January 31 - Paramus' Long-Eared Owl

A call from a friend made up for yesterday's big miss which included a long and difficult hike thru virtually knee-deep snow.


Today's excursion was much easier on the legs and produced a pair of Long-Eared Owls.

Credit: Doug M.

And yesterday I found this unexpected critter. What's he doing out in late January?

January 29 - Long Island stops & Saw-Whet Owl

Out with Simon, Andy & Jennifer today. Our first stop was Point Lookout, near Jones Beach, and we had fine looks at a group of Harlequin Ducks, numerous Long-Tailed Ducks, a pair of dark morph Rough-Legged Hawks, a male Northern Harrier.
Later we stopped at Jones Beach and had all 3 species of Scoters, both loons, a flock of Snow Buntings and other typical wintering birds.
Our final stops was at Pelham Bay Park's Orchard Beach and here we were able to get Simon a lifebird in the Northern Saw-Whet Owl.

credit: Simon King

January 23 - Crossbills

This frigid morning where temps were in the single digits saw a visit to Long Branch, NJ and it's Seven President's Park. Here friends Andy, Jen and Simon joined me in viewing both species of crossbills, the White-Winged and the Red.

January 16 - Sullivan County misses & Grassland birds

January 9 - Northern NJ coast

January 1 - Cape May New Year's

Visiting Cape May with some friends to celebrate the New Year at the Grand Hotel, I was able to squeeze in some birding. On the first of January while looking out the hotel window I was surprised to see two Razorbills make a very brief landing just offshore. Later a quick drive around the island produced birds typical of a New Jersey winter, and a few surprises in the "half-hardies", birds that sometimes linger thru the winter in the milder areas of the state.

The next day I got a very brief look at a Dickcissel that was visiting a feeder along New England Road, and then driving through Stone Harbor I was able to see a few over-wintering Marbled Godwits. Also some American Oystercatchers and some Boat-Tailed Grackles.