April 30 - Yellow-throated Warbler

After getting some texts and calls about the refound Yellow-throated Warbler at Garret, I made my way up to Garret. I arrived at 10 AM and by 10:02 I had some great looks. By getting there so late today, I really didn't see much but added another new bird for the year Nashville Warbler. Yellow-throated Warbler is clearly the bird to use today. Thanks to my friend Kevin Watson for the great photo! Next stop MAY!!!

April 29 - Blackburian Warbler

I spent the morning in NJ Meadowlands from sun up trying to relocated the Red-necked Phalarope for some friends that couldn't get to see it Thursday evening. No luck. Did see Orchard Oriole, Sora, Virginia Rail and a few others in The Meadowlands. I got a call about a Yellow-throated Warbler at Garret Mt. This has been a nemesis bird for a friend Bill. Well he found it. I went up and missed it. Funny to say I have to settle for a Blackburian Warbler as my Bird-a-day.

April 28 - Red-necked Phalarope

Yesterday I was asked by Mike from NJ Meadowlands if I was interested in looking for an American Bittern in Harrier Meadow. I'm game for that and put on the boots and met Mike 7 AM on Thursday. We spent 1-1/2 hours walking through the marshes of Harrier to find the Bittern in a small pool. It flew off to another. This would be my bird-a-day bird until an after dinner walk to find a Bergen County Moorhen would lead us towards a Red-necked Phalarope. It's a rare spring sighting in North Jersey. This is a life bird for me and Linda and is my 200th bird of the year in NJ and my bird-a-day bird. Thanks to Ron Shields for getting a great photo.

April 27 - Little Blue Heron

I spent the morning on Garret Mountain, but it seemed that the 18 species of Warblers seen the other day have moved on. In the evening after dinner we took a walk at DeKorte and some surrounding Meadowlands areas. With the water level in the impoundment at DeKorte lowered, Sora was seen along the edge of the phrags. We walked to the Hackensack River along the canal and flushed a couple of Snipe and Savannah Sparrows. An interesting wader flew over, smaller than a Great Egret, but not a Snowy Egret either. Grayish bill and legs with no yellow feet, different, thicker body than a Snowy. Little Blue! My bird today.

April 26 - Rose-breasted Grosbeak

I couldn't sleep much so I went to Garret Mt. at 5 AM. Thick as pea soup fog covered much of the mountain. I found 1 spruce under a light and pished a bit and 25 sparrows popped out to see what's up. I guess the WTSP and CHSP like to roost there. As daybreak came we found the north corner of the park, up a hill to a communications tower to be the hot spot early. BTBL, BTGR, Prairie, Yellow-rumped, Northern Waterthrush and a few others as well as Purple Finch, Baltimore Orioles were all on the top. Once the fog broke we hit the pond. More Warblers were seen on Wilson Ave. I totaled 15 species of Warbler for the day, but loved seeing the bathing Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Grosbeak is today's bird.

April 25 - Great-crested Flycatcher

I went to Harrier Meadow today to meet up with Mike and the bird banding he does. We observed a couple of new birds while walking to the nets. Yellow Warblers have come back to The Meadowlands. With the Yellows we had a quiet Prairie Warbler and a new Bergen County bird for me and Mike, Blue-winged Warbler. Great-crested Fly was a new bird as well and will be today's bird.

April 24 - Purple Finch

Today I spent this Easter Sunday morning at Garret Mt with my wife. A few new birds arrived like Yellow Warbler, Ovenbird, Baltimore Oriole and a few others. We had a singing Purple Finch, a bird I usually have some trouble finding somewhere. That's the one for me today, Purple Finch.

April 23 - Brown Thrasher

After a day of rain I went out to The Meadowlands for a 2 hour walk. We flushed a couple of Snipe, saw a few White-crowned Sparrows, 4 Kestrels, Field Sparrow and a few others but nothing new. Brown Thrashers were around. We saw 3. The highlight of the walk was the 1000's of Land Snails we came across on our walk. Brown Thrasher is the bird-a-day today. Photos of the land snails too!

April 22 - Least Flycatcher

I spent some time at Garret with not much in the way of new birds around. I made a trip into Bergen County to get familiar with areas we'll need on our World Series of Birding day. I checked out Halifax Rd. area in Mahwah and saw a couple of new Bergen County birds, like Black and White Warbler and Chimney Swift. I went to the Mahwah
Green Acres sites and found a Least Flycatcher near the Ramapo River. That's my bird today.

April 21 - Broad-winged Hawk

A very windy day, but clear and I spent some time at Garret today. While at the Overlook Meadow I had a nice low Broad-winged Hawk fly over and headed out north. It was followed in about a minute by a Kestrel and then Peregrine Falcon, both low enough to get great binocular looks. Broad-winged Hawk is today's bird.

April 20 - Black-bellied Plover

I spent the morning at Harrier Meadow with the banding project going on there. While heading out to the nets I do some shorebird scanning in the mudflats. Up to 4 Lesser Yellowlegs were around today with 150+ Greaters. Some Least sandpipers have joined in. When I left in the later morning I stopped at a small mudflat at DeKorte Park as the tide came in. I found 2 Spotted Sandpipers and 1 Black-bellied Plover. BBPL is a tough spring bird there for me so I'll use it for my bird-a-day. Photo is from some wintering birds seen at Shark River Inlet.

April 19 - Blue-winged Teal

I spent the morning at Harrier Meadow. I first went to find Blue-winged Teal, the bird I thought would be yesterday's bird-a-day before seeing the Snow Goose. 1 pair were feeding in the mudflats, 2 more would be seen later. A few new arrivals were Least Sandpiper and Spotted Sandpiper. Blue-winged Teal is the bird-a-day.

April 18 - Snow Goose

After reading a post on Meadowlands Blog about a late Snow Goose, I thought I'd try for it. I went to Snake Hill in Secaucus and the Snow Goose was in a field with 50 Canada Geese. It's good to use a winter bird in April for my bird-a-day so Snow Goose is the bird. Photo is a bird seen a week or so ago in "Brig".

April 17 - Yellow-rumped Warbler

Today I spent the morning around Garret Mountain. It seemed like more birds have left with little if anything moving back in. I had no luck finding Black and White Warbler and only saw the usual 3 Warblers. A brief stop to walk the trail behind Cedar Grove Reservoir produced the same 3 Warblers. There have been many bright and crisp Yellow-rumped Warblers around though. This is my bird today.

April 16 - Ruby-crowned Kinglet

I read Woodcreeper.com this morning and David wrote that a big flight out of NJ had taken place. I went to Garret Mt. and it was proved true. Lots of Robins, Juncos, Hermit Thrushes had moved on with a bunch of other birds. There wasn't much around. The same 4 warblers for the last few days were seen, all around the pond. Ruby-crowned Kinglets were lesser in number but still around the park. Ruby-crowned Kinglet is today's bird.

April 15 - Boat-tailed Grackle

I took some early morning time to try to find what I thought was a Boat-tailed Grackle last night outside DeKorte Park. Upon arriving at the "ball fields" I immediately heard a Boat-tailed calling from the first telephone pole. He was there and would probably be my bird of the day unless something else shows up. At Harrier Meadow I added a couple of new Bergen county birds for the year with Dunlin among 200+ Great Yellowlegs. In addition to the Dunlin, both Kinglets were seen and heard there. Garret produced 2 new birds for the year, Black and White Warbler and Broad-winged Hawk bringing this years NJ tally to 170. Boat-tailed Grackle which I've seen for the second year in a row in Bergen County is today's bird.

April 14 - Pectoral Sandpiper

I spent the morning at Garret but was disappointed to find no new birds. I still saw many Pines, Palms and Yellow-rumps. More Sapsuckers have come in and 8 Field Sparrows were seen too. I decided to check out the Valley Brook area of The Meadowlands after dinner. At the old ballfields area I had a Pectoral Sandpiper in the remediated area with 3 Killdeer. I believe I heard a Boat-tailed Grackle in the phrags where the blackbirds roost. I was caught off guard, so I'm not real sure of it. Pectoral Sandpiper is my bird today.

April 13 - Winter Wren

In a brief trip to Garret Mountain Reservation after lunch today I saw no new birds for the year. More Yellow-rumped Warblers were seen than the previous days with more males in nice plumage. Chipping Sparrows were around as were Song, Fox and White-throated Sparrows. A Winter Wren was seen in Slippery Rock Brook and will be my bird today.

April 12 - Chipping Sparrow

I spent the morning at Garret Mt. Pines, Palms and Yellow-rumps were the birds around the pond. Some Common Loons flying over, but not much else new around. Maybe the birds will move in after the front come through. Lots of Chipping Sparrows around in flocks today. I went to Walker Ave. Wetlands this afternoon, water level is still very high. This won't have shorebirds any time soon. The water level is looking good for ducks and waders. 3 Great Blue Herons and 2 Egrets along with a few Wood Ducks. A Bald Eagle flew in as well. Still today I'm using the Chipping Sparrow.

April 11 - Painted Bunting

I took some time this morning and made a trip to south Jersey for a chance to see a Painted Bunting. I arrived a bit early so I went to "Brig" and saw a few new year birds, Purple Martin, Laughing Gull and Forster's Tern. At 10:30 I went to the Absecon home where the Bunting was being seen and it arrived on the feeder just as I made my way to the yard. Beautiful bird and very simple to find, but then they just love the feeders in Florida so why not here. NJ life bird #307 and today's Bird-a-Day, Painted Bunting.

April 10 - Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Today is day 100 of Bird-a-day this year. I spent the morning at Garret Mt. Res. and it was noticeably slower than the past week. Although the numbers of birds were down the diversity was still there. 5 species of warbler were still seen, no Louisiana Waterthrush. Only a handful of Sapsuckers were around. My new bird for the year was Blue-gray Gnatcatcher which is also my bird today.

April 9 - Blue-headed Vireo

Today I spent the morning at Garret Mountain, a 54 species day there! I saw 2 new birds for the Mountain this year, Blue-headed Vireo which has been reported the last couple of days, and Cedar Waxwing. There were still 6 warbler species seen today which is a great total due to the date. Flicker and Sapsucker numbers have begun to drop, but still a lot around. With some rain followed by 80 degree temps, next week should bring some more migrants. I probably should use Winter Wren, but I goofed and chose to use Blue-headed Vireo.

April 8 - Savannah Sparrow

Today I made a morning trip the Harrier Meadow to visit with Mike Newhouse of The Meadowlands. He was starting up his banding project in Harrier Meadow. There were still good numbers of ducks around and 35+ Greater Yellowlegs and a single Lesser. Lots of Grackles around. Lots of Robins too. Not too much has moved through this area in the way of migrants except Northern Flickers. Single Savannah Sparrow and Fox Sparrow were seen in Harrier. My first Savannah in Bergen County this year is going to be by bird today.

April 7 - Palm Warbler (Yellow)

Today I spent an hour around Barbour's Pond at Garret Mountain. The good number of warblers are still around. Lots of Palms and Pines as well as a couple of Louisiana Waterthrushes and Yellow-rumps. I heard the Parulas and Prairie Warblers were still being seen. I'm using Palm Warbler today since I didn't have too much time to search out anything better.

April 6 - Bald Eagle

Today I spent the morning at Garret Mountain. Lots of birds again 50+ species. A 6-Warbler day was had with Northern Parula and Prairie Warbler being seen a bit early. 100+ combined Pines, Palms and Yellow-rumps around, but I've been thinking of using Bald Eagle the next time I see one. It had been almost a month since I saw one in The Meadowlands. A somewhat ragged adult Bald Eagle flew over Barbour's Pond in the morning and since nothing else real special was seen, I chose that as my bird-a-day.

April 5 - Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Another real good day at Garret this morning. 50+ Flickers today to go along with lots of Sapsuckers. Chipping Sparrows numbered 70+ and Warblers increased in the park as the day went on. 4 Warbler species seen with Yellow-rumped joining the others this afternoon. 20+ Pine Warblers and 30+ Palm Warblers were seen around Barbour's Pond. Ruby-crowned Kinglets arrived today along with Barn Swallow. 30+ Swallows on the pond this afternoon with a single Barn seen. 5 Northern Rough-winged Swallows or so were on the pond. I'm going to use it as my bird today.

April 4 - Pine Warbler

A good migration at Garret Mountain was seen today. 25+ Sapsuckers, 12+ Fox Sparrows, new arrival of Palm Warbler, Hermit Thrush and Brown Thrasher. Some singing Pine Warblers were around and will be my bird today.

April 3 - Louisiana Waterthursh

I went to Garret early today and searched for Pine Warbler or Waterthrush or any new migrant. My morning highlights were 10 Cormorants flying north, perched Red-shouldered Hawk and a single Chipping Sparrow. I thought the Chipping would be my bird, but I made a second trip to Garret in the afternoon. I ran into another birder, the only other one around, Christina and we had a single singing Pine Warbler, a few Phoebes, and at 4PM a Louisiana Waterthrush on Slippery Rock Brook, the usual place it shows in the spring. Chipping and Pine would be easier to see in the next weeks so I'll use the Waterthrush today.

April 2 - Brown-headed Cowbird

After much searching for a migrant at Garret Mt. today I had to settle for the dreaded Brown-headed Cowbird which I saw at Garret and in my yard. We had nice looks at a Bluebird pair on Garret, 8 Great Blue Herons, 6 together flying over Garret Mt. Reservation and numerous Fox Sparrows, some singing.

April 1 - Greater Yellowlegs

Today in the rain I spent a bit of time at DeKorte Park and Harrier Meadow. The duckage is beginning to shrink. Less than 20 Canvasbacks were seen. Still large numbers of Green-winged Teal remain. A few Greater Yellowlegs were around on the mudflats today. I'm using the Yellowlegs today for lack of a better bird.