April 12 - Delaware Bayshore

A trip to southern New Jersey's Delaware Bayshore was on tap for today, with the first stop being the Heislerville impoundments. Here I saw my first Barn Swallows, Black-Crowned Night Herons and Glossy Ibis of the spring. Clapper Rails and Black-Bellied Plovers were also seen, along with Pectoral Sandpipers, Short-Billed Dowitchers and Dunlin.


Some pretty breeding plumaged Bonaparte's Gulls were nice, any my first Laughing Gulls of the year were seen here also.

Afterwards we went to Belleplain State Forest where we located Black-and-White Warbler, Ovenbird, and Pine Warbler. Of course the specialty here at Belleplain is the beautiful Yellow-Throated Warbler.
credit: JOHN SCHWARZ

April 6 - Sussex County birding

Today I took a trip to the northern parts of the state, namely Sussex County. First up was Creek Road in Green Township where I saw an impressive count of approximately 100 Wilson's Snipe. There were a few Greater Yellowlegs also present here. Also seen was a male Northern Harrier, a male & female pair of American Kestrel, Black Vultures, some early Tree Swallows, and a pair of Savannah Sparrows. the ducks were represented by GW Teal, Northern Shovelers, Ring-Necked Ducks, Gadwall and American Wigeon. A lone Snow Goose was a nice surprise.

Up next was a ride thought the Kittitanny State Park whereI saw some nicely plumaged Wood Ducks . A highlight was the beautiful male Red-Shouldered Hawk.
click to enlarge

Lastly I drove around the Wallkill NWR, particularly the Oil City Road area near the New York State line. Bluebirds and Tree Swallows were present, along with Juncos and Tree Sparrows. On the impoundments were Coot, Green Heron, Common & Hooded Mergansers, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Green-Winged and Blue-Winged Teal, and Ring-Necked Ducks.

On the drive home I spotted a Ring-Necked Pheasant.

April 5 - Garret Mountain

Time to resume the trips to this special mountain, that always has something interesting to offer.

Today I saw my first Palm Warbler and also Louisiana Waterthrush of this year.

Also seen today were American Woodcock, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creeper and Phoebes. A male Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker provided some nice views and calls.
Common Raven was overhead, and I saw the sparrows of White-Throated, House, Song, Swamp and Fox. Winter Wrens were also seen today.

Next weekend will be even better !