Rain Birds

I spent several hours birding Prospect Park today in the drizzle. While it was actually a bit cooler than previous days the humidity at time made it feel quite stifling. The birds didn't seem to mind, thankfully.

There appears to have been a small flight of songbirds into the park since my last visit. In my north to south walk I encountered several small pockets of warblers and vireos. I tallied 15 species of warbler by the end of my walk. The most active spot was a mature oak on Lookout Hill just at the top of the Maryland Monument stairway. In that single tree I counted Eastern Wood-Pewee, Red-eyed Vireo (5), Black-and-white Warbler (3), American Redstart (3), Northern Parula, Bay-breasted Warbler, Canada Warbler, Baltimore Oriole and many chattering goldfinches. One interesting note today was a "Browned-eyed" White-eyed Vireo near the bottom of the aforementioned stairway. It shouldn't be too surprising to find immature White-eyed Vireo in Prospect Park, though, as I've observed them nesting around Lookout Hill and the adjacent Peninsula for many years.

Here is my full day list:

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Location: Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Date: 09/10/2015
Species: 55

Wood Duck (20. Upper Pool.)
Great Blue Heron (1.)
Green Heron (1.)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (1.)
Red-tailed Hawk (1.)
Chimney Swift
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee (2.)
Willow Flycatcher (1. Calling from edge of "Sumac Grove" on Peninsula.)
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo (1. Immature.)
Warbling Vireo (3.)
Red-eyed Vireo (6.)
White-breasted Nuthatch (2.)
House Wren (2.)
Veery (2.)
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Cedar Waxwing

Ovenbird (1.)
Northern Waterthrush (7.)
Black-and-white Warbler (8.)
Common Yellowthroat (4.)
American Redstart (7.)
Northern Parula (2.)
Magnolia Warbler (1.)
Bay-breasted Warbler (1.)
Yellow Warbler (2.)
Chestnut-sided Warbler (1.)
Blackpoll Warbler (1.)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (1.)
Pine Warbler (2.)
Canada Warbler (1.)
Wilson's Warbler (1.)

Song Sparrow (1.)
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole (2.)
American Goldfinch

Other common species seen (or heard):
Canada Goose, Mute Swan, American Black Duck, Mallard, Herring Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker (1.), Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, American Robin, European Starling, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, House Sparrow