Island Beach SP 5/6--Semipalmated Plover, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Magnolia Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak

I was at Island Beach early this morning, ahead of Scott's NJA trip there. I wanted to check out Reed's Road, to see if, with all the on-going construction, it would be possible to park the group's cars in the lot. Ixnay. A pile driver was taking up 2 or 3 spots, some other equipment and large steel beams most of the rest. While standing in the parking lot, chatting with another birder, I did see a very nice Indigo Bunting and a Yellow-throated Vireo. 

I made a brief walk up Two-bit Road, the only time I got to the eastern side of the road, then joined the group at the parking area just outside the park. They were all concentrating on one tree in an empty lot, that usually attracts a lot of birds, this morning, being no exception with a Yellow-throated Vireo and my first Scarlet Tanager of the year. Scott decided, that instead of skipping Reed's Road, which is probably the birdiest area in the park this time of year, that the group would walk the 1/4 mile down the main road of the park to the trail head. We hoped to pick up birds in the trees and bushes along the way, and we did, but none of them were particularly interesting. 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Reed's

Reed's was busy as usual. Black-and-white Warblers and Ovenbirds were the most common warblers, but we did find at least one Magnolia Warbler, and one rarity (sort of), a Gray-cheeked Thrush, tucked very deep into the underbrush. Neither of these birds were photographable. 

We did most of the bay side paths. At the kayak access path we heard, in the marsh, both a Virginia Rail and a Clapper Rail. Along Johnny Allen's Cove trail we had a Semipalmated Plover, along with Willets, Black-bellied Plover, and a Spotted Sandpiper. A couple of Tricolored Herons were a standout for the group.  It amused me to think how much time I spent looking for one last month, when all along I knew I'd eventually see one. Before we walked on that trail, we had lunch at the Visitor's Center, and there, right above the picnic tables, was a fairly shabby Rose-breasted Grosbeak, but points aren't deducted for appearance. Along Spizzle Creek trail we had a White-crowned Sparrow, more Willets, both yellowlegs, Little Blue Herons, and two late Bufflehead hens, the only other "rarity" for the day. 

For the more than 7 hours I spent there I racked up 76 species for the day. No looks at the ocean where maybe I could have added Common Tern. The operative word there is "common." I'll get one eventually. 

Brant  15
Mallard  2
Bufflehead  2     
Red-breasted Merganser  1     Spizzle
Mourning Dove  4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1
Clapper Rail  1     
Virginia Rail  1     
American Oystercatcher  2
Black-bellied Plover  1
Semipalmated Plover  1
Least Sandpiper  7     
Spotted Sandpiper  1
Solitary Sandpiper  1     Pond at Kayak access
Greater Yellowlegs  1
Willet  7
Lesser Yellowlegs  3     Spizzle
Laughing Gull  3
Herring Gull  4
Forster's Tern  2
Double-crested Cormorant  35
Great Egret  5
Snowy Egret  5
Little Blue Heron  2
Tricolored Heron  2
Green Heron  1
Glossy Ibis  60
Turkey Vulture  1
Osprey  5
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Merlin  1
Great Crested Flycatcher  2
Eastern Kingbird  5
White-eyed Vireo  3
Yellow-throated Vireo  1     
Blue-headed Vireo  2
Red-eyed Vireo  1
Blue Jay  1
Fish Crow  2
Carolina Chickadee  3
Purple Martin  1     Reeds
Tree Swallow  4
Barn Swallow  6
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  1
House Wren  1
Carolina Wren  2
Gray Catbird  2
Northern Mockingbird  1
Veery  1     Reeds
Gray-cheeked Thrush  1     
Hermit Thrush  1     Reeds
American Robin  5
House Finch  1
American Goldfinch  4
Chipping Sparrow  1
White-crowned Sparrow  1     
White-throated Sparrow  1
Savannah Sparrow  1
Eastern Towhee  3
Baltimore Oriole  2
Red-winged Blackbird  15
Brown-headed Cowbird  2
Common Grackle  2
Boat-tailed Grackle  4
Ovenbird  3
Black-and-white Warbler  5
Common Yellowthroat  1
Northern Parula  1
Magnolia Warbler  1
Yellow Warbler  4
Prairie Warbler  1

Scarlet Tanager  1
Northern Cardinal 1

Rose-breasted Grosbeak  1

Indigo Bunting