Friday, March 30, 2012

Horicon Lake 3/30--Palm Warbler

I took about an hour's walk in this Lakehurst park. Its varied habitats (lake, swamp, woods, lawns) have been fairly productive in fall, winter, and spring. I suspect that in the summer, when it is used by more people for recreational activities, birds will be harder to find, except in the mornings, deeper in the woods.

I saw a yellow bird pumping its tail--unmistakably a Palm Warbler, first of the year. Then another one. They were both males and started chasing one another around the trees and into the tangles. Maybe they're staking out nesting territory. I also saw a male and female Pine Warbler back there. They certainly nest around here--plenty of pines.

The lake had geese, a lone Mallard, a pair of Buffleheads, a Pied-billed Grebe, a couple of cormorants and a Great Blue Heron. Pretty lively and last week I saw a couple of Wood Ducks there too.

16 species for the one hour I was there.
Canada Goose  29
Mallard  1
Bufflehead  2
Pied-billed Grebe  1
Double-crested Cormorant  2
Great Blue Heron  1
Turkey Vulture  3
Northern Flicker  1
Fish Crow  2
Tree Swallow  4
Carolina Chickadee  4
Tufted Titmouse  2
American Robin  2
Palm Warbler  2
Pine Warbler  2
Song Sparrow  2

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