Here is a summary of some of the birds I have found in New Jersey and Florida this 2015 season. I began to get interested in birds after I took a Field Ecology course during highschool, which focused on birds of prey. I got to spend my spare time at school raptor spotting with another student, who was also an aspiring birder. Since then, I've loved birdwatching and enjoy photographing and spotting them around my area.
Most of my birding this year took place in New Jersey and Florida. My total species observed so far according to my Peterson Guide is around 244 species. I hope to increase that number to 300 species by the end of 2016.
In the beginning of 2015, the frigid cold and snow brought several interesting birds to my area. The local lake had plenty of waterfowl on it. Hardy winter birds also hung on.
Northern Mockingbird by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Eastern Bluebird by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Brown Creeper by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Hermit Thrush by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Female Northern Pintail and Female Mallard by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Hooded Mergansers by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Ring-necked Duck, Mallard, Canada Geese, Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Canvasback by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
There were several Cackling Goose present in the large Canada Goose flocks this winter.
Cackling Goose by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Spot the Cackling Goose by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
It was also an exceptional winter for raptors in my area.This Gray Ghost gave exceptional views, flying only a few meters above me as he was hunting.
"Gray Ghost" Northern Harrier by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Two Rough-legged Hawks kettling.
Rough-legged Hawk by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Bald Eagle by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Bald Eagle by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Bald Eagle by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
By March, some familiar faces had arrived.
Early bird gets the worm by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Common Grackle by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Song Sparrow by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
During Spring my dad and I also made several trips to the coast of New Jersey to see some more species. These trips were amazing! Great views of great birds and great company.
Our first stop was LBI, where we picked up loons, brant and Harlequin Ducks. Our main highlight of the trip was a full adult Kumlien's (Iceland) Gull. We also scoped out a Red-necked Grebe and King Eider.
Eiders by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Harlequin Duck by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Brant (Atlantic) by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Red-breasted Merganser by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Horned Grebe by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Common Loon by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
"Ipswich" Savannah Sparrow by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Lesser Black-backed Gull by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Iceland Gull by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Iceland Gull by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Our next trip birding was Brigantine, where we encountered additional waterfowl and my first Wilson's Snipe.
Wilson's Snipe by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Wilson's Snipe by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Back at home, migrants and summer birds had returned. I would spend a lot of my hikes in search of song birds and warblers. When snakes weren't abundant, the songs of a Red-winged Blackbird or Song Sparrow made me smile.
Red-winged Blackbird (female) by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Red-winged Blackbird by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Warbling Vireo by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Eastern Meadowlark by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Rose-breasted Grosbeak by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Yellow-breasted Chat by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Summer Tanager by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Osprey with Bluefish by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Barn Swallow by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
In the Summertime, we had stumbled upon several more birds (mainly familiar faces) down in DC and back at home. Some of them were very cooperative when it came to posing.
So... Pterosaurs do exist by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Green Heron by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Sanderlings by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Herring Gull by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
One September day, I heard that one of the local farms in my area discovered that they had a "Barn Owl" in their chicken coop. I joined a few naturalists to investigate. When we arrived at the farm, we were greeted with an Eastern Screech Owl instead.
Eastern Screech-Owl by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
A few weeks later, I chased my first "Rare" bird successfully - a Red Phalarope that was blown inland to a nearby lake in my county along with a Buff-breasted Sandpiper. The views of both weren't the best, but it was thrilling to see a bird that I might not see again for a long long time. The Phalarope was the first record ever for Mercer County.
Red Phalarope by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Buff-breasted Sandpiper by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
As fall approached, familiar faces of the winter like this Sapsucker visited my yard.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Yellow-rumped Warbler by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Cedar Waxwing by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
I also had the opportunity to chase another rare bird near my area - a relatively uncommon Northern Shrike. I set out with my dad and my good friend to try and find it. We went on a wild goose chase trying to spot it and soon ended up in a much larger party of birders. We spent two hours trying to locate it, and when we finally did, it flew down. We then waited another hour trying to re-find it until it was sundown and at the eleventh hour someone managed to spot it (a few dozen meters away unfortunately). It was a great memory and a great chase.
Northern Shrike by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
After the Shrike, I birded my local lake again and discovered another Cackling Goose, and a vagrant Greater White-fronted Goose.
Greater White-fronted Goose by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
I made one last trip to Brigantine with friends before I went to Florida. We saw more waterfowl including Tundra Swans, and a very open American Bittern.
Yellow-rumped Warbler by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Tundra Swans by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Tundra Swan by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
American Bittern by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
American Bittern by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
After that it was off to southern Florida. Our first stop birding was the Everglades, where our goal was to get some neotropical migrants that were hanging out there. We got Short-tailed Hawks, Broad-winged Hawks and Spoonbills. Unfortunately, we did not get any Rails or Warblers that trip, but a great consultation prize was a Western Kingbird. Here are some photographs from the trip.
LAGU's by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Loggerhead Shrike by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Spotted Sandpiper by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Roseate Spoonbill by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Black-crowned Night Heron by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Great Egret by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Western Kingbird by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Finally on New Year's Eve, I went birding one last time to Palm Beach County, where I saw additional song and waterbirds. One great highlight was the Warbler diversity = Prairie, Pine, Palm, Black-and-white, Yellow-throated, and Parula plus a Solitary Vireo were all seen that day. In addition, we also saw flyover Sandhill Cranes, and Monk Parakeets on the way home.
Yellow-throated Warbler by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Black-and-white Warbler by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Yellow-throated Warbler by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Northern Parula by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Common Gallinule by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
Monk Parakeet by
Justin (NoNameKey), on Flickr
And that concludes my 2015 bird season. I hope you enjoyed and thank you for taking a look.
- Justin