Whitesbog 4/23--Barred Owl

Back from vacation more than a week and I still hadn't been to Whitesbog, so, since I felt like I needed a long walk this morning, I headed over there, arriving around 7:30. The morning was cool and damp; if I wanted to make it back to the Upper Reservoir with a chance of not getting wet, I knew I'd have to walk straight through the Burlington County section of the bogs, instead of investigating Ditch Meadows and the landing strip as I have been doing of late. Even walking fast through that section I had a few warblers and heard a lot of birds.

When I was in Ocean County, I slowed down a little. I was standing by one of the reservoirs, looking at a new Mallard family, when a couple of crow-sized birds flew overhead. One was a crow (Fish) while the other was a Green Heron trying to get away from the crow. Just then I heard, coming from the direction of Ft Dix, "Hoo Hoo Hoohoo!" I've never heard a Barred Owl at Whitesbog and I was especially pleased to be standing in Ocean County when it called.

I was again hoping for catbird. Again my hopes were dashed. I was also looking for Eastern Kingbird. There's usually a few by the Upper Reservoir--the like to perch atop the dead trees there--but I was informed by a friend there that I was a bit early for them. The food is there for them though--plenty of bugs flying around.

Still, a morning with an owl cannot be a disappointment.
31 species for my relatively straightforward walk around the bogs:

Canada Goose   2

Mallard   5

Green Heron   2

Turkey Vulture   1

Red-tailed Hawk   1

Barred Owl   1

Red-bellied Woodpecker   1

Northern Flicker   1

Eastern Phoebe   1

White-eyed Vireo   1

Blue Jay   1

Fish Crow   1

Tree Swallow   5

House Wren   1

Carolina Wren   1

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher   4

American Robin   5

Ovenbird   1

Black-and-white Warbler   1

Common Yellowthroat   2

Pine Warbler   1

Yellow-rumped Warbler   1

Prairie Warbler   1

Chipping Sparrow   5

White-throated Sparrow   1

Song Sparrow   4

Swamp Sparrow   3

Eastern Towhee   3

Red-winged Blackbird   25

Common Grackle   5

Brown-headed Cowbird   2