Fall Birding

What a great November birding day! The warm sun and cold wind seemed appropriate for the calendar date and so did the birds. We started at Assicong Marsh were we saw our first Cackling Goose! It was then on to Round Valley (Bufflehead, Ring-necked Duck and American Coot) and Spruce Run. Spruce Run gave us our first Horned Lark (really really cool birds to look at) and my second run-in with Snow Bunting. There was also a “hunting” Belted Kingfisher that Jeanette “caught in action.” We then pushed on west down 78 to exit 4, home of the Scott’s Mountain Hawkwatch. We didn’t plan to stay long and as it turned out didn’t need to. Our first Golden Eagle came soaring (other birds may fly, Eagles “soar”) through and we had a great bird to end a great day of New Jersey birding.

Awesome Red-shoulder Hawk! We have seen a few from the platform of a distant hawkwatch but nothing as close as this guy today. He was posted atop one of the few remaining boats left to fend for themselves as the cold takes further grip on the Spruce Run boat launch. I would have liked to see him fly away and see the wing “windows” but he was looking pretty comfortable so we left him to it. Jeanette loves buteos when they are this visable, not so much when they are hundreds of feet over head. So, this was a nice moment in a pretty “bird-free” day.

This was my first look at Snow Bunting as 11 of them moved as a flock, foraging at the Spruce Run boat launch. What great little birds! I first saw them flying around slightly out over the water as they contemplated landing. The white patches under their wings are so striking and hard to miss. They let me get pretty close for pictures.

These male Bufflehead were moving just as the sun got around behind them. The result was some really nice color and shine to their “buffled” heads.

The smallest bird in NJ outside of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird the Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a joy to watch. Loaded with energy and efficiency they hop quickly through the bushes usually without even noticing they are being watched. This one may have as he flashed his “Ruby crown” which most often isn’t seen. They “display” when excited as I understand it. This morning closed the trip in style landing us all three of our target birds within a two hour period. Three Rusty Blackbirds, five Pine Siskins and calling American Pipits ended the weekend on a high. The Cape May Fall Festival was a great time even with the inclement weather. We totaled 13 new Life Birds with the highlight being the Red Crossbill.

The most plentiful bird of the weekend we saw hundreds of these guys. The chip call becomes old hat and you become accustomed to seeing them at every birding location. Pete Dunne said on our birding walk with him at the Meadows, “Everyone gets to be an expert today…Look up call Yellow-rumped Warbler and 98% of the time you will be right…” We really liked this little guy who stood and looked at Jeanette as curiously as we at him.

An all wet Friday and start of Saturday had Jeanette looking for “alternate” birding avenues. We decided we would try for the Red Crossbill that was being seen in northern Cape May county. While it was still raining when we got there our spirits were quickly lifted when not 3 minutes after we arrived the Crossbill appeared on one of the Nature Conservancy feeders! Many pictures were taken and we enjoyed the moment with our birding friends, and fellow “bird whisperers” Jim and Vicky. The bird was seen at around 10:45 am and was there off-and-on until we left at approx. 11:30 am.

Nice Head-on look…

THE Namesake…

This bird was coming in and out of the shrubbery around the Hawkwatch platform and Paul Lehman was announcing its arrival every time for each new group of birders to see. Only our second Dickcissel. Last one was on May 12th at Higbee beach so it was a welcome site to close out the rainy, wet day.

One of our new favorites this Pied-billed Grebe was diving all over the pond and we had to guess where he would next come up.

Just kicking the tires a bit with our new Canon 40D. This shot was dark so I lightened it slightly but this is no where close to what the camera and its 100-400mm lens can do. Should be a fun weekend in Cape May!