Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Lists, Lists, Lists

Sharp-shinned Hawk, backyard
If you don't like lists, wait until next year when the narrative resumes. The end of the year calls for summing up, just look at any newspaper, watch any news show, read any magazine about anything, there are all summaries of the year just ended. I'd rather not go over the dreary events of the year. But the birds we saw--lists let me relive those great moments.

And just remember--I'm restraining myself with only 3 lists. I could show you bird lists for every state we birded, every county in every state we birded, a list of birds just seen in Manchester Township (thanks to Mike Mandracchia for that idea), backyard bird lists, my Feederwatch lists, etc., etc. and so forth.

To everyone and anyone who has inexplicably followed this blog, thanks, and have a Happy New Year.

December Wrap-up and List

Redhead, Manasquan Reservoir
I ended the month of December with 162 species, my 2nd best month of the year after May's 180 count. Significantly both months had large blocks of birding time in states far from NJ--this month's trip to Florida gave us lots of birds we hadn't seen since summer, and of course, lots of birds we'd only see down south. 

While we didn't do any field trips this month, we did spend a lot of time birding with others, including our first Christmas Bird Count in which we wound through the suburban streets and parks of Toms River and Brick Township on "official Audubon business." We did bird a lot with friends, both up here in NJ and even down in Florida where we met some pals from the north who also happened to be in the area. While I like birding with others (and it has the advantage of there almost always being a better set of eyes and ears on the trip), I did miss the solitude of birding alone, walking long miles through quiet (but please, not too quiet) woods or along Whitesbog's impoundments. 

The week in Florida did help to take the edge off the cold weather we've encountered of late. But now, with the distractions of the holidays out of the way, I realize that this cold weather is here for a long time. My last birding of the month and year was spent on a windy dune crossing at Island Beach SP. The sun was setting behind me, and even though the wind was at my back, it seemed like a good time and place to wrap up the year. What was the last bird I saw this year? Probably a Long-tailed Duck

This month's list. 
Bold italics=FOY. BOLD CAPS=Life bird
Species     First Sighting
Snow Goose     Brigantine
Brant     Brigantine
Canada Goose     Brigantine
Mute Swan     Brigantine
Trumpeter Swan     Assunpink WMA
Tundra Swan     Brigantine
Gadwall     Brigantine
American Wigeon     Brigantine
American Black Duck     Brigantine
Mallard     Brigantine
Mottled Duck     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
Northern Shoveler     Brigantine
Northern Pintail     Brigantine
Green-winged Teal     Brigantine
Canvasback     Manasquan Reservoir IBA
Redhead     Brigantine
Ring-necked Duck     Brigantine
Lesser Scaup     Assunpink WMA
Common Eider     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Harlequin Duck     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Surf Scoter     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
White-winged Scoter     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Black Scoter     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Long-tailed Duck     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Bufflehead     Brigantine
Hooded Merganser     Brigantine
Red-breasted Merganser     Point Ybel Lighthouse Park
Ruddy Duck     Brigantine
Wild Turkey     35 Sunset Rd
Red-throated Loon     Great Bay Blvd
Common Loon     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Pied-billed Grebe     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
Horned Grebe     Great Bay Blvd
Wood Stork     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
Magnificent Frigatebird     Song of the Sea Beach
Northern Gannet     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Double-crested Cormorant     Song of the Sea Beach
Great Cormorant     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Anhinga     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
American White Pelican     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
Brown Pelican     Song of the Sea Beach
Great Blue Heron     Wawa Rt 70 & CR 530
Great Egret     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
Snowy Egret     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
Little Blue Heron     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
Tricolored Heron     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
Reddish Egret     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
Cattle Egret     Immokalee Rd
Green Heron     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
Black-crowned Night-Heron     Six Mile Cypress Slough
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
White Ibis     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
Glossy Ibis     Harns Marsh Preserve
Roseate Spoonbill     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
Black Vulture     Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Turkey Vulture     Brigantine
Osprey     Song of the Sea Beach
Snail Kite     Harns Marsh Preserve
Northern Harrier     Brigantine
Sharp-shinned Hawk     35 Sunset Rd
Cooper's Hawk     35 Sunset Rd
Bald Eagle     Brigantine
Red-shouldered Hawk     Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Short-tailed Hawk     Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Red-tailed Hawk     Brigantine
Common Gallinule     Harns Marsh Preserve
American Coot     Brigantine
Limpkin     Harns Marsh Preserve
Sandhill Crane     Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
American Oystercatcher     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Black-bellied Plover     Brigantine
Wilson's Plover     Bunche Beach
Semipalmated Plover     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
Piping Plover     Bunche Beach
Killdeer     Charlotte Harbor Buffer Preserve
Spotted Sandpiper     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
Greater Yellowlegs     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
Willet     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Marbled Godwit     Bunche Beach
Ruddy Turnstone     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Red Knot     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Sanderling     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Dunlin     Brigantine
Purple Sandpiper     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Least Sandpiper     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
Western Sandpiper     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
Short-billed Dowitcher     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
Long-billed Dowitcher     Bunche Beach
Wilson's Snipe     Harns Marsh Preserve
Bonaparte's Gull     Manasquan Inlet North Side
Laughing Gull     Song of the Sea Beach
Ring-billed Gull     Brigantine
Herring Gull     Brigantine
ICELAND GULL     Manasquan Inlet North Side
Lesser Black-backed Gull     Song of the Sea Beach
Great Black-backed Gull     Brigantine
Caspian Tern     Bunche Beach
Forster's Tern     Song of the Sea Beach
Royal Tern     Song of the Sea Beach
Sandwich Tern     Song of the Sea Beach
Black Skimmer     Bunche Beach
Rock Pigeon     Southwest Florida International Airport
Eurasian Collared-Dove     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
Mourning Dove     Crestwood Village
Common Ground-Dove     Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Snowy Owl     Brigantine
Burrowing Owl     Cape Coral Public Library
Belted Kingfisher     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
Red-bellied Woodpecker     Horicon Lake
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker     Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Downy Woodpecker     Brigantine
Hairy Woodpecker     Riverwood Park
Northern Flicker     Toms River
Pileated Woodpecker     Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Merlin     Brigantine
Peregrine Falcon     Brigantine
Eastern Phoebe     Charlotte Harbor Buffer Preserve
Great Crested Flycatcher     Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Loggerhead Shrike     Charlotte Harbor Buffer Preserve
White-eyed Vireo     Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Blue-headed Vireo     Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Blue Jay     35 Sunset Rd
American Crow     Brigantine
Fish Crow     East Gulf Drive
Carolina Chickadee     35 Sunset Rd
Tufted Titmouse     35 Sunset Rd
White-breasted Nuthatch     35 Sunset Rd
Brown Creeper     Winding River Park
House Wren     Song of the Sea Beach
Winter Wren     Riverwood Park
Carolina Wren     35 Sunset Rd
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
Golden-crowned Kinglet     Brigantine
Eastern Bluebird     Brigantine
Hermit Thrush     Crestwood Village
American Robin     Brigantine
Gray Catbird     Brigantine
Northern Mockingbird     Horicon Lake
European Starling     Wawa Rt 70 & CR 530
Cedar Waxwing     Brigantine
Snow Bunting     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Black-and-white Warbler     Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Common Yellowthroat     Great Bay Blvd
Palm Warbler     Song of the Sea Beach
Pine Warbler     Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Yellow-rumped Warbler     Brigantine
Yellow-throated Warbler     J. N. Ding Darling NWR
American Tree Sparrow     Colliers Mills WMA
Chipping Sparrow     Ocean County Memorial Park
Field Sparrow     N Bay Av Power Line Cut
Savannah Sparrow     Brigantine
Song Sparrow     Brigantine
Swamp Sparrow     Brigantine
White-throated Sparrow     Horicon Lake
Dark-eyed Junco     35 Sunset Rd
Northern Cardinal     Horicon Lake
Painted Bunting     Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Common Grackle     Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Boat-tailed Grackle     Harns Marsh Preserve
House Finch     35 Sunset Rd
American Goldfinch     35 Sunset Rd
House Sparrow     Jerry's Supermarket

Ocean County Year List

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, juvenile
Great Bay Blvd.
Of the 305 species I saw this year, 69.5% of them I was able to record in my home county of Ocean. That's 212 species, 73% of the species found in the county. On eBird, that's the record. I don't know if it is the most birds seen in the county. I suspect not, since I know there are some very good birders in the county who don't list on eBird. But, you gotta be in it to win it.

A number of rarities showed up in Ocean County this year, the Northern Lapwings we found in New Egypt being the foremost example. But there was also a Pink-footed Goose in Toms River, a Black-necked Stilt in Manahawkin, Greater White-fronted Geese in New Egypt, as well as the Sandhill Cranes out at that amazing cattle farm, the birds we originally set out to find the day we first saw the lapwings.

It will be interesting to see what flies into the county in 2014.
The list for 2013:
(Underline=rare, BOLD ALL CAPS=Life bird)
Species                            First Sighting
Pink-footed Goose     St Joe's Soccer Field
Greater White-fronted Goose     New Egypt
Snow Goose     New Egypt
Brant     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Canada Goose     Horicon Lake
Mute Swan     Cattus Island County Park
Tundra Swan     Colliers Mills WMA
Wood Duck     Colliers Mills WMA
Gadwall     Marshall's Pond
American Wigeon     Marshall's Pond
American Black Duck     Riverfront Landing
Mallard     Crestwood Village
Northern Shoveler     Barnegat Beach
Northern Pintail     Cedar Run Dock Rd.
Green-winged Teal     Stafford Forge WMA
Canvasback     Riverfront Landing
Ring-necked Duck     Riverfront Landing
Greater Scaup     Riverfront Landing
Lesser Scaup     Riverfront Landing
Common Eider     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Harlequin Duck     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Surf Scoter     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
White-winged Scoter     Island Beach SP
Black Scoter     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Long-tailed Duck     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Bufflehead     Horicon Lake
Common Goldeneye     Cattus Island County Park
Hooded Merganser     Horicon Lake
Red-breasted Merganser     Cattus Island County Park
Ruddy Duck     Riverfront Landing
Northern Bobwhite     Colliers Mills WMA
Wild Turkey     Crestwood Village
Red-throated Loon     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Common Loon     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Pied-billed Grebe     Riverfront Landing
Horned Grebe     Cedar Run Dock Rd.
Northern Gannet     IBSP--Beach
Double-crested Cormorant     Riverfront Landing
Great Cormorant     Cattus Island County Park
Brown Pelican     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Great Blue Heron     Crestwood Village
Great Egret     Great Bay Blvd.
Snowy Egret     Great Bay Blvd.
Little Blue Heron     Cattus Island County Park
Tricolored Heron     Bayview Ave Park
Green Heron     Lakehurst NAES
Black-crowned Night-Heron     Great Bay Blvd.
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron     Great Bay Blvd.
Glossy Ibis     Barnegat Impoundments
Black Vulture     New Egypt
Turkey Vulture     Crestwood Village
Osprey     Cedar Run Dock Rd.
Northern Harrier     New Egypt
Sharp-shinned Hawk     New Egypt
Cooper's Hawk     35 Sunset Rd
Bald Eagle     Rt 539 New Egypt
Red-shouldered Hawk     Rt 530 Lacey
Broad-winged Hawk     35 Sunset Rd
Red-tailed Hawk     New Egypt
Clapper Rail     Great Bay Blvd.
Virginia Rail     Great Bay Blvd.
American Coot     Marshall's Pond
Sandhill Crane     New Egypt
Black-necked Stilt     Manahawkin WMA
American Oystercatcher     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Black-bellied Plover     Great Bay Blvd.
êNorthern Lapwing     New Egypt
Semipalmated Plover     Barnegat Impoundments
Piping Plover     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Killdeer     New Egypt
Spotted Sandpiper     Great Bay Blvd.
Greater Yellowlegs     Stafford Forge WMA
Willet     Great Bay Blvd.
Lesser Yellowlegs     Barnegat Impoundments
Upland Sandpiper     Lakehurst NAES
Whimbrel     Great Bay Blvd.
Ruddy Turnstone     Great Bay Blvd.
Red Knot     Holgate (Long Beach Island)
Sanderling     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Dunlin     Great Bay Blvd.
Purple Sandpiper     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Least Sandpiper     Barnegat Impoundments
Pectoral Sandpiper     New Egypt
Semipalmated Sandpiper     Cattus Island County Park
Short-billed Dowitcher     Great Bay Blvd.
Wilson's Snipe     New Egypt
American Woodcock     Horicon Lake
PARASITIC JAEGER     Island Beach SP
Razorbill     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Bonaparte's Gull     Island Beach SP
Laughing Gull     Graveling Point
Ring-billed Gull     Crestwood Village
Herring Gull     Cattus Island County Park
Lesser Black-backed Gull     Holgate (Long Beach Island)
Great Black-backed Gull     Riverfront Landing
Least Tern     Horicon Lake
Caspian Tern     Holgate (Long Beach Island)
Common Tern     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Forster's Tern     Cattus Island County Park
Royal Tern     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Black Skimmer     Great Bay Blvd.
Rock Pigeon     Bayview Marina
Mourning Dove     35 Sunset Rd
Yellow-billed Cuckoo     Colliers Mills WMA
Black-billed Cuckoo     Whiting WMA
Great Horned Owl     Whiting WMA
Barred Owl     Lakehurst NAES
Common Nighthawk     Colliers Mills WMA
Chuck-will's-widow     E. Bay Ave, Barnegat
Eastern Whip-poor-will     35 Sunset Rd
Chimney Swift     Horicon Lake
Ruby-throated Hummingbird     35 Sunset Rd
Belted Kingfisher     Horicon Lake
Red-headed Woodpecker     Colliers Mills WMA
Red-bellied Woodpecker     Horicon Lake
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker     Double Trouble State Park
Downy Woodpecker     35 Sunset Rd
Hairy Woodpecker     35 Sunset Rd
Northern Flicker     Horicon Lake
American Kestrel     New Egypt
Merlin     Crestwood Village
Peregrine Falcon     Great Bay Blvd.
Eastern Wood-Pewee     Double Trouble State Park
Acadian Flycatcher     Double Trouble State Park
Willow Flycatcher     Great Bay Blvd.
Least Flycatcher     35 Sunset Rd
Eastern Phoebe     Double Trouble State Park
Great Crested Flycatcher     Crestwood Village
Eastern Kingbird     Horicon Lake
White-eyed Vireo     Horicon Lake
Blue-headed Vireo     35 Sunset Rd
Warbling Vireo     Colliers Mills WMA
Red-eyed Vireo     Double Trouble State Park
Blue Jay     35 Sunset Rd
American Crow     Whiting WMA
Fish Crow     Riverfront Landing
Horned Lark     Lakehurst NAES
Northern Rough-winged Swallow     Cattus Island County Park
Purple Martin     Horicon Lake
Tree Swallow     Horicon Lake
Bank Swallow     Lakehurst NAES
Barn Swallow     Great Bay Blvd.
Carolina Chickadee     35 Sunset Rd
Tufted Titmouse     35 Sunset Rd
Red-breasted Nuthatch     Whiting WMA
White-breasted Nuthatch     35 Sunset Rd
Brown Creeper     Whiting WMA
House Wren     Whiting WMA
Winter Wren     Horicon Lake
Marsh Wren     Cattus Island County Park
Carolina Wren     Crestwood Village
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     Double Trouble State Park
Golden-crowned Kinglet     Crestwood Village
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     Double Trouble State Park
Eastern Bluebird     Crestwood Village
Veery     Double Trouble State Park
Swainson's Thrush     Colliers Mills WMA
Hermit Thrush     Crestwood Village
Wood Thrush     Double Trouble State Park
American Robin     Whiting WMA
Gray Catbird     Horicon Lake
Brown Thrasher     Great Bay Blvd.
Northern Mockingbird     Horicon Lake
European Starling     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
American Pipit     Island Beach SP
Cedar Waxwing     35 Sunset Rd
Snow Bunting     Island Beach SP
Ovenbird     Whiting WMA
Northern Waterthrush     Cattus Island County Park
Black-and-white Warbler     Horicon Lake
Common Yellowthroat     Horicon Lake
American Redstart     Crestwood Village
Northern Parula     Whiting Power line cut
Magnolia Warbler     Crestwood Village
Yellow Warbler     Cattus Island County Park
Blackpoll Warbler     Colliers Mills WMA
Black-throated Blue Warbler     Cattus Island County Park
Palm Warbler     Bayview Ave Park
Pine Warbler     Cattus Island County Park
Yellow-rumped Warbler     Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Prairie Warbler     Horicon Lake
Black-throated Green Warbler     Colliers Mills WMA
Eastern Towhee     Whiting WMA
American Tree Sparrow     Double Trouble State Park
Chipping Sparrow     35 Sunset Rd
Field Sparrow     Whiting WMA
Savannah Sparrow     Stafford Forge WMA
Grasshopper Sparrow     Lakehurst NAES
Saltmarsh Sparrow     Great Bay Blvd.
Seaside Sparrow     Cattus Island County Park
Fox Sparrow     Stafford Forge WMA
Song Sparrow     Crestwood Village
Swamp Sparrow     Whiting Power line cut
White-throated Sparrow     35 Sunset Rd
White-crowned Sparrow     New Egypt
Dark-eyed Junco     35 Sunset Rd
Scarlet Tanager     Colliers Mills WMA
Northern Cardinal     35 Sunset Rd
Blue Grosbeak     Cattus Island County Park
Indigo Bunting     Colliers Mills WMA
Red-winged Blackbird     Bayview Marina
Eastern Meadowlark     Lakehurst NAES
Rusty Blackbird     Whitesbog Ocean County portion
Common Grackle     New Egypt
Boat-tailed Grackle     Bayview Marina
Brown-headed Cowbird     New Egypt
Orchard Oriole     Double Trouble State Park
Baltimore Oriole     Colliers Mills WMA
House Finch     Whiting WMA
Pine Siskin     Whiting WMA
American Goldfinch     35 Sunset Rd
House Sparrow     Horicon Lake