Herons....ROOKERY

Now...I have been a quasi-resident of New Jersey coming on 3 years, and feel like I am only beginning to tick off great birding locales.

Yet each time I manage to chat with my 'like kind' (birders), someone clues me in on a great spot. The latest one is the heron rookery on the wayside of the Information Center on the Ocean  City Bridge. There in the trees is a rookery full of Night Herons....fascinating birds. One just has to stand and observe over the railing near the parking lot and see the birds just perching in the  trees. Once in a while, one takes flight and moves from one tree to another.......not sure why. 

So visit this fine spot. Back in April I rejoiced at an opportunity to witness a Tri-colored Heron rookery when in Charleston, SC but little did I realize how close I am to this one, right on the bridge to Ocean City!. 

Here in Jersey, you are lucky....just take a minute and think a bit. Think of Atlantic County, Cape May, Ocean.....think of all of the little places you can name that have birds species almost endemic to that one area. Reeds Beach for Red Knots.....  Rae's Farm for Prothonotary Warblers, the recent sighting of the Black Rail at the end of Stetson's Road etc etc. In order to bird and to add to your Jersey Birding experiences, one has to be made aware of the multitude of Habitats within this state and exactly where they are. Being a non-native and attempting to work around Hurricanes (and aftermath within my house), green flies, snow, humidity and other weather related problems.....and navigate the diagonal numbered (never a name) main roads and actually find the spot one is looking for, is no easy task. It takes time.......

But you are lucky for here in Jersey the number of birds one can find is amazing...simple amazing. I am from the state of Washington on the dryer eastern side and I always used to say that I lived in a birding 'nuclear dead-zone' as the number of species was extremely limited to that which is found here in Jersey...go figure....in all spots!

Now...one spot I want to go is out to sea....out to the ocean young man. Seek out a pelagic trip and add to my Jersey habitat and experiences and birders. I not only have to fine a great pelagic trip here on the east coast but also mentally prepare for that upcoming 'vomit' day.... But for now, it is from the land and in this case, the rookery.