Atlantic County Notes, and Time to Watch the Weather

I spent yesterday birding Atlantic County, starting with E.B. Forsythe a.k.a. Brigantine in the morning. We missed the ROSEATE SPOONBILL that has been at Brig for some time on the first trip around the dike, but on the second turn it appeared in the east pool north of the dike. It's a fairly pale bird, and doesn't necessarily stand out.

Brig had the usual good quantity of shorebirds, but nothing particularly rare. White-rumped Sandpipers and Stilt Sandpipers were readily found, and we saw at least 5 Long-billed Dowitchers. In line with reports of a late Arcitc spring, we saw exactly one juvenile shorebird, that being a Least Sandpiper. Juveniles of most species peak in late August; here's hoping they are just running late and this is not an indication of a poor breeding season.

Last night's Somer's Point boat trip revealed that nearly all herons and egrets are done nesting. We had a great look at an adult Little Blue Heron being shadowed by a juvenile, presumably its offspring. A Peregrine gave us a great show under the big bridge from Somers Point to Ocean City. Over 1000 Black Skimmers remain at the Malibu Beach colony, near the Sea View Harbor Marina in Somers Point.

A check of NOAA's national sea level pressures and fronts forecast reveals a cold front approaching from the northwest. If NOAA is right, the front will pass Cape May sometime early Sunday morning, and it looks like high pressure will build into NJ for the following day or two at least. Depending on when it passes, Sunday or Monday and perhaps Tuesday could be very interesting birding days. . .