Yesterday was a good day for picking up new first-of-year birds. The day started in Atlantic County Park in Estell Manor, about an hour south of home. Although this park apparently is not a common stopping point for birders in NJ, I had a nice early spring day there last year, highlighted by multiple sightings of Yellow-throated Warbler, a species that reaches its northern breeding limits in southern New Jersey, with only sporadic sightings further north. Although we saw quite a few Yellow-throated Warblers in Florida this past January, it is a delightful bird to see, especailly up north where it is far less common. I have heard that Atlantic County Park is also a reliable location for Prothonotary Warbler, another species that shares similar breeding limits in southern NJ. So this was a trip designed to see if we could find these two golden species.
Yellow-throated Warbler did not disappoint. I’d estimate that we saw approximately 15 individuals, some in their more typical location high in the pine trees that strains the neck to its limits (justifying Pete Dunne’s naming them the ‘Treetop Warbler’), but with multiple highly cooperative individuals that gave excellent camera opportunities. Each sighting was a delight, as the golden throats of these birds seemed to glow from within, especially in the bright spring sunlight.
This bird seemed to be showing off the feature that resulted in it being called Yellow-throated Warbler.
Another cooperative individual. You have to love it when a treetop-loving bird appears at eye level.
Alas, Prothonotary Warblers were not as cooperative, with none being seen or heard. Another trip scheduled to return here next week hopefully will prove more fortunate in locating the ‘Golden Swamp Warbler’. A nice singing Northern Parula was an excellent consolation prize and our second FOY bird for the day. We didn’t stop there, however, adding FOY Purple Martins, Greater Yellowlegs, Hairy Woodpeckers, and White-eyed Vireo. All in all, it was a good morning.
On the way back home we stopped in at Brig to see what new birds arrived there. We started with additional sightings of Purple Martins, and many Greater Yellowlegs, but the highlight was probably this American Oystercatcher nesting directly alongside the wildlife drive. It is not the first time that Oystercatchers have nested in this precarious location, but assuming that all goes well, it will provide ample opportunities for the Brig photographers. Good luck, Brig Oystercatcher.
An American Oystercatcher pair is once again nesting directly alongside the Brig Wildlife Drive. Two eggs are clearly visible now.