Whitesbog 3/12--Wood Duck

The Tundra Swans are back.

I hadn't been to Whitesbog since mid-January when I found exactly nothing. With the bogs and impoundments solid ice there was little reason to go. With the onset of the warmer weather I headed over there this morning and was pleased to find that the Whitesbog specialty--Tundra Swan--was back in good numbers. I counted 30 of them, which, while not a tremendous count, means you don't have to do a lot searching to see them.

Signs of spring were popping up--I saw my first Tree Swallows in quite a while, hunting over the water and a few Red-winged Blackbirds were noisily staking out their territories. I wasn't finding anything new though, until I wandered around way in the back in the Ocean end by the Upper Reservoir where there is an abandoned bog that sometimes has bluebirds roosting in the trees. No bluebirds, but I did flush my first Wood Ducks of the year.  They flew up and went squealing away in the direction of Fort Dix.

So, while not a lot birds to see, (19 species) I did find enough to stay interested on my 4+ mile walk.

Canada Goose    118

Tundra Swan    30

Wood Duck    2

American Black Duck    11

Mallard    12

Ring-necked Duck    24

Hooded Merganser    5

Black Vulture    2

Turkey Vulture    3

Red-tailed Hawk    1

Ring-billed Gull    3

American Crow    1

Tree Swallow    4

Carolina Chickadee    3

Tufted Titmouse    1

White-breasted Nuthatch    1

American Robin    3

Northern Cardinal    1

Red-winged Blackbird    5