PA Young Birders Trip Report - Barnegat Light, NJ

Getting great scope views of winter ducks!

Better late than never! This trip report was from our January 9 PA Young Birders Club field trip!

Eleven kids and their families, including students from Kevin’s sister’s Kim’s Project Eagle, braved the frigid temperatures and wind on this sunny morning to walk the jetty at Barnegat Lighthouse. 

Jetty at Barnegat Light

Once we got everyone a pair of Nikon binoculars around their necks, we had ample opportunity to practice using optics in the parking lot. Cedar Wawings, American Robins and Yellow-rumped Warblers posed obligingly in the Eastern Red Cedars.

Red-breasted Mergansers and Long-tailed Ducks were the first waterfowl we spotted close to the concrete walkway. This gave the kids an opportunity to look through the spotting scope and learn how to use the focus dial.

Harlequin Duck

Once on the jetty Common Loons and Brant were easily seen in the inlet, with the loons diving for fish.  Harlequin Ducks were spotted ahead, floating in the calmer water alongside the jetty. Purple Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstones and Black-bellied Plovers were probing the algae-covered rocks just above the tide line. 

Surf Scoter

Stepping carefully along the boulders we worked our way towards the end of the jetty seeing many Surf Scoters along the way.  Some flew by at top speed while others bobbed in the swells giving us an opportunity to study both sexes.   On the far side of the inlet Great Cormorants perched on the light tower and rafts of Common Eiders and Black Scoters floated in the surf.

'Ipswich' Savanna Sparrow

With a cold, stiff wind in our faces on our way back it was hard to view much in the inlet. However we did have a very confiding “Ipswich” Savannah Sparrow sheltered amongst the jetty boulders, and looking for seeds on the sand.

Text © Adrian Binns

Photos © Kevin Loughlin