Trips

Photos from the Auto Loop at Brigantine

June 4, 2011 by Corey 7 Comments

Despite my manic work schedule of late my positioning in southern New Jersey does lend itself to an occasional, if brief, birding outing when the stars align properly and I am near a birdy spot when I suddenly find myself with a free hour or so.  A couple of times I have had this happen near the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, universally known to birders as Brigantine or “The Brig” and took advantage of the time I had to take a spin around the auto loop.  At any time of year there are a variety of good birds that can be seen at Brigantine, and, occasionally, really good birds, but this post will focus on some of the common birds to be seen at the end of May and beginning of June.

The auto loop is great in that one can drive safely ensconced in one’s metal and glass contraption, impervious to the mosquitoes, biting flies, and sun, and only get out when near a particularly birdy spot or when one hears something good.  The sheer number of birds that use Brigantine to nest or refuel is awesome and he photographic opportunities are legion.

Without further ado here are some of my recent shots from Brigantine…

Seaside Sparrow Ammodramus maritimus

Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica

Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

Common Tern Sterna hirundo

Diamondback Terrapin Malaclemys terrapin

Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus

…

Written by Corey
Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.