March through May, 2009 - New Jersey Audubon Society

The female Barrow’s Goldeneye was last
seen at SH 7 Mar with a “low high count”
of 80 Common Goldeneyes (SBr, LM). A
tardy Ruddy Duck spent 13-19 May at SH’s
salt pond (TBo).
Six Pied-billed Grebes were found at
Manasquan Reservoir 23 Mar (SBr, LM)
and 2 migrants at SH 15 May decreased to
a single there 19 May (TBo). There was a
good showing of Red-necked Grebes this
spring, with about 12+ individuals noted,
including a high of 3-4 present from SH
south to Monmouth Beach 15 Mar (SBr, TBo,
LM). A single Red-necked Grebe remained
at BLSP through 28 Mar (SBg) and the only
inland report came from Manasquan Reservoir
16 Mar (JF). An alternate-plumaged
Red-necked Grebe at SH 2-12 May (DJ,
SBr) was unexpected and late. An Eared
Grebe discovered on the last day of Feb
remained in Keyport Harbor through 13 Mar
(DM, ph.). The wide-ranging WESTERN
GREBE from the winter continued in the
Elberon/Monmouth Beach/Sea Bright area
through 15 Mar (FW, SBr, LM, TBo) and
was seen on the same day (specifically within
the same hour or so) as the Western Grebe
frequenting the south shore of Staten Island,
finally establishing that two individuals were
present in the Raritan Bay/North Shore area.
A Northern Fulmar got relatively close to
shore at 10 miles east of Beach Haven 29
May (fide JCn). An impressive concentration
of Northern Gannets occurred again
this spring around SH, with the peak count of
18,000(!) tallied 9 Apr (SC). An “overshoot”
Brown Pelican was discovered at SH 25-26
Apr (MN, L. Matula). Eleven American
Bitterns were noted this spring, with the
arrival at Wreck Pond 7 Mar (PJ); all other
reports came from SH including a high of 3
on 1 May (TBo). Least Bitterns continue
to breed at SH’s north pond, where up to
3-4 individuals were noted this May (PD,
TBo, JD). Four single migrant Little Blue
Herons were detected at SH during late
Apr-early May (v.obs) and the high count
of 3 came from Reedy Creek 3 May (BR).
Four Tricolored Herons were migrants at
SH 19 Apr-11 May (v.obs) and another was
at Conaskonk Point 27 May (NK). Migrant
Yellow-crowned Night-Herons were noted
at SH 25 Apr (MN), 1 & 3 May (both TBo);
another individual in Manasquan 31 May
was probably a local breeder (BR). The vanguard
Osprey appeared at Ocean Gate 9 Mar
Thayer’s/Iceland gull – The jury remains out, probably forever, on the identity of this gull
found at Belmar March 9. It is either a second cycle dark “Kumlien’s” Iceland Gull, a Thayer’s
Gull, or it could be a hybrid. Photo/Linda Mack
(BB). A Swallow-tailed Kite was reported
without details over Deal Lake 10 May (BD).
Two Mississippi Kites were found at SH 9
May (LM, SBr, et al). A juvenile Sharpshinned
Hawk was a late migrant at Hazlet
28 May (TBo). A Rough-legged Hawk at
Cedar Bonnet Island 22 Mar was the only
report (CS). A Virginia Rail found at SH
21 Mar was though to have over-wintered;
a migrant was at noted there 11 May (TBo).
The only Sora reported was a single at Belford
Marsh 9 May (TBo). A Common Moorhen
lingered at SH 6-9 May (TBo, SBr).
SHOREBIRDS – SHRIKES
An early Whimbrel was at Sea Bright
15 Apr and a late Whimbrel was found
at SH 27 May (both TBo). A high of 100
Red Knots was observed at Great Bay Blvd
WMA 24 May, including two birds banded
in Tierra del Fuego, Chile in 2007 and a
third individual banded in Delaware in 2001
(VS, LM, SBr). Another Red Knot banded
in 2008 in Chile was noted at IBSP 25 May
(AT). Four White-rumped Sandpipers were
tallied at Conaskonk Point 27 May (NK). SH
hosted a late Wilson’s Snipe 12 May (TBo).
A Red-necked Phalarope was a nice find at
Dorbrook Park 29 May (AS).
A light-morph adult Parasitic Jaeger
blasted past SH 7 May (TBo). The only Little
Gull found this spring was a first-year bird
at SH 13-14 May (TBo, SBr). A first-year
Black-headed Gull was a fly-by at SH 7 Mar
(SBr, LM) and 3 individuals tallied at SH 23
Apr were an all-time site high (SC). A late
first-year Black-headed Gull was detected at
Belford 25 May (LM, SBr). Twelve Iceland
Gulls were recorded this spring—all coastal,
including adult birds at Shark River 1 Mar
and Elberon 2 Mar (both SBr, LM). All other
Iceland Gulls were first-year birds, including
one at SH 15-19 Apr (TBo, VS) and a late
individual at SH 9 May (VS, et al). Lesser
Black-backed Gull was found in low numbers
this spring. The species is a low-density
winter resident at several locations along
the north shore, including Wreck Pond and
Shark River. Two second-year “less-backs”
and an adult were riding out foul weather
at SH 14 May (SBr) and another was noted
at Conaskonk Point 23 May (CH). It was
a better than average season for Glaucous
Gull, with seven birds recorded. The 28th
of March must have been a migration day
for Glaucous Gulls, when singles were noted
at SH (SC), BLSP (SBg), and Manasquan
Inlet (BR). Another bird was noted at SH
19 Apr (VS) and a late bird spent 9-12 May
there (VS, TBo). The last Glaucous Gull was
noted at Conaskonk Point 12 May (SBr).
The vanguard Caspian Tern flew by SH 7
Apr (PB) and 2 late migrants were noted at
SH 31 May (SBr, LM). Two Royal Terns at
SH 14 May was the only report (TBo). Up
to 7 Black Terns were tallied at SH 4-5 May
(SC, SBr, LM). An early Black Skimmer
was reported at BLSP 22 Mar (CS).
104 — March through May, 2009