Sunday, October 9, 2011

Sandy Hook 10/9--Some FOS

Absolutely gorgeous October day--cloudless skies, temperature around 80, a great day to be at Sandy Hook and that was the problem--everyone else had the same idea. The Hook was as busy as mid-August, or at least  it seemed that way. We tried to bird a couple of areas but we couldn't even find a parking space. There was a bike race, a motorcycle club  picnic, lots of beach goers, plus numerous other birders. We should have gotten there earlier in the morning but didn't arrive until around 10:30 when the heat was starting to put the birds into hiding.

Still, we did find a few First of Season birds, the "best" being one of my faves, a Brown Creeper near the Sandy Hook Bird Observatory which we watched while we were eating lunch. At K lot, where we did most of our birding we also found a few first for Fall Savannah Sparrows and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Ruby-crowned Kinglets were around and they always bring to mind Peterson's illustration on his Confusing Fall Warblers page where the kinglet is labeled "Not a Warbler." Only a few warblers showed themselves. A few hawks circling above. Geese. Couldn't get to the water to find any ducks or herons. Only 18 species in 3 hours before we gave up as the cars continued to stream into the park.
Canada Goose  140
Turkey Vulture  2
Northern Harrier  1
Red-tailed Hawk 
3
Herring Gull  X
Great Black-backed Gull  5
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
  1
Brown Creeper
  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
  3
American Robin  4
Gray Catbird
  3
Northern Mockingbird  6
Common Yellowthroat  1
Pine Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 
1
Eastern Towhee  1
Savannah Sparrow  3
White-throated Sparrow  10

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