[nysbirds-l] Brooklyn birds
18 Feb 2015 Joe Giunta and I (Sy Schiff) joined by Debbie Martin continued our chase for target birds. Still after the elusive Canvasback, we went to Prospect Park and were again disappointed. Several COMMON MERGANSERS were among the ducks. At the feeders we saw Downy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, American Goldfinch and our target PURPLE FINCH. Next, at Bush Terminal Park. we stopped for the wigeon and grebe. Here we found our EURASIAN WIGEON, AMERICA WIGEON, COMMON GOLDENEYE, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, BUFFLEHEAD, our RED-NECKED GREBE, HORNED GREBE, COMMON and RED-THROATED LOONS and a GREAT CORMORANT, Travelling east on the Belt Pkwy we stopped at the first parking lot past the bridge, looked over onto the rocks and found a PURPLE SANDPIPER. After a pause at Nathan's for a lunch break, we went to Coney Island Creek. Surprise! Amidst the ducks were 2 CANVASBACKS. Among others were GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, HOODED and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER and BUFFLEHEAD. The WILSON'S SNIPE, KILLDEER and DUNLIN continue at Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Center. Only a KESTREL for raptors. A PIED-BILLED GREBE completed the grebe family for the day. Sy -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Brooklyn Birds Today
Early this morning Heydi Lopes relocated the Grasshopper Sparrow in Prospect Park. It was still feeding on seeds along the sidewalk opposite the Quaker Cemetery at the edge of the Nethermead Meadow. Peter Dorosh reported that it was still present as of approximately 3pm. I spent the entire day birding in Green-Wood Cemetery where there was a decent showing of birds. Juncos seemed to be just about everywhere, with smaller numbers of Chipping Sparrows. I probably don't need to mention that siskins were pervasive. The cemetery usually doesn't see many Red-winged Blackbirds, but there were many flocks moving through today with a single Rusty Blackbird seen at the Dell Water. We also spotted a single Lincoln's Sparrow and a pair of White-crowned Sparrows. The buteo flight was considerably less than yesterday, although there were still decent numbers of Red-tailed Hawks and Red-shouldered Hawks moving through the area. From our hawkwatch on Battle Hill we also observed a single juvenile Bald Eagle. After lunch Heydi and I decided to focus our efforts on an area in the cemetery called "The Flats", where there is a very good concentration of mature conifers. Near "The Valentine Angel" we heard, then spotted, a flock of 30 White-winged Crossbills. They settled briefly at the top of a spruce tree, then moved across the road leap-frogging along the tops of a few other conifers. They eventually looped back to the North, where we lost sight of them. Despite a loss of 100 or more trees from the hurricane, Green-Wood Cemetery is still the best location in the borough for healthy, mature conifers. I plan on spending a lot of time there this season looking for irruptive species. I'll keep you posted. Good birding, Rob http://citybirder.blogspot.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Brooklyn Birds Today
Early this morning Heydi Lopes relocated the Grasshopper Sparrow in Prospect Park. It was still feeding on seeds along the sidewalk opposite the Quaker Cemetery at the edge of the Nethermead Meadow. Peter Dorosh reported that it was still present as of approximately 3pm. I spent the entire day birding in Green-Wood Cemetery where there was a decent showing of birds. Juncos seemed to be just about everywhere, with smaller numbers of Chipping Sparrows. I probably don't need to mention that siskins were pervasive. The cemetery usually doesn't see many Red-winged Blackbirds, but there were many flocks moving through today with a single Rusty Blackbird seen at the Dell Water. We also spotted a single Lincoln's Sparrow and a pair of White-crowned Sparrows. The buteo flight was considerably less than yesterday, although there were still decent numbers of Red-tailed Hawks and Red-shouldered Hawks moving through the area. From our hawkwatch on Battle Hill we also observed a single juvenile Bald Eagle. After lunch Heydi and I decided to focus our efforts on an area in the cemetery called The Flats, where there is a very good concentration of mature conifers. Near The Valentine Angel we heard, then spotted, a flock of 30 White-winged Crossbills. They settled briefly at the top of a spruce tree, then moved across the road leap-frogging along the tops of a few other conifers. They eventually looped back to the North, where we lost sight of them. Despite a loss of 100 or more trees from the hurricane, Green-Wood Cemetery is still the best location in the borough for healthy, mature conifers. I plan on spending a lot of time there this season looking for irruptive species. I'll keep you posted. Good birding, Rob http://citybirder.blogspot.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Brooklyn Birds
Today I lead a Linnaean Society trip to Floyd Bennett Field and Dead Horse Bay. While many of the expected passerines were nearly non-existent, we did have several highlights that more than made up for it. At the start of the trip we tried for the Barrow's Goldeneye in the bay off of the boat ramp, but came up empty. In the water off the end of Archery Road we did get great, close looks at the EURASIAN WIGEON. In addition, we counted 5 RED-NECKED GREBE farther out in the bay from that location. I was unsuccessful on several previous attempts for the NORTHERN SHRIKE this month, but decided to try again anyway. This time I found the bird perched at the top of a birch tree near the back of Field "G". Over the course of about 20 minutes the bird dropped down to lower perches eventually disappearing into the underbrush. This was at around 11am. I spoke with Heydi Lopes this evening and she had relocated the shrike at 1pm in the trees closer to the Remote Control Airplane Field. For some unknown reason, we had trouble locating any Horned Lark flocks, having checked the usual spots numerous times. After a visit to Dead Horse Bay (where the scaup flock has swelled to approximately 10,000 birds), I decided to drag the group back to the Cricket Field for one last attempt at Horned Larks before calling it a day. Three times a charm. There was a flock of 15 birds feeding in the grass and, as an added bonus, so was a single LAPLAND LONGSPUR. Perhaps it was just the lighting, but this individual seemed extremely well marked and brightly colored for the time of year ... oh wait, what season it this again? If you go looking for the Northern Shrike, here's a Google Earth map marked with the field designations and other points of interest: http://g.co/maps/k9wjv Good birding, Rob ** Floyd Bennett Field Feb 18, 2012 33 species Brant Canada Goose Gadwall EURASIAN WIGEON (1, end of Archery Rd.) American Wigeon American Black Duck Mallard Northern Shoveler Greater Scaup Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Red-breasted Merganser Red-throated Loon Horned Grebe RED-NECKED GREBE (5, bay off of Archery Rd.) Double-crested Cormorant Great Cormorant American Kestrel Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Rock Pigeon Northern Flicker NORTHERN SHRIKE (In birch trees at back of Field "G".) American Crow Horned Lark (15, Cricket Field.) American Robin Northern Mockingbird European Starling LAPLAND LONGSPUR (1, within Horned Lark flock on Cricket Field.) Yellow-rumped Warbler Red-winged Blackbird House Sparrow * Dead Horse Bay Feb 18, 2012 11 species Brant Greater Scaup (approx. 10,000) Long-tailed Duck Red-breasted Merganser Red-throated Loon Horned Grebe Great Cormorant Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Rock Pigeon European Starling -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Brooklyn Birds
Today I lead a Linnaean Society trip to Floyd Bennett Field and Dead Horse Bay. While many of the expected passerines were nearly non-existent, we did have several highlights that more than made up for it. At the start of the trip we tried for the Barrow's Goldeneye in the bay off of the boat ramp, but came up empty. In the water off the end of Archery Road we did get great, close looks at the EURASIAN WIGEON. In addition, we counted 5 RED-NECKED GREBE farther out in the bay from that location. I was unsuccessful on several previous attempts for the NORTHERN SHRIKE this month, but decided to try again anyway. This time I found the bird perched at the top of a birch tree near the back of Field G. Over the course of about 20 minutes the bird dropped down to lower perches eventually disappearing into the underbrush. This was at around 11am. I spoke with Heydi Lopes this evening and she had relocated the shrike at 1pm in the trees closer to the Remote Control Airplane Field. For some unknown reason, we had trouble locating any Horned Lark flocks, having checked the usual spots numerous times. After a visit to Dead Horse Bay (where the scaup flock has swelled to approximately 10,000 birds), I decided to drag the group back to the Cricket Field for one last attempt at Horned Larks before calling it a day. Three times a charm. There was a flock of 15 birds feeding in the grass and, as an added bonus, so was a single LAPLAND LONGSPUR. Perhaps it was just the lighting, but this individual seemed extremely well marked and brightly colored for the time of year ... oh wait, what season it this again? If you go looking for the Northern Shrike, here's a Google Earth map marked with the field designations and other points of interest: http://g.co/maps/k9wjv Good birding, Rob ** Floyd Bennett Field Feb 18, 2012 33 species Brant Canada Goose Gadwall EURASIAN WIGEON (1, end of Archery Rd.) American Wigeon American Black Duck Mallard Northern Shoveler Greater Scaup Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Red-breasted Merganser Red-throated Loon Horned Grebe RED-NECKED GREBE (5, bay off of Archery Rd.) Double-crested Cormorant Great Cormorant American Kestrel Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Rock Pigeon Northern Flicker NORTHERN SHRIKE (In birch trees at back of Field G.) American Crow Horned Lark (15, Cricket Field.) American Robin Northern Mockingbird European Starling LAPLAND LONGSPUR (1, within Horned Lark flock on Cricket Field.) Yellow-rumped Warbler Red-winged Blackbird House Sparrow * Dead Horse Bay Feb 18, 2012 11 species Brant Greater Scaup (approx. 10,000) Long-tailed Duck Red-breasted Merganser Red-throated Loon Horned Grebe Great Cormorant Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Rock Pigeon European Starling -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Brooklyn Birds: Common Terns and Willets
This morning one Common Tern fishing in front of the Saltmarsh Nature Center in Marine Park while another Common Tern displayed for food from the shore. After catching a small prey, the first bird fed the second one and then displayed briefly before returning to work. A paired couple. Four Willets sighted earlier near the same spot, one Oystercatcher and one Greater Yellowlegs. Juan Salas Brooklyn - Original Message - From: Shaibal Mitra Date: Monday, May 2, 2011 10:40 am Subject: [nysbirds-l] LI Birds: Roseate and Common Terns To: "NYSBIRDS (NYSBIRDS-L@cornell.edu)" > Highlights of an hour's seawatch this morning at Robert Moses SP, > southwestern Suffolk Co., were flocks of migrating Common Terns, > totaling 55 individuals, among which were three Roseate Terns. Common > Loons (33) outnumbered Red-throated (27, one breeding-plum.) for the > first time for me this spring. Otherwise, there were modest numbers of > migrating Gannets, scoters, and Oldsqaw. Ken Feustel joined me some > of the time and reported few landbirds--a White-eyed Vireo standing out. > > Shai Mitra > Bay Shore > > > > Think green before you print this email. > > -- > > NYSbirds-L List Info: > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm > > ARCHIVES: > 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html > 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L > 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > > -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Brooklyn Birds: Common Terns and Willets
This morning one Common Tern fishing in front of the Saltmarsh Nature Center in Marine Park while another Common Tern displayed for food from the shore. After catching a small prey, the first bird fed the second one and then displayed briefly before returning to work. A paired couple. Four Willets sighted earlier near the same spot, one Oystercatcher and one Greater Yellowlegs. Juan Salas Brooklyn - Original Message - From: Shaibal Mitra shaibal.mi...@csi.cuny.edu Date: Monday, May 2, 2011 10:40 am Subject: [nysbirds-l] LI Birds: Roseate and Common Terns To: NYSBIRDS (NYSBIRDS-L@cornell.edu) NYSBIRDS-L@cornell.edu Highlights of an hour's seawatch this morning at Robert Moses SP, southwestern Suffolk Co., were flocks of migrating Common Terns, totaling 55 individuals, among which were three Roseate Terns. Common Loons (33) outnumbered Red-throated (27, one breeding-plum.) for the first time for me this spring. Otherwise, there were modest numbers of migrating Gannets, scoters, and Oldsqaw. Ken Feustel joined me some of the time and reported few landbirds--a White-eyed Vireo standing out. Shai Mitra Bay Shore Think green before you print this email. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Brooklyn birds
Late yesterday I observed a flock of 13 Eastern Bluebirds along Cypress Avenue in the Green-Wood Cemetery. Three more were seen in two other locations. Sixteen bluebirds is likely the best showing in recent memory. I was also surprised to see quite a few Pine Siskins, especially at a stretch of ripening sweetgums near the "rock pile". Most were mixed in with goldfinches, but we also observed one homogeneous flock of about a dozen siskins. The highlights of a couple of hours today in Prospect Park include an Orange-crowned Warbler and lots more siskins. The warbler was feeding along the edge of the Lower Pool, near the Long Meadow and the siskins were up in the sweetgums along Center Drive. Good birding, Rob ** Location: Green-Wood Cemetery Observation date: 11/11/10 Number of species: 44 Canada Goose 5 Mallard X Hooded Merganser 2 Double-crested Cormorant X Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 Cooper's Hawk 2 Red-tailed Hawk 3 American Kestrel 2 Merlin 1 Herring Gull (American) X Rock Pigeon X Mourning Dove X Monk Parakeet X Great Horned Owl 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 3 Eastern Phoebe 4 Blue Jay X Black-capped Chickadee 15 Tufted Titmouse 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 5 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Winter Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet X Ruby-crowned Kinglet X Eastern Bluebird 16 Hermit Thrush 12 American Robin X Northern Mockingbird 3 European Starling X American Tree Sparrow 1 Chipping Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow X Swamp Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow X Dark-eyed Junco 200 Northern Cardinal 3 Red-winged Blackbird X Brown-headed Cowbird X Pine Siskin 20 American Goldfinch 30 House Sparrow X * Location: Prospect Park Observation date: 11/12/10 Number of species: 48 Canada Goose X Mute Swan 5 American Black Duck X Mallard X Northern Shoveler 165 Ring-necked Duck 1 Bufflehead 1 Ruddy Duck 96 Double-crested Cormorant 2 Great Blue Heron 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Merlin 1 American Coot 12 Laughing Gull 1 Ring-billed Gull X Herring Gull (American) X Great Black-backed Gull X Rock Pigeon X Mourning Dove X Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker X Eastern Phoebe 1 Blue Jay X Black-capped Chickadee 8 White-breasted Nuthatch 3 Brown Creeper 1 Carolina Wren 1 Winter Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4 Hermit Thrush 4 American Robin X Gray Catbird 1 European Starling X Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Fox Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow X Dark-eyed Junco X Northern Cardinal X Red-winged Blackbird X Pine Siskin 12 American Goldfinch 20 House Sparrow X -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Brooklyn birds
Late yesterday I observed a flock of 13 Eastern Bluebirds along Cypress Avenue in the Green-Wood Cemetery. Three more were seen in two other locations. Sixteen bluebirds is likely the best showing in recent memory. I was also surprised to see quite a few Pine Siskins, especially at a stretch of ripening sweetgums near the rock pile. Most were mixed in with goldfinches, but we also observed one homogeneous flock of about a dozen siskins. The highlights of a couple of hours today in Prospect Park include an Orange-crowned Warbler and lots more siskins. The warbler was feeding along the edge of the Lower Pool, near the Long Meadow and the siskins were up in the sweetgums along Center Drive. Good birding, Rob ** Location: Green-Wood Cemetery Observation date: 11/11/10 Number of species: 44 Canada Goose 5 Mallard X Hooded Merganser 2 Double-crested Cormorant X Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 Cooper's Hawk 2 Red-tailed Hawk 3 American Kestrel 2 Merlin 1 Herring Gull (American) X Rock Pigeon X Mourning Dove X Monk Parakeet X Great Horned Owl 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 3 Eastern Phoebe 4 Blue Jay X Black-capped Chickadee 15 Tufted Titmouse 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 5 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Winter Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet X Ruby-crowned Kinglet X Eastern Bluebird 16 Hermit Thrush 12 American Robin X Northern Mockingbird 3 European Starling X American Tree Sparrow 1 Chipping Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow X Swamp Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow X Dark-eyed Junco 200 Northern Cardinal 3 Red-winged Blackbird X Brown-headed Cowbird X Pine Siskin 20 American Goldfinch 30 House Sparrow X * Location: Prospect Park Observation date: 11/12/10 Number of species: 48 Canada Goose X Mute Swan 5 American Black Duck X Mallard X Northern Shoveler 165 Ring-necked Duck 1 Bufflehead 1 Ruddy Duck 96 Double-crested Cormorant 2 Great Blue Heron 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Merlin 1 American Coot 12 Laughing Gull 1 Ring-billed Gull X Herring Gull (American) X Great Black-backed Gull X Rock Pigeon X Mourning Dove X Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker X Eastern Phoebe 1 Blue Jay X Black-capped Chickadee 8 White-breasted Nuthatch 3 Brown Creeper 1 Carolina Wren 1 Winter Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4 Hermit Thrush 4 American Robin X Gray Catbird 1 European Starling X Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Fox Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow X Dark-eyed Junco X Northern Cardinal X Red-winged Blackbird X Pine Siskin 12 American Goldfinch 20 House Sparrow X -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Brooklyn birds, 9/15 & 14
Some good birds in advance of the bad weather today at Calvert Vaux Park, or actually in the northern parcel that’s accessed at the foot of Bay 44th Street. As the rain was starting to pick up around 10:30, several birds were congregating in the shelter of the rise just east of the dilapidated pier, among them a first fall BLUE GROSEBEAK as well as two ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS that chased each other through the scrub. Five heron species remain, but the turn toward winter was evident in the increased numbers of waterfowl, especially Brant and ducks including Wood Duck and Northern Pintail. Regarding the construction project, the park remains accessible via the east arm along the Six Diamonds ball fields, while much of the northeast area of the main peninsula has been fenced off, including the upper edge of the boat basin. Only preparatory work seems to have gone on so far, and a contractor there today seemed frustrated that he had not yet been given “the go ahead.” Today’s birds come on the heels of a strong flight observed Wednesday in Prospect Park which included good numbers of sparrows and other seasonal birds, the highlight being an EASTERN MEADOWLARK, a rarity in Prospect and the first I’d seen there in five years of birding the park. Details are posted to Peter Dorosh’s Prospect sightings blog at: http://peters-prospect-bird-sightings.blogspot.com/ Good birding, Alex Wilson Brooklyn, NY Location: Dreier-Offerman Park Observation date: 10/15/09 Number of species: 56 Highlights: Brant 400 Wood Duck 3 Gadwall 8 American Wigeon 8 American Black Duck 25 Northern Pintail 1 (Drake in basin.) Great Blue Heron 2 Great Egret 2 Snowy Egret 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron 6 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 1 Osprey 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 Cooper's Hawk 1 American Kestrel 2 Merlin 2 Killdeer 1 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Short-billed Dowitcher 4 (Early flyover group of 3 calling; heard once more later.) Belted Kingfisher 2 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 15 Eastern Phoebe 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 10 Hermit Thrush 3 Gray Catbird 2 Orange-crowned Warbler 2 (Together along the sheltered edge of the north field east of the pier.) Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 50 Palm Warbler (Western) 1 Palm Warbler (Yellow) 30 Common Yellowthroat 3 Chipping Sparrow 4 Field Sparrow 1 Savannah Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 20 Swamp Sparrow 20 White-throated Sparrow 35 White-crowned Sparrow 2 (Juveniles.) Blue Grosbeak 1 (First fall, in brush at sheltered corner of north field east of the pier.) -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES Archives: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
