Cattus Island, September 22, 2016
It was a top ten weather day in a beautiful setting but only a fair day for the number and variety of birds seen and heard.
It was a top ten weather day in a beautiful setting but only a fair day for the number and variety of birds seen and heard.
A bright, breezy, cool and sunny day greeted ten ML Birders at Brightview Farm. We managed to see and/or hear 25 species with excellent views of a Bobolink and a confusing sparrow perched and singing on a pasture fence.
The rain ceased, the sun appeared and six ML birders spent a pleasant morning birding at Boundary Creek Park. We saw and/or heard 36 species that included some good views of a Warbling Vireo singing on a branch.
For most people our outing to Bombay Hook NWR would be just a gray and dreary day but for 15 Medford Leas Birders and guests it was “paradise.” There was a dearth of bugs in the wooded areas, it did not rain and we had an abundance of birds.
It was a damp, cool (low 50’s) and gray day but three ML Birders did manage to walk the ML Trails and saw and/or heard 29 species.
On a picture perfect Spring day five ML Birders and one guest visited Mercer County Parks Abbott Marshlands (formerly Trenton-Hamilton Marsh) just east of Trenton, NJ.
The day had an early nip in the air but warmed to bright and sunny very quickly. ML Birders walked the trails of Lumberton Leas and the central meadow and saw and heard a total of 33 species in the wetlands and uplands areas.
Fourteen ML Birders and two guests visited the open farmlands, tidal marshes and Delaware Bayshore of Salem County on a warm, partly sunny and very blustery day.
The ML Birders were anticipating a nice day for seeing waterfowl on the big ponds at Whitesbog. An added bonus would be seeing a pair of Ross’ Geese, which were seen a couple of days before our arrival.
Two ML Birders decided to test the old adage “there is no such thing as bad weather only bad clothing.” It was a cold and very windy but sunny day at Barnegat Light
Nine ML Birders made the trip to the refuge that was enhanced by a nice sunny day. We started birding around the parking area checking for land birds.
The Pathways trip to Bombay Hook NWR had one of those “I wish the weather was like this every day” days. Crystal clear blue skies, gentle breeze and temperature in the 70’s. The birds did not match the weather as the variety and number were not great.
It was a pleasant morning of mostly sun and little wind at Palmyra Cove. We managed to spot 29 species of birds and a few other flying critters (butterflies and dragonflies).
We could not have asked for a nicer day to end our trip season. Bright sun and warmer temperatures with just enough breeze for comfort. The fenced rolling pastureland with three gamboling horses tacking our progress made for great entertainment. We totaled 29 species seen and/or heard.
In a week of dreary weather the ML Birders caught only a few sprinkles and even a little sun on their trip to Fish House Cove and environs along the Delaware River.
Since this trip was originally scheduled for last fall the thought was to segue from the nice Fall to the pleasant weather of Spring. What greeted the birders was a hint of Winter in May!!
Salem County in spring can offer very interesting birding; it has early migrants and arrivals, but also can hold on to winter birds.
Arriving at the hawkwatch about 10:15, we found a moderate flight of accipiters underway, with constant Cooper’s and Sharpshinned Hawks in the air…. On our way home we found and identified a couple of interesting caterpillars.
Two trips in one – a scouting run and a fall field trip, in shorebird season.
A great day of bird photography at the rookery.
The ML Birders headed out to Belleplain State Forest on a gray and blustery day hoping to see some early arriving warblers. The birding gods were conspiring against them!
Mannington Marsh, the tidal estuary of the Salem River, is a beautiful place to look for waterfowl and early spring migrants.
A beautiful day, with thousands of Myrtle (Yellow-rumped) Warblers and plenty of hawks to watch.