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