Birding In New Jersey

Razorbill – Manasquan Inlet

January 8, 2012 In Winter Birding No Comment

I took a drive down to the Manasquan Inlet today to see if the recently reported Razorbill decided to stick around. At around 2:30 myself and a few other Jersey Birders saw the bird (i believe it was the same bird) fly in but continued to the other side of the jetty (not visible from the Manasquan side). 10 minutes later the/a Razorbill rounded the jetty and headed into the inlet on the far side. It quickly made its way over to “our” side of the inlet and continued to work up and down the rocks for the next hour or so (at least I left at 3:30 and it wasstill there) for close up looks! Beauty. Also had great looks at Gannets and Loons and a single Scaup (sp) flyby too. Nice day for birding!

Common Chaffinch in New Jersey!

January 3, 2012 In Winter Birding No Comment

This morning I saw a post on the Jersey bird List from Sam Galick (Thanks Sam!) about a Common Chaffinch in western New Jersey. (Sam’s post @ http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NJBD.html#1325609373) The Common Chaffinch is a resident across Europe and summers in parts of Asia and there are very few North American records so it being in NJ is obviously a super rare sighting to say the least. Of course whenever a super rare vagrant like this shows up provenience is a question and we will see how the NJ Committee handles this bird but I personal feel it is a wild bird (or at least has been for some time leading up to my sighting today). The bird has no feather wear or bandings of any sort and its actions during the 3 trips into the feeder that I saw it (over about a half hour out in the cold!) were of a wild bird. I have seen “escapee” Budgerigars in Florida (looking for a population of wild ones that apparently still exists although I never saw any I was comfortable saying were wild) and seen how they come into a feeder and act around other birds. And this bird was very aware, active and actually staged 2 of the 3 times in a tree prior to coming into the feeder, once all by itself scanning its eventual feeding spot prior to flying in. Of course, it could have quickly cleaned this from other birds and you can never be sure of a bird like this but my general inclination was that this indeed is a wild bird or has been one for a while. (I have also seen a Black-throated Magpie-Jay in Texas that had also acclimated to the “wild” actions of a bird when it was most probably a caged bird at some point so all possibilities must be considered)

Saying all that, the bird was a beautiful bird to see and a wonderful one to share with other NJ Birders! Its always fun to see an unexpected species in your area and a big thanks to the Rehman family for allowing us to view this wonderful bird.

We shall see what other birder’s takes are on this bird over the next days and weeks (hopefully it sticks around!) but I for one couldn’t have been happier to experience the exhilaration of the experience.

Just another Spring Birding day in Jersey!!

April 10, 2011 In Spring Birding No Comment

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

Spring is here! Garret Mountain Retreat is open for business…

April 10, 2011 In Spring Birding No Comment

Northern Parula

I like nothing better in life that Spring birding at Garret Mountain. The location, the people, the idea of this mountain of green like a sky island in a sea of man’s handiwork is thrilling. To know that something so beautiful and natural exists in such close proximity to a bustling metropolis is some how comforting. Anyways, Garret has been in full swing this week with 6 warblers species seen (I saw 5) among them an early Northern Parula and a single Prairie Warbler. The Pine and Palm Warbler show has been a joy to watch and the number of Winter Wrens this year has been the best I have seen in the last 5 years there. The usual Louisiana Waterthrush are back on their stream. I saw multiple birds on 2 occasions so there seems to be some stream sharing of some sort.

So Spring has started as the birds set down in this island of retreat, and I can’t wait for more of them to pit stop at my Fav birding spot in NJ! Pictures of the Pine and Palm Warblers are at our Flickr site. (Link to the right)

Winter Wren

Barnegat Light – Birding by the Bay

March 6, 2011 In Winter Birding No Comment

Jeanette and I finally got out from the binds of this NJ weather and did some birding! Was a fun day and nice to see some of our favorite birds at one of New Jersey’s finest birding locations. I put some more picture of Eiders, Scoters, Long-Tailed Ducks etc at our Flickr site. (Link to the right)

White-tailed Kite – Barnegat Township, New Jersey

November 7, 2010 In Uncategorized No Comment

I finally joined the many other avid NJ Birders who have seen the reported White-tailed Kite on Sunday. Although distant (uh very very distant), it was great to see this southern bird doing it’s namesake “kiting” above the Barnegat Township marsh. Didn’t think I would see a White-tailed Kite before I saw a Mississippi Kite in New Jersey! Guess thats how nemesis birds go!

NJ World Series of Birding 2010 – From the top of Garret Mountain to the beaches of Cape May…

May 17, 2010 In Spring Birding No Comment

I have had to explain time and time again that I prefer “birder” to bird watcher. To others, one may as well be the other, and I imagine the distinction is made even less significant somewhere shortly after I start explaining that there are many different species of birds and that I search them out all over the country. I may as well have mentioned that I travel to Star Trek conventions or sell home made buttons at craft fairs on the weekends. (Both of which I am sure are worth while affairs mind you) It’s just another thing they don’t get or care to. So, when a birding event comes along that, even for a brief moment, connects with the “masses” it is reason to appreciate what has given non-birders that glimpse into “our” window. The 2010 World Series of Birding is just such an event.

Being a “non-birder” not so long ago, I feel that the competition of birding is one lost on most. We can debate the merit of this perception on the hobby as a whole but it certainly connects with people in a way that descriptions of undertail coverts and premature molts simply can’t. People get the idea of trying to see more types of birds than the next guy. What is usually so shocking (and believe me I know I am not stumbling onto something new, I am just telling my interpretation) to people is the amount of species we have in the state and the country for that matter. No other day do I get more questions on “why are there so many people with binoculars?…” or a 2010 fav “Are you a part of the bird watching super bowl thing?…” The difference with this day is people are usually legitimately interested in hearing your answer.

So when the WSB comes each year Jeanette and I take the opportunity to throw ourselves into the day as proud “birders” on our own personal stage. (It is also an excellent excuse for me to drag Jeanette around on a full day of birding that covers a large portion of the state) We start at our favorite Spring Warbler spot Garret Mountain.

The morning got off to a rough start after an over use of the snooze button on my part got us off to a slightly late start. We made up most of the time and got to Garret with high hopes and even higher spirits. One of the great things about the World Series is that everything is new again! That House Sparrow out by the car is going to be just as important as the Black-billed Cuckoo munching down on tent caterpillars. So it was on and we started off at the “top” of the ridge at Garret. We parked across from the castle and quickly got on a Chestnut-sided and Magnolia Warbler. A female Scarlet Tanager, a Least Flycatcher, a Veery and a Swainson’s Thrush had us well on our way! We tried a few other spots along the ridge but it was a little windy and we decided to move down some. We parked across from the Basketball Court and joined other birders in a show of Spring Spectacular. Blackburnian, Black-throated Green and Blue, White-eyed and Red-eyed Vireo with a side of Canada and Blue-winged Warbler. A walk towards the picnic area brought Lincoln’s Sparrow and a calling Black-billed Cuckoo. It was going to be a good day. Along the way we met up with birder friends we hadn’t seen in a while and again the significance of the WSB was not lost on us.

We left Garret (reluctantly I might add) with 67 birds (a little lower than last year with some pretty easy birds missed) but we were determined and excited to see more. We hit the Garden State Parkway and headed towards the Brig. A Bar-tailed Godwit has been spotted recently and what a WSBird that would make! Unfortunately, we missed the Godwit that day (and the next :() but we picked up a lot of Shorebirds, Terns and Gulls. Caspian, Gull-billed, Forsters and Least Tern showed their stuff and Whimbrel and Clapper Rail gave up their checkmarks too. The Brig was fun but it was off to Cape May.

Cape May has always been a thrill for us and we have always done well there. We have met some great people and seen some great birds near the southern most point in New Jersey. This again was the case and we were thrilled to tally Bank Swallow and Belted Kingfisher to name a few. Not yet done we turned for home. We had seen 18 Warbler species at this point and we still had a stop at Belleplain State Forest planned. Another one of my favorite warbler spots Belleplain holds good numbers of some of the more “southern” NJ warbler species. Although they can be had elsewhere it is a great spot for Prothonotary, Worm-eating and Yellow-throated Warblers. Jeanette and I added two more warblers to make the total warbler species count 20 and a total of 121 for the day!

This number pales in comparison to the team winning totals over 200 but for us it isn’t just about the numbers. We are “birders” on this day and I like to think that while Bird Watchers observe their quarry from afar we “bird-ers” have a more personal and integrated connection. A connection shared with many others across the state on this day and one that benefits the targets of our adoration with the donations of birders and non-birders alike all “collecting” for a common cause.

Ivory Gull – Cape May November 28th, 2009

November 28, 2009 In Fall Birding No Comment

Back in New Jersey the 80 degree temperatures of Florida were a distant memory as I thought about my next shot at my 500th ABA area bird. (Well, my 500th total as I have never birded outside of the ABA Area, but it sounds cooler if I reference the later :)) There was a Swainson’s Hawk in Cape May that I had missed on all my trips out west so wouldn’t that be an ironic twist? So, as soon as Thanksgiving passed I had planned to head down to Cape May and try my luck. Speaking of which, as luck would have it, an Ivory Gull was found in Cape May on Friday November 27th by Jim Dowdell. This would be an amazing number 500 and only the 4th or 5th occurrence of the bird in NJ since recording started and the last was back in the 80s! Could I get down there in time to see it? Would my luck allow for such a thing after missing the Mangrove Cuckoo in FL for 500? Was it possible, I was “supposed” to get this bird in New Jersey?

You never know how these things turn out. For me, it is one of the most exhilarating parts of birding and also one of the most frustrating. A chase of a bird, although wonderful when it works out, can make for some long drives home when you miss one. As I pulled into the parking lot of the Breezy Lee Marina (wonderful directions to the bird provided by many with a big thanks to the Director of Birding Programs for CMBO Don Freiday with some excellent instruction listed on the RBA) I saw many New Jersey birders with scopes, bins and heavy clothing. The wind was pretty strong but if the bird was there I wouldn’t even notice. I got out and saw some familiar faces all looking content but not very “active.” This usually means 1 of a few things. 1. Everyone got the bird and he left. 2. The bird isn’t around and bird watching as turned into bird talking to make the time go by as everyone waits or 3. (and this is the best and rarest of the bunch) Everyone got the bird, he is still around and close, and they have just gotten SO much of him that the often described “twitch” has passed. Well, today my luck rolled a 3 and sure enough the gull flew closely overhead and seemed to enjoy the onlookers and attention. I took hundreds of pictures and came back a second time just for another look of this amazingly beautiful bird before heading home happy and in possession of number 500. Freaking Great Day!

Birding in New Jersey does Florida! Round 2!

November 26, 2009 In Fall Birding No Comment

Snail Kite:

So it was the middle of November and I was itching to get 500 Life Birds by the end of 2009 (I started my first life list in May of 2007). I had 490 at that point and was trying to find a relativley easy (and inexpensive) way to pick of the last 10 birds. I have never been on a Pelagic trip so that was an option, but 10 new birds is a lot to ask from a single trip for offshore birds. So, with some vacation time to burn and nice weather as an added bonus, I decided to give South Florida a shot. I had been to the central/west coast in Florida in April of 2008 but never got down to the Everglades or the Miami area.

My first day out was Friday Nov 20th. I decided to drive through the Everglades to take in the natural beauty of the area and to stop off at some of the “birdier” spots. My first lifebird of the trip was a beautiful Purple Gallinule at Royal Palm on the Anhinga trail. Just feet away from floating gators this guy quickly brightened an overcast morning. I drove the rest of the way to Flamingo at the end of the Everglades and also came across a flock of White-crowned Pigeons at Mahogany Hammock. Not a bad start to the trip. On the way back to the hotel I picked up a third LB in, off all places, a McDonald’s parking lot. The Common Myna (just recently added as a countable ABA bird) apparently loves fast food like the rest of us.

White-crowned Pigeon:

Day 2 was to start by meeting up with one of Florida’s best birders Larry Manfredi (check out his website at http://southfloridabirding.com/) to track down some Miami area specialties. Larry has been birding in Florida for many years and has contributed to many of it’s birding knowledge, guides, and documentation. Larry quickly got us on some wonderful Yellow-chevroned Parakeet hanging out with a few Monk Parakeet in a tree. Although not “countable” yet, the Yellow-chevroned could some day be added to the ABA list so this one would have to remain as “one in the bank” for now. (which later became 2 when we saw a plumply perfect Purple Swamphen) Next, Larry put us on the spectacularly curious and energetic Red-whiskered Bulbuls! What great birds. I could have spent the whole day watching these guys work their way gregariously around the neighborhood. But, new birds beckoned and we soon saw two bright Spot-breasted Orioles and even got to hear one sing! Another White-crowned Pigeon posed for pictures and a flock of Mitred Parrots squawked their presence into our wonderful Miami birding morning! We next looked for Smooth-billed Ani in vain (a Spring trip for breeding birds would be more productive for birds like the Ani and Mangrove Cuckoo which I missed) but quickly rebounded with two talkative Limpkin and a great comparative look at Purple Gallinule to Purple Swamphen. A quick stop also picked up a distant Snail Kite (2 actually) but much more was to come with the Snail Kite on the next day. We wound up the day back at Larry’s feeders for Shiny Cowbird wrapping up a successful day of birding with 5 new birds for me that day bringing my trip total to 8 (498).

Red-whiskered Bulbul:

I decided I would do 2 things with the rest of my time in Florida. One, I would try to get a better look at Snail Kite (my most wanted bird of the trip) and two I would search for Mangrove Cuckoo. I knew I could get a Wilson’s Plover, a relativley easy to find Florida resident, as a life bird so how cool would it be to get Mangrove Cuckoo for number 500!? So the next morning I headed out to the spot that Larry and I had seen the Snail Kite. On the way there is a super busy gas station as the only one and a last stop for miles around. I stopped in for coffee and gas. As I was getting back in my car, across the street I saw a Snail Kite sitting on a stick (one of the 2X2s they tie a ribbon two and stick in the ground as a marker of some sort). Awesome. Could I get across and off to the side to get pictures? As I pulled over the Kite took to the air and I thought I had scared him away. I should have known better based on his (I am not sure if it is male or female so I am just ignorantly using “his”) location next to a busy (for Everglades FL anyways) road as instead he stopped, “Kited” and then dropped onto a Snail! How cool was this? I got to see a Snail Kite catch his name sake and got some pretty cool pictures of him sitting and eating the snail using that perfectly curved bill before discarding the shell. 1 Down 1 to go!

Along the way I had picked up the Wilson’s Plover so it was 499 with a day and a half to find the Mangrove Cuckoo. Larry had told me about a spot that had a recent sighting but 3 trips there didn’t pan out. I also tried some Everglades spots along Snake Bite trail and even a quick trip to Key Largo to look around some of their Mangrove. As birding sometimes goes I ended up not seeing a Cuckoo and headed home with 499 Life Birds. Jeanette had booked a Pelagic trip for my birthday, Dec 6th, so I knew I would get to 500 before years end. Florida was a nice trip with some great birds and a return must be had for the Cuckoo that got away.

Spot-breasted Oriole:

Vesper Sparrow – Glenhurst Meadows October 13th, 2009

October 13, 2009 In Fall Birding No Comment

Vesper Sparrow:

I finally tracked the Vesper Sparrow down today. After two straight Falls where I would just miss seeing a relativley easy to find but uncommon NJ Visitor I finally got to see this guy (probably saw 2 different ones actually). After being pointed in the right direction by fellow NJ Birder (and amazing photographer) Jim Gilbert, I promptly scared the bird off trying to say hello as he was attempting to take its picture. (It was an accident true, but it’s a horrible feeling none the less. Sorry Jim :)) I was able to out wait some parked cars that were blocking the prime viewing area (back right corner of the lot near a seed path) and was rewarded with some great views of the Vesper along with many Savanna, Song, and White-crowned sparrows (1 Adult and at least 4 juveniles) sparrows. Glenhurst Meadows is a great sparrows location in Central Jersey!