The mile long jetty at Barnegat Light State Park is one of my favorite winter birding locations when the conditions are right. The jetty is also an "oasis" of rocky shore where you are certain to find several species that are rare along the rest of 120 miles or so of sandy beaches that we call the Jersey Shore. Saturday's weather prediction was for sunny skies, with temperatures rising above freezing and most importantly a west wind to flatten out the ocean, nearly perfect conditions for a winter trip to Barnegat Light. After meeting a few friends in the parking lot, we started walking out on the jetty, scanning both the inlet on our left and the beach on our right, Long-tailed Ducks, Red-breasted Mergansers, several species of Gull and a cooperative Common Loon were quickly spotted, but it was until we were about 2/3s of the way out on the jetty that we found our primary target for the trip - Harlequin Duck, one of the most beautiful ducks in North America. Further out on the jetty, we found Purple Sandpiper, Red-throated Loon, Common Eider, Black Scoter and Northern Gannet. On the way back, a pair of cooperative Ipswich Sparrows were hopping about on the jetty; and then on the beach side, our last target species for the trip - Horned Lark. Total Species for the trip 25. Another great winter trip to Barnegat Light!
Common Loon
Horned Lark
Harlequin Ducks
