[From Charlie:] Perfect weather for this morning's Atlantic Audubon bird walk at Forsythe NWR. Leaders John Rokita and Lester Block were joined by Roz and me, Kaitlin (who found a Buff-breasted Sandpiper for us!) and Kevin, Eileen and Bruce, Glenn Englehardt, Dave Voll, Silviya Monova, Michael Delesantro, Bill Elrick, Nanette Guida, and several others. Highlights (besides the Buff-breasted) were first-of-season Ring-necked Ducks and Northern Shovelers; Northern Parulas; Cape May Warbler; Black-throated Blue Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler; American Redstart; Common Yellowthroats; Yellow Warblers; Pine Warbler; Belted Kingfisher; Wood Ducks; Pied-billed Grebes; Bald Eagle; Merlin; Osprey; Northern Harrier; Red-bellied Woodpecker; Northern Flicker; Downy Woodpecker; Marsh Wren; Carolina Wren; Great Blue Heron; Yellow-crowned Night-Heron; Great Egret; Ruby-throated Hummingbird.  John and Lester are leading next Saturday's walk as well.  Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the Forsythe parking lot in front of the Visitor Information Center.

​The eBird checklist can be viewed here.

Beautiful weather (and no greenheads) for this morning's Atlantic Aubudon bird walk at Forsythe NWR, led by Michael Stanton and joined by Roz & Charlie Herlands, Kathy & John Peterson, Michael Delesantro & Renee Rubin, Greg Fisher, Johan Antus, Bill Elrick, Alice Sikora, Dave Voll, Josh Gant, Maggie, and Matt. Highlights included Bald Eagles (five, I believe), an American Kestrel, a Northern Harrier, Wood Ducks, Yellow Warblers, a Common Yellowthroat, a male American Redstart, a Little Blue Heron, a couple of Pied-billed Grebes, White-eyed Vireos, Red-eyed Vireos, Marsh Wrens, Northern Flickers, Downy Woodpeckers, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Also a box turtle, a snapping turtle, Fowler’s toads, and some mushrooms. The walks continue on Saturday mornings through the end of October—just show up in the parking lot at 8:00 a.m. (Report by Charlie Herlands.) eBird checklist can be viewed here.

Today was the first Autumn Bird Walk. The day started out sunny and cool with a light breeze. Twenty-one (21) birders attended. We saw or heard sixty-one (61) species. They are as follows: 1. Carolina Wren 2. Blue Jay  3. Common Grackle 4. American Redstart. 5. Purple Martin  6. Yellow Warbler  7. Red-bellied Woodpecker 8. American (Common) Crow  9. House Finch 10. Flycatcher sp. 11. Ruby-throated Hummingbird  12. Barn Swallow. 13. Tree Swallow 14. Osprey 15. Canada Goose  16. Clapper Rail 17. Mourning Dove 18. Downy Woodpecker 19. Marsh Wren  20. Chimney Swift  21. Black-crowned Nightheron  22. Great Egret  23. Northern Harrier  24. Eastern Kingbird 25. Merlin  26. American Bittern 27. Wood Duck  28. Great Blue Heron  29. Bald Eagle  30. Belted Kingfisher  31. Snowy Egret  32. White Ibis 33. Double-crested Cormorant  34. Little Blue Heron  35. Mute Swan  36. Mallard  37. Rough-winged Swallow  38. Song Sparrow  39. Black Duck  40. Least Bittern  41. Bobolink 42. Glossy Ibis  43. Caspian Tern  44. Laughing Gull 45. Fish Crow  46. Red-winged Blackbird  47. American Goldfinch  48. Turkey Vulture  49. Bank Swallow  50. Semi-palmated Sandpiper  51. Yellow-billed Cuckoo 52. Grey Catbird 53. Indigo Bunting  54. Northern (Yellow-shafted) Flicker  55. Black Vulture  56. Peregrine Falcons 57. White-eyed Vireo 58. Northern Cardinal 59. Tufted Titmouse 60. Carolina Chickadee  61. Great-crested Flycatcher. (Kevin Lippert, bird walk leader) eBird checklist can be seen here.

John Rokita and Lester Block led the bird walk at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. Twenty-five people participated, including two new folks from Central Jersey, Lana and Iggy (welcome). The weather was great and birding was good. We saw 57 species. The eBird checklist can be viewed here.

Here is the list:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Wood Duck, Mallard, American Black Duck, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Mourning Dove, Clapper Rail, Short-billed/Long-billed Dowitcher, Greater Yellowlegs, Laughing Gull, Herring Gull, Caspian Tern, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tufted Titmouse, Tree Swallow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, European Starling, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, House Sparrow, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Boat-tailed Grackle, Common Yellowthroat, Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal

A bird/nature walk was led by John Rokita and Lester Block at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge/Brigantine Unit or "Brig." The skies were overcast with rain threatening and it was very windy, but we still had a good day. A lot of migrating birds, a few monarch butterflies, there were still some turtles sunning themselves, and we were treated to a lot of fall wildflowers…the salt marsh goldenrod was particularly nice and there were a lot of the native orchid, nodding ladies tresses. There were 24 participants, including 2 who made the trek from Kennett Square, PA—Ronan Gannon and his son, Ross Gannon. Ross was turning 30 the next day…so he spent the last of his 20s with our group! Happy birthday, Ross! We hope you can all join us again sometime. Our next trip is Saturday, October 16, 2021 at 8 a.m. Meet in the parking lot next to the visitor center. Anthony Chodan will lead.

What we saw…49 species observed:
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​Canada Goose, Mute Swan. Wood Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Mallard, American Black Duck, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Pied-billed Grebe, Clapper Rail, Greater Yellowlegs, Laughing Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull Caspian Tern, Double-crested Cormorant (migrating flocks easliy numbered over 700), Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Tricolored Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Peregrine Falcon, Blue Jay, American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Tree Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, European Starling, Gray Catbird, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler

John Rokita and Lester Block led the bird walk at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in Galloway Township. Fourteen people met in the parking lot (and a few more caught up later). We observed 81 species that day on a 3 1/2 hour walk. Here is the list of the birds we saw:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Wood Duck, Mallard, American Black Duck, Wild Turkey, Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Clapper Rail, Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Laughing Gull, Herring Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Forster's Tern, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Glossy Ibis, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Cooper's Hawk, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Willow Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, House Wren, Marsh Wren, Carolina Wren, European Starling, Gray Catbird, Eastern,, Bluebird, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, House Sparrow, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, , Field Sparrow, Seaside Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Yellow-breasted Chat, Orchard Oriole, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed, Cowbird, Common Grackle, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Bay-breasted Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Pine Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting
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​…and some things that were not birds. Thanks to Charles Herlands for some of his photos.

Join our last walk of the spring this coming Saturday, May 29, 2021 at 8 a.m. Meet in the parking lot of the visitor center. The event is free and open to all. Binoculars, hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent are recommended.

From Kevin: Saturday, May 8, dawned partly cloudy, breezy and about 50 degrees. Eleven of us met in the Refuge parking lot and were met by the sounds of Gray Catbirds and Chipping Sparrows with Purple Martins flying above. By the end of the walk the skies had turned gray but we had either seen or heard 84 different species. They are as follows:

1. Gray Catbird. 2. Chipping Sparrow. 3. Purple Martin. 4. American Robin. 5. Fish Crow. 6. Brown-headed Cowbird. 7. Great-crested Flycatcher. 8. Common Grackle. 9. Tree Swallow. 10. Barn Swallow. 11. Tufted Titmouse. 12. Blue Jay. 13. Laughing Gull. 14. Bald Eagle. 15. Carolina Wren. 16. Red-bellied Woodpecker. 17. Indigo Bunting. 18. Blue Grosbeak. 19. Ruby-throated Hummingbird. 20. American Goldfinch. 21. Bluebird. 22. Osprey. 23. Red-tailed Hawk. 24. Orchard Oriole. 25. Northern Rough-winged Swallow. 26. Blue-grey Gnatcatcher. 27. Chimney Swift. 28. Eastern Kingbird. 29. European Starling. 30. Phoebe. 31. Glossy Ibis. 32. Yellow Warbler. 33. Willet. 34. Forster's Tern. 35. Red-winged Blackbird. 36. Marsh Wren. 37. Seaside Sparrow. 38. Canada Goose. 39. Common Yellowthroat. 40. Great Egret. 41. Northern (Yellow-shafted) Flicker. 42. Common Crow. 43. Double-crested Cormorant. 44. Wood Duck. 45. Black-throated Green Warbler. 46. Northern Cardinal. 47. Blackburnian Warbler. 48. Northern Parula. 49. Yellow-rumped Warbler. 50. Black and White Warbler. 51. Pine Warbler. 52. Carolina Chickadee. 53. Pied-billed Grebe. 54. Mourning Dove. 55. Caspian Tern. 56. Solitary Sandpiper. 57. Turkey Vulture. 58. Mallard. 59. Ovenbird. 60. Eastern Towhee. 61. House Finch. 62. Scarlet Tanager. 63. White-breasted Nuthatch. 64. Blue-headed Vireo. 65. Black Vulture. 66. Field Sparrow. 67. Yellow-breasted Chat. 68. Bank Swallow. 69. Mute Swan. 70. Wilson Snipe. 71. Least Sandpiper. 72. Black Duck. 73. Great Blue Heron. 74. Semipalmated Plover. 75. Blue-winged Teal. 76. Nashville Warbler. 77. White-eyed Vireo. 78. Glossy Ibis. 79. Greater Yellowlegs. 80. House Sparrow. 81. Clapper Rail. 82. Whimbrel. 83. Snowy Egret. 84. Herring Gull

(From Charles...) Breezy, sunny morning for an Atlantic Audubon bird walk at Forsythe. 19 people, 86 species:

Bald Eagle, Great Egret, Tufted Titmouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Warbler, Fish Crow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (and a nest in Toad Alley), Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Laughing Gull, American Goldfinch, House Finch, House Wren (Toad Alley), Carolina Wren, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Cardinal, Chipping Sparrow, American Robin, Common Grackle, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-throated Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Chickadee, Common Yellowthroat, Blue Jay, Willet, European Starling, Caspian Tern (photo attached), Canada Goose, Barn Swallow, White-eyed Vireo, Turkey Vulture, Northern Flicker, Gray Catbird, Osprey, Herring Gull, Seaside Sparrow. (photo attached), Red-shouldered Hawk (2), American Crow, Orchard Oriole (young male, with the black bib), Wood Duck, Yellow Warbler, Least Bittern (calling from the water near the entrance bridge), Great Blue Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Swamp Sparrow, Mourning Dove, Mallard, Louisiana Waterthrush, Brown Thrasher, Chimney Swift, Ovenbird, Eastern Towhee, Eastern Kingbird, Black Vulture, Field Sparrow, Northern Harrier, Glossy Ibis, Wilson's Snipe (maybe 6 or 7), Bank Swallow (near the Experimental Pool Overlook), Pied-billed Grebe, American Bittern (two behind Gull Pond and one along the road; photo attached), Double-crested Cormorant, Mute Swan, Gull-billed Tern (photo attached), Forster's Tern, Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper (Gull Pond), Solitary Sandpiper (Gull Pond, photo attached), Savannah Sparrow, Whimbrel (flock of 35–40, seen from boardwalk), Bufflehead (Gull Pond), Greater Scaup (Gull Pond), Cliff Swallow (boardwalk), Clapper Rail (calling, heard from boardwalk), Snowy Egret

​From Charles: 27 people on a lovely morning for the Atlantic Audubon bird walk at Forsythe NWR (Brigantine). I tallied 75 species, including Bald Eagle, Kestrel, Wilson's Snipe, Red-tailed Hawk, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Virginia Rail, Hermit Thrush, Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Purple Finch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Common Yellowthroat, Cattle Egret, Pied-billed Grebe, Greater Scaup, Least Sandpiper, Glossy Ibis, Caspian Tern, Greater Yellowlegs, Seaside Sparrow, White-eyed Vireo, American Coot, Northern Mockingbird, Wood Duck, Bufflehead, Blue-winged Teal, Eastern Towhee, Eastern Phoebe, Northern Flicker, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Purple Martin, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Downy Woodpecker, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Barn Swallow, Chimney Swift, Gray Catbird, White-breasted Nuthatch, Double-crested Cormorant.

​This was the third of nine consecutive Saturday morning walks. Join us next Saturday, April 24, 8 a.m., in the parking lot in front of the Visitor Center. Bring insect repellent spray or wipes, binoculars, and water. MASKS REQUIRED, even for those of us who are fully vaccinated. Hopefully we'll pick up a few more migrating warblers and a few other birds that have been sighted recently (i.e., Indigo Bunting, Short-eared Owl, White-faced Ibis, Brown Thrasher, Northern Parula, Ruby-throated Hummingbird).