Saturday, February 16, 2019

Fwd: Great Backyard Bird Count Prospect Park. BBC WALK



You can't get too much winter in the winter. 
---Robert Frost




-----Original Message-----
From: Tina Alleva <tinamariealleva@gmail.com>
To: Peter Dorosh <ProsBird@aol.com>
Sent: Sat, Feb 16, 2019 03:37 PM
Subject: Great Backyard Bird Count Prospect Park


Hi Peter,

It was a beautiful day in Prospect Park to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. 9 people met Cyrus & I and we recorded 43 species between the morning and noon beginner walk. Red-tailed hawks were noticeably abundant and seemed to be everywhere we turned. 

At the lake we caught sight of the Hooded and Red-breasted Mergansers, then 5 European Goldfinches next to the wellhouse container as well as a Hermit Thrush. In the Nethermead we got close looks at a perched Merlin, while yet another Red-tailed hawk kept watch from nearby.

On our second pass of the lake with the noon beginner group, we were able to pick up the elusive Ring-Necked ducks off 3 sisters, as well as a swamp sparrow. 5 Common Grackles were also enjoying the feeders the second time around. 

The park today was full of bird song, surely a sign that spring is coming! 


Prospect Park, Kings, New York, US
Feb 16, 2019 8:49 AM - 2:45 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments:     Great Backyard Bird Count BBC walk. Lullwater, Feeders, Peninsula, Lake, Lookout, Nethermead & Ravine pools. 
42 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  101
Mute Swan  2
Northern Shoveler  34
American Wigeon  1
Mallard  20
American Black Duck  3
Ring-necked Duck  3
Hooded Merganser  3
Red-breasted Merganser  4
Ruddy Duck  26
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  6
Mourning Dove  15
American Coot  8
Ring-billed Gull  37
Herring Gull  1
Great Black-backed Gull  1
Great Blue Heron  1
Red-tailed Hawk  5
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  3
Downy Woodpecker  3
Merlin  1     Nethermead 
Blue Jay  20
crow sp.  8
Black-capped Chickadee  8
Tufted Titmouse  6
White-breasted Nuthatch  7
Carolina Wren  1
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  60
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  24
European Goldfinch  5
American Goldfinch  1
Fox Sparrow  2
Dark-eyed Junco  1
White-throated Sparrow  8
Song Sparrow  4
Swamp Sparrow  1
Red-winged Blackbird  4
Common Grackle  5     Feeders
Northern Cardinal  8
House Sparrow  25

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S52779508

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

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Saturday, February 2, 2019

Fwd: Groundhog Day walk at Coney Island Feb2nd



You can't get too much winter in the winter. 
---Robert Frost




-----Original Message-----
From: Sean Zimmer <seankzimmer@gmail.com>
To: prosbird <prosbird@aol.com>
Sent: Sat, Feb 2, 2019 01:56 PM
Subject: Groundhog Day walk at Coney Island



Hi Peter,

It was a cold and windy Groundhog Day, but we managed to have a great bird walk along the water in Coney Island, with a total of 25 species. Rusty and I were the only participants, however what we lacked in birder numbers we made up for in quality birds. We got great close up views of several species, including all three Scoters (Black, Surf, and White-winged). We met up with the Linnean Society walk, and on the creek side saw a lone female Redhead, first spotted by their group. As a mammal sighting bonus, we saw a Harbor Seal chowing down on a fish on the ocean side. 
Many thanks to Rusty for bringing his scope, and for braving the cold for a great morning of birding. Full list is below.
Thanks, and Happy Groundhog Day! 

Sean 


Purple Sandpiper
Sanderling
Black Scoter
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Common Loon
Horned grebe
Double crested Cormorant
Red-breasted Merganser
Hooded Merganser
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Mallard
Black Duck
Gadwall
Redhead 
Mute Swan
Canada Goose
Brant
American Crow
Northern Mockingbird
Song sparrow
House Sparrow
Starling
Rock Dove