Bayonne Nature Club is starting a new year of bird reports.
If you photograph any new or exciting birds that you'd like to share with us, send a photo to info@bayonnenatureclub.org and we'll post your picture. Be sure to give us as much information as you can. Location, date and the species, if you know it. If you don't, we'll try to identify it for you. We may crop the pictures and usually need to reduce the size for web purposes. We'll give you credit.
Above: Red-tailed Hawk by Susan Hill
January 2011: We've been getting a lot of reports of Red-tailed Hawk in Stephen Gregg Bayonne Park. Also several people have seen the Merlin. We are on the lookout for further sightings of a Red-shouldered Hawk.
February 2011: NJ Audubon confirmed our sighting of a Red-throated Loon (at right) and Ring-necked Ducks (at upper right) on Newark Bay, seen from Stephen Gregg Bayonne Hudson County Park. Also seen were 200 Canvasback Ducks and Bufflehead Ducks. On Lefante Walk, we saw 35 Greater Scaup, a Mute Swan, Horned Grebe and Red-breasted Mergansers.
March 5, 2011: BNC Early Bird Spring Walk: We saw the Red-winged Blackbirds and heard the beautiful call of the Carolina Wren. In addition, we saw Cardinals, Juncos, Mockingbirds, Song Sparrows, Starlings and Greater Black-backed Gulls. Ducks seen in Newark Bay were Canvasback, Red-breasted Mergansers, Buffleheads, and a male and female Lesser Scaup.
Below, Christine S. sent the comparison shot of the Canada Goose with the Snow Goose.
Osprey (above) photographed by Ed Rumin as it flew over Rutkowski -Gregg Hudson County Park in Bayonne NJ.
Below: Canada Geese and Snow Geese seen in Hudson Cty park. Photo by Susan Hill.
April 7, 2011: It was a "combination day" of winter birds and ducks along with some spring migrants. Yes, the Brant, Juncos and some Canavasbacks were still in the park, but in came the Pine Warbler, Palm Warbler and Black & White Warblers--all seen near the pond at the base of the hill in Stephen Greg Hudson County Park. The most surprising sight was a count of 10 Black-crowned Night Herons perched in the trees north of Devlin/Dillon Drive. See picture below shot by Patricia Hilliard.
Below: A quick but blurry shot of a squirrel approaching a Black-crowned Night Heron high up in the tree. Herons are shore birds and the unusual appearance puzzled even this squirrel.
Below: Looking up into the trees, here are 9 of the 10 Black-crowned Night Herons seen on April 7, 2011.
June 2, 2011: Scarlet Tanagers, Cedar Wax Wings and more--all seen at Rutkowski Park. Picture (left) of Snowy Egret and Little Blue Heron was shot by Ed Rumain. Tree Swallow in bird house (below) shot by Patricia Hilliard. What a surprise, the swallows used those bird houses that the Scouts put in the park.
August 17: Our bird walk at Lefante Walk off South Cove Commons was fantastic! There were the usual Semipalmated Plovers and Sandpipers, 6 Blackbellied Plovers, 6 Lesser Yellow Legs, 8 Great Egrets, 6 Snowy Egrets, 12 Great Blue Herons, and most spectacular: 14 Black-crowned Night Herons, both adults and immatures. Most were seen from the large green bridge. We also caught a quick glimpse of a Clapper Rail and a Virginia Rail. At the end of our walk the Black Skimmers came zipping across the water. It was a great bird walk. We hope to see you in the future and we hope all our bird walks as so good!
November 16, 2011: We had a great duck discovery: We saw American Widgeons, Gadwall, Mallards, American Coot --and the best sightings were the Horned Grebe and the rare Pied-billed Grebe--all seen in Bayonne Stephen Gregg Hudson County Park. We also saw two Coopers Hawks fly over from Rutkowski Park.
October 23, 2011 Hudsonian Godwits (right) were seen at the MOTBY/Rt 440 entrance, pictured at right with wings up, along with 10 Black-bellied Plovers, 20 Yellow Leggs, and 4 Dunlins. 6 Dowitchers were also seen. An immature Purple Gallinule was seen on Lefante Walkway, Route 440 on October 20, 2011 on walkway before crossing the big green birdge. (Pictured at right.)
Christmas Bird Count:Dec. 15, 2011: Lincoln Park in Jersey City: LP West: 8 Black-crowned Night Herons, 8 Hooded Mergansers, 2 Belted Kingfisher, 4 Ruddy Ducks, also various Robins, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Mourning Doves. LP East: 1 Snow Goose, down Rt. 440 and Kellog Street: 124 Canvasback Duck in Hackensack River.
