A week ago we were high in the mountains of Bosque Estatal de Maricao, temperature in the low eighties, tracking down the elusive Elfin Wood-Warbler. Today we made a quick loop around the West Pond, temperature around 33, a gusty wind in our faces bringing the "real feel" down at least 10 degrees, the pond two-thirds frozen, leaving little room for waterfowl, while the wind kept the land birds scarce. Quite the contrast.
However, we did see all 3 mergansers--Common Mergansers are not so common and the Hoodies are always fun to see, while the red-breasted hens always remind me of old ladies about halfway through a hair-dressing appointment.
Redheads and Canvasbacks have been reported at JBWR but we didn't see any. Those 2 birds, along with Purple Sandpiper, are the birds I'd still like to see this year. I know where it is almost guaranteed to find Purple Sandpipers--the jetty at Barnegat Lighthouse, but Shari is afraid to walk on the uneven, slippery rocks there and truth be told, I get a little nervous doing it while I'm carrying the scope. I suppose if we make it down to Brig next week we have a shot at the ducks (ew, bad phrase) and I also suppose that if, on the way back, we stop at Barnegat, there's the possibility of seeing the sandpipers while we're still on the concrete walkway before we get to the dreaded jetty.
The lists:
West Pond
Number of species: 19
Brant 100
Canada Goose 50
Gadwall 10
American Wigeon 7
American Black Duck 50
Mallard 10
Greater/Lesser Scaup 1
Hooded Merganser 12
Common Merganser 5
Red-breasted Merganser 10
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 1
Northern Harrier 3
Ring-billed Gull 10
Herring Gull 50
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 7
East Pond
Number of species: 12
Snow Goose 2
Canada Goose 200
Mute Swan 100
American Wigeon 1
American Black Duck 100
Mallard 10
Ring-billed Gull 5
Herring Gull 50
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Carolina Wren 1
Northern Cardinal 1
House Finch 2
No comments:
Post a Comment