Registrar: Crystal Thiele
Participants: 17
Weather: Clear, warm
Bird Species: 55
After meeting Tom Stephenson near the Grand Army entrance to Prospect Park at 7:30 am, we headed to the Rose Garden and the Vale of Cashmere, where we got good looks at many warblers, including a Cape May. As we crossed Nellie’s Lawn, a cooperative Scarlet Tanager landed on the ground in front of the group, giving great views. From there, we headed to the Picnic House via the Ambergill Ravine area near Esdale Bridge. Several people glimpsed a Gray-cheeked Thrush and we had lovely views of a Black-throated Blue Warbler still in spring plumage.
Next, we headed past the pools and went to the patch of Jewelweed off Center Drive. There we saw several Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and Red-breasted Grosbeaks as we waited for glimpses of an elusive, Yellow-breasted Chat, which many in the group saw.
As we exited the wooded area onto the peninsula, we were greeted by a loud rendition of You Can Fly from Disney’s Peter Pan. It was Raptor Fest! We glanced around and took a group photo together in the park-ranger made nest. As we headed out to quieter areas, we saw a Bald Eagle fly overhead, quickly followed by an Osprey, completely unrelated to the festival.
We circled the southern end of the park, which was becoming less birdy as the day went on. We found a few additional species of warblers but as we started to wind down, we got a friendly tip on a roosting Common Nighthawk. Of course, it was on the complete opposite side of the lake, but many of us went to see it anyway.
We stopped at Smorgasburg for mediocre but overpriced ice cream and then headed back to the jewelweed clump for a great Chat sit-in. While we were there, we saw another Gray-cheeked Thrush and a Chestnut-sided Warbler. Eventually, everyone got at least a glimpse of the Yellow-breasted Chat.
It was a successful day of birding with 55 species and many types of warblers and thrushes. The most notable birds for the day were the Yellow-breasted Chat, roosting Common Nighthawk, Bald Eagle, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Cape May Warbler and Bay-breasted Warbler. Many thanks to Tom for his experience and guidance throughout the day.
Species Lists
Birds
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Common Nighthawk
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ring-billed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Yellow-breasted Chat
Baltimore Oriole
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Pine Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
