So, we see and read the NJ RBAs (Rare Bird Alerts) often now. A Roseate Spoonbill that should probably be somewhere in Florida or down south, had found its way up to New Jersey’s Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge (aka The Brig). With a busy week at work and a two and a half hour drive it didn’t seem likely that we would get down to try and see it until the weekend. Then we would have to scope among the crowds and hope the bird hadn’t moved on. We decided to make the effort and hope for the best. At 6:45 PM, after a relatively light rush-hour (by NJ standards anyways), we pulled into the Gull Pond tower area and parked among the six or seven cars that brought other would-be Spoonbill hunters to this locale. Seeing a crowd of 12 to15 people all peering in the same direction brought hope and excitement as we jumped out of the car and rushed to join the birders. The excitement was short lived as the Spoonbill had not yet been seen and many there reported being there for many hours and some even since the morning. Either way it was a beautiful night and the company of good people and the Brig’s “normal” bird contingent would make the trip enjoyable.
First a skating show performed by three Black Skimmers right in front of us as we “oohed and ahhhed.” Then a Least Bittern made an appearance to keep things interesting. This would be an okay night after all. Then it happened. As newbie birders you are almost silent when it comes to making a “spotting” call. An incorrect identification among experienced birders was not something you wanted to do. Well this bird made it easy. I was looking through binocs toward the bridge on the way out of the Brig where the bird at some point had been seen when “pink” flew right in my line of sight. Knowing there wasn’t much pink at the Brig and the assistance of the previous spot made it easier. All the same it still felt sort of special being the first one to say “There it is!” as the beautiful bird rose into the air. We all got good looks and when it turned the corner and landed in a tree we all looked at each other with huge childish grins and enthusiastic chatter. We got it! So, a few birders left after an all day vigil having accomplished what they came for. We decided (after being suggested by one of the experienced birders) to walk down a hundred yards and hope to find the tree the bird landed in. Sure enough there he (i think?) was sitting in a tree 5 feet below a Great Egret.
Looking like he belonged there and had done it a million times he gave plenty of nice looks at plumage and bill. After about 10 minutes the bird rose into the air. Rose being the appropriate word as the color of the Spoonbill was unmistakably distinct. It flew in our direction, in the same general path it had the night before and then veered a few feet to make it directly over our heads. Amazing silence filled the air as we collectively held our breath as it glided by. Another round of smiles followed. I turned to Jeanette and saw what I had hoped I would. Her holding our camera and a smile that said “I got him.” The only disappointment of the night was the clarity of the pictures as we had “tweaked” the camera settings to attempt to get a digi-scoped picture just minutes earlier. Still, the pictures were great and Jeanette was the only one of this group to capture the spoonbill (I believe). An unbelievable birding adventure and one that if you weren’t already made you a birder “for life.”
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