Whitesbog 11/18--American Tree Sparrow

"Go west," Shari said, since east looks like a giant stomped and kicked everything all to pieces. So we headed first to Whitesbog, then to Rancocas State Park, just outside of "historic" Mt Holly. We were hoping for "winter finches." So was another guy we saw on the road at Whitesbog. What we got (don't know about him) were sparrows: 7 species in all, including our first of the year American Tree Sparrow on the road at Whitesbog. Our first of the season Tundra Swans were in the usual place at Whitesbog, the first impoundment on the left. I don't know what it is about the bogs that attracts those swans but it is an absolutely reliable place to find them all winter.

Rancocas was quiet; almost all the action was at the feeders. The conifer forest had a nary a bird and the creek was quiet except for a Carolina Wren.

Between Whitesbog and Rancocas we stopped for brunch in Mt Holly--above the old town a flock of vultures flew, including 2 Black Vultures. We didn't take it as an ominous sign and brunch at the Robin's Nest (seems appropriate) was quite good.

26 species for the day.

Species           Count     First Sighting

Canada Goose     25     Rancocas Nature Center

Tundra Swan     6     White's Bogs

Pied-billed Grebe     1     White's Bogs

Black Vulture     2     Mt. Holly

Turkey Vulture     2     White's Bogs

Downy Woodpecker     1     White's Bogs

Northern Flicker     1     White's Bogs

Blue Jay     1     White's Bogs

American Crow     2     White's Bogs

Carolina Chickadee     10     White's Bogs

Tufted Titmouse     1     White's Bogs

Red-breasted Nuthatch     1     Rancocas Nature Center

White-breasted Nuthatch     1     Rancocas Nature Center

Carolina Wren     1     White's Bogs

Golden-crowned Kinglet     1     Rancocas Nature Center

Hermit Thrush     1     White's Bogs

American Robin     1     White's Bogs

American Tree Sparrow     1     White's Bogs

Savannah Sparrow     1     White's Bogs

Fox Sparrow     2     White's Bogs

Song Sparrow     4     White's Bogs

Swamp Sparrow     1     White's Bogs

White-throated Sparrow     5     White's Bogs

Dark-eyed Junco     50     White's Bogs

Northern Cardinal     2     White's Bogs

American Goldfinch     6     White's Bogs