waterfowl species

Red-throated Loon 
Red-necked Grebe 
Double-crested Cormorant 
Great Cormorant 
Northern Shoveler 
Bufflehead 
Gadwall 
American Black Duck 
Canada Goose 
Redhead 
Common Goldeneye 
American Wigeon 
Long-tailed Duck 
Greater Scaup 
Red-breasted Merganser 
Ruddy Duck 
Mallard 
American Coot 
Great Black-backed Gull 
Ring-billed Gull 
Herring Gull 
Rock Pigeon 

Red head duck drake west of pier 4 @ 58th st bklyn army term.10 + duck species

Eurasian wigeon w.Amer reported earlier by Will pier 4 Army terminal

Red necked grebe east of pier 4 @ 58th st bklyn.access st right of army term ent.follow Seastreak ferry signs

Happy Groundhog Day

Greetings from the groundhog!

(Sorry, I have to confess I want 6 more weeks of winter)

And......enjoy Super Bowl Sunday..I presume rooting for the bird is a better option.Go Seahawks!

( latest news early this morning from Puxatawney Phil in Pennsylvania: 6 MORE WEEKS OF WINTER!)

Prospect report including high likelihood Goshawk

From Joshua Malbin:

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY Feb 1, 2014 2:46 PM - 4:56 PM Protocol: Traveling 1.0 mile(s) Comments: Submitted from BirdLog NA for Android v1.9.3 24 species

Canada Goose 11
Mute Swan 10
 Wood Duck 4in the only patch of open, running water between the upper and lower pools. 3 males, 1 female.
 American Black Duck 8
Mallard 130
Northern Shoveler 30
Ruddy Duck 3

 Northern Goshawk 1
supercilium, mottled back, and very long, narrow, banded tail. According to allaboutbirds, Cooper's immature should also have a white terminal band, which I did not see. This would be my first, though, so I am not 100% sure. I have photos by Peter Colen I can send which show the lighter supercilium, but the main thing was the size.
40.6635, -73.9720

KB ADDENDUM: after viewing photos, the identity of the " Gos " has been downgraded to Coopers Hawk,  yesterdays specimen a large juvenile bird. More later on identifying the juvenile birds, best confirmed thru tail field marks and photos of this bird part

Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot 15
Ring-billed Gull 200
Herring Gull 15
Mourning Dove 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 2
American Robin 50
European Starling X
 Fox Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 30
 Northern Cardinal 2
House Finch 4
House Sparrow X

KB note Goshawk pending photo

World Wetlands Day

Not to be "over SHADOWED" by a furry rodent, February 2nd is World   Wetlands Day..visit a wetland or watershed  and appreciate this particular type of habitat,often very rich areas for wildlife.

http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-activities-wwds/main/ramsar/1-63-78_4000_0__

Snowy Owl NY Times

yep..they are even getting in the NY Times...

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/01/us/influx-of-snowy-owls-thrills-and-baffles-birders.html?hp&_r=1