Brig by Bike and Car

I took the day off work and went to Brigantine yesterday as my last fall hoorah. After fighting Monday morning traffic I arrived and hopped on my bike. Unfortunately the tide was coming in at that point and really the first loop around was pretty uneventful. The highlights were a couple AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS, terrible but identifiable looks at BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS, and a PHILADELPHIA VIREO along the wooded area of the drive.

The second time around I went by car and wound up birding along a Brit named Dave. We sat at the one big pool waiting as the tide started to recede. The strategy worked out as here we found things that I didn’t get on my first go-round: 3 AMERICAN AVOCET, 5 or so WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, and a RED KNOT. Also a bunch of ducks came flying in and included: NORTHERN PINTAIL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, AMERICAN WIGEON, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, and GREEN-WINGED TEAL. Further along we’d add a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and another RED KNOT. Then, in the northwest fields (which usually have water but not in this dry year) I added BAIRD’S SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, and better looks at BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. All in all I finished with 94 species.

Here’s the map:
Brigantine
September 13, 2010

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Countdown to 300

After re-entering birding in June 2007 and subsequently throwing away my life list, I am finally approaching 300 species on my new life list. So I’m going to countdown the last ten.

#290 Arctic Tern
Lake Wallenpaupack, PA Oct. 24, 2009
After a crazy storm pushed down lots of seabirds. Not accepted by PORC but I didn’t get a photo. But I’m positive of ID.

#291 Common Eider
Sandy Hook, NJ Nov. 8, 2009

#292 Lapland Longspur
Sandy Hook, NJ Nov. 8, 2009

#293 King Eider
Sandy Hook, NJ Nov. 8, 2009

#294 Ivory Gull
Cape May, NJ Dec. 6, 2009
Seen on my first true “chase” of a single bird.

#295 Cackling Goose
Harvey’s Lake, PA Dec. 9, 2009
Weird to see this on my list after a mega like Ivory Gull, but I wasn’t very aware of this species since it wasn’t it’s own species when I originally birded. Then I haven’t crossed paths with it since studying up on the ID until now.

#296 Brown-headed Nuthatch
Lewes, DE Apr. 2, 2010

#297 Little Gull
Lake Wallenpaupack, PA Apr. 10, 2010
This was on my most wanted list for a while. Now on to Black-headed Gull.

#298 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
PPL Riverlands, PA June 14, 2010
In county lifer. Nice.

#299 Black-headed Gull
Bombay Hook, DE August, 21 2010
One of my most wanted birds. Check.

#300 Clay-colored Sparrow
Forty Fort, PA September, 16 2010
The fight is over! And it ends in what is my most birded locales!!