QAS Brigantine NWR trip - Feb 25 - part 2

This is a recap of the second part of the QAS Audubon New Jersey trip. After leaving Barnegat Lighthouse, we traveled south on the garden state parkway to Rt 9, which took us to the entrance of the NWR...we arrived in the visitor center parking lot about 1pm.

Edwin B Forsythe (Brigantine) NWR 

A look out over the Marsh

After a short break for some lunch and snacks at the visitors center, wee began our drive around the 8mile long tour road.

Tour Road

We didn't have to go far, before we spotted our first waterfolw species...a mallard!!! The mallards where quickly followed by Pintails, Black Ducks,Ruddy Ducks & Buffleheads - we hadn't gone a half mile and our list had grown by 8 species.

 At our next stop, we spotted several Northern Harriers, Canvasbacks, Snow Geese, Green winged Teal, and several hundred Black Ducks.There where also lots of Brants flying about. with many smaller flocks crossing the road both behind and in front of us..making for a great show.

Brants flying across road

We proceeded a little farther along the road and continued to see Pintails, Black Ducks and Mallards..and several hundred gulls...mostly Ringed Billed and Herring, with a few Greater Black Backed gulls mixed in.

 

                                    

As we reached the half way point on the tour road,we spotted a pair of Peregrine Falcons sitting on the nesting platform..always a treat to see Peregrines. As we continued on the tour road, not many more species where added...we did continue to see all the other species in large numbers but only added Tundra Swans to our overall species list.

We exited the tour road and returned to the visitors center on last time before departing for home around 3:30pm before the forecast rain showers began. 

We arrived back in Cornwall around 6:30 pm  and ended the trip with a total species  count for the trip at 48 - and hitting all the target species for the trip.

Until next time - good birding