Crossing Brooklyn's Prospect Park this morning from the skating rink on the eastside to the ballfields on the west I saw innumerable sparrows the highlight of which was a Vesper Sparrow in the fenced off area of the ballfields on the southernmost end of the Long Meadow. I had to leave but was able to return an hour and a half later. At that time we saw hundreds of sparrows in this limited but protected area. They had to take flight regularly because of a Merlin which kept swooping in search of prey. There were Chipping Sparrows, Savannahs, and Songs mostly, as well as many Juncos. Rob Jett picked out a second Vesper Sparrow feeding next to the first and later, when we crossed north to the "Sparrow Bowl" area, he found a third Vesper! Best sparrow day ever for me.
Earlier in the day I had found an Orange-crowned Warbler in the grassy area behind the skating rink but, once again could not refind it (it had also been there the afternoon before). At one point it revealed it's orange crown, further confirming it's identification. Rob Bate Brooklyn, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
