Sandy Hook
Leaders: Scott Barnes and Linda Mack
Leaders: Scott Barnes and Linda Mack
Scoters flew over the ocean, Snow Buntings flew over the beach, and gulls flew over our heads as the New Jersey Young Birders Club watched from our small seawatch on the beach off B Lot at Sandy Hook. This was the venue of the club's first trip of 2016, and led by Scott Barnes and Linda Mack, we were ready to brave the wind and bird the unique habitat that Sandy Hook has to offer. As mentioned before, the meeting spot at B Lot turned out to be a great start to the day as we watched all three scoter species and many other ducks flying over the choppy waves. We were also able to pick out a few Northern Gannets in the distance as they flew well out over the ocean looking for food. A lone Tree Swallow flew over our cars as we moved on to the Fishing Beach, where we got better looks at some birds we hadn't seen too well earlier like Red-throated Loon and Long-tailed Duck. The choppy ocean didn't allow for great looks at ducks, so we spent the next few hours along the bayside where the water was flat and the viewing conditions were optimal. Our stops included Horseshoe Cove, Guardian Park, and the Ferry Terminal where we found a bunch of Common Goldeneyes, a few Horned Grebes, and a very distant Red-necked Grebe that was ID-able by silhouette alone! A lingering Black-bellied Plover also made an appearance at Horseshoe Cove, a bird that can be very hard to find along the North Shore in the winter. With about an hour to go, we rushed over to North Beach where we successfully located some American Tree Sparrows, which have been a little bit harder than usual to find this winter. We had time for one last stop at Spermaceti Cove to scan the gulls, but unfortunately none of the previously reported white-winged gulls stuck around from earlier in the year for us to see. After locating the Snow Bunting flock once again at D Lot, the club disbanded and headed home after another very productive trip to Sandy Hook. Thanks to Scott Barnes and Linda Mack for using and sharing their extensive knowledge of birds and Sandy Hook to lead the club around, and thanks to all the parents who made the journey with the young birders to allow us to bird on that unusually warm winter day!
-Andrew Marden
-Andrew Marden
50 Species
Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
American Black Duck
Mallard
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Northern Gannet
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Black-bellied Plover
Sanderling
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Tree Swallow
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Snow Bunting
Yellow-rumped Warbler
American Tree Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
American Black Duck
Mallard
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Northern Gannet
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Black-bellied Plover
Sanderling
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Tree Swallow
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Snow Bunting
Yellow-rumped Warbler
American Tree Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow