Old Mine Road
June 1 2014
Leader: Scott Barnes
June 1 2014
Leader: Scott Barnes
I led a New Jersey Audubon Young Birders Club trip to Old Mine Rd/Delaware Water Gap NRA today. We managed to get good looks at both Cerulean and Hooded Warblers-two signature birds of this IBA; and enjoyed many other nesting species indicative of the riparian forests of the upper Delaware River. We saw a hen Hooded Merganser with chicks along the river, found a singing Acadian Flycatcher near a partially constructed nest above a stream, watched a Veery sing, and found a White-eyed Vireo in the rose thickets along the entrance road to Worthington SF HQ--perhaps not rare, but the first time I recall seeing this species here, and a "good" bird for some of the north jersey folks. Some of the group got their life Yellow-billed Cuckoo as it flew right over their heads.
It was great to spend a morning where my primary job as trip leader was my site knowledge: my eyes and ears were no match for those of my participants, who spotted a sky-high Cerulean and perched Hooded Warbler way before I did! Further, it was impressive to hear the teens calling "Louisiana Waterthrush singing on the left" or "isn't that an Acadian Flycatcher calling?" I was impressed by their skill levels, and for their natural tendencies to help each other seeing birds and discussing songs. Rewarding stuff.
(Jersey Birds trip summary)
-Scott Barnes
It was great to spend a morning where my primary job as trip leader was my site knowledge: my eyes and ears were no match for those of my participants, who spotted a sky-high Cerulean and perched Hooded Warbler way before I did! Further, it was impressive to hear the teens calling "Louisiana Waterthrush singing on the left" or "isn't that an Acadian Flycatcher calling?" I was impressed by their skill levels, and for their natural tendencies to help each other seeing birds and discussing songs. Rewarding stuff.
(Jersey Birds trip summary)
-Scott Barnes
Species List
Total: 51
Canada Goose 24
Mallard 4
Hooded Merganser 6
Common Merganser 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 2
Turkey Vulture 28
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Mourning Dove 4
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Acadian Flycatcher 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
White-eyed Vireo 1
Yellow-throated Vireo 4
Warbling Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 7
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 5
Tree Swallow 1
Tufted Titmouse 2
House Wren 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Veery 3
Wood Thrush 2
American Robin 12
Gray Catbird 17
Cedar Waxwing 8
Ovenbird 1
Worm-eating Warbler 2
Louisiana Waterthrush 1
Black-and-white Warbler 3
Common Yellowthroat 2
Hooded Warbler 6
American Redstart 8
Cerulean Warbler 2
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 3
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 5
Common Grackle 10
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Baltimore Oriole 8
Total: 51
Canada Goose 24
Mallard 4
Hooded Merganser 6
Common Merganser 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 2
Turkey Vulture 28
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Mourning Dove 4
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Acadian Flycatcher 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
White-eyed Vireo 1
Yellow-throated Vireo 4
Warbling Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 7
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 5
Tree Swallow 1
Tufted Titmouse 2
House Wren 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Veery 3
Wood Thrush 2
American Robin 12
Gray Catbird 17
Cedar Waxwing 8
Ovenbird 1
Worm-eating Warbler 2
Louisiana Waterthrush 1
Black-and-white Warbler 3
Common Yellowthroat 2
Hooded Warbler 6
American Redstart 8
Cerulean Warbler 2
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 3
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 5
Common Grackle 10
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Baltimore Oriole 8