Spring World Migratory Bird Day Birdathon 2023 – Brooklyn Bird Club

http://brooklynbirdclub.org/event/spring-birdathon-2023/

We are excited to announce that the recipient of the 2023 World Migratory Bird Day Birdathon, which takes place Saturday May 13th, will be the NYC Plover Project https://nycploverproject.org/ ; Specifically, for this exciting opportunity with the Brooklyn Bird Club, they would look to launch an educational program for primary school children in the Rockaways, in concert with Birds Caribbean and local civic and primary education partners in Andros, Bahamas where many Atlantic population Piping Plovers spend their winters. Funds raised would go towards a seasonal coordinator in the Bahamas to work with 1-3 pilot schools in the Fall 2023 (off) season. This program would be multimedia and offer educational tools for the instructors to engage with students about the wintering and summering locations of the birds, further engaging school kids from both countries about endangered Piping Plovers.

For more info on this project and on how to participate in the Birdathon, please see our website calendar: http://brooklynbirdclub.org/event/spring-birdathon-2023/

Tweet from Jen Kepler (@JenKepler) volunteer for piping plovers

Jen Kepler (@JenKepler) tweeted at 2:18 PM on Sun, Apr 16, 2023:
Piping plovers need our help now, because the chicks will be here before we know it! Volunteer with @NycPlover this summer, it's a ton of fun and a heck of a privilege to see these families trying their best here in NYC! #birds #ploverlover

BirdCast - Bird migration forecasts in real-time

https://birdcast.info/

Prospects for any heightened migration the next few days is not rosy. But if you are patient you might seen single quality birds early in the week;
Like yesterday's Yellow throated warbler at Greenwood Cemetery's Horace Greely grave north of Sylvan Water

Tweet from Brooklyn Bird Alert (@BirdBrklyn) video of PP bittern

Brooklyn Bird Alert (@BirdBrklyn) tweeted at 2:22 PM on Fri, Apr 14, 2023:
How often do you see American Bittern scratching and preening itself. And look at those feet. At Prospect Park today. Video by Gus Keri. https://t.co/GPkAgOor61
(https://twitter.com/BirdBrklyn/status/1646941936886882317?t=eHVDMU-2DdAUCpYiShC0Ow&s=03) 

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

https://ebird.org/hotspot/L109516

69 species today

Same spot ,different day

As the saying goes lighting never strikes the same spot twice, a spot on the north side of Prospects Terrace Bridge has disproved that. This mornings American Bittern found by Max Epstein follows up the Yellow throated Warbler yesterday in the exact location.

The young season's third american bittern in our local area 2 now in Prospect, one in Greenwood is sort of ridiculous. Even more so ridiculous is the open view for a normally shy bird seen perched today visibly atop a small tree 150 feet north from the bridge along the west Lull water path.

In Greenwood two weeks ago, an American bittern was observed at the edge of Crescent water for several hours. Birders rejoice!

You never know with birds..

Enjoy the weekend.😎

--
"A flower blossoms for its own joy." — Oscar Wilde

Re: Thursday Walk in the sun

----
> From: Tom Stephenson <12toms@gmail.com>
> Date: Thu, Apr 13, 2023, 5:09 PM
> Subject: Thursday Walk in the sun
> To: Peter Dorosh <
>
> Hi Peter,
> We had a good group (maybe 35-40?) with several new faces on a beautiful (at first) then a rather hot day. Our bird of the day was an almost pure white Budgerigar. Actually it was (is??) countable, under some circumstances, as an ABA bird as there was (still is?) a naturalized population around St Petersburg in Florida. 
> Otherwise, some good birds including Winter Wren, Rusty Blackbird, 7 species of warblers including Louisiana Waterthrush (we couldn't find the Yellow-throated), Prairie Warbler (heard by Valerie), Marsh Wren (a unique subspecies named "Radka's Marsh Wren), American Kestrel and more.
> Here's the list along with a picture of the Budgie.
> Marisa will also send you a couple of nice shots of Palm Warbler, which was found in several places.
> Best regards,
> Tom
>
>
>
> Pied-billed Grebe
> Double-crested Cormorant
> Great Blue Heron
> Black-crowned Night-Heron
> Turkey Vulture
> Canada Goose
> Mute Swan
> Wood Duck
> Mallard
> Ruddy Duck
> Osprey
> Red-tailed Hawk
> American Kestrel
> American Coot
> Rock Dove
> Mourning Dove
> Belted Kingfisher
> Red-bellied Woodpecker
> Downy Woodpecker
> Northern Flicker
> Eastern Phoebe
> Blue-headed Vireo
> Blue Jay
> Black-capped Chickadee
> Tufted Titmouse
> White-breasted Nuthatch
> Brown Creeper
> Carolina Wren
> Winter Wren
> Marsh Wren
> Golden-crowned Kinglet
> Ruby-crowned Kinglet
> Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
> Hermit Thrush
> American Robin
> Northern Mockingbird
> European Starling
> Northern Parula
> Yellow-rumped Warbler
> Pine Warbler
> Prairie Warbler
> Palm Warbler
> Black-and-white Warbler
> Louisiana Waterthrush
> Chipping Sparrow
> Field Sparrow
> Song Sparrow
> Swamp Sparrow
> White-throated Sparrow
> Dark-eyed Junco
> Northern Cardinal
> Red-winged Blackbird
> Common Grackle
> Rusty Blackbird
> Brown-headed Cowbird
> American Goldfinch
> House Sparrow
> Budgerigar

--
"A flower blossoms for its own joy." — Oscar Wilde

Tweet from The Kingsboider (@BBCKingsbirds) Amer Bittern lullwater west

The Kingsboider (@BBCKingsbirds) tweeted at 9:17 AM on Fri, Apr 14, 2023:
American bittern above west lullwater path north side terrace bridge walk 150 ' .I'm looking at it now.
(https://twitter.com/BBCKingsbirds/status/1646865179689246721?t=_dfGrLoFMX8wtg1gYoIGEA&s=03) 

Thursdays hot bird

Matching the weather, springs annual appearance ( usually) of Yellow throated warbler happened this morning in Prospect.

First reported on the Peninsula by Brian, Forrest Wickman refound the bird singing in the Lull water on the east side of the Terrace Bridge.It didn't stay there as a few birders I asked passing by my worksite on well drive didn't see it.

Its likely around... ( I keep telling myself)

--
"A flower blossoms for its own joy." — Oscar Wilde

Fwd: Thursday Walk in the sun

Brooklyn bird club spring Thursday walks begin,led by Tom Stephenson

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Tom Stephenson <12toms@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Apr 13, 2023, 5:09 PM
Subject: Thursday Walk in the sun
To: Peter Dorosh <prosbird@gmail.com>

Hi Peter,

We had a good group (maybe 35-40?) with several new faces on a beautiful (at first) then a rather hot day. Our bird of the day was an almost pure white Budgerigar. Actually it was (is??) countable, under some circumstances, as an ABA bird as there was (still is?) a naturalized population around St Petersburg in Florida. 

Otherwise, some good birds including Winter Wren, Rusty Blackbird, 7 species of warblers including Louisiana Waterthrush (we couldn't find the Yellow-throated), Prairie Warbler (heard by Valerie), Marsh Wren (a unique subspecies named "Radka's Marsh Wren), American Kestrel and more.

Here's the list along with a picture of the Budgie.

Marisa will also send you a couple of nice shots of Palm Warbler, which was found in several places.

Best regards,

Tom

Pied-billed Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Turkey Vulture

Canada Goose

Mute Swan

Wood Duck

Mallard

Ruddy Duck

Osprey

Red-tailed Hawk

American Kestrel

American Coot

Rock Dove

Mourning Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Eastern Phoebe

Blue-headed Vireo

Blue Jay

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Carolina Wren

Winter Wren Marsh Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Hermit Thrush

American Robin

Northern Mockingbird

European Starling

Northern Parula

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Pine Warbler

Prairie Warbler

Palm Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

Louisiana Waterthrush

Chipping Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinal

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

Rusty Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Budgerigar

Tweet from Kathleen Toomey (@KingsKathy) prospect lake gw teals

Kathleen Toomey (@KingsKathy) tweeted at 10:57 AM on Wed, Apr 12, 2023:
Four green winged teals on lake
(https://twitter.com/KingsKathy/status/1646165625742450694?t=hT-YWjS0AF4clleVUqZYzg&s=03) 

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

https://ebird.org/hotspot/L109516

68 species today including purple finch blue headed video rusty black bird Louisiana waterthrush,pine warbler, etc

another good article

https://www.thecity.nyc/2023/3/27/23657268/climate-change-winter-parks-gardens

--

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

                                                                            --Carl Sagan

Tweet from Brooklyn Bird Alert (@BirdBrklyn) western tanager in park slope backyard. Alert!

Brooklyn Bird Alert (@BirdBrklyn) tweeted at 10:34 PM on Sat, Apr 08, 2023:
Congratulations to @zamiang on photographing a rare vagrant Western Tanager at a private feeder in Park Slope on Friday. The bird showed briefly and never returned.
(https://twitter.com/BirdBrklyn/status/1644891486444453889?t=Z_eZkVfffDPIky1F0oS1Qg&s=03) 

Tweet from Sam Gebauer (@radiohammy) gwc woodcock

Sam Gebauer (@radiohammy) tweeted at 10:03 AM on Sat, Apr 08, 2023:
American woodcock at the Dell Water in Green-wood Cemetery this morning @BirdBrklyn
(https://twitter.com/radiohammy/status/1644702561545379840?t=8sjY36oinO8jk7TtMGzvtQ&s=03) 

Tweet from Lotus Winnie Lee (@lotuswinnielee) Friday bwteals

Lotus Winnie Lee (@lotuswinnielee) tweeted at 0:49 AM on Sat, Apr 08, 2023:
Pair of Blue-winged Teal in Prospect Park Lake on Friday evening 4/7/2023. They are so adorable! #bluewingedteal #teal #birdwatching #wildlife https://t.co/kIIw1auRwI
(https://twitter.com/lotuswinnielee/status/1644563044284915714?s=03) 

Tweet from The Kingsboider (@BBCKingsbirds)

The Kingsboider (@BBCKingsbirds) tweeted at 10:22 AM on Sat, Apr 08, 2023:
Perched osprey prospect duck island
(https://twitter.com/BBCKingsbirds/status/1644707289826304000?t=c9hhCcdUdTvmpvhG6hcJYg&s=03) 

Yesterdays a gblue winged teals

A good bird for prospect lake, a pair of blue winged teals hung out at Three sisters islands. Later reports placed the pair off the Peninsula tip in the waters by Music Island , where one can view from the war memorial at Lefrak Rink.

When Will Spring Bird Migration Hit Its Peak? BirdCast Has Answers | All About Birds All About Birds

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/when-will-spring-bird-migration-hit-its-peak-birdcast-has-answers/ 

Tweet from RobBate (@robsbirder)blue wing teals at 3 sisters islands Prospect lake

RobBate (@robsbirder) tweeted at 2:39 PM on Fri, Apr 07, 2023:
Blue wing teals reported by 3 sisters:)
(https://twitter.com/robsbirder/status/1644409542850093099?t=qKQ-DYgGFJ6X-4qNrldSjw&s=03) 

Fwd: mystery birds out my window

I identified them as Yellow crowned night herons..in an unusual spot as migrating birds.( These birds like salt marshes where I usually see them)

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Cara McAteer <>
Date: Thu, Apr 6, 2023, 9:48 AM
Subject: mystery birds out my window
To: <prosbird@gmail.com>

Hi, I got your email from am online birding forum and hope you don't mind my bothering you.  I was hoping that as a birder you may know what the birds in the attached photos are.  I glanced out my window and saw these three birds I have never seen before and they've been there a few hours barely moving at all.  These birds are a little north of Prospect Park in a backyard on Prospect Place.  At first glance I thought I was seeing hawks based on the size but I never see three hawks together and the beaks and body profile are not hawklike.  I know the photo quality is not good but if you have any ideas of what these are I would the curious to know. 
Cara

Rare Brown Snake in Prospect

Found by my volunteer this morning during a weeding project.

DeKays Brown snake

You never know what you gonna find!

A disappearing act, glossy revelation

If you are one of those superstitious types,like me, about birds,yesterday's noontime experience was one of those moments.

Having lucked out looking for Prospects lake's common loon earlier, I tried my luck near lunchtime. From the west shore, I scanned the lake and I got the distant loon. But wanting a closer look at a breeding bird ,I started my work vehicle towards Three sisters islands.

Arriving, as my superstition expected, the bird is nowhere found. Despite ten minutes waiting and looking, the loon pulled a disappearing act.Birding is funny business you know?

Lunch beckons and I head back to my vehicle. Another looker through the islands and no dice.Then as I turned I instinctively looked up and lo behold, three Glossy Ibises are flying low over the islands,the flock heading southeast. Long legged slim dark ish black birds, this is my glossy revelation instead of a loon that's playing hide and seek with me. 😅

--
"A flower blossoms for its own joy." — Oscar Wilde

Tweet from The Kingsboider (@BBCKingsbirds) PPLake flyover glossy ibises

The Kingsboider (@BBCKingsbirds) tweeted at 11:44 AM on Tue, Apr 04, 2023:
3 glossy ibises flyover due SE 3 sisters islands Prospect lake .( While I was searching for comm loon)
(https://twitter.com/BBCKingsbirds/status/1643278465305649160?t=hz6eVIMhqimppulFdSFRog&s=03) 

Tweet from Kathleen Toomey (@KingsKathy) prospect lake C. loon

Kathleen Toomey (@KingsKathy) tweeted at 10:24 AM on Tue, Apr 04, 2023:
Common loon on the lake
(https://twitter.com/KingsKathy/status/1643258227881127938?t=LHb0hqmEWnlFAM2vkjdaoQ&s=03) 

Tweet from RobBate (@robsbirder) PPLake comm loon

RobBate (@robsbirder) tweeted at 3:04 PM on Mon, Apr 03, 2023:
Near breeding plumage Common Loon on PP Lake
(https://twitter.com/robsbirder/status/1642966420957831182?t=kDQcTV-pKu17jcToW2Jomw&s=03) 

Tweet from Elizabeth Paredes (@ElizabethP501) yesterday's bittern photo

Elizabeth Paredes (@ElizabethP501) tweeted at 9:54 PM on Sun, Apr 02, 2023:
#AmericanBittern early today by Crescent Water @GreenWoodHF https://t.co/UBioecJ3GX
(https://twitter.com/ElizabethP501/status/1642707108083777536?t=nizTh79OVu9NK04vaffNhw&s=03) 

American Bittern in greenwood cemtery

Facebook post from Janet Zinn:

"American Bittern in Green-wood Cemetery, Brooklyn today. At first it was right out in the open along Crescent Water--apparently for several hours. About an hour later, it had moved into a nearby bush, acting more bittern-like.  4/2/23"

Tweet from Elizabeth Paredes (@ElizabethP501) roughwinged swallow

Elizabeth Paredes (@ElizabethP501) tweeted at 4:50 PM on Fri, Mar 31, 2023:
Northern rough-winged Swallow today by Sylvan Water, @GreenWoodHF #roughwingedswallow https://t.co/eWkgFDUy5m
(https://twitter.com/ElizabethP501/status/1641905763596599299?t=R2s-XKT-IRH6F3sVAiCU8w&s=03) 

Tweet from Ed Crowne (@ecrowne) PP warblers

Ed Crowne (@ecrowne) tweeted at 11:33 AM on Sun, Apr 02, 2023:
Palm and Pine warblers and Louisiana Waterthrush in Prospect Park today.
(https://twitter.com/ecrowne/status/1642550710897090560?t=Lu_lFAb2GkivRa5i68AAmw&s=03) 

Tweet from Brooklyn Bird Alert (@BirdBrklyn) PPLake lbbg

Brooklyn Bird Alert (@BirdBrklyn) tweeted at 9:47 AM on Sat, Apr 01, 2023:
Lesser Black-backed Gull visits Prospect Park Lake every once in a while, for some spa treatment. Video by Gus Keri. https://t.co/OA7N5FZ3OK
(https://twitter.com/BirdBrklyn/status/1642161735816695808?t=15err-W8r5qy5xCZrNr_vQ&s=03) 

Tweet from Brooklyn Bird Alert (@BirdBrklyn) snipe at gwc Sylvan Water report

Brooklyn Bird Alert (@BirdBrklyn) tweeted at 0:52 PM on Sat, Apr 01, 2023:
A Wilson's Snipe was reported this morning at Sylvan Water in Green-Wood Cemetery.
(https://twitter.com/BirdBrklyn/status/1642208319828836352?t=Ewbam_BiDKAv5GA1tGA_xA&s=03) 

Tweet from Richard Nelson (@Richard36971987) yesterday's bittern

Richard Nelson (@Richard36971987) tweeted at 1:42 PM on Sat, Apr 01, 2023:
Prospect Park 03/31/23
American Bittern on Duck Island
Bramble and strong backlight a challenge
but aided by a rather stoic subject.
@BirdBrklyn https://t.co/sdG3dD8lLc
(https://twitter.com/Richard36971987/status/1642221003362258945?t=snTJcdBIRKMvcMJwH2xE1g&s=03) 

Tweet from Elizabeth Paredes (@ElizabethP501) yesterday s bluebird at greenwood cemetery Sylvan water

Elizabeth Paredes (@ElizabethP501) tweeted at 5:03 PM on Fri, Mar 31, 2023:
My First of the season #EasternBluebird early today by Silvan Water, @GreenWoodHF https://t.co/yabERRzJV0
(https://twitter.com/ElizabethP501/status/1641909084000591872?t=8ZD5dmheShMTdSe24eXm-A&s=03) 

Our book is on the way at last — and here are the early reviews – Flying Lessons

https://flyinglessons.us/2023/03/31/our-book-is-on-the-way-at-last-and-here-are-the-early-reviews/ 

Alerted by Kathy Willens about the book.. looks like a worthy read.