In Search of Migrants

This week found us searching for the migrants that we so anxiously anticipate each year.  It was cold and rainy most days but we were out and about!  Finding subjects to photograph in the rain and gloom was difficult.  We would think the sun was about to break through and then it would hide behind the clouds as soon as we were on the road. 

On Tuesday a couple of scout purple martins were checking out the housing opportunities in our backyard. That prompted us to make the martin houses ready for new tenants between rain showers.  We took the returning martins as a sign that there would also be warblers in the woods. 

On Wednesday we headed up to Sandy Hook to take a look around.  The weather man predicted sun and windy conditions and it was colder than we like but we went to our warbler place to see if the birds had returned.  There was a blue gray gnat catcher but he refused to sit still for a picture.  Disappointed we continued toward the back of the park.  As it turned out the hawks and vultures were in full force.  We saw a great number of turkey vultures and black vultures.  There were hawks circling everywhere. We caught a couple of red tail hawks and a sitting turkey vulture. The Osprey is on a nest in the chimney of one of the old buildings near the back of the park.  We think you will agree that the turkey vulture is the ugliest bird ever. 

Even on a terrible weather day, we see brant at the little park across from 7- eleven in Point Pleasant while we drink our coffee.













Knowing that we should be seeing the pine and palm warblers we went out to Manasquan Reservoir and Allaire State Park almost every day this week.  Today that trip paid off big time when we caught the pine warbler ground feeding at the feeders at Allaire.  The bluebirds and phoebes were apparent too. 

We also took a little side trip to Manasquan Greenway on West Farms Road.  This is a new favorite spot for us and we saw bluebirds, goldfinches, tree swallows, red tail hawk, field sparrow and song sparrow there. 

Bluebirds are Back!

Bluebirds have to be one of our favorites and they are a regular at Allaire State Park.  We were there yesterday. Bluebirds were not.  Today somehow our wheels rolled back to Allaire and greeting us were our favorite pair of bluebirds.  We also saw a pine warbler (no pictures).  It was a good day.

Spring has Sprung

Spring has sprung
The grass is riz'
I wonder where
The birdies is ?






We have had an eventful week.  Upon reviewing our photos from the past year we decided it was time to invest in more mega pixels for our birding adventures.  Our aging Canon EOS 20D has an effective 8.2 mega pixels.  Not too shabby for knocking around but with our telephoto lens and edits after the shot the newer technologies were showing up the old trusty camera.  After a little research and debate we purchased a new Canon 7D with an awesome lens and a whopping 18 megapixels.  The new lens works with the old camera  for wide angle shots and a back up if something goes awry with the new one. But the 7D so far has made some great pictures.

We were out this morning to Island Beach State Park.  We drove through seeing the usual nuthatches and other brown birds too quick for our eye.  At the first pull off area in the park,  a very unafraid little red fox was hanging out (probably waiting for a free lunch).  He posed for a bit before moving on.

As we were leaving the park we happened upon an osprey enjoying the fish du jour.

 

Encouraged by reports of some spring migration movement, we took to the road heading to one of our favorite birding spots, Allaire State park.  We like to walk from the first parking lot to the nature center and have often had very productive walks.  Today was quiet with only remnants of winter birds frequenting the feeders and trees.  Still, it was a good chance to hone our bird photography.

 

 

With no spring birds about, we had plenty of chances to observe the changing seasons in the molting feathers of some of our subjects.  The white-throat sparrow and the gold finches were wearing a combination of new spring finery and the old worn coat of winter.  

Tail Trails

Today we headed back to Bradshaw's Beach to check on the progress of our little stranded seal.  The sky was blue and even though it was a cool 39 degrees, the sun was warm.  The ocean was blue and calm with gentle waves breaking over the beach.

Where the baby seal had been there was only a trail leading down to the high water line where he apparently took to the ocean once again.  We were glad to see him gone and equally glad to see his flipper marks in the sand return to the sea. 

Bradshaw's Beach returns to await the summer visitors with their books, beach towels and sandals.  No one will know while they are running in the surf that their beach was a home for a few days to a stranded baby seal.

Winter's Last Gasp?

 

Winter is holding on to the shore like a tiger this week.  We have been out almost every day looking for the sun and signs of spring.  Today it is snowing.  Not the kind of snow that comes in big flakes and turns the ground into a fairy land, but the kind of snow that is a bitter reminder that winter has a hold on our days.  It is tiny snow flakes that blow in your face and melt when they hit the ground, leaving people in the wake chilled to the bone.   

Yesterday we saw gannet flying along the shore.  The beautiful white birds with black wing tips were flying in formation, but to us they appeared to be dancing in the sky.  They would dip and rise and turn in unison almost like a choreographed ballet.  We saw more than 20 birds but were unable to get a picture of  their antics.

We did catch a loon in changing plumage at the Manasquan Inlet.  The light was poor and the distance was great but he is still a beautiful sight.  It is regrettable that just at the time they are becoming most colorful they leave our shore for places further north.  In only a few days they will all be gone.  

Today we were looking for the gannet again when we went to Bradshaw's Beach.  There we found a most unusual animal.  Stranded on the beach far away from the reach of the angry waves was a baby harbor seal.  He was not moving when we saw him and looked like he was injured on his head.  Upon closer inspection he raised his head to look as us.


We reported his whereabouts to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center who have been watching him for a few days.  They say he is doing fine and that the red on his head is not blood but the mark of a grease marker to identify him as one they are keeping an eye on.  They further reported that he was probably beached or came ashore to rest and will hopefully return to the ocean when he is ready.

Thousands of Ducks

 

We took a drive up the what is fondly called the North Shore on March 8.  It is a pleasant drive up from Point Pleasant to Sandy Hook with lots of birding haunts along the way.  It is especially good during the winter months because of the many ducks and shore birds you can catch in a short amount of time.  

We must admit that on some levels our trip was a failure.  We have been looking for the elusive snow bunting at Sandy Hook and the equally evasive cross bills at Seven Presidents Park in Long Branch. Neither co-operated on this day.

 As we were driving on Rt 8A heading toward Sandy Hook we crossed the Navasink River.  There we saw more ducks than you could ever imagine on the river.  The river was literally covered in what appeared to be mostly scaup.  There were a few mallard, mergansers, and bufflehead scattered amid the flocks.  As we watched from the bridge, groups or flocks of the large gathering took flight until the sky was black with ducks like a swarm of gnats.  Most left within three to four minutes gathering in a circling flight until they took off to the skies.  We drove over to the entrance of Hartshome Woods (Claypit Creek entrance) just across a small bridge off of Locust Ave. We walked down to the rivers edge where we were able to get a picture of very small segment of the ducks that had not flown.  Some of the huge flock had returned as we were leaving. 

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We continued on the Sandy Hook and heard lots of red wing blackbirds and song sparrows and of course gulls and starlings were in abundance.  The only other sign of spring we saw was a female cowbird. She posed for quite a while so that we could catch  a picture of her.

Shore Drive

It's a shore thing!  We like to take leisurely drives around home.  Today we headed north and ended up in Long Branch.  Traveling around the ponds of Long Branch we found a Ring Neck Duck.  He was so beautiful and it is rare for us to get close enough for a photo.