Harlequin Romance - Saturday, December 8, 2018

Leaders: Mary, Watkins, Janet Crawford, and Rebecca Perruci.

Barnegat Lighthouse SP, Ocean County, New Jersey, US
37 species

Brant  50
American Black Duck  1
Common Eider  150
Harlequin Duck  7
Surf Scoter  7
Black Scoter  50
Long-tailed Duck  36
Bufflehead  6
Red-breasted Merganser  6
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  8
Ruddy Turnstone  7
Sanderling  35
Dunlin  50
Purple Sandpiper  1
Herring Gull  500
Great Black-backed Gull  15
Red-throated Loon  7
Common Loon  6
Northern Gannet  3
Double-crested Cormorant  4
Northern Harrier  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  2
Bald Eagle  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
American Kestrel  1
Merlin  1
American Crow  5
Horned Lark  3
Tree Swallow  1
Carolina Wren  2
Golden-crowned Kinglet  1
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  25
Savannah Sparrow (Ipswich)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  3
Northern Cardinal  2
House Sparrow  12

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

US-NJ-Barnegat Light-West 25th Street Bayview Area, Ocean County, New Jersey, US

10 species

Brant  9
Mallard  4
American Black Duck  11
Greater Scaup  3
White-winged Scoter  1
Bufflehead  50
Red-breasted Merganser  5
Herring Gull  50
Lesser Black-backed Gull  1
Great Black-backed Gull  3

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Harvey Cedars--Sunset Park, Ocean County, New Jersey, US

16 species

Brant  27
Canada Goose  1
Mute Swan  4
Mallard  13
American Black Duck  4
Lesser Scaup  2
Bufflehead  75
Common Goldeneye  3
Red-breasted Merganser  3
Horned Grebe  1
Purple Sandpiper  2
Herring Gull  50
Great Black-backed Gull  2
Turkey Vulture  1
Bald Eagle  1
Song Sparrow  1

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, December 8th, 2018

Despite the cold, the birding was HOT at the State Park this morning! Not one but two American Bitterns were sitting along the plover ponds in good view, seemingly enjoying the sunny edges. The duck variety is excellent at the Park now and most were concentrated in the limited areas of open water; the Hooded Mergansers were particularly stunning in the morning light. A Blue-headed Vireo was a late surprise and Tundra Swans were close enough to see the yellow spots at the base of their bills.

46 species (+2 other taxa)

Canada Goose  85
Mute Swan  20
Tundra Swan  9
Northern Shoveler  15
Gadwall  80
American Wigeon  35
Mallard  35
Northern Pintail  18
Green-winged Teal (American)  24
Redhead  1
Surf Scoter  30
Black Scoter  10
Surf/Black Scoter  80
Bufflehead  14
Hooded Merganser  17
Ruddy Duck  2
Pied-billed Grebe  1
Mourning Dove  4
American Coot  10
Herring Gull (American)  3
Red-throated Loon  1
American Bittern  2     Dark malar, thick neck streaks, unspotted brown wing coverts; mostly still with bill skyward. Photos to be posted.
Great Blue Heron (Blue form)  2
Turkey Vulture  2
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Cooper's Hawk  1
Accipiter sp.  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  1
Blue-headed Vireo  1
American Crow  1
Carolina Chickadee  2
Carolina Wren  4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
American Robin  3
Gray Catbird  1
Northern Mockingbird  3
American Goldfinch  2
Fox Sparrow (Red)  1
White-throated Sparrow  8
Song Sparrow  5
Swamp Sparrow  1
Eastern Towhee  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged)  4
Brown-headed Cowbird  40
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  5
Northern Cardinal  8
House Sparrow  6

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

American Bittern photo by Roger Horn

American Bittern photo by Roger Horn

Blue-headed Vireo photo by Roger Horn

Cooper's Hawk photo by Roger Horn

Northern Mockingbird photo by Roger Horn

Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, December 1st, 2018

Although the elusive female Evening Grosbeak that seems to be hanging around Cape May Point did not show up for us today, other birds were quite cooperative. A Hermit Thrush gave us views of all sides and both White- and Red-breasted Nuthatches were busy at backyard feeders. Purple Finches gave us an opportunity to study both males, in their lovely raspberry, and females with their bold eyebrows. As expected for this time of year, there are a good variety and number of ducks on the State Park ponds but a flock of Greater Yellowlegs was a bit of a surprise.  Leaders: Kathy Horn, Roger Horn, Michael McCabe

48 species

Canada Goose  15
Mute Swan  13
Northern Shoveler  24
Gadwall  60
American Wigeon  22
Mallard  11
American Black Duck  3
Northern Pintail  1
Ring-necked Duck  19
Surf Scoter  20
Bufflehead  1
Hooded Merganser  4
Ruddy Duck  25
Pied-billed Grebe  3
Mourning Dove  20
American Coot  10
Greater Yellowlegs  10
Ring-billed Gull  1
Herring Gull (American)  3
Red-throated Loon  3
Double-crested Cormorant  1
Great Blue Heron (Blue form)  6
Turkey Vulture  32
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Northern)  1
Cooper's Hawk  1
Bald Eagle  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  2
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Downy Woodpecker (Eastern)  2
Blue Jay  5
Carolina Chickadee  4
Tufted Titmouse  2
Red-breasted Nuthatch  4
White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern)  1
Carolina Wren (Northern)  4
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  8
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  22
House Finch  8
Purple Finch (Eastern)  6
American Goldfinch  30
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  4
White-throated Sparrow  10
Song Sparrow  4
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged)  1
Northern Cardinal  8
House Sparrow  28

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Fall Migrants at the Rea Farm - Saturday, November 17th, 2018

Ten Sandhill Cranes flying overhead, calling, were a great start to this morning's walk. It was the last walk at the Beanery for the season - we switch to the State Park for the winter - but it reminded me why we do the Beanery walks throughout the fall: we had small numbers of many good birds. A very late Red-eyed Vireo should be down in the Amazon Basin of South America by now, with those birds generally gone from here in October. A Baltimore Oriole was also a late migrant. And in the 'recent arrival' category, we had a first-of-season Fox Sparrow showing his big, bold rusty stripes and right on time as a mid-November late migrant. 

Leaders: Kathy Horn, Roger Horn, Kyle Chelius, Michael McCabe

41 species

Canada Goose  7
Mallard  11
Mourning Dove  5
Sandhill Crane  10     Photos
Killdeer  3
Herring Gull (American)  3
Double-crested Cormorant  1
Great Blue Heron (Blue form)  1
Black Vulture  3
Turkey Vulture  3
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Cooper's Hawk  1
Bald Eagle  3
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Downy Woodpecker (Eastern)  2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  2
American Kestrel  1
Blue Jay  3
American Crow  4
Tree Swallow  2
Brown Creeper  1
Carolina Wren (Northern)  5
Golden-crowned Kinglet  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Eastern Bluebird  7
American Robin  7
Gray Catbird  1
Brown Thrasher  2
Northern Mockingbird  6
European Starling  20
American Goldfinch  14
Fox Sparrow (Red)  1
White-throated Sparrow  10
Song Sparrow  4
Swamp Sparrow  3
Eastern Towhee  1
Baltimore Oriole  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged)  18
Palm Warbler (Western)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  4
Northern Cardinal  4

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Birding the Meadows - Monday, November 12, 2018

Wonderful walk to close the season, with multiple bald eagles and several duck species, a smattering of shorebirds and a late ruby-throated hummingbird.  The "best bird"? LE CONTE'S SPARROW!

Leaders: Pete Dunne, Chuck Slugg, Janet Crawford, Bill Boyle, Karen Thompson, Mary Watkins, Steve Weis, Rebecca Perruci

55 species

Canada Goose  58
Mute Swan  3
Wood Duck  3
Northern Shoveler  12
Gadwall  34
American Wigeon  6
Mallard  18
Northern Pintail  4
Green-winged Teal  22
Ring-necked Duck  1
Surf Scoter  8
White-winged Scoter  1
Black Scoter  150
Bufflehead  8
Hooded Merganser  16
Mourning Dove  7
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1     Late, seen by Chuck Slugg and a few
Killdeer  1
Sanderling  2
Dunlin  7
Short-billed Dowitcher  6
Greater Yellowlegs  1
Ring-billed Gull  2
Herring Gull  4
Lesser Black-backed Gull  1
Great Black-backed Gull  5
Black Skimmer  1
Red-throated Loon  3
Common Loon  1
Double-crested Cormorant  2
Great Blue Heron  2
Northern Harrier  2
Bald Eagle  3
Belted Kingfisher  1
Northern Flicker  4
Blue Jay 2
American Crow  4
Tree Swallow  8
Carolina Chickadee  1
Carolina Wren  3
Eastern Bluebird  1
American Robin  7
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  24
American Pipit  1
American Goldfinch  23
Le Conte's Sparrow  1     Small finely streaked sparrow,  peachy chest and face, white medial head stripe, light gray around eyes. I D made by Bill Boyle.
Song Sparrow 3
Swamp Sparrow  2
Eastern Towhee  2
Red-winged Blackbird  35
Common Grackle  20
Yellow-rumped Warbler  10
Northern Cardinal  5
House Sparrow  2

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Sunset Beach: A Place for all Seasons - Sunday, November 11, 2018

37 species

Ring-necked Duck  2     On Davies Lake
Surf Scoter  15
White-winged Scoter  4
Black Scoter  70
Ruddy Duck  2     On Davies Lake.
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  7
Mourning Dove  9
Killdeer  1
Sanderling  6
Ring-billed Gull  4
Herring Gull  12
Great Black-backed Gull  3
Double-crested Cormorant  90     large loose flock of about 80 birds seen flying over.
Great Blue Heron  1     Seen perched beside Davies Lake.
Black Vulture  2
Turkey Vulture  6
Sharp-shinned Hawk  2
Cooper's Hawk  6
Red-tailed Hawk  4
Belted Kingfisher  1
Northern Flicker  1
Merlin  1
Blue Jay  3
American Crow  4
Tree Swallow  40
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1     Heard
Carolina Wren  4
Golden-crowned Kinglet  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  8
American Robin  10     Fly over
Northern Mockingbird  1
American Goldfinch  100     Several flights of these birds observed throughout our walk.
Song Sparrow  2
Red-winged Blackbird  2
Black-throated Green Warbler  1     Late female/imm. bird with bright yellow face, yellow crescent under eye, olive auriculars and cream colored throat (not yellow). Dark streaks on flanks with a clear cream colored belly. Two white wing bars
Northern Cardinal  2
House Sparrow  5

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Fall Migrants at the Rea Farm - Saturday, November 3, 2018

28 species

Mallard  4
Mourning Dove  8
Herring Gull  10
Double-crested Cormorant  5
Cattle Egret  1
Black Vulture  25
Turkey Vulture  30
Sharp-shinned Hawk  2
Cooper's Hawk  3
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  4
American Kestrel  2
American Crow  6
Carolina Wren  4
Golden-crowned Kinglet  2
American Robin  20
Gray Catbird  2
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  40
American Goldfinch  18
White-throated Sparrow  4
Song Sparrow  4
Red-winged Blackbird  5
Blackpoll Warbler  1     in a group of yellow-rumped warblers
Yellow-rumped Warbler  40
Northern Cardinal  1

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Migration at the Point - Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Amazing migration spectacle .... goldfinches, purple finches, pine siskins, red-winged blackbirds and robins in huge numbers. Great sharp-shinned hawk flight. And a clay-colored sparrow to top it off!

Leaders: Brett Ewald, Mary Watkins, Steve Weis, Rebecca Perruci 
70 species

Canada Goose  25
Mute Swan  4
Northern Shoveler  4
Gadwall  18
American Wigeon  10
Mallard  14
Northern Pintail  5
Green-winged Teal  6
Ring-necked Duck  4
Surf Scoter  8
Black Scoter  15
Ruddy Duck  4
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  8
Mourning Dove  22
American Coot  1
Killdeer  1
Ruddy Turnstone  1
Sanderling  8
Ring-billed Gull  2
Herring Gull  8
Great Black-backed Gull  11
Royal Tern  1
Northern Gannet  3
Double-crested Cormorant  36
Great Blue Heron  1
Turkey Vulture  9
Northern Harrier  3
Sharp-shinned Hawk  32
Cooper's Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  3
American Kestrel  3
Merlin  2
Eastern Phoebe  6
Blue Jay  7
American Crow  5
Tree Swallow  300
Carolina Chickadee  3
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Carolina Wren  3
Golden-crowned Kinglet  3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  5
Eastern Bluebird  12
American Robin  150
Brown Thrasher  1
Northern Mockingbird  5
European Starling  42
House Finch  6
Purple Finch  60
Pine Siskin  50
American Goldfinch  250
Chipping Sparrow  1
Clay-colored Sparrow  1
Field Sparrow  3
Dark-eyed Junco  1
White-crowned Sparrow  4
White-throated Sparrow  42
Savannah Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  5
Swamp Sparrow  1
Eastern Meadowlark  4
Red-winged Blackbird  350
Brown-headed Cowbird  50
Common Grackle  18
Blackpoll Warbler  1
Palm Warbler  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler  75
Northern Cardinal  2
House Sparrow  7

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Birding the Meadows - Monday, October 29, 2018

Windy morning on the beach. Highlights includes several Northern Gannets and multiple duck species.

Leaders: Pete Dunne, Chuck Slugg, Janet Crawford , Mary Watkins , Steve Weiss, Pat Perkins 
50 species

Canada Goose  35
Mute Swan  8
Northern Shoveler  16
Gadwall  26
American Wigeon  2
Mallard  32
American Black Duck  2
Northern Pintail  26
Green-winged Teal  10
Surf Scoter  1
Black Scoter  29
Ruddy Duck  2
Pied-billed Grebe  1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  3
Mourning Dove  2
Black-bellied Plover  8
Sanderling  6
Dunlin  4
Long-billed Dowitcher  1
Laughing Gull  13
Ring-billed Gull  4
Herring Gull  12
Great Black-backed Gull  26
Northern Gannet  6
Double-crested Cormorant  10
Great Blue Heron  1
Great Egret  1
Turkey Vulture  2
Northern Harrier  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  2
Cooper's Hawk  3
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Northern Flicker  3
American Kestrel  1
Blue Jay  2
Tree Swallow  2500
Cave Swallow  1
Carolina Chickadee  2
Carolina Wren  2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2
American Robin  34
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  18
American Goldfinch  24
Song Sparrow  1
Swamp Sparrow  13
Red-winged Blackbird  10
Common Grackle  3
Yellow-rumped Warbler  25
Northern Cardinal  1

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)