May 5 - Garret Mountain

After missing the banner weekend here because I was in the southern part of the state, I decided to swing by here before work today, and I was nicely rewarded..Lesser Yellowlegs and Spotted Sandpiper were noted on the pond. Insect loving birds of Chimney Swift, Phoebe, Great-Crested Fly and Eastern Kingbird were now up north as well.
credit: Scott Elowitz Photography


Blue-Headed Vireos were joined by Warbling Vireos, and both Nuthatches were seen well today.
Warblers were in force too, with Blue-Winged, Nashville, Parula, Yellow, Magnolia, BT Blue, Yellow-Rumped, BT Green, Blackburnian, Prairie, Palm, B & W, Redstart, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, and Common Yellowthroat adding up to 16 species seen today.

Scarlet Tangers and Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks put in appearances, as did both Orchard and Baltimore Orioles.

May 2 thru 4 - Cape May County

A long weekend trip here with my wife gave me a chance to get an early start on this year's migration.

In the ponds I viewed Blue-winged Teal, Gadwall, and Black Ducks. Waders were represented by both the Great, and Snowy Egrets plus Green Heron, and Glossy Ibis.

At Two Mile Landing, shorebirds seen were Clapper Rail, Short-Billed Dowitcher, Dunlin, Least & Semi-Palmated Sandpipers, both Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpipers, Black-Bellied and Semi-Palmated Plovers, Oystercatchers and Turnstones wore their bright orange colors, and tawny Whimbrel lurked in the taller grasses. Seaside and Savannah sparrows were seen too.

On the Two-Mile beach Willet and Piping Plovers were observed, along with Sanderling

Raptors included Osprey, Bald Eagle, Red-Tailed Hawk, Merlin and both Vultures


Passerine migration at Higbee Beach and Belleplain State Park was quite rewarding too.
The first Wood-Peewee of the year headed up this group of flycatchers: Acadian, Phoebe , Great-Crested, and Eastern Kingbird. Summer Tanager was a wonderful treat, and to see if before I've tallied my first Scarlet Tanager of the year was intriguing.

White-Eyed Vireos abounded, and a few Blue-Headed Vireos were found along with the just arriving Red-Eyed Vireos. Purple Martins were staples at the State Park, as were Tree Swallows, Chimney Swift, Barns, and a few Rough-Winged Swallows.

Warblers seen were Blue-Winged, Nashville, Parula, Yellow, stunning Magnolia, Bt BLue, Yellow-Rumped, BT Green, Pine, Prairie, Black-and-White, Worm-Eating, Ovenbird, both Waterthrushes, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded and Yellow-Throated.

Blue Grosbeaks and Indigo Buntings provided for some amazing hues as well.

On the sea-watching front, it was interesting to still see Brant so late in the spring. As well as Surf, and Black Scoters. Several Common and Red-Throated Loons were seen offshore, however they are transitioning into breeding plumages now. Northern Gannets were close in shore too.
Red-Breasted Mergansers were seen singly each day.

Terns were represented by Forster's as the most common, while Common Terns were just making their return to the States waters. Several Least Terns appeared by trips end, as well as a single Roseate Tern, and a few Royal Terns. However the highlight was reserved for a Parasitic Jaeger that I spotted form St. Mary's jetty during my last half-hour before packing up and heading back north towards home.

April 27 - Garret Mountain

The spring transition is in full swing, and several species seen today will likely not be seen again until fall. That is the case with the Dark-Eyed Junco and Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers seen today.

New arrivals include Eastern Phoebes, Blue-Headed and Warbling Vireos, Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers, House Wren, Baltimore Oriole and the warblers of Nashville, BT Green, and Common Yellowthroat. Other warblers seen were Ovenbird, Yellow-Rumped, Palm, B & W, and Northern Waterthrush.

April 20 - Old Mine Road

With the winds coming out of the East quite strongly today, my friends and I decided to head west toward the Delaware Water Gap, specifically Old Mine Road. We were rewarded with some nice warbler activity for this time of year, and had both the Louisiana and Northern Waterthrushes.



Nearly a dozen Northern Parulas (above) were already on territory and in song, Pine Warbler were evident along with Palm Warblers too, and a single Yellow Warbler was a highlight. Also seen was Broad-Winged Hawk, Eastern Kingbird, Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers, several Purple Finch and Cedar Waxwings.

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 !