The ML Birders’ trip to the Shark River Inlet netted 36 species on a partly sunny and almost windless day. We got to see a variety of birds but water fowl and related species were the dominant birds of the trip. Brant Geese were by far the most common (a few thousand or so) as well as a nice variety of ducks and one surprising straggler.

At the beach in Belmar in a mixture of bayberries and pines we saw a Yellow-breasted Chat. This bird winters in Central America but a few linger along the coast in winter. We also picked up three White-winged Scoters, a Common Loon and Gannets at the ocean front.

Participants: Ethel Cebra, Robert Koch, Kay Smith, Miriam Swartz, Louise Tompkins and Barbara Trought.