August Wrap-up: Shorebirds, Spoonbills, & Bobolinks

American Golden-Plovers

A couple of trips to Brig and another excursion to Bombay Hook provided all the new birds for the year, aside from the Forked River spoonbills so early in the month that it seems like last August. That is until today. Up until this afternoon, I had listed American Golden-Plover 48 times with a total number of 92 individuals--the highest count I ever had was 18. Today, on a sod farm in Burlington County I saw a flock of FORTY-THREE of them in a recently mowed alfalfa field. (I don't know why a sod farm has an alfalfa field; I am going on information that the agronomist who found them told me.) I had seen his report yesterday, and after walking around Reeves Bogs this morning, I drove over there only to find nothing. I figured it was a one-day wonder until I got home, and the reports started rolling in, including a sighting of an Upland Sandpiper in the same field, another example of the Patagonia Picnic Table Effect. 

I figured I could stay home, watch the Mets game and be aggravated on two fronts, or I could get back in the car and try again. I tried again. Fortunately, this time there was a line of birders who I knew parked on the side of the road and both the plovers and the uppie were easy to see, though very hard to photograph. How I missed the plovers the first time I don't know unless they were over a small rise in the field and were flushed by ATV activities in the field. Whatever the reason, I'm glad I went back, since the Mets played another crappy game and lost. 

Red-breasted Nuthatch

While I was at Reeves Bogs this morning, I walked along Coopers Road in the state forest. I had a suspicion I might find a Red-breasted Nuthatch, which seem to be irrupting this month. At the corner of Cooper and Muddy I found one, yanking away, and managed to get a decent photograph as it hopped from pine branch to pine branch. In itself, a Red-breasted Nuthatch is not remarkable, but an irruption of RB Nuts is often a precursor of northern finches coming this far south in the winter. We'll see. 

For the month I tallied 137 species

Counties Birded:

Delaware: Kent

New Jersey: Atlantic, Burlington, Ocean

Species                First Sighting
Canada Goose   Brig
Mute Swan   Brig
Wood Duck   Whitesbog
Blue-winged Teal   Bombay Hook
Northern Shoveler   Bombay Hook
Gadwall   Bombay Hook
Mallard   Whitesbog
American Black Duck   Bombay Hook
Green-winged Teal   Bombay Hook
Ruddy Duck   Lake of the Lilies
Wild Turkey   35 Sunset Rd
Rock Pigeon   South Toms River
Mourning Dove   Whitesbog
Yellow-billed Cuckoo   Whitesbog
Common Nighthawk   Whitesbog
Eastern Whip-poor-will   35 Sunset Rd
Chimney Swift   Cranberry Bogs
Ruby-throated Hummingbird   35 Sunset Rd
Clapper Rail   Great Bay Blvd
Sandhill Crane   Bombay Hook
Black-necked Stilt   Bombay Hook
American Avocet   Brig
American Oystercatcher   Island Beach SP
Black-bellied Plover   Great Bay Blvd
American Golden-Plover    Allen Sod Farm
Killdeer   Double Trouble SP
Semipalmated Plover   Great Bay Blvd
Upland Sandpiper    Allen Sod Farm
Hudsonian Godwit   Brig
Marbled Godwit   Brig
Short-billed Dowitcher   Brig
Long-billed Dowitcher   Bombay Hook
Wilson's Phalarope   Brig
Red-necked Phalarope   Brig
Spotted Sandpiper   Brig
Solitary Sandpiper   Bombay Hook
Lesser Yellowlegs   Brig
Willet   Great Bay Blvd
Greater Yellowlegs   Great Bay Blvd
Ruddy Turnstone   Great Bay Blvd
Curlew Sandpiper   Bombay Hook
Stilt Sandpiper   Brig
Sanderling   Cattus Island County Park
White-rumped Sandpiper   Brig
Least Sandpiper   Whitesbog
Pectoral Sandpiper   Bombay Hook
Western Sandpiper   Bombay Hook
Semipalmated Sandpiper   Brig
Laughing Gull   Great Bay Blvd
American Herring Gull   Great Bay Blvd
Great Black-backed Gull   Great Bay Blvd
Black Skimmer   Brig
Least Tern   Brig
Gull-billed Tern   Brig
Caspian Tern   Brig
Forster's Tern   Great Bay Blvd
Common Tern   Brig
Royal Tern   Port Mahon Rd.
Double-crested Cormorant   Brig
White Ibis   Brig
Glossy Ibis   Brig
Roseate Spoonbill   Forked River
Yellow-crowned Night Heron   Brig
Black-crowned Night Heron   Brig
Little Blue Heron   Cattus Island County Park
Tricolored Heron   Great Bay Blvd
Snowy Egret   Great Bay Blvd
Green Heron   Whitesbog
Great Egret   Great Bay Blvd
Great Blue Heron   Great Bay Blvd
Black Vulture   Brig
Turkey Vulture   Whitesbog
Osprey   Brig
Cooper's Hawk   Cattus Island County Park
Bald Eagle   Whitesbog
Red-tailed Hawk   Colliers Mills WMA
Belted Kingfisher   Cattus Island County Park
Red-headed Woodpecker   Colliers Mills WMA
Red-bellied Woodpecker   35 Sunset Rd
Downy Woodpecker   Cattus Island County Park
Hairy Woodpecker   Double Trouble SP
Northern Flicker   Cattus Island County Park
Peregrine Falcon   Brig
Eastern Wood-Pewee   Whitesbog
Eastern Phoebe   Whitesbog
Great Crested Flycatcher   Whitesbog
Eastern Kingbird   Whitesbog
White-eyed Vireo   Double Trouble SP
Red-eyed Vireo   Double Trouble SP
Blue Jay   Manahawkin
American Crow   Whitesbog
Fish Crow   Manahawkin
Common Raven   Cranberry Bogs
Carolina Chickadee   Whitesbog
Tufted Titmouse   35 Sunset Rd
Bank Swallow   Whitesbog
Tree Swallow   Whitesbog
Purple Martin   Brig
Northern Rough-winged Swallow   Whitesbog
Barn Swallow   Whitesbog
White-breasted Nuthatch   35 Sunset Rd
Red-breasted Nuthatch      Reeves Bogs
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher   Whitesbog
Northern House Wren   Whitesbog
Marsh Wren   Great Bay Blvd
Carolina Wren   Whitesbog
European Starling   Whitesbog
Gray Catbird   Whitesbog
Northern Mockingbird   Cranberry Bogs
Eastern Bluebird   Cattus Island County Park
American Robin   Double Trouble SP
Cedar Waxwing   35 Sunset Rd
House Sparrow   Lake of the Lilies
House Finch   35 Sunset Rd
American Goldfinch   Whitesbog
Chipping Sparrow   35 Sunset Rd
Field Sparrow   Brig
Seaside Sparrow   Great Bay Blvd
Saltmarsh Sparrow   Cattus Island County Park
Song Sparrow   Whitesbog
Swamp Sparrow   Whitesbog
Eastern Towhee   Whitesbog
Bobolink   Bombay Hook
Baltimore Oriole   Island Beach SP
Red-winged Blackbird   Whitesbog
Brown-headed Cowbird   Double Trouble SP
Common Grackle   Whitesbog
Boat-tailed Grackle   Great Bay Blvd
Ovenbird   Whitesbog
Northern Waterthrush   Island Beach SP
Black-and-white Warbler   Whitesbog
Common Yellowthroat   Whitesbog
Pine Warbler   35 Sunset Rd
Prairie Warbler   Whitesbog
Northern Cardinal   Whitesbog
Blue Grosbeak   Brig
Indigo Bunting   Brig

Brig 8/17--Wilson's Phalarope, Red-necked Phalarope

Red-necked Phalarope (center)

 August used to be so easy. By this time of the month the lower and middle bogs plus Union Pond at Whitesbog would be mud and puddles and the place would be a mini-Brig. Every day I'd go over there and look at the shifting populations of shorebirds and waders. At least once a week there would be a rarity there--American Golden-Plover, Buff-Breasted Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper...but sadly, it appears dem days are over. So now, every day I have to make a decision as to where I think the birding will be most "productive" (read: "interesting"). 

Today, it was Brig because the interesting birds there were two species of phalarope which I hadn't notched for the year. After taking my walk from the Gull Pond up and around Jen's Trail, where the flies weren't too bad until the end, I drove the 8-mile loop, finally coming upon both the Wilson's Phalarope and the Red-necked Phalarope in the northwest corner of the drive, fairly far out and barely photographable. The flies, by the time it started to heat up, were getting bad enough to draw blood--I noticed a red blotch on my sock, so I wasn't too inclined to stand in one place scoping the sandpipers as they fed in the mud, but quick looks turned up a White-rumped Sandpiper, a Stilt Sandpiper, and 4 American Avocets, as well as the usual plovers and dowitchers. I'm sure there was a Western Sandpiper somewhere amongst the Semipalmated Sandpipers but there are only so many greenhead flies I'm willing to swat.

White Ibis (immature)

Snowy Egret

Black-crowned Night-Heron

The waders were especially cooperative today, more concerned with feeding by the outflow of the sluice gates than avoiding gawkers, so I was able to get some very close photographs of birds that normally are in the middle of the impoundments. Four immature White Ibis were at GM 6--gee, I remember when they were rare. 

I was only going to make one trip around the loop but after lunch I decided that a second loop might be worth it--if for no other reason than that I had missed Common Terns on the first trip around and that just didn't seem right. It was on the second loop that I managed to get both phalaropes in one scope view. Years ago at Whitesbog, right after I had just returned from Utah, we had both phalaropes in the Middle Bog. Phalaropes in Burlco are really rare, so when Greg pointed out the first odd bird to me, I said, "Oh, I just saw 5000 of these at the Great Salt Lake, it's a Wilson's Phalarope." Then someone found another phalarope and I said, "Well, I just saw 10,000 of these out there, it's a Red-necked Phalarope." Then all hell broke loose. I miss those days. 

For the two loops and a walk, 58 species. 

Canada Goose  30
Mute Swan  2
Wood Duck  7
Mallard  48
Mourning Dove  5
Clapper Rail  1
American Avocet  4
Black-bellied Plover  5
Semipalmated Plover  35
Short-billed Dowitcher  150
Wilson's Phalarope  1     
Red-necked Phalarope  1     
Lesser Yellowlegs  1
Willet  5
Greater Yellowlegs  20
Ruddy Turnstone  1
Stilt Sandpiper  1
White-rumped Sandpiper  1
Semipalmated Sandpiper  600
Laughing Gull  150
American Herring Gull  20
Black Skimmer  30
Least Tern  4
Caspian Tern  25
Forster's Tern  30
Common Tern  3
Double-crested Cormorant  60
White Ibis  4
Glossy Ibis  100
Yellow-crowned Night Heron  1
Black-crowned Night Heron  2
Snowy Egret  10
Great Egret  30
Great Blue Heron  12
Osprey  5
Cooper's Hawk  2
Bald Eagle  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Peregrine Falcon  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee  2
Great Crested Flycatcher  2
American Crow  12
Fish Crow  1
Carolina Chickadee  2
Tree Swallow  30
Purple Martin  40
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  1
Barn Swallow  5
Marsh Wren  2
Carolina Wren  3
Gray Catbird  12
American Goldfinch  3
Field Sparrow  1
Seaside Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  1
Red-winged Blackbird  10
Common Yellowthroat  1
Northern Cardinal  3

Huber Prairie Warbler Preserve 5/25--Yellow-throated Vireo

Red-headed Woodpecker

I was due to meet my friend Peter at 8 at the Huber Preserve, but since I wake up at 5 these days, I was way early, so I drove down Sooy Place Road about a half mile to the new parcel that Huber has acquired which is a swamp that feeds into Burrs Mill Brook. I stood there for a little over a half hour--not my usual kind of birding but since I had so much time to kill I didn't really mind. In that time I came up with two rarities for the county--Red-headed Woodpecker and Yellow-throated Vireo. The vireo was a year bird. 

I heard the woodpecker in the woods to west of the swamp. I didn't expect to get eyes on it, as it sounded fairly distant, but then, looking atop a dead tree, I saw another (I could still hear the first one calling). This is a striking woodpecker, and I'm always happy to see one. I've probably mentioned this before, but I can think of 4 or 5 places in Burlington County where you can expect to find Red-headed Woodpecker (where it is flagged as "rare") and only two places (Colliers Mills and Cloverdale Farm) in Ocean County where you can find them (easy at Colliers, more sporadic at Cloverdale) and yet in Ocean they're "expected." You figure it out. 

The Yellow-throated Vireo I only heard; it was somewhere over the brook "singing" Three Eight! I was looking for it when I got distracted by a trio of Cedar Waxwings. I'll take waxwings over vireos any day. I did manage to record the vireo for proof of my rarity listing. 

I then drove back to the parking area by the Huber entrance. There was a car there parked sideways taking up a lot of room, which immediately set off my irritation reaction, but when I got out of the car, the driver told me that they weren't sure if they were in the right place. They were looking for the Huber Preserve. I told them they'd found it. Since they'd never been there before, and they quickly perceived I had, they asked a lot questions, which I, having stifled myself, answered--like where the bridge was (White Trail about 3/4 of mile), where the Red-headed Woodpeckers were (Gum Spring), where the Hooded Warblers were (all over). They set off and I hung around the entrance, waiting for Peter. Another car pulled in. The driver got out and said, "I'm lost." What are you looking for? I asked. "The Huber Preserve." This is it, so you're not lost. He was very relieved, having come all the way from Pennsylvania. His GPS was giving him weird directions, not that unusual when looking for the Preserve. The first time I tried to go there, Google sent me up a dirt road that led to a sand quarry. 

He then asked me the same questions. I felt like I should have an "INFORMATION" placard around my neck. I told him where the bridge was, where the woodpeckers were, and so on. Finally, Peter and his two friends arrived. I know Peter a long time, from when I lived in Brooklyn and birded Prospect Park where Peter works. This was officially a small field trip for the Brooklyn Bird Club. Peter had written me months ago, asking where he could find Prothonotary Warbler and I told him Huber was the most reliable spot. I didn't understand what was so special about that warbler until he explained to me today that this year is his 50th as a birder so he is seeking out all the "golden" birds (goldeneye, golden plover, Golden Eagle...get it?). And an alternate name for Prothonotary Warbler is "Golden Swamp Warbler." This, I did not know. 

We proceeded up the White Trail to the bridge. Along the way we heard many Hooded Warblers and Prairie Warblers, but for them I made an effort to get bins on the birds. We were very successful with those warblers, as well as a Blue-winged Warbler later on. Usually, it is enough for me to hear them, but if you're coming from Brooklyn, I think it is more rewarding to actually see them. When we got to the bridge, it wasn't 10 seconds before I heard a "Golden Swamp Warbler," but again, I wanted them to see it. As much as I don't like doing this, I played the song, because pishing only works with yellowthroats. The bird came up out of the bushes of Burnt Bridge Brook and preened itself on branch over the water. Success! I was a bit nervous about getting them the bird since it was fairly late in the morning for warblers and I was afraid they just might be tending their nest in the understory. 

Fly Agaric

Peter was working a fairly tight schedule--he was meeting another friend at Brig around 11:30--so we didn't have time to walk up to Gum Spring for the woodpeckers, but since he'd gotten their target bird, he was very happy. A golden bonus came in a beautiful specimen of Fly Agaric, a mushroom you don't want to eat but one that looks like a ball of burnished gold. 

After we left, I still had some energy, so I drove up to Reeves Bogs and did a circuit around the bogs and the woods--nothing much of note there except for an American Black Duck, which is flagged as rare, even though they breed at nearby Whitesbog. 

For the day I had 51 species and a good reunion with an old friend. 

Canada Goose    17
American Black Duck    1
Wild Turkey    2
Mourning Dove    1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo    2
Great Egret    1
Great Blue Heron    3
Turkey Vulture    2
Red-tailed Hawk    1
Red-headed Woodpecker    2
Red-bellied Woodpecker    1
Northern Flicker    1
Eastern Wood-Pewee    5
Acadian Flycatcher    1
Eastern Phoebe    2
Great Crested Flycatcher    4
Eastern Kingbird    2
White-eyed Vireo    3
Yellow-throated Vireo    1
Red-eyed Vireo    2
Blue Jay    1
Fish Crow    1
Carolina Chickadee    3
Tufted Titmouse    3
Tree Swallow    15
Northern Rough-winged Swallow    1
Barn Swallow    1
White-breasted Nuthatch    2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher    2
Gray Catbird    1
Wood Thrush    3
American Robin    1
Cedar Waxwing    3
American Goldfinch    2
Chipping Sparrow    2
Field Sparrow    1
Eastern Towhee    3
Red-winged Blackbird    7
Brown-headed Cowbird    2
Common Grackle    2
Ovenbird    10
Blue-winged Warbler    1
Black-and-white Warbler    3
Prothonotary Warbler    2
Common Yellowthroat    7
Hooded Warbler    10
American Redstart    1
Yellow Warbler    1
Pine Warbler    6
Prairie Warbler    14
Northern Cardinal   1

Huber Prairie Warbler Preserve | Burrs Mill Brook 5/18--Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Acadian Flycatcher, Bank Swallow, Summer Tanager, Scarlet Tanager

Scarlet Tanager

I scouted the Huber Prairie Warbler Preserve this morning, because I have an old friend coming down next week leading a trip for the Brooklyn Bird Club and they want to see Prothonotary Warbler. As the Huber Preserve is the best and easiest place to search for one, I suggested we meet there. My records show that I've had PROW there multiple times in late May, and in April I had a couple, but you never know. 

I arrived at 6:06 and before I swung my feet out of the car I heard a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, so I was off to a good start. Walking up the entrance trail I also heard my first Scarlet Tanager of the year, but I couldn't find that one. Along the way all the usual warblers were singing: Hooded, Black-and-white, Prairie (natch), yellowthroats, Ovenbirds...The good news is that the Prothonotary Warblers are still there. They nest in the bushes along the stream. The bad news is that it took some work to get one to come out. 

Red-headed Woodpecker

I met again a birder I know from Whitesbog and he told me that the dreaded Yellow Trail, where I once picked up 28 ticks on my shoes, had been cleared and widened, so after we split up, I took a walk on it and came out apparently unscathed and with an Acadian Flycatcher added to the year list. The Yellow Trail is an horseshoe that begins and ends on the White Trail. It dumps you out just before Gum Spring which flows over the White Trail. Before turning back to the entrance, I figured I might as well look in the swamp that the spring flows into. Immediately I heard a Red-headed Woodpecker and with some patience was able to get one to fly toward me and land on a dead tree. Red-headed Woodpeckers are flagged as rare in Burlco, though I can think of more places there to find one than I can in Ocean County where they are "expected." Another RHWO was calling, and it too soon flew in. Since this is one of the few woodpeckers that is not sexually dimorphic, I don't know if it was a pair or a couple of males vying for territory. As a bonus, as I was leaving the swamp, I heard and finally saw a Scarlet Tanager. For a big, bright, red bird, they can be very difficult to see, high up and hiding in the foliage. Hence the rather unsatisfactory photo at top. 

Summer Tanager

Just before I reached the parking area, I heard a call that was new to me. I opened up Merlin and returned Summer Tanager. Not a completely outlandish identification (I've actually had them there before), but you have to be Reaganesque with Merlin: Trust But Verify. I walked off the path a few feet and happily, this section of the woods hadn't completely leafed out, so I was able to see a pale-yellow bird with a heavy beak flying around. It was a female Summer Tanager and very active. Hence, more unsatisfactory photos. 

As it was still early, I decided to drive back a few miles to Burrs Mill Brook, where I go once a year to find the Bank Swallows that nest in a sand quarry about a mile in from Burrs Mill Road. As I was walking the trail along the brook I heard a tanager-like song that didn't sound like a Scarlet. I saw the bird fly by for a second and once again, Merlin returned Summer Tanager! This one was a singing male. I thought that was pretty amazing to find two Summer Tanagers in the same day, but looking at eBird, I see lots of sightings today and yesterday all over Burlington County. Either there is an influx of this species, or it isn't really rare. 

Bank Swallow flying along the sand quarry cliff

I was wondering if it was too early for the Bank Swallows, since I didn't see any flying over the open parts of the brook, and when I got to the edge of the quarry (I stand just outside the property line), I at first didn't see any activity. But a little persistence (like 3 minutes) yielded first one, then four, then six, then eight Bank Swallows flying along the far face of the quarry, going in and out of holes. 

That made 5 year birds for the day and that was enough for me. 

The Huber List--Bank Swallows and a couple of Baltimore Orioles were the only birds I saw at Burrs Mill that I didn't see at the Prairie Warbler Preserve. 

41 species
Canada Goose  2
Mourning Dove  2
Yellow-billed Cuckoo  1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1
Laughing Gull  1
Red-headed Woodpecker  2     
Red-bellied Woodpecker  3
Eastern Wood-Pewee  3
Acadian Flycatcher  1
Eastern Phoebe  2     Bridge
Great Crested Flycatcher  6
White-eyed Vireo  4
Red-eyed Vireo  2
Blue Jay  1
Common Raven  2     Croaking corvids
Carolina Chickadee  5
Tufted Titmouse  2
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  3
Carolina Wren  1
Gray Catbird  2
Wood Thrush  3
American Goldfinch  1
Field Sparrow  1
Eastern Towhee  6
Red-winged Blackbird  2
Ovenbird  15
Blue-winged Warbler  1
Black-and-white Warbler  2
Prothonotary Warbler  1
Common Yellowthroat  2
Hooded Warbler  9     9+
American Redstart  2
Magnolia Warbler  1
Yellow Warbler  1
Pine Warbler  3
Prairie Warbler  15
Summer Tanager  1     
Scarlet Tanager  4
Northern Cardinal  2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  1

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Whitesbog 5/6--Green Heron, Blackpoll Warbler

Green Heron

 A late-night Mets game in Arizona and early morning rain combined for a delayed start this morning, and as the weather looked iffy along the coast, I just drove over to Whitesbog. This time of year, I usually park at the county line and then decide which way I want to go--this morning it into Burlco to start. Union Pond is low enough to have some mud and said along the edges and close to the road and while I was driving in I saw shorebirds flying about. Walking back to it, I saw 3 Least Sandpipers working the little bit of exposed mud. It's early for them at Whitesbog but I see them as a harbinger of summer if the bogs get drained. I also had a Killdeer fly over and saw at the back of the pond, a Spotted Sandpiper fly from one mud flat to the other. 

Then I went into Ditch Meadow, but unfortunately, the beavers have been at work and the trail requires high rubber boots. I walked around Union Pond to the other entrance to Ditch Meadow, and still didn't see much until I did--my first Green Heron of the year flew right in front of me and posed in a tree. I didn't feel like going into the village, so I stuck to the bogs, working my way back to the county line, and crossing over into Ocean County where I hoped I could find another Green Heron to add to my county list. I searched in most of the likely places without going back to the Antrim Bogs and didn't have any luck. But I did add one more bird to year list.

Normally, I use the Merlin app to confirm what I think I'm hearing because ever since the app "heard" a Prothonotary Warbler in my backyard, I haven't completely trusted its reliability. Today, on the cross dike, I thought I heard the high buzz of a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (amazingly, I can hear that bird) but only for a second, so I opened up Merlin and let it listen. It confirmed the gnatcatcher, and then a lot of easy birds started popping up--Common Yellowthroat, Red-winged Blackbird, Gray Catbird...Blackpoll Warbler! Whenever Merlin records a mimid, I tend to not take any of the birds it hears seriously--a couple of weeks ago on Island Beach it "heard" a Tufted Titmouse that a Brown Thrasher was doing an excellent imitation of and there are no titmice on Island Beach. I laugh and groan whenever I see someone's eBird list with the notation "Confirmed by Merlin." 

Not that Blackpoll Warbler is rare per se but since it is out of my hearing range, it a very difficult warbler for me to track down. I played the recording back and even when the sonogram indicated that it was playing the warbler's song, I couldn't hear it. So just as I was shrugging my shoulders, a bird flew into the top of a cedar. I got my bins on it and Holy Smokes it was a Blackpoll. Not the first one I've had there, but you can now count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I've listed it at that patch. 

Still didn't get the Green Heron for the county though. 

For both sides of the line, 40 species:

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
American Black Duck
Mourning Dove
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Fish Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Carolina Wren
Gray Catbird
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Orchard Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Blackpoll Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Pine Dust on Big Tank

Manahawkin WMA 4/30--Black-necked Stilt, Semipalmated Plover, Eastern Wood-Pewee and April Recap

Black-necked Stilt

It was starting to become my nemesis bird of the year. I had already made two trips to Brig and 4 loops of the Wildlife Drive with no luck. Yesterday, after our excursion to the Ocean City rookery, Shari & I stopped at Manahawkin to look for the Black-necked Stilt that had been seen in the front impoundment. It wasn't in the front impoundment. I suspected that it was in the back impoundment, but to get there you have to walk about a thousand feet through tick-infested tall grass and neither of us was dressed for that kind of trek, so we dipped. 

This morning, I was there at seven, wearing permethrin pants, sprayed and wiped with repellent, with my socks tucked into my pants. Again, the front impoundment was empty of anything I cared about but walking back with my scope to where I suspected the bird might be (and where I had seen one about 12 years ago) I quickly found the bird with the bubblegum pink legs feeding alongside both species of yellowlegs. Nemesis no more. 

I did add two more species there--Eastern Wood-Pewee in the upland section and saw a small flock of Semipalmated Plovers whizzing around the back impoundment, to bring the year bird total up to 40 for the month. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to track down the Yellow-breasted Chat that another birder had just heard "around the corner" and has subsequently been reported since I was there. I seem to be taking it personally that a bird that makes such a demented racket refused to sing while I was there. Ah well...

For the month I had 139 species. Already other birders are complaining to me about the warblers being late and migration being slow. I would have like to lived in those halcyon days when the birds flew over your head in waves but instead I'm here and my motto is "See 'em while you can." 

Counties birded: Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Ocean

Species             First Sighting
Snow Goose   Brig
Brant   Brig
Canada Goose   Whitesbog
Mute Swan   Brig
Wood Duck   Whitesbog
Blue-winged Teal   Brig
Northern Shoveler   Brig
Gadwall   Brig
Mallard   Whitesbog
American Black Duck   Cranberry Bogs
Northern Pintail   Brig
Green-winged Teal   Brig
Ring-necked Duck   Cranberry Bogs
Greater Scaup   Island Beach SP
Surf Scoter   Great Bay Bvld. WMA
Black Scoter   Great Bay Bvld. WMA
Bufflehead   Whitesbog
Red-breasted Merganser   Great Bay Bvld. WMA
Ruddy Duck   Brig
Wild Turkey   Crestwood Village
Rock Pigeon   South Toms River
Mourning Dove   35 Sunset Rd
Eastern Whip-poor-will   35 Sunset Rd
Chimney Swift   Whitesbog
Ruby-throated Hummingbird   35 Sunset Rd
Clapper Rail   Great Bay Bvld. WMA
Black-necked Stilt   Manahawkin WMA
American Oystercatcher   Great Bay Bvld. WMA
Black-bellied Plover   Great Bay Bvld. WMA
Killdeer   Cranberry Bogs
Semipalmated Plover   Manahawkin WMA
Short-billed Dowitcher   Brig
Long-billed Dowitcher   Forsythe-Barnegat
Wilson's Snipe   Brig
Solitary Sandpiper   Colliers Mills WMA
Lesser Yellowlegs   Brig
Willet   Cedar Bonnet Island
Greater Yellowlegs   Brig
Sanderling   Island Beach SP
Dunlin   Brig
Bonaparte's Gull   Brig
Laughing Gull   Island Beach SP
Ring-billed Gull   35 Sunset Rd
American Herring Gull   Brig
Great Black-backed Gull   Brig
Lesser Black-backed Gull   Island Beach SP
Caspian Tern   Holly Lake
Forster's Tern   Great Bay Bvld. WMA
Pied-billed Grebe   Colliers Mills WMA
Red-throated Loon   Island Beach SP
Common Loon   Great Bay Bvld. WMA
Northern Gannet   Island Beach SP
Double-crested Cormorant   Brig
White Ibis   Island Beach SP
Glossy Ibis   Great Bay Bvld. WMA
Yellow-crowned Night Heron   Ocean City Welcome Center
Black-crowned Night Heron   Great Bay Bvld. WMA
Little Blue Heron   Island Beach SP
Tricolored Heron   Great Bay Bvld. WMA
Snowy Egret   Great Bay Bvld. WMA
Great Egret   Cranberry Bogs
Great Blue Heron   Whitesbog
Black Vulture   Whitesbog
Turkey Vulture   Manchester Dump
Osprey   Cranberry Bogs
Northern Harrier   Whitesbog
Bald Eagle   Cranberry Bogs
Red-shouldered Hawk   Whitesbog
Red-tailed Hawk   Manchester Dump
Belted Kingfisher   Double Trouble SP
Red-headed Woodpecker   Colliers Mills WMA
Red-bellied Woodpecker   Whitesbog
Downy Woodpecker   35 Sunset Rd
Hairy Woodpecker   Whitesbog
Northern Flicker   Manchester Dump
American Kestrel   Colliers Mills WMA
Merlin   Island Beach SP
Peregrine Falcon   Great Bay Bvld. WMA
Eastern Wood-Pewee   Manahawkin WMA
Eastern Phoebe   Whitesbog
Great Crested Flycatcher   Lakehurst Railroad Tracks
Eastern Kingbird   Cloverdale Farm
White-eyed Vireo   Manahawkin WMA
Warbling Vireo   Colliers Mills WMA
Blue Jay   Manchester Dump
American Crow   35 Sunset Rd
Fish Crow   Whitesbog
Common Raven   Cranberry Bogs
Carolina Chickadee   35 Sunset Rd
Tufted Titmouse   35 Sunset Rd
Tree Swallow   Whitesbog
Purple Martin   Jakes Branch County Park
Northern Rough-winged Swallow   Double Trouble SP
Barn Swallow   Colliers Mills WMA
Ruby-crowned Kinglet   Cranberry Bogs
Golden-crowned Kinglet   Whitesbog
White-breasted Nuthatch   Whitesbog
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher   Whitesbog
Northern House Wren   Island Beach SP
Winter Wren   Double Trouble SP
Marsh Wren   Cattus Island County Park
Carolina Wren   35 Sunset Rd
European Starling   Colliers Mills WMA
Gray Catbird   Colliers Mills WMA
Brown Thrasher   Island Beach SP
Northern Mockingbird   Berkeley Island County Park
Eastern Bluebird   35 Sunset Rd
Hermit Thrush   Double Trouble SP
American Robin   35 Sunset Rd
House Sparrow   Great Bay Bvld. WMA
House Finch   35 Sunset Rd
American Goldfinch   35 Sunset Rd
Chipping Sparrow   35 Sunset Rd
Field Sparrow   Whitesbog
Dark-eyed Junco   35 Sunset Rd
White-throated Sparrow   35 Sunset Rd
Seaside Sparrow   Cattus Island County Park
Savannah Sparrow   Brig
Song Sparrow   35 Sunset Rd
Swamp Sparrow   Whitesbog
Eastern Towhee   35 Sunset Rd
Baltimore Oriole   Whitesbog
Red-winged Blackbird   Manchester Dump
Brown-headed Cowbird   Whitesbog
Common Grackle   Whitesbog
Boat-tailed Grackle   Great Bay Bvld. WMA
Ovenbird   Michael Huber Prairie Warbler Preserve
Worm-eating Warbler   Evert Memorial Nature Trail
Louisiana Waterthrush   Double Trouble SP
Black-and-white Warbler   Double Trouble SP
Prothonotary Warbler   Michael Huber Prairie Warbler Preserve
Common Yellowthroat   Manahawkin WMA
Hooded Warbler   Michael Huber Prairie Warbler Preserve
Yellow Warbler   Cattus Island County Park
Palm Warbler   Whitesbog
Pine Warbler   35 Sunset Rd
Yellow-rumped Warbler   Double Trouble SP
Prairie Warbler   Michael Huber Prairie Warbler Preserve
Northern Cardinal   35 Sunset Rd

Oops! I accidentally took a photo of an Osprey (Cattus Island)

Whitesbog | Ocean City Welcome Center 4/29--Chimney Swift, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Baltimore Oriole

Yellow-crowned Night-Herons

Before Shari & I took our annual jaunt down to the Ocean City Welcome Center to view the rookery, I took my morning walk in Whitesbog on both sides of the county line, where I was happy to meet up with my informant, whom I hadn't seen in more than a couple of months.  In Ditch Meadow, on the Burlington side, I heard a Baltimore Oriole, but couldn't see it because the trail down to where it was singing was flooded and I wasn't wearing waders, and on the Ocean County side, over one of the former, now-flooded, blueberry fields I saw my first Chimney Swift of the year, but no pictures because, well, they're swift. 

White Ibis with eggs
Photo: Shari Zirlin

The rookery on the Ocean City causeway is always entertaining and a photographer's delight. The first time we ever went there was on July 4th weekend, battling the traffic into Ocean City, because a White Ibis was there and it was an event. Fast forward 10 years and there are anywhere from 75 to 200 White Ibis in the rookery, with many nests being sat upon and many eggs tended. This bird is moving its range north, possibly because of habitat destruction down south. And the downside is that where there used to be perhaps a few dozen Yellow-crowned Night Herons nesting there, they have been pushed out by the White Ibises, and today I was only able to find perhaps 5 of them on the margins of the rookery. Fortunately, the White Ibises haven't displaced the Great Egrets, of which there were at least 100 in the trees and probably 50 or 60 nest. Throw in a few Snowy Egrets, Little Blue Herons and 15 or so Glossy Ibises (who'd ever think I'd see more White Ibises than Glossy Ibises in NJ?) and you have quite a show. With a scope and lot of patience (I'm patting myself on the back) I was able to find two American Oystercatchers for Shari far out on a sandbar. Altogether, a very successful excursion. 

For the day I had exactly 50 species, not counting our backyard turkeys and whip-poor-wills. 

Species          Location
Brant   Ocean City Welcome Center
Canada Goose   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Mallard   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
American Black Duck   Ocean City Welcome Center
Rock Pigeon   Ocean City Welcome Center
Chimney Swift   Whitesbog (Ocean Co.)
Clapper Rail   Ocean City Welcome Center
American Oystercatcher   Ocean City Welcome Center
Solitary Sandpiper   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Greater Yellowlegs   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Laughing Gull   Ocean City Welcome Center
American Herring Gull   Ocean City Welcome Center
Forster's Tern   Ocean City Welcome Center
Common Loon   Ocean City Welcome Center
Double-crested Cormorant   Whitesbog (Ocean Co.)
White Ibis   Ocean City Welcome Center
Glossy Ibis   Ocean City Welcome Center
Yellow-crowned Night Heron   Ocean City Welcome Center
Black-crowned Night Heron   Ocean City Welcome Center
Little Blue Heron   Ocean City Welcome Center
Snowy Egret   Ocean City Welcome Center
Great Egret   Ocean City Welcome Center
Osprey   Ocean City Welcome Center
Northern Flicker   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Eastern Kingbird   Whitesbog (Ocean Co.)
Blue Jay   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Fish Crow   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Carolina Chickadee   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Tufted Titmouse   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Tree Swallow   Whitesbog (Ocean Co.)
Barn Swallow   Ocean City Welcome Center
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Gray Catbird   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Eastern Bluebird   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Hermit Thrush   Whitesbog (Ocean Co.)
Song Sparrow   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Swamp Sparrow   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Eastern Towhee   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Baltimore Oriole   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Red-winged Blackbird   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Brown-headed Cowbird   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Boat-tailed Grackle   Ocean City Welcome Center
Ovenbird   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Black-and-white Warbler   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Common Yellowthroat   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Yellow Warbler   Whitesbog (Ocean Co.)
Pine Warbler   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Yellow-rumped Warbler   Whitesbog (Ocean Co.)
Prairie Warbler   Whitesbog (Burlington County)
Northern Cardinal   Whitesbog (Burlington County)

Great Egrets in abundance

March Review--20 Year Birds

Immature Bald Eagle, Cranberry Bogs

March came in like a lion...and pretty much went out like one too. Cold and/or windy for most of the month, with only the last couple of days giving a hint of the warm weather to come...which everyone will start complaining about as soon as it arrives. 

Red-headed Woodpecker, Colliers Mills

I wrapped up the month at Double Trouble SP this morning where I heard the familiar buzz of a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, which after about 5 minutes I was able to get eyes on way high up in the just budding trees. That was my 20th year bird for the month, a not-bad number for a mostly winter month. As chronicled here previously, I went to Barnegat Lighthouse SP 3 times and visited my usual haunts like Whitesbog and Colliers Mills, Manahawkin and the cranberry bogs on Dover Road on several occasions. I had a few "rare" birds, mostly birds like Barn Swallow, Tricolored Heron, and Snowy Egret that were just early, though the Sandhill Cranes continued at Whitesbog well into the middle of the month and I think everyone who wanted a look at them got it. I was actually a bit relieved when they finally disappeared, because I was getting tired of trying to explain where Rome Pond or Ditch Meadow is to birders who only know the 3 main bogs. And don't get me started on trying to explain where the borderline between Ocean and Burlington counties is at Whitesbog. I know from looking at pictures that a lot of supposedly Ocean County listings of the crane were really in Burlington. (Am I bit possessive about Whitesbog...oh I don't think so.) 

I was thinking about titling this entry "March Madness," but there was no madness involved other than basic silliness of walking around every day looking at and listening to birds. And typing the phrase "March Madness" exhausts my knowledge of college basketball, which you could not find my interest in with an electron scanning microscope. 

120 species for the month:
Counties birded: Atlantic, Burlington, Ocean
Species   First Sighting
Brant   Bayview Ave Marina
Canada Goose   Lake Carasaljo
Mute Swan   Lake Carasaljo
Tundra Swan   Reeves Bogs
Wood Duck   Reeves Bogs
Blue-winged Teal   Brig
Northern Shoveler   Lake Carasaljo
Gadwall   Lake Shenandoah County Park
American Wigeon   Manahawkin WMA
Mallard   Lake Carasaljo
American Black Duck   Lake Carasaljo
Northern Pintail   Manahawkin WMA
Green-winged Teal   Cranberry Bogs
Redhead   Lake of the Lilies
Ring-necked Duck   Lake Carasaljo
Greater Scaup   Bayview Ave Marina
Lesser Scaup   Lake Carasaljo
Common Eider   Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Harlequin Duck   Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Surf Scoter   Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Black Scoter   Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Long-tailed Duck   Bayview Ave Marina
Bufflehead   Lake Carasaljo
Common Goldeneye   Brig
Hooded Merganser   Lake Carasaljo
Common Merganser   Lake Carasaljo
Red-breasted Merganser   Bayview Ave Marina
Ruddy Duck   Lake Carasaljo
Wild Turkey   35 Sunset Rd
Rock Pigeon   Manahawkin Lake
Mourning Dove   35 Sunset Rd
American Coot   Little Silver Lake
Sandhill Crane   Whitesbog
American Oystercatcher   Bayview Ave Marina
Killdeer   Reeves Bogs
Piping Plover   Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Long-billed Dowitcher   Brig
American Woodcock   Manahawkin WMA
Wilson's Snipe   Cranberry Bogs
Lesser Yellowlegs   Brig
Greater Yellowlegs   Manahawkin WMA
Ruddy Turnstone   Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Sanderling   Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Dunlin   Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Purple Sandpiper   Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Laughing Gull   Baltimore Avenue
Ring-billed Gull   Lake Carasaljo
American Herring Gull   Manahawkin WMA
Great Black-backed Gull   Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Pied-billed Grebe   Double Trouble SP
Red-throated Loon   Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Common Loon   Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Northern Gannet   Manasquan Inlet
Great Cormorant   Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Double-crested Cormorant   Barnegat Lighthouse SP
White Ibis   Brig
Black-crowned Night Heron   Great Bay Bvld. WMA
Tricolored Heron   Manahawkin WMA
Snowy Egret   Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Great Egret   Lake of the Lilies
Great Blue Heron   Whitesbog
Black Vulture   Colliers Mills WMA
Turkey Vulture   Lake Carasaljo
Osprey   Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Cooper's Hawk   Whitesbog
Northern Harrier   Manahawkin WMA
Bald Eagle   Reeves Bogs
Red-shouldered Hawk   Whitesbog
Red-tailed Hawk   Whitesbog
Eastern Screech-Owl   Whitesbog
Belted Kingfisher   Reeves Bogs
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker   Lake Shenandoah County Park
Red-headed Woodpecker   Colliers Mills WMA
Red-bellied Woodpecker   Lake Carasaljo
Downy Woodpecker   35 Sunset Rd
Hairy Woodpecker   Colliers Mills WMA
Northern Flicker   Whitesbog
American Kestrel   Robert J. Miller Air Park
Eastern Phoebe   Cranberry Bogs
Blue Jay   Lake Carasaljo
American Crow   35 Sunset Rd
Fish Crow   35 Sunset Rd
Common Raven   Whitesbog
Carolina Chickadee   35 Sunset Rd
Tufted Titmouse   35 Sunset Rd
Horned Lark   Robert J. Miller Air Park
Tree Swallow   Whitesbog
Purple Martin   Brig
Barn Swallow   Cranberry Bogs
Golden-crowned Kinglet   Reeves Bogs
White-breasted Nuthatch   Reeves Bogs
Red-breasted Nuthatch   35 Sunset Rd
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher   Double Trouble SP
Carolina Wren   35 Sunset Rd
European Starling   Lake Carasaljo
Gray Catbird   Cranberry Bogs
Northern Mockingbird   Lake Carasaljo
Eastern Bluebird   Reeves Bogs
Hermit Thrush   deCamp WildlifeTrail
American Robin   Whitesbog
House Sparrow   Lake Carasaljo
House Finch   35 Sunset Rd
American Goldfinch   35 Sunset Rd
Chipping Sparrow   Cranberry Bogs
Field Sparrow   Cranberry Bogs
Fox Sparrow   Reeves Bogs
Dark-eyed Junco   Lake Carasaljo
White-throated Sparrow   Lake Carasaljo
Savannah Sparrow   Barnegat Lighthouse SP
Song Sparrow   Lake Carasaljo
Swamp Sparrow   Whitesbog
Eastern Towhee   Cattus Island County Park
Red-winged Blackbird   Lake Carasaljo
Brown-headed Cowbird   Colliers Mills WMA
Rusty Blackbird   Lake Carasaljo
Common Grackle   Lake Carasaljo
Boat-tailed Grackle   Bayview Ave Marina
Palm Warbler   Cranberry Bogs
Pine Warbler   35 Sunset Rd
Yellow-rumped Warbler   Lake Carasaljo
Northern Cardinal   35 Sunset Rd

Sandhill Cranes, Rome Pond, Whitesbog (Burlington County)