May 2014 bird arrivals

At the end of April the birds started migrating through, but that was just a preview of better things that were to come in the birder’s favorite month…May. May 2014 featured a terrific migration. Most of my birding was done in the local patches here in New Jersey. As an example, this month I was able to see two of our tough warbler species (Cape May Warbler and Blackburnian Warbler) right here in my village.

Visits to southern NJ resulted in superb views of multiple Yellow-throated Warblers and the remarkable Prothonotary Warbler.

A highlight of this month was a 4-day trip to the High Point and Stokes State Forest area of northern NJ to scout for a team in preparation for their participation in the World Series of Birding. Eighteen first-of-year birds were spotted on this trip, including Common Raven, Ring-necked Pheasant, nesting Broad-winged Hawks, and Bobolink.

On the way back home I stopped in at the always-reliable Garrett Mountain Reservation for a marvelous afternoon where birds were seemingly everywhere and very tolerant of humans. Wow! Further exploration of Allaire State Park this month yielded some very nice migrants including Bay-breasted and Hooded Warblers and double-digit Scarlet Tanagers.

A series of short morning walks through my village yielded species such as Indigo Bunting, Green Heron, Broad-winged Hawk, Blue-winged Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, and Northern Waterthrush that I didn’t expect to see in our village. Near the end of the month, after the appearance of new land migrants finally began slowing down, attention turned to the shore area once again, with occasional forays to the beach at Sandy Hook, the marshes of Forsythe, and the Delaware bayshore. Highlights included Red Knots, Piping Plover, Clapper Rail, and Gull-billed Tern. Shorebirds are certain to continue and be a highlight of June.

Here’s my list of new year bird arrivals that I saw this May:
Piping Plover – May 29 – Sandy Hook
Common Tern – May 29 – Sandy Hook
Least Tern – May 29 – Sandy Hook
Mourning Warbler – May 28 – Central Park
Olive-sided Flycatcher – May 28 – Central Park
Gray-cheeked Thrush – May 27 – Frick Park, Pittsburgh
Red Knot – May 18 – Reed’s Beach
Clapper Rail – May 17 – Forsythe NWR
Gull-billed Tern – May 17 – Forsythe NWR
Black Skimmer – May 17 – Forsythe NWR
Seaside Sparrow – May 17 – Forsythe NWR
Black-bellied Whistling-duck – May 17 – Patriot Lake, Galloway, NJ
Grasshopper Sparrow – May 15 – Collier’s Mills WMA
Black-billed Cuckoo – May 15 – Assunpink WMA
Yellow-breasted Chat – May 15 – Assunpink WMA
Blue Grosbeak – May 15 – Assunpink WMA
Willow Flycatcher – May 15 – Allentown Mercer Corporate Park
Least Sandpiper – May 15 – Allentown Mercer Corporate Park
Bay-breasted Warbler – May 12 – Allaire State Park
Wilson’s Warbler – May 11 – Leisure Village West
Swainson’s Thrush – May 8 – Garret Mountain Reservation
Nashville Warbler – May 8 – Garret Mountain Reservation
Blackpoll Warbler – May 8 – Garret Mountain Reservation
Canada Warbler – May 8 – Garret Mountain Reservation
Red-breasted Nuthatch – May 8 – Walpack Valley IBA–Blewett Tract
Sora – May 7 – Wallkill River NWR–Owens Station Rd.
Solitary Sandpiper – May 7 – Wallkill River NWR–Owens Station Rd.
Marsh Wren – May 7 – Wallkill River NWR–Owens Station Rd.
Least Flycatcher – May 7 – High Point State Park
Yellow-throated Vireo – May 7 – High Point State Park
Common Raven – May 7 – High Point State Park
Northern Waterthrush – May 7 – High Point State Park
Cerulean Warbler – May 7 – High Point State Park
Magnolia Warbler – May 7 – High Point State Park
Blackburnian Warbler – May 7 – High Point State Park
Chestnut-sided Warbler – May 7 – High Point State Park
Bobolink – May 7 – Layton Grasslands
Ring-necked Pheasant – May 5 – Sally Harden Rd.–Vesper Hill
Veery – May 5 – Collier’s Mills WMA
Semipalmated Sandpiper – May 4 – Forsythe NWR
Semipalmated Plover – May 4 – Forsythe NWR
Short-billed Dowitcher – May 4 – Forsythe NWR
Willet – May 4 – Forsythe NWR
Spotted Sandpiper – May 4 – Forsythe NWR
Whimbrel – May 4 – Forsythe NWR
Eastern Wood-Pewee – May 4 – Belleplain State Forest
Acadian Flycatcher – May 4 – Belleplain State Forest
Yellow-billed Cuckoo – May 4 – Belleplain State Forest
Prothonotary Warbler – May 4 – Belleplain State Forest
Worm-eating Warbler – May 4 – Belleplain State Forest
Cape May Warbler – May 4 – Manchester
Wood Thrush – May 3 – Allaire State Park
Scarlet Tanager – May 3 – Allaire State Park
Hooded Warbler – May 3 – Allaire State Park
Black-throated Blue Warbler – May 3 – Allaire State Park
Red-eyed Vireo – May 3 – Allaire State Park
Rose-breasted Grosbeak – May 3 – Allaire State Park
Baltimore Oriole – May 3 – Allaire State Park
American Redstart – May 2 – Double Trouble State Park
Indigo Bunting – May 2 – Leisure Village West
Blue-winged Warbler – May 2 – Leisure Village West
Orchard Oriole – May 1 – Whitesbog
Yellow Warbler – May 1 – Whitesbog