Past MCAS Field Trip Reports

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Field Trip reports 2003

Sandy Hook
December 7, 2002

MEETING PLACE: Sandy Hook Visitors Center
TIME: 9:00 AM
LEADER: Michael Casper
CONDITIONS: Approx. 20 °F (cooler by the ocean); northwest winds
BIRDS SEEN: Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Northern Gannet, Great Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Brant, Canada Goose, American Black Duck, Mallard, Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Black Scoter, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Northern Harrier, Red-breasted Merganser, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Sanderling, Laughing Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Dove, Mourning Dove, Northern Flicker, Horned Lark, American Crow, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal, American Tree Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, House Sparrow
HIGHLIGHTS: At Spermaceti Cove we had 6 or more Horned Grebes actively feeding, We found Common Goldeneye swimming and diving among the Bufflehead and Amer. Black Duck. A Northern Harrier was most likely blown across the bay from the mainland and struggled against the wind to make his way back. Several White-winged Scoters were also found in Spermaceti Cove, as were a pair of Hooded Mergansers.
Next we trudged through the snow to the observation platform overlooking North Pond. The pond was frozen, but we were treated to a show by several Northern Gannetts, a few Long-tailed Ducks and several scoters.
Back in the parking lot we noted Sharp-shinned and Red-tailed Hawks as well as a probable 2nd year Laughing Gull, although views were not ideal.
Highlights from our final stop at the North Beach pavilion included a flock of Horned Larks, which fed in the dunes in front of us. A Red-throated Loon dove beneath the waves every time someone got a scope on it, and flocks of Black and Surf Scoters flew past. As many as a dozen Northern Gannet actively fed, and flocks of Long-tailed Duck and Red-breasted Merganser passed several times. We ended our trip wishing the cold hadn't kept people from attending, as the birding was insteresting and the company was excellent.

Island Beach State Park
November 9, 2002

MEETING PLACE: Island Beach State Park, Front Entrance
TIME: 9:00 AM
LEADER: Linda Mack
CONDITIONS: Approx. 60 °F (cooler by the ocean); southwest winds
BIRDS SEEN: Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Northern Gannet, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Brant, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, Black-bellied Plover, American Oystercatcher, Sanderling, Dunlin, Laughing Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Royal Tern, Forster's Tern, Eastern Phoebe, Carolina Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Swamp Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch
HIGHLIGHTS: We were treated to great looks at the Hermit Thrush, who posed in the trail and on a wooden fence for about five minutes. As we scanned the ocean for a pelagic bird or two, we had a flock of Surf Scoters (all females) floating so close to shore that binoculars were all we needed for good looks. After lunch, the remaining birders were treated to a Common Loon in eclipse plumage. Finally, we were all in awe of the Northern Gannet show - we had gannets in all plumages diving close to shore. At most times binoculars were all we needed. It was a wonderful close to a great day of birding. We wish more people could have joined us!