It’s definitely been my busy time of year with fall migration in full swing.

I spent Saturday in Brigantine and saw 23 species of shorebirds. Unfortunately I missed one of the birds I was really banking on seeing: Hudsonian Godwit. But I can’t complain when I a saw things like: American Golden-Plover, Red-necked Phalarope, Wilson’s Phalarope, Roseate Spoonbill, American Avocet, Black Terns, and tons more.

Today I found that all our shorebirds must have taken the northwest winds (that cleared the rain away overnight) out of here. So I decided to hit Nescopeck Park for a little Passerine watching. The best bird there was an Olive-sided Flycatcher which was very obliging and out in the open. It was a lifer for me and the best kind of lifer- one in my own county. They’re pretty rare even in migration around here. Other birds there included Tennessee, Nashville, Blackpoll, Canada, Palm, Yellow-rumped, and just a whole bunch more Warblers, a Swainson’s Thrush, and a bunch of Scarlet Tanagers.

Digiscoping has been rough lately with birds either too far away or bad light (or both). But here are some shots I managed over the past couple days.

This juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was hiding in plain site as I drove around Brig yesterday.

The spoonbill continues at Brig.

This is my lifer Olive-sided Flycatcher. I got good looks at back and front of the bird but unfortunately never got to photograph its backside to show those white patches. It seemed to only ever perch facing the sun. I wonder if that is a technique for it to be able to find flies easier…