The trip also has included Brigantine/Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge but this year we were unable to access the site due to road damage incurred within the Refuge from Superstorm Sandy this past fall. We replaced this site with exploring the Absecon Inlet in Atlantic City.
In what may have been the nicest weather we have ever experienced in the nine years of attending this trip, this past Saturday started out cold and windy on the jetty but quickly warmed up for a sunny late winter day at the shore. Chris Walters and Frank Windfelder, legendary trip leaders from DVOC, joined the UMLY staff of myself, Brian "BQ" Quindlen, and Mike Mostello to lead our YESC students on a day that ticked off a few lifers for some of us. A few DVOC members also joined the group, including Win Shafer.
Highlights of the day included Harlequin Ducks, Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Great Cormorants, Horned Grebe, Red-throated Loons, Common Loons, Brant, Boat-tailed Grackles (just for Frank!), Buffleheads, Northern Shovelers, Iceland Gull (lifer for me), Great Black-backed Gulls, Purple Sandpipers, Dunlins, Ruddy Turnstones, Willets, and Marbled Godwits.
Long-tailed Duck
Common Loon
Red-breasted Merganser
Harlequin Ducks
Ruddy Turnstone
Brant
Purple Sandpiper
Harlequin Duck
Ruddy Turnstone
Horned Grebe
Working our way down the jetty.
The team battling the surf and wind at the end of the jetty.
Great Cormorant
Purple Sandpiper
BQ
Great Black-backed Gulls
Iceland Gull
Dunlin
Herring Gull
No comments:
Post a Comment