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Friday, May 11, 2007

Prothonotary Warbler & Cherry Blossoms, Sunday, May 6th

Kwanan Cherry (click to enlarge)

(Photo credit - Rob Jett)
Sparrow


2D cherry tree (click to enlarge)

(Photo credit - Rob Jett)

Lilac flowers (click to enlarge)

(Photo credit - Rob Jett)

My wife and I took a walk to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens to see the cherry blossoms. With the cherry trees reaching their peak bloom and lilacs nearing theirs, we thought it would be a perfect day.

We took a shortcut across Prospect Park. A Prothonotary Warbler has been in the park for about a week. We stopped in the Ravine briefly hoping to catch a glimpse of him. He's primarily been seen feeding stream-side below the bridge. Sometimes he even hangs out under the bridge. A few minutes after we arrived, I actually spotted him sleeping low in a shrub, within a quarter-sized patch of sunlight. He eventually woke up, preened, then flew down to the stream to feed. At one point he flew up towards Robin, pursuing an insect. He snatched it out of the air about 6 inches from her face. That harmless, 16 gram bird actually made her duck in self defense. Must have been the blinding, golden-yellow flash of his feathers. Scary stuff.

Sleeping Prothonotary Warbler

(Photo credit - Rob Jett)

Prothonotary Warbler (click to enlarge)


(Photo credit - Rob Jett)

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Prospect Park & Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 5/6/2007
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Red-tailed Hawk
Laughing Gull
Chimney Swift
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Barn Swallow
House Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Wood Thrush
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Palm Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Prothonotary Warbler
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
Scarlet Tanager
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole

Other common species seen (or heard):
Mallard, Herring Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, American Robin, European Starling, Northern Cardinal, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, House

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