Bird Migration Intensifying

Since my last migration update the number of species reported in Brooklyn has steadily increased. With each South wind a few more Northbound birds have trickled into the area.

There weren't any real surprises from my perspective, just a shift from the previous three dominant wood-warblers (Pine, Palm and Yellow-rumped) to a few more splashes of feathered color added to the landscape. In coming weeks our parks will be loaded with many of these birds.

A Gray Catbird was reported in Prospect Park this week. The arrival of this mimic thrush is considered by many as the harbinger of the big migration push. Within the next week I am certain that we will see hundreds, if not thousands, of catbirds moving through Prospect Park accompanied by lots of other vibrant songbirds. Many of the catbirds will actually remain and nest in the park. Below is a list of new arrivals in Brooklyn this week that were reported to Cornell's eBird website:

Yellow Warbler (Prospect Park, 04/19/13)
Prairie Warbler (Prospect Park, 04/19/13)
Northern Waterthrush (Prospect Park, 04/20/13)
Cliff Swallow (Prospect Park, 04/20/13)
Warbling Vireo (Prospect Park--Prospect Lake, 04/20/13)
Lesser Yellowlegs (Salt Marsh Nature Center at Marine Park, 04/21/13)
Eastern Kingbird (Green-Wood Cemetery, 04/21/13)
Ovenbird (Salt Marsh Nature Center at Marine Park--Southwest, 04/21/13)
Worm-eating Warbler (Prospect Park, 04/22/13)
Gray Catbird (Prospect Park, 04/23/13)
Black-throated Green Warbler (Owls Head Park, 04/24/13)
Indigo Bunting (Ralph and Norton's Sandbox, 04/24/13)

I didn't get to spend a lot of time out birding this past week, but did manage to pick up four more year birds. All of the four species are fairly common and I would expect to see them every year. They were - White-eyed Vireo, Bank Swallow, Brown Thrasher and Black-throated Green Warbler. White-eyed Vireo actually nests in Prospect Park and other local habitats.

South winds are forecast through the night Friday and into Saturday. There should be a fairly big incursion of new birds in the local parks on Saturday morning and the weather appears to be cooperating. If you want to follow bird migration from a more scientific perspective, but sure to check out David La Puma's great website "Woodcreeper".

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Dates: Apr 19, 2013 - Apr 25, 2013
Locations: Green-Wood Cemetery, Prospect Park
Species: 73

Wood Duck
Bufflehead
Ruddy Duck
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Osprey
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Coot
Laughing Gull
Chimney Swift
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Monk Parakeet
Eastern Phoebe
WHITE-EYED VIREO
Blue-headed Vireo
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
BANK SWALLOW
Barn Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
Northern Mockingbird
BROWN THRASHER

Louisiana Waterthrush
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER

Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
White-winged Crossbill
American Goldfinch

Other common species seen (or heard):
Canada Goose, Mute Swan, American Black Duck, Mallard, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, American Robin, European Starling, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, House Sparrow