2009 Spring Count Hits the Mark

 On Saturday May 9, 2009, BCAS members divided into nine groups to conduct this year’s Spring Count.  Together, our intrepid volunteers discovered 135 species in Greater Bergen County, one of our highest totals ever.  The weather started a bit foggy and overcast following overnight showers.  This combination convinced many birds to stay low to forage, giving us better chances to find impressive numbers of many migrants.  Altogether the day turned out warm and pleasant, and most groups spent 6-10 hours in the field.  This event is timed to occur on International Migratory Bird Day, and we again proved that Bergen County does indeed sit squarely on a major flyway for northward migrants.

 Several surprising waterbirds were still lingering.  A Common Loon was seen on the Hudson River near Greenbrook Sanctuary, and a Horned Grebe was on the lower Hackensack River.  Both species would be expected to travel much farther north by May.  Yellow-crowned Night Herons were again seen roosting at Schmitt’s Woods in Secaucus, and are reported to be nesting near Harmon Cove.  Osprey were seen by three different groups, north and south, and one bird was attempting to nest at DeKorte Park.  A single Bald Eagle was seen at Oradell Reservoir, and may also be nesting.  Common Terns were seen visiting the Meadowlands at DeKorte Park.

 Pheasants were calling in the meadows at Losen Slote Park in Moonachie, and a Woodcock was seen at Garret Mountain.  Common Ravens have nested again this spring at Laurel Hill in the lower Meadowlands, and several more Ravens were seen at Garret Mountain.

 Very good flights of passerine species were found in the woodlands at Garret Mountain, Greenbrook Sanctuary, Flat Rock Brook, and Losen Slote. The most surprising were a pair of Summer Tanagers found at Greenbrook.  Warblers were plentiful and singing actively, including an amazing 15 Cape May Warblers at Garret Mountain and 10 Worm-eating Warblers at Greenbrook.  Only a single Pine Siskin remained behind from the winter’s big flocks; it was seen at Garret Mountain.

 A complete list of the species seen is shown below.  I have highlighted some of the most surprising sightings in boldface.  As always, I am immensely grateful to the many members who turned out to make this event a success.

                                                                                     DAVE HALL

 Common Loon                      1

Horned Grebe                      1

Dbl‑crst. Cormorant              39

Great Blue Heron                  7

Great Egret                            14

Snowy Egret                          4

Green‑backed Heron                        1

Bl‑crn. Night Heron               5

Yellow-crnd Night Heron  2

Mute Swan                             32

Canada Goose                                    269

Wood Duck                            6

Green-winged Teal               4

Mallard                                   167

Black Duck                             2

Gadwall                                  25

Com. Merganser                    1

Lesser Scaup                         2

Ruddy Duck                           17

Turkey Vulture                      9

Osprey                                   3

Bald Eagle                             1

Sharp‑shin. Hawk                  1

Red‑tailed Hawk                    9

Broad-wing Hawk                 1

Ring‑nkd Pheasant                8

Wild Turkey                           18       

Killdeer                                   18

Gr. Yellowlegs                        6

Ls. Yellowlegs                                    2

Solitary Sandpiper                6

Spotted Sandpiper                3

Semiplm. Sandpiper              22

Least Sandpiper                    45

Wilson’s Snipe                     1

American Woodcock          1

Ring‑billed Gull                      62

Herring Gull                           7

Gr. Bl.‑backed Gull                 5

Common Tern                      4

Rock Dove                              38

Mourning Dove                     41

Yellow-b. Cuckoo                   9

Black-b. Cuckoo                     3

Common Nighthawk             1

Chimney Swift                        8

Ruby-thr. Hummingbird       8

Belted Kingfisher                  4

Red‑bellied Woodpkr           34       

Downy Woodpecker             13

Hairy Woodpecker               4

Northern Flicker                   24

Eastern Phoebe                     3

Gr. Crst. Flycatcher               15

Eastern Wood-Peewee         1

Least Flycatcher                    2

Eastern Kingbird                   12

Tree Swallow                         151

N. Rough-w. Swallow                        11

Barn Swallow                                    35

Blue Jay                                  274

Common Raven                   6

American Crow                     23

Fish Crow                               5

Bl‑capped Chickadee            6

Tufted Titmouse                   19

White‑br. Nuthatch               15

Carolina Wren                       12

House Wren                          14

Winter Wren                        4

Marsh Wren                          3

Ruby‑crnd. Kinglet                3

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher          4

Eastern Bluebird                   2

Veery                                      18

Hermit Thrush                      5

Swainson's Thrush               9

Wood Thrush                                    23

American Robin                    296

Gray Catbird                          171

N. Mockingbird                      17

Brown Thrasher                   10

Cedar Waxwing                     35

European Starling                 222

Red-eyed Vireo                     19

Blue-headed Vireo                4