Category for Spring Birding

Olive-sided Flycatcher

A really nice week of birding this week at Garret! I had 26 different Warbler species and had Blackburnian, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, and Cape May almost daily (in my experience these are all tough to get). Although not the big fallout days where birds were dripping off all the trees, there have been strong large flocks of birds that can be found and then identified. I am sure my improved song recognition has helped this year as many were found after hearing them sing and then tracking them down. On Thursday, a pair of Wilson’s Warblers and finally a Lincoln’s Sparrow. On Friday, nice looks at Tennessee and an Olive-sided Flycatcher!

Always fun seeing the birds and birders at Garret in the Spring! Also, at the end of this post I am including a map of Garret with suggested birding routes for people new to the park. I know I would have like to have this information starting out as the big park can be frustrating when the part you are at is quite yet people keep reporting great birds! Just keep on moving along through the park and you are bound to come across singing flocks. The green, haphazardly done lines are for morning (I like to start at the top of Garret if you are there early) and then the red if you get there in the mid-day or afternoon. Of course it is always variable and any part of the park can be amazing but this is based on my experience and the places I like to bird. I will put up another post next week with a final list of the Garret birds seen. For today just some pictures from the week and the map. Good Spring Birding All!

Tennessee Warbler

Lincoln’s Sparrow

Blackburnian Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

And below finally just some of my suggestions on Garret Mountain birding routes: (Green if you start in the morning and then do Red.  If you start in the afternoon/mid-day I usually just do the Red)

 More Pics at our Flickr Site!

Magnolia WarblerYou know its a good day of birding when you get home and still hear bird song in your head. I was watching the Rangers swearing there was a Black-throated Blue Warbler at the game. Anyways, it was another good day at Garret! 17 Warbler species and 4 Vireo! Picked up a singing Hooded Warbler 2 calling Blue-winged Warbler and multiple Magnolia Warbler that I didn’t see yesterday. It must have been picture day because there was an amazing Magnolia on Wilson who wanted his picture taken and a super cooperative Black-throated Green Warbler near the pond where the Warbling Vireo and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers hang out.  My favorites of the day were two towards the end of the day in a single Bay-breasted Warbler (on the hill on Wilson) and a Yellow-throated Vireo (behind the Boat House building on the pond up the stream a ways).  If the weather holds it should be another good day for the World Series of Birding at Garret! Will probably see many teams starting there tomorrow morning.

Black-throated Green Warbler

Some of the numbers:

Nashville Warbler (1), Blue-winged Warbler (2), Chestnut-sided Warbler (1), Northern Parula (10+), Yellow Warbler (2), Prairie Warbler (1), Palm Warbler (1), Magnolia Warbler (4), Yellow-rumped Warbler (10+), Black-throated Green Warbler (10+), Black-throated Blue Warbler (10+), Bay-breasted Warbler (1), Blackpoll Warbler (1), Black-and-white Warbler (10+), American Redstart (10+), Common Yellowthroat (5+) , Ovenbird (10+), Hooded Warbler (1).

Yellow-throated Vireo (1), Blue-headed Vireo (3), Red-eyed Vireo (5), Warbling Vireo (5)

Both Baltimore and Orchard Oriole, Scarlet Tanager and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Many Veery and Wood Thrush a single Swainson’s Thrush.

Scarlet Tanager

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler

 More Pics at our Flickr Site!

Baltimore OrioleIt has been a very slow start to the expected heavier migration into the Northeast this year.  The big movements of birds usually kicks off in the waning days of April or the first week of May. Unfavorable conditions (a migration sucking high pressure system and inclement weather in the southeast), had diverted birds west (based on discussions by much more qualified people than myself) or had them staged waiting in the southern half of the country.  The story can be seen unfolding over @ Woodcreeper.com (check my previous year’s recommendations of David La Puma’s excellent work) and Tom Auer’s contribution to the Migration via Radar forecast, at his personal blog covering the Northeast.  I check these regularly and was ecstatic to see today hope for a big push finally come to release the birds into our waiting migrant “traps.”

Black-throated Blue WarblerI was optimistic even with the possibility of rain. It has been so slow I had reserved to bird from the car if need be to finally get a look at some new travelers! Not long did I wait as I drove into Garret.

Blackpoll WarblerI like entering the park at the high side and then driving down and around the mountain, listening for the participants that may be in store for the day.  For the last week and a half I was met with Robins and a whole lot of silence on this drive in.  Today was different (admittedly the build up here is a bit theatrical but its two weeks late! ), and I heard Black-throated Green Warbler and Northern Parula along with Baltimore Orioles welcoming me in. YES. I started out on Wilson Ave to a huge flock of birds that were on the slope at the end of the main road. I heard Black-throated Blue Warblers and more Parula and many Ovenbird. I got on the Blues and the aforementioned  Black-throated Green Warblers along with a surprising multiple Blackpoll Warblers (usually a later warbler, but with this years pattern tough to say) singing  away. Palm Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Redstart and Yellow Warblers were present here.

Prairie WarblerThe rest of the walk around Garret was full of birds with the Baltimore Orioles in in force and a pair of Orchard Orioles.  We had Scarlet Tanagers and Great-crested Flycatchers and the pond held a Yellowlegs a Spotted Sandpiper and a Solitary Sandpiper.  The resident Killdeer parents ushered around 4 babies that escaped all the water and the Common Yellowthroat seemed just fine with the conditions. (Mostly males only 1 female seen all day).  Further up above the tiered lot we had multiple male Scarlet Tanagers and the GC Flycatcher along with my only Chestnut-sided Warbler of the day and a Nashville Warbler. A final pass around Barbours pond produced a single male Prairie Warbler along with more Veery and Wood Thrush also moving in heavier. Notable misses were no Rose-breasted Grosbeak for me (other reported) and no Northern Waterthrush (others had) or Magnolia Warbler which would be expected. I am sure they will be soon found in the days to come as the weather should keep the park busy and the weekends forecast looks bright. My favorite time of year has arrived and although late, as the saying goes, better late than never!

Some pics from this past week and today:

Orchard OrioleAmerican Redstart

 More Pics at our Flickr Site!

 Black-and-White Warbler

Another nice day at Garret. Still waiting for the next big push of migrants to bring in the variety of Warbler and Orioles and Grosbeaks. With some southern winds coming after days of northern winds (presumably a warm front coming in after a semi-cold front) I am hoping this weekend should bring some new migrants in.  Today had a FOS (First of Spring) Baltimore Oriole (1) and Louisiana Waterthrush (I missed the early weeks at Garret when they are regular). Also had quite a few Black-and-White Warblers again along with Palm Warbler and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Had Warbling Vireo singing (yesterday was FOS) and quite a few Blue-headed Vireo still around. Had a great look at a Broad-winged Hawk near the top of Garret which was awesome. Reports of single Northern Parula and Black-throated Green Warbler are as expected (I missed these) and I hope to see them this weekend too!

A few more pics from today.

Broad-winged Hawk
 Louisiana Waterthrush

Swamp Sparrow

Palm Warbler

Nice grouping of the usual’s for this time. I had two Blue-headed Vireo and a number of Palm, Yellow-rumped and Black-and-White Warblers and heard an Ovenbird. There were reports of Black-throated Green that I did not see. Winter Wren, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a Pileated Woodpecker were also seen. Over the next 14 days Garret Mounting will turn into migration super highway and this calm before the storm is exciting! My absolute favorite migration trap in New Jersey in the Spring! Happy its back again.

Blue-headed Vireo

Went down for the reported Tufted Duck and was not disappointed.  The duck was easily visible from the path that circles it although the lighting made viewing tough at some points.  My interpretation throughout was the Tuft was obvious and the all white flanks separated it from the surrounding Ducks. It seemed to me to sit a little lower in the water too.  Awesome bird!

I had to get out for a reported Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in my local patch! Only the second I have seen in New Jersey in my brief birding career, this one was super active and provided great looks for all. The bird was also actively feeding and took time for preening in nearby trees. It was a beautiful day and many people were out and about, so there were lots of non-birders curious what all the commotion was. I imagine the many cars and birders lined up on the side of the road with scopes and bins pointed into an apparently empty field would be curious to passers by. One passing car just questioned…”UFOs?” and kept right on going. Nope. (Lucky for him as I am not sure what he planned to do if I had shouted back “Yes!”) Just a great bird to share with anyone who appreciates nature! A lot of smiling people. Nice day for birding! Got a few hazy photos.

Chestnut-sided Warbler

A good day for Warblers at Garret! Still not great for pictures with the overcast setting the birds however did not disappoint. Blackpoll Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Ovenbird all posed for photos today. In 30 minutes near the central picnic area (down the path from the castle) I had great looks at all these guys and all of them singing. Would have liked to take a more thorough look around the park but I felt lucky to even have Garret as a lunch time from work option! Birds were awesome today!

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Hooded Warbler

Ovenbird

Palm Warbler

As I have often stated, there isn’t much better for Warblers in NJ than Garret Mountain in the Spring. Although not yet the super big number days that I have seen often in the past, Garret still always delivers and provides context to my official start to Spring. The weather was a bit odd this year after a warm winter and a not so wet April, and I expected early numbers and species in late April. However, the big numbers on warbler species didn’t open up until the first week of May and per usual, you never can tell when the floodgates open. Wind direction/speed, pressure systems and national weather all attribute to broad North American bird migration and its always helpful to keep one eye on your calendar of past experience and one eye on Bird Migration Radar information like that at http://www.woodcreeper.com/. You can usually get a good idea of what is coming and what the good days for the upcoming week “should” be. So, how did we get here? Where did our Spring/Warbler season start this year?

It always starts for me with early April trips to Garret at lunch and this year followed a similar pattern. First come the Pine Warblers followed shortly by Palm Warbler and Louisiana Waterthrush, Winter Wren and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. This is a pretty common arrival order and you better see them early because they all become scarce within a months time. Then you get trickles (of course this is all just in my 5+ year Garret Spring exp) of Black-and-white Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, a Northern Parula here and there and sometimes and early Hooded Warbler or Black-throated Green Warbler and an Orchard Oriole or two. No early Parula or Hooded for me this year but all the rest came pretty much as expected. You usually then hit a big push where the walls sort of break down and species poor in. The Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Scarlet Tanagers arrive in force and a walk around Barbour’s Pond can’t help but yield the call of one if not all of them. The Black-throated Greens and Blues come on strong with Nashville Warblers, Magnolia Warblers, and American Redstarts peppered with beautiful Blackburnian Warblers. The odd Hooded or Worm-eating Warbler shows up and usually an early Blackpoll Warbler or Canada Warbler makes an appearance  Chestnut-sided Warbler, Cape May Warbler and Bay-breasted Warbler seem like second push birds to me and when they have all showed up its officially on. Almost anything can show up and they can show up in numbers. I have had morning with 10-15 Cape May Warblers on a section of tree up on the ridge or Rose-breated Grosbeaks pouring off the sides of trees by the tiered lots. The trees appear literally alive at times with all of the “small movement” stirring boldly. Its a cornucopia of activity and a feast for the identifying eye and mind. The turn for home includes heavier pushes of Canada and the outside chance at Mourning Warbler or even a Connecticut Warbler. This is May at Garret Mountain and it is a thing to behold.

April, however, was not without incident for Jeanette and I as we looked to beat the “migration” streak and shot down to Belleplain and Cape May April 21st for some early breeding birds and a shot at migrants hitting the coastal spots as opposed to inland. It serves to reason (mine anyways ) that the distinctive southern species of breeding warblers would “get in” before their northern brethren. The Prairie Warbler at Higbee beach and the Worm-eating, Prothonotary Warbler, Hooded, Blue-winged Warbler and Yellow-throated Warblers at Belleplain are great bets with Louisiana Waterthrush thrown in for good measure. It was a great way to get an early start and we got looks at all of these birds on April 21st.

Worm-eating Warbler

So Spring had started and this weekend was our first “landing” on the first wave of birds at Garret in May! Blackburnian, an early Blackpoll and loads of Black-throated Greens greeted me with Black-throated Blue and Magnolia Warbler all making early appearances by the central picnic area by the Basketball court. I was greeted on my walk down here from the Castle parking area by the return of Oriole and Tanager calls ringing though the air. Its like dipping your brain back into an experience its been deprived of for some time and having it invigoratingly rush back in. “Yes, that was a Magnolia Warbler song.” Its and exhilarating experience for a brain ripe for recognition. Ovenbird and Black-white were numerous and the final nice bird of the day was a cooperatively singing Tennessee Warbler! Just the start of things to come at Garret. Fun!

Tennessee Warbler

I haven’t done a great job of the blogging side of things but I usually have updating “outing” picture at our Flickr site.

Winter Wren

Painted Bunting

Ok maybe today was a little more than “just” another Spring day in NJ, with the “available” Male Painted Bunting, but I am telling you…Jersey is for pLovers! (and all other sorts of birds!)

I wanted to head down to Belleplain today to see one of my favorite warblers, the Yellow-throated Warbler. Sunset bridge didn’t disappoint with at least 3 adults all singing. There were also 2 Louisiana Waterthrushes, 10 or so Pine Warblers and 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.

Sam Galick posted a note on JerseyBirds that a Male Painted Bunting was being seen in Absecon, so I shot up to see if I could nab my first male in New Jersey. The home owner Don was very welcoming and within 5 minutes there he was. Truly stunning bird! Big thanks to Don for letting New Jersey birders share in such a colorful April present!

Another good day of NJ Birding! Keep um coming!

Yellow-throated Warbler