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December 3, Sandy Hook MEETING
PLACE:
Sandy Hook Visitors Center BIRDS SEEN: Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Harrier, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-winged Scoter, Surf Scoter, Black Scoter, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Red-breasted Merganser, Northern Gannet, Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Red-throated Loon, Bonaparte's Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Eastern Towhee, American Black Duck, Mallard. HIGHLIGHTS: It was a cold and windy morning. We started our trip walking to the new bird blind to try and get out of the wind. At the blind we had Hooded Mergansers and a couple of Ruddy Ducks hiding at the edge of the reeds with the black and mallard ducks. From the blind we headed to the ocean and were treated with a gannet feeding. When we finished our little journey we decided to go and find the scoters. C-Lot did not disappoint us. We had great looks at Black, Surf and one female White-winged Scoter. A few of our participants wanted to see a loon. We were finally able to find a Red-throated Loon to whet their appetite. In the parking lot some of us saw a Sharp-shinned Hawk and others saw a Northern Harrier across the street hunting in the reeds. Satisfied, we headed to the Boy Scout camp to get away from the wind. The wind, however, was too strong and we saw very few birds. As we rounded the corner of the maintenance building we were treated to wonderful looks at a Hermit Thrush. A bird, an actual bird! We were all reluctant to leave. One last look in the bay yeilded little. A small pack of female Red-breasted Mergansers swam in the rough waters. The wind beat us, we all decided to take the memory of the morning and the good fortune of all the great birds we did find and go home. November 6, 2005 , Island Beach State Park MEETING
PLACE: Outside entrance BIRDS SEEN: Common Loon, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Hermit Thrush, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Gray Catbird, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Sanderling, Dunlin, Black Scoter, Surf Scoter, Northern Gannet, Double-crested Cormorant. HIGHLIGHTS: Our first stop was at Reeds Trail. Land birds were tough. We heard several Hermit Thrushes but could not locate. We had good looks at Yellow-rumped Warbler and Golden-crowned Kinglet. We heard a Gary Catbird and located a lone Dark-eyed Junco. With few
land birds we decided to go to the ocean. The ocean was much more active.
We had good numbers of Northern Gannets (all ages), Surf and Black Scoters
migrating. We had some nice close looks at all. A flock of Dunlin migrated
by and we had a couple of Common Loons go by. With our birding experience
a success at the ocean and a few more good looks at the gannets, we all
headed back to our cars. October 9 , 2005, Sandy Hook MEETING
PLACE: Visitor's Center parking lot BIRDS SEEN: Brant, Eurasian Wigeon (possibly a pair, but could not see specific marks on female) - Spermaceti Cove, American Black Duck, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Osprey, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, American Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon , Black-bellied Plover, American Oystercatcher, Greater Yellowlegs, Sanderling, Dunlin, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Caspian Tern, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Red-eyed Vireo, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Marsh Wren, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Pine Warbler, Palm Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch, House Sparrow HIGHLIGHTS: Despite damp and misty weather, 10 participants joined Linda Mack and Scott Barnes for the MCAS-NPS bird walk. A trip highlight was a probable pair of Eurasian Wigeon in Spermaceti Cove, although a definite identification of the female was impossible due to the distance. Also in the cove was a Caspian Tern and many lingering Tree Swallows flying over the salt marsh. A walk around the perimeter of the North Beach parking lot yielded a male Black-throated Blue Warbler feeding on Beach Plum fruit and a variety of sparrows, including Song, Field, White-Crowned and White-throated. Other
birds of interest were a fast-flying Merlin, Osprey, Sharp-shinned and
Cooper's Hawks, a brief look at a Marsh Wren and the first-of-fall returning
Brant. August 18, 2005, Sandy Hook evening walk MEETING
PLACE: Visitor's Center parking lot BIRDS SEEN: Merlin, Western Sandpiper, Skimmer, Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Black-bellied Plover, American Oystercatcher, Sanderling, Eastern Towhee, Osprey, Pectoral Sandpiper, Mallard, Laughing Gull, Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Short-billed Dowitcher, Spotted Sandpiper. HIGHLIGHTS: Our destination was a little different this trip. We decided to go right to the salt pond at the end of Fisherman's Trail first. We knew the light would fade fast, and we wanted to see what awaited us there. As we trekked down the path, we stopped to see the Osprey and to admire the beach plums in bloom with fruit. A Brown Thrasher looked on with much amusement. Some were treated with a Merlin streaking by. Unfortunately he kept flying by the salt pond and scattered half the flock of shorebirds. With half the birds in disarray and the sun in our eyes, we went down to the water's edge. With the rising tide we were rewarded with great looks at about a dozen Black-bellied Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Sandpiper and Semipalmated Plover frolicking in the water as it encroached the shore. Sanderlings were running to beat the surf. As the tide kept rising we decided to head back to the salt pond. The pond was now in better light. We saw Pectoral Sandpipers, Short-billed Dowitchers and a Spotted Sandpiper. The birds were pretty scarce. I guess the Merlin meant business, and the birds were not willing to come back. As we left a Black Skimmer flew in, skimming his way along the pond. As we trekked
back to the cars we had wonderful looks at an Eastern Towhee. As we said
our goodbyes about eight Black-crowned Night-Herons flew by, giving us
one last memory of a beautiful night. July 14, 2005, Sandy Hook evening walk MEETING
PLACE: Visitor's Center parking lot HIGHLIGHTS: Walking across the street to Spermaceti Cove a Green Heron flew in. He wanted to perch on a tree but thought twice when he saw us coming up the boardwalk. We soon forgot him as we watched the Osprey and their two chicks. On the spit we had nice looks at Short-billed Dowitchers and American Oystercatchers. A Black Skimmer flew by and landed next to the oystercatchers, providing a nice comparison of the two. As we scanned a Song Sparrow landed and seranaded us with its melodic song. A Black-crowned Night-Heron and a Great Egret came swooping in as we prepared to leave. Our next stop was at the migration platform. We had a wonderful view of the Osprey nest near the migration platform and their young. We were glad to see that the pair was successful this year. Most of us then trekked our way down Fisherman's Trail to the ocean. At the salt pond we had distant looks at Semipalmated and Spotted Sandpipers as well as a Short-billed Dowitcher. Overhead four Lesser Yellowlegs flew, calling their toot-toots. Down at the water's edge we had a family of Piping Plovers running about the beach. A few Wilson's Storm Petrels flew over the sea. It was a beautiful night, and we all regretted having to leave. Next month will be another adventure at Sandy Hook, and we have the memories of the evening to tide us over until the next evening walk. June 9, 2005, Sandy Hook evening walk MEETING
PLACE: Visitor's Center parking lot HIGHLIGHTS: From the Visitor's Center parking lot, the group made its way across the street to Spermaceti Cover to observe the nesting Ospreys and look for waterfowl. American Goldfinches twittered overhead as Debbie and Bob scanned the cove for interesting birds, noting Red-breasted Merganser, Black-bellied Plover and American Oystercatcher as highlights. The group was unusually small for Sandy Hook, due probably to the unsettled weather, which made viewing a little easier than normal. Also on hand were Great and Snowy Egrets, a Great Blue Heron and an elusive Green Heron. Eventually the group moved on to the north end of Sandy Hook and the Fisherman's Trail. Here an Eastern Towhee sang along the trail as the group trudged to the tip of the Hook. At the tip were seen Semipalmated Plover, several species of gulls, and tiny Piping Plovers in the dunes, which were fascinating to watch. As night fell we said our goodbyes, with hopes of better weather (and birds) on the July walk. May 7, 2005, Allaire State Park MEETING
PLACE: Main parking lot HIGHLIGHTS: The morning was downright cold at Allaire State Park on May 7, and rain threatened all morning. One 7-year-old had hopes of seeing her first Scarlet Tanager, and Michael promised to deliver. With promises of great numbers of birds, our leaders started the trip with a hunt for a rare bird for Allaire, the Red-headed Woodpecker. A pair had been seen around the picnic grove several times over the past few weeks, but they were not found today. Seen in their place were Great Crested Flycatcher and Northern Flicker. Usually at Allaire the woods ring with the sounds of migrating songbirds; today, however, the woods were mostly silent. A long, slow walk around the park loop trail yielded little in the way of birds, with occasional Wood Thrush and Ovenbird songs breaking the silence. The cold weather may have kept the migrating birds further south, and we failed to produce the promised "symphony of birds" or even the promised Scarlet Tanager. Even Bob H's "special spots" couldn't produce more than the occasional Common Yellowthroat. A walk through the historic village yielded a nestbuilding pair of House Wrens, which was one of the highlights of the walk. Promises of better numbers next year were met with skepticism and winks, but a nice morning was had by all who attended. April 16, 2005, Sandy Hook MEETING
PLACE: Visitors Center, Sandy Hook HIGHLIGHTS:
Our trip started on Saturday at Spermacetti Cove with We next stopped at the auditorium in Fort Hancock. A seal lay on a rock looking like a banana peel catching some sun. A drake Common Goldeneye swam by, while Double-crested Cormorants rested on the pound nets. Further out in the bay we spotted a Common Loon fishing for his breakfast. The ocean was rough at our next stop. From the deck of the North Beach Pavilion we watched a couple of Northern Gannets swooping on the ocean. A couple of loons took off for parts unknown, and a Great Cormorant landed atop a tower. North Pond and the hawk watch platform was our last stop. An American Coot swam and dove in the pond. A late American Tree Sparrow popped up for a brief moment. A pair of Brown Thrashers started to sing in the afternoon sun, letting us know they were back in their summer home. We all enjoyed close looks at the Tree Swallows as they claimed their summer houses. At the hawk
watch platform we met the new hawkwatcher for the season, Lise. A few
accipitors were seen so far. The day had warmed a bit. With stomachs growling
and the joy of the day we all headed to our cars and hit the open road. March 12, 2005, Fisherman's Cove, Manasquan MEETING
PLACE: Entrance to park HIGHLIGHTS: It was another blustery day. Bob Henschel, our trip leader, led the group down a trail and to a small beach area, where good looks into the west side of Manasquan Inlet were had. Common Loons were -- well, common, and there were a small number of Red-throated Loons as well as many Red-breasted Mergansers. Bird numbers were very low, as land birds tried to stay out of the wind and sea birds were blown out of view. We followed a trail through the preserve hoping to find more birds inland, but even the sunny edges were quiet. After walking the preserve we ventured out to the inlet and the Manasquan beach front, where we saw Long-tailed Ducks outside the inlet and Brant inside. A quiet day of birding, to be sure, but a nice day to be outside. We can only hope that spring will arrive soon! February 12, 2005, Sandy Hook MEETING
PLACE: Visitors Center, Sandy Hook HIGHLIGHTS: It was a cold, blustery day. We walked across the street from the Visitors Center to Spermaceti Cove where we started our trip. With the cold wind in our faces we looked across to the sand spit. A few Great Cormorants sat on the spit with gulls all around. The water was very choppy, not giving us a very easy time. A few Canada Geese, Black Ducks and Brant braved the waves. Frozen faces and all we headed back to the cars. Our next stop was Horseshoe Cove. The highlight of our trip was there in the marsh. At the back of the marsh was a Eurasian Wigeon playing with the American Wigeons. Everyone was excited as they looked through the scopes at their life bird. Some tore themselves away to look at another rare bird for Sandy Hook, a Common Merganser which was swimming there, too. Before we left we got looks at the Common Goldeneye, Horned Grebes and Buffleheads. We next went to North Beach Pavilion to scan the ocean and get out of the wind. A few Common Loons, a Red-throated Loon, Long-tailed Ducks and Red-breasted Mergansers swam here and there. We were visited by a Harbor Seal bobbing and diving about. Our last
stop was the ocean behind the Visitor's Center. We had a couple lines
of Black Scoters flying by. We packed up and headed back to our cars,
still thinking about the Eurasian Wigeon. He helped us forget about the
cold for a little while. January 15, 2005, Barnegat Light/Manahawkin MEETING
PLACE: Barnegat Light State Park HIGHLIGHTS: The cold weather didn't keep people home. With hopes of spotting a Harlequin Duck, 30 people braved the low temps to participate in our annual foray to the Barnegat Inlet. Along with the group were reporters from both the Times-Beacon, a southern Ocean County newspaper, and the Asbury Park Press. The pressure was on to produce interesting birds! A short way out along the concrete walkway, one of our group spotted a Common Loon close to the rocks. A little further out, our leader Michael spotted a Razorbill, a very uncommon bird that has been spotted in several locations along the coast this winter. Although the bird spent a lot of time diving, the group didn't move on until everyone got to see it in one of the spotting scopes. A 180-degree turnabout from the Razorbill, several members spotted a small flock of Horned Larks in the dunes. They came relatively close, then flew away as several tresspassers approached. Too bad. We continued out on the jetty, which is fairly easy to navigate most of the way out -- except in high tide, which of course it was. The slippery rocks were a little treacherous, and more than one participant got an unexpected shower of salt spray! About 2/3 out we spotted a large flock of ~40 Harlequin Ducks. They stayed close to the rocks, providing everyone with amazing looks. Also nearby were several Long-tailed Ducks, a Red-throated Loon and several Red-breasted Mergansers. On the rocks themselves were a large flock of Dunlin, and a second mixed flock of Ruddy Turnstones and Purple Sandpipers. At the end of the jetty was a huge flock of Black Scoters, several beautiful Surf Scoters, and four King Eiders, which took flight as everyone watched them in awe. Beautiful. On the beach were two Black-bellied Plover as well. It was time to head back to the cars for the second leg of the trip -- but we found time to watch an American Kestrel hunt gracefully in the dunes. After a warmup period at Dunkin Donuts, 13 participants headed to our next stop. The road leading to the "Bridge to Nowhere" in the Manahawkin WMA looks like the remains of a mine field, pocked with deep ruts and pits. After a slow, careful drive to the bridge, we discovered there WAS no bridge -- it had been burned down by vandals. Each of us found a good vantage for scanning the marsh, and we watched and waited. While we spotted interesting birds, such as several Eastern Meadowlark, a Belted Kingfisher, a Peregrine Falcon and numerous Northern Harriers, we were unable to find the bird we'd come there to see, the Short-eared Owl. Maybe the hunters in the marsh had scared them off, or flooding had diminished the local food supply. When light began to fail and hands began to freeze we said our goodbyes. We were frozen, but happy. Perhaps next year we'll get to see a Short-eared Owl. If they were easy to find, it wouldn't be such an achievement to find one!
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