Garret Mountain
Leader: Sam Wilson
Leader: Sam Wilson
Southwest winds and an incoming warm front are a recipe for success at Garret Mountain in May, arguably the second best spot in New Jersey for spring migration after only Cape May. This was exactly what we got as the New Jersey Young Birders Club met up for their third annual May trip to Garret Mountain led by Sam Wilson and Dan Poalillo, who filled in for the sick Scott Barnes. We started at the three-tiered parking lot where we were entertained by a Brown Thrasher and a Blue-headed Vireo among other species as we waited for the entire group to show up. Once everyone had arrived, we made our way to the ridge, where most of the migrants would likely be after migrating in overnight. We got our first warblers of the day such as Ovenbird and Black-and-white Warbler along with other passerines like a Scarlet Tanager, a few Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and a flyover Pine Siskin. We made our way over to Barbour Pond next where we saw a few swallows and swifts catching insects over the pond along with a flyover Bald Eagle in the blue sky. A walk around the pond gave us great views of Warbling Vireos and nesting Orchard Orioles, and after a stop at Wilson Avenue, the club headed back to the North woods where most of the warblers go silently to feed later in the day. It was there where we got crippling views of a surprisingly low Blackburnian Warbler, one of the target birds for many attending young birders. We also got two surprisingly late Hermit Thrushes, birds that usually migrate out of New Jersey well before May. We got to see many other warblers along with the Blackburnian such as Black-throated Blues and a Northern Waterthrush, and after our fill of these we decided to head back to the parking lot and finish our day. However, we were at one of the best migration spots in the East, so of course two Cape May Warblers would show up on the path back! Cape May Warbler was a lifer for me, and what I thought was the best bird of the day. Thanks to Sam and Dan for leading us around the park, and thanks to the parents who drove the young birders up there so we could experience the beginnings of spring migration!
-Andrew Marden
Species List: 66 Species
Canada Goose
Mallard
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Bald Eagle
Killdeer
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
-Andrew Marden
Species List: 66 Species
Canada Goose
Mallard
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Bald Eagle
Killdeer
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow