By the end of May after the hectic days of spring migration were completed I had seen a total of 230 species this year. Not bad for my first year back in NJ. Summer became a time to restore some balance in the way that I spent my time (yes, there are other things to do besides birding!). But birding did not come to a halt…there were occasional excursions to our local hotspots, the beginning of southward shorebird migration, a trip to Delaware, and both the Cattus Island Boat Tours and canoeing trips that resulted in access to habitats on Barnegat Bay, all of which were rewarding in finding new species but more importantly, expanding my birding from simply land-based excursions to being out on the water and the shore. Its been great fun exploring those habitats, and I look forward to taking advantage of the coastal location as the fall approaches and beyond. Here’s a couple photos and a list of the new birds seen this summer.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Forsythe NWR
A distant digiscoped American Golden-plover, Reed Sod Farm
Black Tern annoying a Forster’s Tern, Forsythe NWR
Here’s my list of new year birds seen this summer (June, July, August):
Buff-breasted Sandpiper – Aug. 30 – Forsythe NWR
American Golden-Plover – Aug. 23 – Reed’s Sod Farm
Marbled Godwit – Aug. 21 – Great Sedge Island Island Beach State Park
Yellow-crowned Night-heron – Aug. 21 – Great Sedge Island Island Beach State Park
Black-necked Stilt – Aug. 9 – Prime Hook NWR
Sedge Wren – Aug. 9 – Bombay Hook NWR
American Avocet – Aug. 9 – Bombay Hook NWR
Brown-headed Nuthatch – Aug. 8 – Cape Henlopen State Park
Common Nighthawk – Aug. 3 – Whitesbog
Pectoral Sandpiper – Aug. 1 – Whitesbog
Stilt Sandpiper – Aug. 1 – Whitesbog
Black Tern – July 27 – Forsythe NWR
Long-billed Dowitcher – July 27 – Forsythe NWR
Least Bittern – July 27 – Forsythe NWR
Brown Pelican – July 23 – Great Sedge Island Island Beach State Park
Royal Tern – June 25 – Cattus Island County Park
Saltmarsh Sparrow – June 4 – Forsythe NWR