April 30 - Garret Mountain Yellow-Throated Warbler

While at Garret this morning friend Stephanie gave me a call telling me that she had re-found the Yellow-Throated Warbler that had been reported yesterday.  We were all able to get fine views of this extremely rare visitor to the park. Typically these birds are found in southern New Jersey, or along the Delaware River. So this was my first time seeing this species in the decade or so of coming here.

Around the pond we had Sandpipers of Spotted and Solitary, and newly arriving Warbling Vireos.  The other notables are the Wood Warblers, and these 15 species were seen today: Nashville, Parula, Yellow, Chestnut-Sided, Black-Throated Blue, Yellow-Rumped, Black-Throated Green, Blackburnian, the aforementioned Yellow-Throated, Pine, Prairie, B&W, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, and an early Canada Warbler.

A Lincoln's Sparrow was a nice find, as were the M/F pair of Orchard Orioles.

April 29 - Meadowlands

I stopped here before work today looking for a Red-Necked Phalarope that had been reported yesterday, but I did not see this bird. It has been 4 years since my last sighting of this species, so I hope to get one soon.

What I did see were some nice birds in Blue-Winged Teal, Black Duck, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, Green-Winged Teal, and Ruddy Duck. Highlights were certainly the several Sora that showed quite well, and the Common Moorhen that put in a brief appearance.  We also got a quick look at Marsh Wren.  A beautiful male Scarlet Tanager made for a nice surprise too !

April 26 - Garret again

Another fine morning today with just a bit of time before work. The warblers are arriving in good numbers now and diversity is picking up too. Wood Warbler species seen were Blue-winged, Parula, Yellow, Yellow-Rumped, Pine, Prairie, Palm, B&W, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, and a quick glimpse of Louisiana Waterthrush for a total of 11 species.
the same species of Sparrow were seen as on the 24th, but add a Savannah Sparrow. Also my first Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks & Scarlet Tanagers of the year was seen.  The same is true for Wood Thrush, House Wren, Eastern Kingbird, and Spotted Sandpiper. I'm sure to be back here soon enough!

April 24 - Garret Mountain

One of the better early-spring warbler days were had here today.  A total of 9 species seen were Northern Parula, Yellow, Black-Throated Blue, Yellow-Rumped, Black-Throated Green, Palm, Black-and-White, American Redstart, and Ovenbird.
Other notable species from today were Common Loons flying overhead, Osprey, Cooper's and Red-Tailed Hawks. Along Barbour's Pond I saw my first Solitary Sandpiper of the year, and Eastern Phoebes are back in. A single Great-Crested Flycatcher, and several Blue-Headed Vireos put in appearances, along with Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers. The Sparrows were well represented too, with Towhee, Chipping, Field, song, Swamp, White-Throated, and Juncos being seen.  A singing Purple Finch added some nice color to the morning!

April 17 - Metro New York birding

With friends Andy, Jen, and Simon today we visited Central Park, Jamaica Bay, and finally the Botanical Gardens.

In Manhattan's Central Park we dipped on the long-staying Varied Thrush but did see most of the regularly expected birds for this time of year. A Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher offered some of the better views.

Since it was quiet here we headed east out to Queens and Jamaica Bay's Refuge.  Here on the West Pond we got excellent views of a few Tri-Colored Herons ( a bird that I completely missed in 2010) and several Little Blue Herons.  Shorebirds seen were Dunlin, Oystercatcher, and a Pectoral Sandpiper.  Later on East Pond, we saw Blue-Winged Teal, Green-Winged Teal, Gadwall,  and a surprise in Cliff Swallow.

Lastly at Bronx's Botanical Gardens we got outstanding views of the early Prothonotary Warbler. Alos seen were Palm and Pine Warblers.

April 10 - Return to Garret Mountain for Spring Migration

Well, after a few weeks off from serious birding, I made my first spring trip to this hotspot. It is still early but species are returning each day now.

There was good diversity, but very low numbers. For me the "first of they year" was Parula, Palm, & Prairie Warblers, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Tree Swallow, Turkey, Hermit Thrush, Towhee, Field & Swamp Sparrows, Brown Creeper & Eastern Bluebird Sapsucker.  So these made for a good morning.

It was also good to get out and see friends that were last seen before the winter & who I will see almost daily over the next 7-8 weeks.

March 12 - Salem County birding

Out today with Simon, in quest for his lifer Brewer's Blackbirds.  Our first stop was at Featherbed Lane, and after a bit we had a quick glimpse of the Brewer's male, but not satisfactory enough for Simon.   At a feed lot just south of Featherbed Lane, we did get fine looks at a Yellow-Headed Blackbird.


 credit: Chip K.



We then took a few-mile ride down to Mannington Marsh. Here we had fine looks at Sandhill Cranes, and were even serenaded by their calls. Also here were a pair of Bald Eagles, my first Wood Ducks of the spring, Northern Pintail, Green-Winged Teal, Gadwall, Pied-Billed Grebe, and other waterfowl species.

 credit: Ecobirder

 A return to Featherbed was for naught, but then I suggested we take the road (Sharptown-Auburn Road) that diagonally bisects the area. In a tree by a farmhouse we saw a large flock of Blackbirds. With Simon's persistence of scoping all of the individuals, he was able to uncover the male Brewer's !   We had fine looks at it in the scope, including all of the diagnostic field marks.

 Credit: Simon K.