April 27 - Nassau, Bahamas

The last week of April brought me to the Caribbean Island of New Providence in the Bahamas.  Specifically the Cable Beach area of Nassau.  While this was not a birding trip & without a car, I did manage to see a few species on foot.  Notable was the Bahama Woodstar, of which an individual was seen in Pennsylvania just a few days before my trip.  Unfortunately I did not see that bird, but was able to see a few while on vacation.

Other birds seen were Red-Legged Thrush, Black-faced Grassquit, Cuban Grassquit, Banaquit, and Ruddy Turnstones.  Doves were represented by the Eurasian-Collared, Mourning, and Ground species.   I saw a Northen Parula, American Redstart and Green Heron.

credit:  http://www.birds-of-north-america.net/images/red-legged-thrush-10.jpg

Bahama Woodstar

Cuban Grassquit

credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachellevance/6977889419/


So that brings us to May, the most-exciting month for birds in the northeastern US !!

April 21 - East Point Marina

Today we went chasing the Ruff that had been reported on eastern Long Island the prior weekend.  Fortunately the bird has stuck around long enough for me to go for it.  After a short wait the near-breeding plumaged male Ruff made it appearance.  A terrific photo of the bird can be seen on friend Andrew Baksh's blog.

click image to enlarge


We also saw Boat-Tailed Grackle, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Willet, Lesser Yellowlegs, Dunlin, Least Sandpiper, and Tree Swallows.

April 12 - Point View Reservior

A late season storm brought with it reports of several birds being seen at unusual locations in the area. Thanks to Dan Paolillo who told me about some sea-ducks that he had found on the large municipal water supply locatined in Wayne,  known as the Point View Reservoir.

I made a brief stop here after work in fading light & drizzling rainfall and was able to tally several County-Records of species that are typically found on the ocean and it's bays.  These were  Long-Tailed Duck, Red-Breasted Merganser, Horned Grebe.

April 7 - South Amboy and Garret Mountain

On a very chilly day due to the high winds friends Bill, Andy, and Jen accompanied me to the Rariton River waterfront in South Amboy. Here we were able to view the Black-Headed Gull that had been reported here.  This was my first sighting of this species in a few years.  Other gull species seen were Great Black-Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Ring-Billed Gull and Bonaparte's Gull and Laughing Gull.
Other birds seen were the spring arrivals of American Oystercatcher and Osprey.

On the way home we stopped at Garret Mountain and had some more spring returnees of Phoebe, Blue-Winged Teal, Rough-Winged Swallow, both Kinglet species, and warblers of Pine, Palm and Louisiana Waterthrush.

March 30 - Southwestern NJ rarities

The hotspot for rarities has been Salem County in southwestern NJ, so my friends and I sent there today.  First up was the Tufted Duck seen in Parvin State Park.  This bird was seen well and the park also had my first Pine Warblers of the spring.

For more of Karl Lukens' fine images of this bird visit here



Later over at Featherbed Lane, Jennifer was able to find the Yellow-Headed Blackbird for our group.

Finally on Kings Highway we were able to spot the Crested Caracara and enjoy long looks at this bird.

 

 credit:  NJAudubon

March 24 - Spruce Run

As it's time for Gulls to be on the move back to breeding grounds today's stop was at Spruce Run.   Although we missed the Glaucous Gull that had been reported yesterday, we did connect with an Iceland Gull and several dozen of the Lesser Black-Backed Gulls. A few Tree Swallows were about as well.   Spring is here and each day will bring new arrivals.

March 17 - Return to Garret Mountain

Today was my first return to Garret since last fall's migration.  I was surprised to see how many trees, especially the White Pines along Mountain Road, have been devastated by last year's Hurricane Sandy.   The loss of understory, due to year-round grazing by deer, combined with this recent blow-down will hurt the park even more.  One can hope that new growth can happen around & under the fallen trees while also remaining out of touch for the Deer.  Only time can tell this answer. 

For the birds I was able to get fine views of a handful of American Woodcock, also a half-dozen Tree Swallows, and several Eastern Phoebes.  Once April comes I'm sure to be at this park almost daily into Mid-May, at least when its not raining...or when the winds are out of the East.