Birding Walk in Prospect Park is fourth anniversary
Sunrise was a warm 80 degrees and humid and the birds lay-low for the first few minutes of the hike. Even the Cardinals didn’t peep until we rounded the karst features and the trail opened onto the first meadow. Then things started to happen, although slowly.
The large meadow before the Learning Tree held the most promise. |
Fourteen birders woke with the sun to observe the birds at the park and in the fields to the east of Wonder World Drive. Most common was the White-winged Dove whose season is upon it. We did manage to spy a Blue Grosbeak, a Baltimore Oriole, although silhouetted at the top of some trees, a dozen Lesser Goldfinch, mostly in the meadow and one Loggerhead Shrike.
This was the fourth-year anniversary that Stephen Ramirez has led the monthly birding hikes. The first adventure in September 2011 was at Spring Lake next to the Meadows Center — before it was called that. During this time he has missed but maybe three outings and those were always covered by his fellow enthusiasts Jonny Scalise or Colton Robbins. Complete lists of most of our outings can be found on eBird.org or by reading previous posts on the LOOP.
Colton once again provided us with the list of the birds we saw and will lead us next month on a new adventure. If you are interested in joining us contact [email protected] and ask to be included in the eMail notification. -LJ
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
19 species (+1 other taxa)
Mourning Dove 4
Chimney Swift 5
hummingbird sp. 3
Golden-fronted Woodpecker 2
Loggerhead Shrike 1
White-eyed Vireo 4
Blue Jay 1
Barn Swallow 4
Black-crested Titmouse 1
Carolina Wren 4
Bewick’s Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 1
Yellow Warbler
Northern Cardinal 4
Blue Grosbeak 1
Baltimore Oriole 1
Lesser Goldfinch 12