Brigantine 6/16--Marbled Godwit

Black Skimmers
Photo: Shari Zirlin

The way these skimmers look is how we felt this morning--not very energetic. After a slow start and some desultory poking around the Barnegat impoundments, we saw that a King Rail was reported at Brigantine. We knew the odds of us seeing the rail were very slim, but it was enough of an impetus to get us to drive about 30 more miles down Rt. 9 to see what would turn up. Spoiler alert: We didn't see the King Rail.

We did, however see enough unusual and/or favorite birds to make the trip worthwhile. Actually, unless you hate birds, any trip, any day, any time of the year, is worthwhile. The first bird I though was unusual, but is not especially, was a lone American Coot that Shari found in the Southwest Pool. I'm glad I don't have to "prove" to eBird that we saw that bird, because my digiscope photos came out awful. 

Moving along on the same sand bar where we found the Society of Depressed Skimmers, we came across two more "big-nose" birds--Shari's favorite,  7 American Oystercatchers, and the first rarity of the day, 2 Marbled Godwits. Very long, bi-colored, slightly upturned bills, warm brown "marbled" mantles--the pair was sitting on the back of the sand bar partially obscured by the bar's hump and though our photos are not the greatest quality, they're good enough for documentation:

Another nice find was a Blue Grosbeak just past the observation tower, pointed out by a photographer to whom we were talking. He exclaimed, "A beautiful blue bird just landed!" He thought it was an Indigo Bunting, but I know my big nose birds! They don't call them GROSbeaks for nothing.

Shari said we were doing great, considering we hadn't even made the first turn yet. I replied it could die in a minute, which was the kiss of death, because after that grosbeak the birding got very slow. Nothing new or even vaguely interesting turned up until we were past the dogleg on the north dike when we spotted the proverbial odd duck. 

It turned out to be our second rarity of the day--a drake Hooded Merganser in basic (non-breeding) plumage. I don't think I've ever seen that. Well, I'm pretty certain it's a drake--it doesn't have the "I've got to get to the hairdresser" look of a hen merganser, but if I'm incorrect in my i.d. I'll let you all know. 

After that we drove slowly along the area where the rail had been reported but as I said, it was a no show. Still, for one turn around the loop in the middle of the day, 48 species is a respectable, enjoyable count, especially considering we were chasing a bird we didn't expect to find. 

Canada Goose  25
Mute Swan  2
American Black Duck  2
Mallard  15
Hooded Merganser  1    Basic plumage male? 
Double-crested Cormorant  1
Great Egret  20
Snowy Egret  50
Black-crowned Night-Heron  1
Glossy Ibis  2
Turkey Vulture  1
Osprey  12
Clapper Rail  3    Heard
American Coot  1
Black-bellied Plover  35
American Oystercatcher  12
Willet  50
Whimbrel  1
Marbled Godwit  2    
Laughing Gull  300
Herring Gull  50
Great Black-backed Gull  10
Gull-billed Tern  8
Forster's Tern  50
Black Skimmer  95
Mourning Dove  3
Peregrine Falcon  1    On tower
Eastern Kingbird  1    Entrance ponds
Fish Crow  20
Purple Martin  15
Tree Swallow  20
Barn Swallow  1
Carolina Chickadee  1    Heard
Tufted Titmouse  1    Heard
Marsh Wren  1    Heard, near Leed Eco-trail
American Robin  4
Gray Catbird  4
Northern Mockingbird  1    Atop Visitor's Ctr
Common Yellowthroat  2    Heard
Yellow Warbler  2    Heard
Chipping Sparrow  5
Seaside Sparrow  2
Song Sparrow  1
Blue Grosbeak  1    Near Observation Tower, south dike
Red-winged Blackbird  100
Common Grackle  1
Boat-tailed Grackle  1
Brown-headed Cowbird  1    Experimental Pool