Brigantine Island, Brig 2/10--American Oystercatcher, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Peregrine Falcon, Eastern Towhee

Peregrine Falcon, Brig

Mike & I tried again for wintering shorebirds down on Brigantine Island (north of Atlantic City) again and this time we were more successful. Our first stop, at the "south cove" yielded our FOY Greater Yellowlegs (distant, but identifiable by said legs plus manic behavior), and tour of the dead end streets of the island itself brought us our first looks of the year at American Oystercatchers (unfortunately, Shari wasn't with us for her favorite bird) and a couple of fairly large flocks of Willets (of the Western sub-species, long-rumored to be split into a separate species) on both sides of the island. With the American Kestrel Mike found on a utility pole (year bird for him) we did pretty well in the hour or so we spent on the island. Not a lot of birds, but birds we wanted.
Brant 100
Canada Goose 50
American Black Duck 10
Greater Scaup 6
Bufflehead 20
Red-breasted Merganser 1 Hen, marina
American Oystercatcher 2
Greater Yellowlegs   7
Willet (Western) 30
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon 15
Mourning Dove 1
American Kestrel 1
House Sparrow 1

Mid-morning we entered Brig and did one loop around. Ever since the hacking tower was taken down a few months ago after it was decided that Peregrine Falcons really never should have been established there, getting that raptor on the list is no longer a gimme. However, we finally saw one on an Osprey platform, just after we passed the usual owl jam of cars stopped for the persisting Snowy Owl. It's a little sad when a Snowy Owl becomes a ho-hum bird, but that's the case for those of us who don't care if they get a photograph of one. The falcon was probably commuting from Atlantic City where there is a nest on one of the hotels. At least the casinos are good for something.

Mostly we found ducks, geese, and swans. A flock of 20 Canvasbacks were new for the month and Atlantic County. A contingent of robins was on Jen's Trail. Just as we were leaving we heard an Eastern Towhee's "chwink" coming from the direction of the new headquarters building. Aside from the Roughie, there was nothing today that I wasn't sure to see sometime this year, but 6 year birds feels like a productive day.
Our Brig List:
34 species
Snow Goose 2500
Brant 700
Canada Goose 55
Mute Swan 15
Gadwall 15
American Wigeon 20
Mallard 30
American Black Duck 200
Northern Pintail 7
Green-winged Teal 1
Canvasback 20
Bufflehead 16
Hooded Merganser 28
Great Blue Heron 3
Turkey Vulture 2
Northern Harrier 1
Bald Eagle 1
Herring Gull 50
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Mourning Dove 3 Feeder
Snowy Owl 1 sitting on ground
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Heard entrance
Peregrine Falcon 1 North dike. Just visiting nowadays
Blue Jay 3 Heard
American Crow 7
Carolina Chickadee 3
Carolina Wren 1 Heard
Eastern Bluebird 1 Heard upland section
Hermit Thrush 1 Heard
American Robin 25
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Visitor's Ctr
Song Sparrow 1 Feeder
Eastern Towhee 1
Red-winged Blackbird 5