Plan B

The New Jersey Rare Bird Alert for this week was not very promising. My best shot at a lifer bird was a Le Conte's Sparrow that ws seen up in Leonia, but the report was already two days old. Not very promising, but I decided to give it a shot since I was familiar with the area and knew about another site just down the road in Ridgefileld, where I would find one specific species. Today, Plan A was to chase the Le Conte's Sparrow, Plan B was to visit this Ridgefield site. The directions to the Leonia site were great, and there were plenty of sparrows in the area. I identified six species (mostly song & swamps) and had some very quick glimpses of plenty other sparrows, 1 glimpse may have been my target. Unfortunately, both a Red-tailed Hawk and a Northern Harrier were also actively hunting in the area, so most sparrows didn't pop up for a decent look. After about an hour of fruitless searching, I decided it was time for Plan B - Monk Parakeets. Although the Monk Parakeet has been breeding in New Jersy for years, it wasn't until earlier this year that it officially was added to the New Jersey State List, and I had not previously seen this species here in New Jersey. However, since I've seen this species previously in other states, I was never worried that I was going to miss it today. Especially since I knew that unlike most parrots, the Monk Parakeet builds a colonial nest, that they occupy all year. So if you know where there is a colony, finding a Monk Parakeet is about as difficult as finding a Canada Goose on a New Jersey golf course. I drove up to site, parked my car, located the nest and with one parakeet peeking out. The bird flew up to a wire, started calling and was shortly joined by another 4 parakeets.

Saved by a Gull?

Today we watched as a Peregrine Falcon attacked a flock of Pintails. While most managed to take off and escape, one unlucky drake was forced to dive underwater to escape from the falcon. The falcon missed but continued to press its attack, repeatedly forcing the Pintail to dive. After about a minute of these repeated attacks, the falcon flew off just enough for the Pintail to take flight. The falcon quickly turned and just as it was about to hit the pintail, a Greater Black-backed Gull came streaking in, to uall of us it apppeared the gull had save the pintail. However, this falcon wasn't finished and continued its diving attacks on the pintail, and each time it also appeared that the gull came to its rescue. None of us had ever seen nor head about a gull saving a duck from a falcon. Despite these repeated saves by the gull, this peregrine continued to press its attack, finally forcing the pintail back down onto the water. The duck managed to dive out of harms way several more times before the peregrine finally caught him. At that point, the gull swooped in and again managed to drive the peregine off of the pintail. Another four Greater Black-back Gulls then flew in, finally chasing the falcon away. We all breathed a sigh of relief, thinking what a lucky duck! Until just as suddenly, the pintail's rescuers turn on it. We all stood there in stunned amazement as these gulls then attacked, killed and began eating the pintail.


Northern Pintail



Peregrine Falcon









Greater Black-backed Gull

Although the weather report was not promising, I lead a small group trip down to Brigantine today and except for the strong southerly winds, it turned out to be a nearly perfect birding day. The rains held off and is seemed to me like these birds really wanted to be seen today. I knew it was going to be a good day, when at our first stop, a Song and Savannah Sparrow sat up next to each other for a few minutes, providing my group with great looks at both species for comparison. Our luck then continued to improve at our next stop, with decent looks at a Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon and a pair of Common Moorhens. And the day just kept getting better!
A scan of a large flock of shore birds quickly produced Pectoral, Stilt and White-rumped Sandpipers all working the flats close to the Wildlife Drive, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs standing next to each other, and then Peregrines and a Bald Eagle started harassing the flocks of shore birds and ducks further out. Then when you didn't think the day could get much better, there was the Roseate Spoonbill sitting quietly with a small group of Snowy Egrets just across the channel. Our day finally ended with a flock of 23 Wood Ducks. Trip total: 57 species.

Roseate Spoonbill

Pectoral Sandpiper

White-rumped Sandpiper

Stilt Sandpiper

Savannah Sparrows

A few weeks ago Savannah Sparrows started migrating through my area. During the Fall and Winter they are common and easy to locate due to their behavior and preference for open areas. However just because they are easy to find doesn't make them easy to ID. With a just quick glance, they could be mistaken for our resident Song Sparrows, but with a longer look especially at thier head, these two species are easy to separate. As my photos below illustrate, the real problem is the variable appearance found within the species, with about 17 different sub-species currently recognized across North America, several of which migrate through my area, including grayish or reddish colored adults and the Ipswich Sparrow. Until recently the Ipswich Sparrow, which does winter here, was considered to be a distinct species; whereas other currently recognized subspecies like this Belding's Sparrow from Southern California, will probably be split into a separate species in the near future. Amazing how a common, easy to spot bird can be so difficult to identify.



Savannah Sparrow - Grayish Adult


Savannah Sparrow - Reddish Adult


Ipswich Savannah Sparrow

Belding's Savannah Sparrow

Chasing 1000 - #997

Based on the possible New Jersey species that I could add to my List List, I decided that my best target was the Satlmarsh (Sharp-tailed) Sparrow. Taking advantage of my Columbus Day Holiday, I drove back down to Brigantine, planning today to focus my attention on its sparrows instead of shorebirds and water fowl. Swamps, Savannahs and Song Sparrows all seemed like they all wanted to be seen, with all 3 species providing me with plenty of good looks at close range but not other sparrows seemed to be on the marsh. Then at the far northeast corner of the drive, I spotted another flock of sparrows, one or two Savannahs were out in the open, but there other birds in the Spartina. Getting out of the car to get a better look, these birds suddenly decided to cooperate, first a Neslon's (Sharp-tailed) Sparrow popped up, then a Seaside, then a few more Nelson's, and then suddenly up popped my target, a Saltmarsh (Sharp-tailed) Sparrow (#997). The flock uncharacteristically cooperated for about five minutes, including once when all 3 species were in view, before they fling over into the Spartina across the channel. An incredible Hat Trick!



Saltmarsh (Sharp-tailed) Sparrow

A good day for raptors

I went down to Brigantine today hoping to finally add the Saltmarsh (Sharptail) Sparrow to my Life List. Even though I missed locating a Saltmarsh Sparrow, it was great day to be down at Brigantine with my day total of 58 species, in only one trip around the wildlife drive. I knew it was going to be an interesting day when shortly after I arrived at the Gull Tower, I spotted my first Peregrine Falcon, followed almost immediately by 2 Northern Harriers. Then just a few minutes later, I watched as a Merlin chased after another Norhern Harrier that had strayed too close to the wooded uplands. I ended the day with a total of 6 raptor species incluing 4 Peregrine Falcons, 6-8 Northern Harriers, at least 3 Bald Eagles, the Merlin, 2 Ospreys and a Turkey Vulture. The Peregrines were every active today, affording me the opportunity to watch at least 6 unsuccessful attacks on shore birds, and one Peregrine that chased a Bald Eagle. Definately a great day for Raptor watching. The other surprise for the day was a pair of Pectoral Sandpipers that I found in a small flock of 20-30 Semipalmated & Least Sandpipers close to the road.

Northern Harrier Bald Eagle

Pectoral Sandpiper

Pod Cast - October 12-19th

The 10th Annual New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge will be next weekend (October 17-18, 2009). In anticipation of this event, the Toms River Library asked me to do a brief podcast about the bird watching around my favorite NJ Lighthouse - Barnegat Light. The podcast is about 7 minutes. Here is the link":

http://theoceancountylibrary.org/podcasts/birds.html

The closest thing to a rocky coast to be found along the Jersey Shore is the mile long jetty that starts near the base of Barnegat Light. As a result, species like Harlequin Duck and Purple Sandpiper, that are rarely found anywhere else along the 100+ miles of NJ coast, are almost guarenteed to be found here during the winter. In my opinion, the Harlequin Duck is one of the most beautiful ducks in North America, well worth a winter visit to Barnegat Light. The best time to see them is on a "warm" (above freezing) winter day, when winds are from the west., which flattens out the Ocean.


Peregrine Falcon


Harlequin Ducks



Purple Sandpipers

My new Nemesis Bird

Yesterday afternoon, I drove up to the Meadow Lands, hoping finally get a Least Bittern. I had already missed this species on several previous occasions earlier this year, (even on trips when others in the group saw it) and really thought I had a chance this time. I was in the right location, almost noone was in the area due to the recently ended rains, the tide was low, and there was a small flock of sandpipers (Lesser Yellowlegs and a Stilt Sandpiper) hanging out on the mud flat in the area. Everything seemed to be perfect until Peregrine Falcons showed up!

I had only been waiting about 5 minutes, when suddenly an alarm call went out and the entire flock suddenly retreated to up against the edge of the Phragmites. A second later, an immature Peregrine appeared from over my left shoulder, heading straight towards them. However, the Yellowlegs held to the cover of the Phragmites, which caused the Peregrine to breakoff its dive at the last second and begin a climb back towards the west. Amazing, I had just witnessed my second ringside Peregrine attack in just 8 days! I knew right then that I probably wasn't going to see my lifer Least Bittern; but being stubbern, I decided to stay and watch that area. Boy, was I am glad that I did. It was about 10 minutes later, and the flock was staying tight up against the Phragmites, when a second Peregrine attack occurred. However, this time the attacker was an adult Peregrine. The flock didn't spook which caused this Peregrine to also break off its dive, then quickly circle around to try and miss again. Fantastic, a ringside seat, just 30 feet away, from two separate Peregrine Falcon attacks in just 10 minutes! Although I stayed and watched that area for another hour and a half, the Least Bittern never appeared. Of course if I was a Least Bittern, I don't think I would have come out after 2 Peregrine attacks either. However, after so many misses this year, I am officially declaring the Leat Bittern to be my Nemesis Bird.

Stilt Sandpiper (front) & Lesser Yellowleg

Stilt Sandpiper