The most noteable of the new birds for my park list was a single Red Knot, just days after seeing hundreds in Cape May. This one was on the rocks at Whimbrel Point, number 225 for my park list:
The next day we were treated to an amazing sight as thousands of Double-crested Cormorants descended on the bay just east of the point, in a feeding frenzy:
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Next up was another new park bird, a Common Nighthawk that was sitting in a bare tree above the bike path near the parking lot, number 226 for Col. Sam:
After seeing the nighthawk we were treated to great views of a Mourning Warbler in some bushes near the parking lot. Rarely have I seen this reclusive little bird so well:
Once again the water levels in the park have risen to near record levels, resulting in trees seeming to be growing out of the lake and paths covered in water:
The Red-necked Grebes don’t mind, as they I have been able to create nests without the provided nesting platforms, though those nests have yet to produce babies. One family were the proud parents of a single baby grebe, which is something I never get tired of seeing:
During the actual Whimbrel Watch, I only saw them in flight passing by Whimbrel Point, and at a distance. But a week after the official end of Whimbrel migration I was treated to a pair of late comers on the rocks near the point, along with over a dozen Ruddy Turnstones:
Along with the late Whimbrels, I found a late migrating Blackpoll Warbler pair near the flooded path the other day. Perhaps they will hang around and nest here:
Other interesting sights were a Mallard enjoying a fish and a rare deer sighting in the Swallow Field, near the marina:
Migration has all but wrapped up and now I just have to hope for a new rarity or two to show up as the summer nesting season begins. I also hope to be traveling out to BC again and make a trip or two to Florida before the end of summer.
