Same old, same old

While waiting for the Bug Guy who never showed up I did a bit in the nice light. I missed the cracking male Bluebird due to a couple of Jehovah's Witnesses trying to bring me the word of God. Wankers, they scared off the Bluebird just when I was about to get a shot.

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

White-breasted Nuthatch

Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area

 A nice afternoon but pretty chilly in the upper 30's and plenty of Snow Geese around so I popped over to Middle Creek to see what I could find.

Walking out to Willow Point

Willow Point

Willow Point

Walking Back

Old Leaves

Canada Goose

Hooded Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Snow Geese

Snow Geese

Tundra Swan

Tundra Swan

Snowbirds

 The forecast snow didn't arrive until 10;30AM rather than the original 4AM from last night. I'd already filled up feeders ready but there wasn't a bird in sight. I wonder if it was something to do with the 2 Bald Eagles in the trees at the bottom of the yard.When the snow came the birds came with it. Here's a few from a short session this morning.

Blue Jay

Dark-eyed Junco

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Barnegat Lighthouse State Park

 Leaving Brigantine late morning it was about a 45 minute drive North up the Garden State Parkway to Long Beach Island. Barnegat Light is at the extreme North end of Long Beach Island and seems to take forever to get there once you've crossed the bridge. Once there its a 0.7mile walk across the sand to get nearer the end of the Jetty or you go rock hopping across the huge 'flat' topped borders that form the jetty. Notice I put the word flat in apostrophe's. They're not flat but you can hop over the gaps between them and if you watch where you're putting your feet and avoid wet and slimy area's you might survive if you're lucky.

It was a good day and I survived.

Common Loon

Red-breasted Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Dunlin

Dunlin

Dunlin

Female Harlequin

Harlequin

Harlequin

Harlequin

Herring Gull

Herring Gull

Long-tailed Duck

Long-tailed Duck

Long-tailed Duck

Purple Sandpiper

Purple Sandpiper

Purple Sandpiper

Purple Sandpiper

Ruddy Turnstone

Sanderling

Sanderling

Sanderling

Brigantine a.k.a Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

I first visited Brigantine in October 1975 and while I don't remember much I do remember 2 American Bittern landing right beside the car. That sort of experience stays with you for a lifetime.

I drove over Tuesday afternoon and arrived about 3:30PM, I was hoping for good light and some Short-eared Owls, I got neither of them. I stayed overnight in nearby Absecon just outside Atlantic City and was back at the reserve for the 7AM opening time. 

Sunrise on the 8 Mile Loop

Sun Up

Didn't see any Owls but the sunrise more than made up for it.

Here's some images in alphabetical order.

Immature Bald Eagle

Black Duck

Female Bufflehead

Female Bufflehead

Hooded Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Peregrine Falcon

Pintail

Shovellor

Snow Geese spooked by Bald Eagle