Yesterday we birded a new place for us--Estell Manor Park, south of Mays Landing. This is a huge park--the south end has a paved 2 mile drive, while the northern end is less developed. This whole tract during the end of WWI was call Belcoville (for Bethlehem Loading Company) and was the site of one of two artillery shell loading plants built deep in the pine barrens. The idea was, if they blew up, no populated areas would be hurt. The ruins of many of the buildings (it was an extensive undertaking) are deep in the woods. At the powerhouse ruins a tall cedar tree grows through where the roof of the building once was.
Before the loading plant (and accompanying company town) was built, there were already the ruins of the Estellville Glassworks, which we also walked around. It was abandoned in 1877. I know by European standards these ruins are practically new, but here, where everything is torn down and built over, it is amazing to see the woods taking over the sites again. Now that the barrens are protected, the ruins will are protected as well.
In terms of birds of the find here was our first Blue-gray Gnatcatchers of the year. I listed 4 but there were probably a lot more, since it took me a while to figure out their song. When Shari described one bird as "gray with an eye-ring" the i.d. clicked into place.
A White-faced Ibis had been reported at Brigantine the last few days so late in the afternoon we headed over there on the way home. We dipped (as the birders say) on the WFIB, but we did see a lot of Glossy Ibises as well as our FOY Short-billed Dowitchers. The water levels in the impoundments have been lowered to accommodate the shorebirds and looks like they're already making use of the amenities. Lots of Black-bellied Plovers were around (though only one in breeding plumage) as well as Dunlin and Greater Yellowlegs. Many egrets both snowy and great. We have yet to find a Black-crowned Night-Heron this year--getting kind of late not to have seen one. Always the regrets of what I haven't seen.
2 lists 48 species combined.
Estell Manor Park
27 species
Canada Goose 15
Blue-winged Teal 2 Floating dock
Green-winged Teal 2 Floating dock
Turkey Vulture 17
Osprey 1
Greater Yellowlegs 5
Laughing Gull 3 Floating dock
Belted Kingfisher 1 Nature trail observation deck
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 1
Fish Crow 2
Purple Martin 2
Tree Swallow 10
Carolina Chickadee 15
Tufted Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
Eastern Bluebird 1 Cribbens Field
American Robin 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 4 Nature trail
Chipping Sparrow 15
White-throated Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed Junco 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
American Goldfinch 1
Brigantine
32 species
Snow Goose 5 One had injured leg
Brant 550
Canada Goose 100
Mute Swan 4
Gadwall 1
American Black Duck 25
Mallard 2
Northern Shoveler 3
Green-winged Teal 50
Double-crested Cormorant 30
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 20
Snowy Egret 30
Glossy Ibis 30
Osprey 14
Black-bellied Plover 75 Only one in breeding plumage
Greater Yellowlegs 6
Dunlin 10
Short-billed Dowitcher 2
Herring Gull 100
Great Black-backed Gull 50
Forster's Tern 10
Belted Kingfisher 1 Gull Pond
Fish Crow 5
Purple Martin 2
Tree Swallow 10
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-throated Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Common Grackle 2
Boat-tailed Grackle 1
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