more fun with the birds - CM State Park- CMP

Another sunny day to get out of the house and visit a favored spot in CMP. There are a number of nice paths in the park. This year there are not as many ducks around which I found surprising. I wondered if our warmer than normal winter has caused the ducks to move back North sooner than in past years. I asked someone who knows birds why there were less ducks but they had no answers.

Hen & Drake Ring-necked Ducks swimming on Lake Lilly.

Eastern Bluebirds flying in a mixed flock along a path in the park that included Yellow-rumped Warblers and some sparrows.

Yellow-breasted Chat feeding on winged sumac bush.

Finally time for birding Lake Champlain, Villas

I haven't been able to get out to photograph any birds as I've been busy working. Today on my way home from work I stopped at Lake Champlain in the Villas. I didn't find the Hooded Mergansers I had seen before but was rewarded with some close up views of male and female Northern Shovelers. Also seen were the male and female Mallards and variety of gulls.

Drake Northern Shoveler

Hen Northern Shoveler

Drake Northern Shoveler I just love the picture of the duck scratching it's head!

Quilts for Wrap-A-Smile

Two quilts made using Australian fabrics that I have been sent by penpals over the years. I really love the fabrics and think the quilts will be great for a little boy.

Avalon Jetty

During winter I try to get out birding and doing photography as much as possible. Today's trip was up again to Avalon Jetty. It was a cold and windy day so the birds were roosting against the rocks. I was surprised to see these 3 species of birds there - Semi-palmated Plovers, Red Knots and Dunlins along with some Sanderlings playing at the edge of the water along with the usual Purple Sandpipers and Ruddy Turnstones. I wasn't sure of the ID of the Dunlin and Red Knot so turned to my friends at the Cape May Bird Observatory for verification.

Semi-palmated Plover

Semi-palmated Plover

Red Knot

Dunlin

Barnegat Lighthouse Jetty

I have been wanting to get to Barnegat Light to walk along the jetty again this winter. The Harlequin Ducks are always so beautiful. Maybe I will find some Snow Buntings (NOT)! There are always Common and Red-throated Loons, Brant, Purple Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstones and a variety of other birds. I did get good looks at a new life bird, an Ipswich Sparrow!

Drake Harlequin Duck caught a crab.

close up Drake Harlequin Duck

Ruddy Turnstone (below)

Ipswich Sparrow which is subspecies of the Savannah Sparrow.(below)

The only bad part of the day was a fall out on the jetty fairly close to the end. Fortunately, while I did substain some bruising and difficulty with twisting of my leg but I didn't break anything. That brings up the question, Will I ever walk out the jetty so close to the and again where the boulders are covered with the algae? Not sure but probably not especially after reading the account of Howard Eskin falling between the boulders on the jetty.

Birding Edwin Forsythe aka "Brig"

Some pictures from birding at Edwin Forsythe before going to Bargenat Light house yesterday. Drake Northern Pintail

Drake & Hen Northern Pintail (below)

Snow Geese (below)