October 5 - Central Park

Well this was the first time I ever birded in this park, save for the Boreal Owl that was at Tavern on the Green a few years back. Although rain started our day it quickly stopped and the birds were ready for business too.
Highlights included a Western Kingbird found near DellaCourt Theater, along with Great-Crestred Flycatcher, Baltimore Oriole, and later a Connecticut Warbler was seen in the Pinetum.
credit: http://www.philjeffrey.net/COWA_2008.html

Other goodies were thrushes as we saw Swainson's, Gray-Cheeked, Hermit, and Wood along with Veery, Robins, Thrasher, Mockingbird and a gazillion Catbirds

Sparrows were represented by the ubiquitous House plus others like Song, Swamp, Field, Chipping, White-Throated, White-Crowned, Lincoln's, and Towhees plus a Junco.

Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers and Scarlet Tanagers were numerous all day long with about two dozen seen of each. Blue-Headed Vireo was seen along with Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, Brown Creeper and both Kinglets.

Warblers of the aforementioned Connecticut were joined byTennessee, Parula, Chestnut-Sided, Maggie, BT Blue, Yellow-Rumped, BT Green, Pine, Palm, Blackpoll, B&W, Redstart, Ovenbird, and Northern Waterthrush.

Pretty damn good for my first complete sortie into the park.

October 3 - Northern Wheatear at Garret Mountain

After having struck out on this species twice before, back in 2006 & about 12 days ago, lucked turned my way today when a vagrant Northern Wheatear was found at Garret Mountain.
credit: Smithsonian National Zoo

As soon as the reports came in I took some time off of work to chase this bird. Although traffic was seemingly taking me forever to get there I was actually on the bird within 40 minutes of the internet's rare bird alert.

The most significant feature of the winter-plumaged Wheatear is it's white tail:
credit: Dave Appleton

The Range Map for this very rare visitor:

I saw a few friends there, and made a couple more, plus I hear some other friends also got to see the bird.
A great way to start the weekend ! ABA Lifebird # 577.

September 13 - Sandy Hook

Thanks goes out to Patty Dexter today for telling me about the Lark Sparrow she had found a few minutes before we ran into each other this morning. I was able to get some nice views of the bird.
Credit: Dan Murray @ www.birdinginnewjersey.com/

Another highlight today was a Baird's Sandpiper that I found at the end of Fisherman's Trail at North Beach. I was watching the sandpipers feeding at low tide when the Baird's flew in amongst them for a minute or two before heading out to more favorable habitat.
credit: unknown

Other goodies seen here today were plovers of Semi-Palmated, Black-Bellied, and Piping. Oystercathers, Willet, Ruddy Turnstone, and a single Western Sandpiper were also seen. Terns were represented by Common and Royal, and I also saw raptors of Merlin, Osprey, and Broad-Winged Hawk. Otherwise a slow day, yet that was to be expected. I'm quite satisfied with the Lark Sparrow and Baird's Sandpiper !

Let's see what Garret Mountain brings tomorrow !!

September 7 - Hurricane Hanna birds

credit: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/loe2db4sOSrRW38civRwIA

We arrived at Robert Moses State Park at first light. There were less birds than we hoped for but we started with a Whimbrel. Later we saw two and then three Buff-Breasted Sandpipers at very close range of about 10-15 yards.
The highlight of the morning was a Sooty Tern that gave me good looks as it flew headlong into the wind.
With the storm not bringing in large numbers of birds, nor any other rarities, we headed home early today but with a big grin on scoring a Storm bird, and first Sooty Tern I've seen outside of Florida.

August 30 - Brigantine aka Forsythe NWR

Today John Workman and I made a very early visit to Brigantine and we were rewarded in spades.
The highest species count I have ever had here, with over 80 species seen today.

Highlights were Godwits of Hudsonian & Marbled, American Avocet, Pelican & Golden Plover , 7 Buff-Breasted Sandpipers, along with Stilt Sandpipers and an astonishing 5 Red-Necked Phalaropes.

A Hudsonian Godwit:

credit: www.wildcareoklahoma.org/godwit-hudsonian-lg4.jpg

August 28 - Walker Avenue Wetlands

I've been stopping here nightly after work for the past 3-4 weeks, with last night being one of the better nights for both species & individuals.
Of note was this Glossy Ibis:
credit: Kevin Bolton @ http://jerseydigiscoping.blogspot.com/

Also there were:
Semi-Plover
Semi-Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs
Greater Yellowlegs (1)
Killdeer
Snipe (1)
Glossy Ibis (1)
Blue-winged Teal
Mute Swan
Wood Duck
Mallard
Canada Goose
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron

Seen earlier this week:
Osprey
Green Heron
Pied-Billed Grebe

My biggest surprise is that I've yet to see a Little Blue Heron here, while the conditions seems just right for them.

With all the exposed grass I am hoping for Buffy, Baird's, and Golden Plover during September.

Time will tell !!

August 18 - Walker Avenue Wetlands

On my commute home from work I drive through the township of Wayne, NJ and during certain times of year I will stop here for a few minutes to enjoy the birds. Recently the bird activity here has been increasing and last night's stop brought one of the better recent visits.

Not only were the numbers of birds at a high point, so too were the number of species.
The shorebirds present were the sandpiper species of Pectoral, Solitary, Spotted, Least and Semi-Palmated. Also seen were other shorebirds of Lesser Yellowlegs and Killdeer.

Wading birds of Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, and Green Heron were seen, and the ducks were represented by Mallard, Wood, Canada Goose, and Pied-Billed Grebe.