Red headed woodpecker still at battle n arbor road intersect area,above Miller grave GWCEM

New Year Greetings

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow: 

The year is going, let him go; 

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

-- Lord Tennyson 

The Kingsboider wishes all :

 

.......good fortune, good health ,and the best of birding adventures !

Snowy Owl picture of the year..

So many Snowy Owls this year,even one trying to start my car.....

Happy New Year..may 2014 be a blessed and humorous one.. 

Greenwood Cemetery report; Grackle note

From Orrin Tilevitz

Green-Wood Cemetery this morning

Canada geese (about 50)
Peregrine falcon
Red-tailedhawk
Downy woodpecker
Red-bellied woodpecker
Red-headed woodpecker (juvenile) (continues across from crematorium)
Yellow-bellied sapsucker
Black-capped chickadee (2)
American goldfinch (1 flock)
Song sparrow
White-throated sparrow
Dark-eyed junco (many)
Mourning dove
Northern cardinal
Blue jay
ring-billed gull
Monk parakeet

****

At lunch time, I spotted about 275 COMMON GRACKLEs on the 9th St bandshell lawn. Must be an early New Year celebration for them.

--KB

Peter's incidental list

date = 2013/12/31
site = Prospect Park
observers = peter d
Northern Shoveler ~265 Lake
American Black Duck 2 lake
Canada Goose 
Hooded Merganser 7 Lake
Ruddy Duck 8 Lake
Mute Swan 
Mallard 
Red-tailed Hawk flyover Lake
American Coot 10 Lake
Great Black-backed Gull 2 Lake
Ring-billed Gull 
Herring Gull 
Rock Pigeon 
Mourning Dove 
Blue Jay 2
White-throated Sparrow 1 feeders
Song Sparrow west shore lake
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 16 feeders
Common Grackle 275 Bandshell lawn
House Finch 12 feeders
House Sparrow feeders

Red headed woodpecker cont.Battle/Arbor rds area n GWCEM per Orrin

Iceland Gull Prospect records

The last time an Iceland Gull visited Prospect Park occurred almost 13 years ago, February 2nd 2001 (Obs GD). The bird was an adult/winter, seen also on Prospect Lake

Last Thursday's bird was the 8th record







Records

Iceland Gull      1     2/2/01      Prospect Lake

Iceland Gull      1     1/31/01     Prospect Park

Iceland Gull      1     4/14/70     Prospect Park

Iceland Gull      1     4/14/70     Prospect Park

Iceland Gull      1     5/10/63     Prospect Park

Iceland Gull      1     5/19/57     Prospect Park

Iceland Gull      1     5/18/57     Prospect Park

Iceland Gull      1     5/17/57     Prospect Park

Iceland Gull      1     5/16/57     Prospect Park

Iceland Gull      1     5/15/57     Prospect Park

Iceland Gull      1     5/14/57     Prospect Park

Iceland Gull      1     5/13/57     Prospect Park

Iceland Gull      1     5/12/57     Prospect Park

Iceland Gull      1     5/11/57     Prospect Park

Iceland Gull      1     5/10/57     Prospect Park

Iceland Gull      1     5/9/57      Prospect Park

Iceland Gull      1     3/9/57      Prospect Park

Iceland Gull      1     12/29/56    Prospect Park

Iceland Gull      1     5/7/50      Prospect Park

Iceland Gull      1     4/23/50     Prospect Park

Iceland Gull      1     12/6/47     Prospect Park

Mushrooms ..actually fungus identified

You probably saw this photo awhile ago, my pics taken inside the Ravine of unidentified fungus mushrooms.I took the step of asking a mushroom expert who got back to me today. they are TURKEY TAILS fungus....so mystery solve ( nice to have turkeys in the Prospect woods)

See Mr Kuo's email:

From: michael@mushroomexpert.com

To: prosbird Sent: Mon, Dec 30, 2013 6:34 am Subject: Re: Brooklyn Fungus identity request

Peter,

Thanks for your e-mail. Sorry for the long delay in responding. I see two different mushrooms in your photos:

http://mushroomexpert.com/stereum_ostrea.html

. . . and:

http://mushroomexpert.com/trametes_versicolor.html

Best wishes,

Michael

_________________________

Dr. Michael Kuo michael@mushroomexpert.com www.mushroomexpert.com

Fwd: Green-Wood Cemetery; Red-headed Woodpecker still there

From Tom Preston :

-----Original Message-----
From: tom
To: Peter Dorosh
Sent: Mon, Dec 30, 2013 2:11 pm
Subject: Green-Wood Cemetery; Red-headed Woodpecker still there

Peter

Jo Ann and I went to Greenwood today. Our report is at the following link:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16130612

Best Wishes

Tom

http://bg.aba.org/issue/216642/37

http://bg.aba.org/issue/216642/37

RE: WINTER birding dressing 

Anniversary of a great conservation law

Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act signed; into law by President Richard Nixon December 28th,1973

With this law, even the Whooping Crane was pulled from the brink of extinction among others the Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon,species we take for granted today.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_Species_Act_%281973%29

a video of ravens

There hasn't been much reported lately even as I got back from the Philadelphia area after a few days Xmas vacation. My friend Patti O'k sent me this video of ravens playing in the snow...smart guys knowing when to have fun

http://www.arkive.org/raven/corvus-corax/video-16

RHWP continues at GWC

RED HEADED WOODPECKER continues at Greenwood Cemetery. See the NYSBIRD LISTSERVE POST

Subject: Red-headed Woodpecker at Green-wood Cemetery, Brooklyn
Date: Thu Dec 26 2013 12:43 pm From: tristanlowery

Currently viewing an immature Red-headed Woodpecker feeding in a tree just uphill from the intersection of Arbor and Battle (plot 109 on the cemetery map) in Green-wood Cemetery, Brooklyn.

Tristan LoweryAlbany, NY Sent from my Virgin Mobile phone. --NYSbirds-L List Info:

Tweet from Dennis Hrehowsik (@deepseagangster)

Dennis Hrehowsik (@deepseagangster) tweeted at 0:57 PM on Thu, Dec 26, 2013:
Iceland Gull still on lake as of 12:45 but gulls nervous and keep reshuffling.
(https://twitter.com/deepseagangster/status/416266547393331200)

Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download

ICELAND GULL on Prospect Lake

Doug Gochfeld reported now ICELAND GULL on Prospect Lake, best vantage from Three Sisters Islands area, i presumed the rare gull in the flock of usual gulls.Scope may be required.

Iceland Gull is a white winged gull , today's bird is a juvenile.

-KB

Note here's a helpful link to see what to look for

http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/iceland_gull

********

More details from Sean Sime who posted to nys birds list serve

Doug Gochfeld asked me to post he is currently looking at a juvenile
Iceland Gull on the lake in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

The bird was initially spotted from the peninsula, but is closest to the
red rescue ladder near Three Sisters Islands.

Cheers,

Sean Sime
Brooklyn, NY
- See more at: http://birding.aba.org/mobiledigest/NY01#588377

Regards KB ( stuck in Philadelphia :-\  )

Juv. iceland gull prospect lake. near 3 sisters island. Per doug g.

Please donate to Audubon's CBC

Since Audubon no longer asks mandatory donations in supporting their Christmas

Bird Count which was the customary $5 then, please support to keep the count going. You should mention Brooklyn Bird Club Kings County Circle if you participated in it.[ you can send a note to  cbcadmin@audubon.org citing your amount and BBC status or Brooklyn birder .I already got a hearty thank you from the CBC program director]

Here are excerpts of the letter from National Audubon

From: <cbcadmin@audubon.org> Date: Tue, Dec 10, 2013 at 2:46 PM

 Subject: If You Love the CBC. . .

The 114 th Christmas Bird Count

Dear CBC Compiler,

Thanks to you ........ there has never been a larger, more passionate or diverse community of citizen scientists working under Audubon's umbrella. Last holiday season bird watchers came out in record numbers to count birds to participate in Audubon's Christmas Bird Count - more than 70,000 people joined 2,369 count circles to take part in what may be the longest running animal census on the planet.

We hope you'll help keep the Christmas Bird Count alive and well by encouraging support from this year's participants. Below is a link to a printable letter that we hope you will share with those in your count circle. You can also just forward this email to those people that care about the Christmas Bird Count.

The Christmas Bird Count relies 100% on donations to manage the historic database and to fund the technology to make that vital and historic data available to researchers. And this year we are making it easy to give.

Just print out this donation form, http://birds.audubon.org/documents/114th-cbc-printable-donation-form and send it with a check to the address indicated on the form.

Or, go online and submit your credit card donation by using our secure form at www.audubon.org/supportcbc

You can also use your phone to quickly text a $10 donation to support this important work. Simply text CBC to 50555 to donate $10 to National Audubon Society. 100% of your gift will be used to support the Christmas Bird Count. (Charges will appear on your wireless bill, or be deducted from your prepaid balance. All purchases must be authorized by account holder. Must be 18 years of age or have parental permission to participate. Message and Data Rates May Apply. Text STOP to 50555 to STOP. Text HELP to 50555 for HELP. Full Terms: mGive.org/T. Privacy Policy for text to donate: https://mgive.org/privacy.aspx)

We hope you will help us reach the broadest possible audience and encourage donations to help keep this important work alive and make sure that the CBC will continue to inform ornithologists and conservation biologists about how the birds of the Americas are faring today - and far into the future.

Thanks again for your passion and dedication.

Sincerely,

Geoff LeBaron Director, Audubon Christmas Bird Count cbcadmin@audubon.org http://birds.audubon.org/documents/114th-cbc-printable-donation-form

Please note our address has changed: Audubon Science 2300 Computer Ave, Suite I-49 Willow Grove, PA 19090

cbcadmin@audubon.org Phone: 302-858-0724

The Christmas Bird Count is now free to participate. Visit www.christmasbirdcount.org to find out more. Please consider donating to support the CBC.

“In the beginning was simplicity.''

http://pterodroma.tumblr.com/

Abie Borker who filmed the Antarctica video ( the first posting in Abie's blog) is the son of Greenwood Cemetery's premier longtime birder Joe Borker

Christmas Day sightings

From Chris Elliot:

Merry Christmas, Peter. One American Tree Sparrow was a good bird for this morning at the feeders. Chris

From Orrin :

Green-Wood Cemetery this morning.

Highlight were a dozen or so American robins. Other fauna:

Red-tailed hawk (picture attached)
Blue jays (some pursuing aforesaid hawk)
Mourning dove
 Black-capped chickadee
 Red-bellied woodpecker
Yellow-bellied sapsucker
Ring-billed gull
Canada goose
White-throated sparrow
Dark-eyed junco
 Northern cardinal

From Keir Randall:

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY Dec 25, 2013 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Protocol: Traveling 2.0 mile(s) 28 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose 6
Mute Swan 5 Mallard 14
Northern Shoveler 110
Hooded Merganser 8
Ruddy Duck 9
American Coot 7
 Ring-billed Gull 200
Herring Gull 8 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 16
Mourning Dove 13
 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2
 Downy Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 5
crow sp. 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
European Starling 25
 American Tree Sparrow 2 Feeders
Fox Sparrow (Red) 2
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 14
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 2
Northern Cardinal 13
Red-winged Blackbird 4
Rusty Blackbird 3 Continuing at the Nethermead near Binnen water. I need to study up on ageing and sexing this species but I think it's 1 male already in alternate (all blue/ black) with 2 males in basic.
House Finch 17
 American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 15

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16074565
******************
From Adam Welz:

took a while to file this, but here's my list from a walk across the Park on Christmas Day.

Cheers!

Adam

---------- Forwarded message ----------From: <do-not-reply@ebird.org> Date: Fri, Dec 27, 2013 at 4:57 PM Subject: eBird Report - Prospect Park, Dec 25, 2013 To: adamwelz@

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY Dec 25, 2013 11:45 AM - 12:30 PM Protocol: Traveling 2.0 mile(s) Comments: Cold, walked across park from Lincoln Rd, via Lullwater, past feeders and Lake, out at SW corner. 24 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) X
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) X
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) 3
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) X
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) X prob over 100 birds
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) 8
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) 1
American Coot (Fulica americana) X many
 Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) X approx 600 birds
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) X less than 5 birds
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 8
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 2
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 1
 Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 4
 Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 2
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 24
 American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 1
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) X 30+

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16093759

Christmas Greetings !

The Kingsboider wishes all Christmas greetings and festive holy days.

Yellow morph House Finch seen at feeders

What was assumed a Serin is actually a House Finch.

Thanks to Karen getting the photo



-----Original Message-----
From: Karenohearn
To: prosbird
Sent: Tue, Dec 24, 2013 9:07 am
Subject: (no subject)

hey Peter.

you suggested i send my possible Serin photos to Steve N. but i don't have his contact info.  anyway, here they are if anyone's interested or if you want to forward them to him.

happy holidays, 

karen

Some Holiday notes

Note so far for the incredible irruption about Snowy Owl which is a gift for many birders this winter

http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/gotsnowies2013/

and for those who celebrate Christmas

http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/was-the-christmas-star-real

***

The preliminary species list total for Prospect Park 2013 stands at 192 with September thru December records yet to be entered... 

Possible Serin at PP feeders per steve n.

Prospect

From Keir Randall

Prospect Park, Kings, US-NY
Dec 23, 2013 2:45 PM - 4:15 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
23 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose 2
Mute Swan 5
Wood Duck 2 Upper Pool
American Black Duck 5
Mallard 30
American Black Duck x

Mallard (hybrid) 1
Northern Shoveler 80
Ruddy Duck 5
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot 6
Ring-billed Gull 200 Mostly on baseball fields
Herring Gull 3
Mourning Dove 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 7
Tufted Titmouse 1
European Starling 8
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 6
Northern Cardinal 3
Red-winged Blackbird 14
Rusty Blackbird 3 Feeding together on ground on the Nethermead at Binnen water end.
<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/22689183@N00/11524345154/player/1f812a9ef9" height="375" width="500" frameborder="0"></iframe>
House Sparrow X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16058021

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebi

Fwd: GWC RHWP

-----Original Message-----
From: orrin
To: Peter Dorosh
Sent: Sun, Dec 22, 2013 10:38 am
Subject: GWC

Green-Wood Cemetery this morming

Mallard duck

American black duck (partly)

Red-headed woodpecker, juvenile (picture attached)

Red-bellied woodpecker

Yellow-bellied sapsucker

Black-capped chickadee

Dark-eyed junco

Northern cardinal

Northern mockingbird

European starling

Ring-billed gull

Redhead wp back same tree by greenwood cemetery main gate 25th per Orrin

Rusty BB & GWC report

From Klemens:

Dear Peter, our 3 wonderful Rusty Blackbirds are still around. This morning feeding at the phragmites across wellhouse enjoying the warm weather. Attached is a photo and more on my webpage http://klemensgasser.smugmug.com/Rusty-Blackbirds-Prospect-Park and here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gasserberlin/11484538533/in/photostream/

Warm regards, Klemens


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

Greenwood Cemetery , Tom Preston

Jo Ann and I had an enjoyable birding visit to Green-wood Cemetery today.

This was a much more relaxing experience for me than last weekend, when I participated in the Christmas Bird Count all day both days (for Brooklyn & Queens), plus the Brooklyn compilation count diner on Saturday evening

Temperatures were quite warm, although the ponds were still mostly frozen, and there was still some snow remaining from Tuesday's snowfall on North-facing slopes, as evidenced in the Great Blue Heron shots in the link below.

The frozen conditions meant that we saw no ducks, although the Canada Geese seemed to be only slightly inconvenienced.

The birding highlight was undoubtedly the immature Red-Headed Woodpecker near the main entrance. This bird was reported by others a couple of days ago. We relocated it rather easily. We got great views, but terrible photos, (Seen at Battle and Arbor Avenues)

We saw all the Brooklyn woodpeckers today. In addition to the Red-Headed the Red-bellied Woodpeckers were common as always, plus Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, Northern Flicker and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (4 of those)

It was generally quiet, but there were hotspots of activity, particularly near the main entrance, and at the Heath Path.

Our eBird report is at the following link: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16036639

Best wises for the season to all!

- Tom & Jo Ann

Winter Solstice

Today was the first day of winter, occurring at 12:11 pm. We celebrate the new season and all that nature brings ( On my BBC trip,6 Snowy Owls!)

To Winter

William Blake (from Poetical Sketches, 1783)

O winter! bar thine adamantine doors: The north is thine; there hast thou built thy dark Deep-founded habitation. Shake not thy roofs Nor bend thy pillars with thine iron car. He hears me not, but o’er the yawning deep Rides heavy; his storms are unchain’d, sheathed In ribbed steel; I dare not lift mine eyes; For he hath rear’d his sceptre o’er the world. Lo! now the direful monster, whose skin clings To his strong bones, strides o’er the groaning rocks: He withers all in silence, and in his hand Unclothes the earth, and freezes up frail life. He takes his seat upon the cliffs, the mariner Cries in vain. Poor little wretch! that deal’st With storms, till heaven smiles, and the monster Is driven yelling to his caves beneath Mount Hecla.

Greenwood CemeteryRHWP /Prospect Peregrine & Rusties

Orrin reported the juvenile RED-HEADED WOODPECKER this morning , the bird that was counted on the Xmas Count in GWC. Photo is below by Orrin . It was seen in the vicinity of Hassan and Elliot Roads just south of the main gate at 25th street ( Castle Arch). See the GWC map link on the side menu MAPS

*
While my crew and I were clearing ice from the new rink grounds in anticipation of the grand opening tomorrow, a delightful observation of the PEREGRINE FALCON overhead , then circling back towards the Peninsula mid morning.

The RUSTY BLACKBIRDS continue. Janet Zinn reported one at Binnen Bridge ( Boathouse) and 2 by Binnen Pool area, the Nethermead field.

--KB

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

Orrin :

green-wood cemetery this morning.  Highlight was a juvenile red-headed woodpecker (picture attached).  Other highlights were a white-breasted nuthatch and a flock(!) of two chickadees. Also, many blue jays, juncos, red-bellied woodpeckers, and ring-billed gulls overhead.  Not much else.

GWCEM: Orrin repts juv Redhead woodpeck south of main ent 25th,bet Hassan &Elliot rds

Wednesday's photo

Photographed by Karen O'Hearn yesterday

Red-tailed Hawk with a Coot prey. [Prospect]

Canada Goose with neck band reported. (seen on Xmas count)

THE NORTH AMERICAN BIRD BANDING PROGRAM

Bird Banding Laboratory

Dear peter dorosh, Thank you for submitting the encounter information for a bird with a marker! A confirmation email has been sent to you. Marker info: NECK COLLAR: Y8R1 BLACK ON ORANGE The BBL internal marker reference ID for this report is: 36265. Please allow at least 2-4 weeks for us to locate the original marking information for your report. If we are successful, you will receive a Certificate of Appreciation in your email if it was requested. If we have questions, we will contact you. To contact us, please email cmreports@usgs.gov and include the internal marker reference ID in your email.

If the marker was difficult to read and you have photos available, you can upload them below to assist the BBL staff with your report.

Type your message here:

Ice-y prize at north Nethermead

Of the icy surfaces of Prospect's fields, north Nethermead steams abit. On exposed lawn, 4 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS stuck to a spot next to the large Osage tree with the bar, sharing the spot with a RED BELLIED WOODPECKER,AMERICAN ROBINs that we haven't seen much of lately, a few RED WINGED BLACKBIRDS and WHITE THROATED SPARROWS. The Rusties were also seen in the morning;they seem to be quite loyal to this area.Also of note,an uncommon winter sighting mixed pair of EASTERN TOWHEE along the fringes of the meadow by the metal standpipe away from the Osage towards the Three Arches, the towhees with WT Sparrows.

A farther walk thru the Nethermead, I found perched MERLIN in the middle mead, a favorite tree for this bird.

The Upper Pool holds a pair of WOOD DUCK, but there is no sign of the Gadwalls.

And a last word. Silence is not golden. Yesterday, along the west edge of the lake, 14 MUTE SWANS held bay at the edge; today it was 11 swans.. what's the number  for them in the Twelve days of Xmas song ? ( but seriously, where did these swans explode in numbers lately ?  I don't want to see them get too numerous given their aggressive turf attitude)

NYC Bird Report

date = 2013/12/18 site = Prospect Park observers =peter

 Northern Shoveler ~105 lake
American Black Duck 2
Canada Goose
Wood Duck 2, pair at Upper Pool
Ruddy Duck 1 Upper pool
Mute Swan 11together lake;14 yesterday same spot
 Mallard
 Merlin 1 perched top tree mid Nethermead
American Coot 20 lake
Great Black-backed Gull 1 llake
Ring-billed Gull 1000 + lake
Herring Gull
 Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
 Blue Jay
 White-breasted Nuthatch 1
American Robin 3 binnen run
White-throated Sparrow 18 north nethermead
 Song Sparrow Eastern Towhee pair,m ,f at nethermead edge by 3 arches
 Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 16 center drive
Rusty Blackbird 4 north nethermead adj Osage tree with bar; morn and afternoon House Finch
 House Sparrow

Rusty BB 4 cont at binnen Osage tree spot on lawn.pair e.towher by lawn standpipe

Records and followup on Prospect Cackling Goose

Third record 

Cackling Goose    1     9/24/2005     Prospect Lake

Cackling Goose    1     1/28/2006     Prospect Lake

Cackling Goose    1     1/29/06     Three Sisters  Islands

Cackling Goose    1     1/29/06     Three Sisters  Islands

Cackling Goose    1     1/29/06     Prospect Lake

Cackling Goose    2     12/14/13    Prospect Lake  * CBC

Cackling Goose    2     12/15/13    Prospect Lake  * CBC

Final Xmas bird count numbers Kings CBC Circle

File available upon request. Email me at Prosbird@aol.com

final Kings CBC circle count is 111 species.

Prospect attained 50 species.