Wildwood Crest ~ Sunset Lake, NJ

Drake Bufflehead 

Horned Grebe

Horned Grebes

Red-breasted Merganser

Nummy Island

 Another great place to visit in the winter is the free bridge along Nummy Island.  It is usually good for Horned Grebe's and Red-throated Loons with looks across the marsh of American Oystercatchers. There were a group of 7 AM's that I got good looks at while at the bridge.

Happy Mother's Day

Here's a collection of some of my favorite birds and their checks pictures.  Enjoy...

American Oystercatcher with days old chicks ~ South Cape Meadows, NJ

Piping Plover parent watching out for chick ~ South Cape Meadows, NJ

Piping Plover chick learning to feed at the water's edge ~ South Cape Meadows, NJ

Elegant Tern chick wanting to be feed ~ Potter's Marsh outside of Anchorage, Alaska

Clapper Rails learning to cross the water ~ Benny's landing Rd, NJ

Horned Grebe chicks take a ride on Mom's back ~ Potter's Marsh outside Anchorage, Alaska

Potter's Marsh

We had such a great time watching the Arctic Terns and the Mew Gulls yesterday at Potter's Marsh we decided to return today.  First, we drove back to Windy Corner along the Seward Highway to see if we could see any Dall Sheep coming down the mountain face.  We weren't successful in finding any sheep but saw a great waterfall so off to the Marsh we went.  Once there we talked to several other birders/photographers who were standing on the Turnagain Arm side of the road to find out what the they seeing. They reported a Horned Grebe pair with 3 chicks.  We stayed to watch for the Grebes and within a few minutes we were rewarded with great looks at them.  The chicks are really adorable.  I see Horned Grebes in the winter in Cape May County but seeing them in breeding plumage was so cool. Plus seeing the chicks was one of the highlights of this trip.

 

Dad feeding fish to chick

Horned Grebes - Chick with fish

After spending a good bit of time observing the Horned grebe we went back over to the turnout where we parked and saw a Red-necked Grebe catching fish and feeding on them. (below)

 

Mew Gulls chicks (below)

Once we we were done watching the Arctic Terns, their chicks plus the Mew Gulls and their chicks we drove to the main parking area, parked and walked along boardwalk.  Among the birds there were Mallard's, Green-winged Teal's and their chicks, Alder Flycatcher (life bird), Tree Swallows, Black-capped Chickadees, Bald Eagle and Common Ravens.  We saw moose.  What a great spot for birding and wildlife and so close to Anchorage.

Wordless Wednesday - Horned Grebe - Nummy Island

Nummy Island- Red-throated Loons & Horned Grebe's

I am a reader of Don Freiday's blog which is great for nature/bird lovers. He posts at least once weekly with interesting facts and tidbits about birds but also usually posts several other pictures during the week. One recent post was about the Red-throated Loons hanging out by Nummy Island.

Red-throated Loon caught an appetiter!

I had been wanting to go by the Osprey nests by the bridge going into North Wildwood to see if the Osprey had arrived yet so since I was done early at work decided that I'd drive through Stone Harbor and check out a few sites before ending up at Nummy Island. Nothing at the Wetlands Institute but a few Mallards. Next stop at the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary where I really only saw some American Robins. Off over the free bridge which is having repairs and is down to one lane. I could see the tide was out and could see birds but no stopping permitted so down over to Nummy Island where I stopped a number of times and saw only a variety of gulls. Last stop South end of Nummy Island where I found the Red-throated Loons drifting in and out on the tide and mixed in were some Horned Grebe's that were diving in and out of the water. I spent quite a while sitting observing them and taking pictures.

Horned Grebe