The 125th Christmas Bird Count in New Jersey

The 125^th CBC was run with most counts experiencing favorable weather, although temperatures averaged 12 – 15 degrees colder than last season. Participation for many counts was again up from pre-pandemic participation with a record 455 observers on the Lower Hudson CBC. Species numbers were mixed, with some above average and others well below average. It was yet again a poor winter finch year, but a good variety of rarities and late-lingerers was encountered.

Thirty CBCs were carried out in New Jersey, with the return of Oceanville after a one-year absence and the revival of the Island Beach count. The total of 193 species recorded was well below average, but included a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper on the Marmora CBC, a pair of Red-necked Phalaropes on the Island Beach CBC, and a Chestnut-collared Longspur on the Long Branch CBC, all firsts for a New Jersey count. Cape May again led the state with 145 species, the second lowest total for that count in more than 50 years. Barnegat was second with 121 species, followed by Cumberland County (120) and Oceanville (120). Sandy Hook set a new record for that count at 119 species, surpassing the 118 recorded in 1997.

The 36 species of waterfowl detected included a Greater White-fronted Goose at Assunpink and a Ross’s Goose at Warren County – Northampton County. Trumpeter Swan was missed for the first time since 2017, but the total of 5 European Wigeon on three different counts was the highest total in a decade. Cape May had the only Blue-winged Teal, while Barnegat located 2 King Eiders and all 71 Harlequin Ducks, a new high for the state.

There were no reports of Ruffed Grouse for the eighth time in ten years and Wild Turkey numbers (607) remained well below the averages of the previous two decades. The 2,426 Red-throated Loons surpassed last year’s total as the second highest after the record 2,946 in 2014. Boonton had the only Red-necked Grebe of the season and the number of Great Cormorants wintering in the state continues to decrease; the total of 22 individuals was the lowest since 1977.

Single American Bitterns on four different CBCs was a good number, as was the 131 Great Egrets on 10 counts; most of the egrets departed after the new year when the weather turned colder. Two Tricolored Herons at Barnegat and a single at Island Beach were the first count records in several years.

An Osprey at Great Swamp made it six years in a row and fourteen out of the past fifteen with one or more of this species lingering in the state into the early winter. A Golden Eagle at Cumberland County, a species note recorded every year, was a highlight of that CBC. The tally of 406 Northern Harriers was the highest in ten years, while the 783 Bald Eagles was comparable to totals for the past two year. Red-shouldered Hawks were again present in good numbers, with the 238 tallied just shy of the record 243 found in 2022. The only Rough-legged Hawk of the season was at Somerset County.

A Sora, a species not recorded every year, was a surprise at Boonton, while a record 137 Sandhill Cranes was reached with birds on five counts; the resident Cumberland County flock hit a new high of 72 birds. A near record total of 633 American Oystercatchers included 251 in Cape May County and 350 at Oceanville. Thirty Semipalmated Plovers was a new state high, with 27 in Cape May, 2 at Marmora, and 1 at Oceanville. Fifteen Western Willets were at Oceanville, as recent years have seen a big decrease in the species compared to 5 – 15 years ago. The highlight of the season was a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper discovered on the Marmora count, a first for a New Jersey CBC and only the third state record. Two Red-necked Phalaropes found on the Island Beach count were also a first for a state CBC.

The only alcids detected were five Razorbills found on four different counts, but many more were seen later in the winter. Bonaparte Gulls (299) were down 90% from the previous year, but the numbers of this species fluctuate wildly from year to year. A total of eight lingering Laughing Gulls was about average, but a single Iceland Gull at Northwest Hunterdon County was the only one of the season. A record high total of 362 Lesser Black-backed Gulls was tallied on 15 counts, with the majority (230) at Northwest Hunterdon County, which has even higher numbers later in the winter. Island Beach had the only Glaucous Gull and Forster’s Tern went undetected.

All of the usual owls were found in typical numbers, but 4 Snowy Owls, three at Barnegat and one at Oceanville, were the first in three years. Three Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were present during the Cape May CBC, but none appear to have survived the winter. Only 6 Red-headed Woodpeckers were reported, 3 at Assunpink and 3 at Great Swamp, as numbers of this species can vary greatly from year to year, depending in part on the acorn crop. A record 237 Pileated Woodpeckers were tallied, 26 more that the previous high from 2023. The other woodpeckers were all reported in average numbers.

Trenton Marshes and Warren – Northampton each had a Northern Shrike; last year’s single bird was the first in eight years, a far cry from the multiple individuals often recorded in the 1990s and 1980s. Populations of Blue Jays and American Crows remained stable, with no indication of further decline due to avian flu. The Common Raven count of 360 birds was well below last year’s record 437, but the species was found on every count except the Pinelands. As recently as 1995, Common Raven was missed completely. One hundred sixty Red-breasted Nuthatches was a big increase from last year’s 17, but still far short of a typical invasion year.

Cape May had the only Sedge Wren and Marmora a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher; a species not recorded every year. It was a banner year for Golden-crowned Kinglets with 1,123 the highest count since 2013. Warren – Northampton had the only Lapland Longspur, but one of the birds of the season was a Chestnut-collared Longspur discovered on the Long Branch CBC. This was a first for a New Jersey count and only the third state record; unfortunately, it was in a closed area inaccessible without a special permit and was not seen again. Snow Buntings were well represented, with 511 the highest total since 2008.

The seven species of wood warbler encountered included three Ovenbirds and a Nashville Warbler in the New York City portion of the Lower Hudson CBC. Single Yellow-breasted Chats, another species not found every year, were at Barnegat and Cape May. The three “salt” sparrows were in good supply, especially Nelson’s Sparrow with a record total of 36 birds, most of them in Cumberland County. American Tree Sparrows (947) made their best showing in nine years. This is still far below the tallied of the 1970s and 1980s, when 5,000 – 6,000 were found most years; the species main wintering grounds appear to have moved farther west. Cumberland County and Princeton each had a Vesper Sparrow, another species not seen every year.

The Lower Hudson CBC had a long-staying Painted Bunting on the New Jersey side of the count and an equally long-staying Dickcissel on the New York City side. Baltimore Orioles continued their recent over-wintering trend with a total of 27 on 6 different counts, including 21 in Cape May. There were no reports of either crossbill, Redpoll, or Evening Grosbeak.