Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Coastal NJ - January 2nd

(Common Eider photo by Tim Brown)

I visited Brigantine NWR yesterday and saw some great birds. Notable were several Tundra Swans, Common Goldeneye, Great Egret (!), Rough-Legged Hawk, Saltmarsh Sharp-Tailed Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlarks, and several dozen Horned Grebes. Overall 58 species were seen here.
Following that I stopped at Barnegat Lighthouse and saw numerous Common Eider (pictured above) and a single female King Eider. Also seen were Harlequin Ducks, White-Winged Scoter, Long-Tailed Ducks in the 100's, Great Cormorants, Red-Throated Loons, and Purple Sandpipers along the jetty.
Overall a great day, I just needed more daylight to bird even more!