Some of the recent bird rarities at Sandy Hook
are shown below. Click on the photo for a
larger view of the bird, or in some cases, a
different view.
Some of the rarities of earlier years can be seen
at our rarities
Archives for
2006-2007 and 2005.
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Red-necked Phalarope
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Most Red-necked
Phalaropes at the hook are wind-blown birds
that appear during nor’easters or tropical
storms. This individual was photographed
during the height of the May 12, 2008,
nor’easter by Tom Boyle.
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There are nine
records of Townsend’s Warbler for New Jersey,
three of which come from Sandy Hook. This female,
which was
photographed by Robert Henschel near the
fisherman’s trail on May 10, 2008, represents the
second spring record; all but one other record in
the state come from late fall/early winter.
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Townsend’s Warbler
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Mississippi Kite
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Mississippi Kites have
increased as a “spring overshoot” to Sandy
Hook in the last decade, with most records
coming from May. Closely observed
individuals have proven to be immatures or
subadults. Like Swallow-tailed Kite, most
birds are seen briefly. This subadult (or
near adult) was one of three individuals
recorded at Sandy Hook Migration Watch on
May 8. John van Dort contributed this
photo. |
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Swallow-tailed
Kites have been recorded over 70 times in New
Jersey and can be considered an annual “regular
rarity.” Despite this, most sightings of this
species are fly-bys or “one-hour wonders.” This
bird was photographed by John van Dort over the
Sandy Hook Migration Watch on May 8, 2008. Cape
May and Sandy Hook are the best sites in the
state to hope for this species between late April
and early June. |
Swallow-tailed Kite
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Loggerhead Shrike
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Formerly an annual,
albeit scarce, autumn migrant at Sandy Hook
as recently as the late 1970’s, Loggerhead
Shrike has been absent ever since. This
individual spent the day hunting the
scrub-shrub habitat along the fisherman’s
trail May 6, 2008, and represents the first
local record in approximately 30 years.
This photo is by SHBO Associate Naturalist
Tom Boyle. |
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This female
Wilson’s Phalarope was photographed by Linda Mack
at the salt pond May 5 and remained through May
7, 2008. The species is casual in the state
during spring (most records are during May) and a
less-than-annual visitor at Sandy Hook. |
Wilson’s Phalarope
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Western Grebe
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This Western Grebe was a one-afternoon
wonder seen and photographed by Tom Boyle
in the ocean off the base of the Hook on
Feb. 2, 2008. Note the bird's mostly black lores and straw-yellow colored bill: both
features help distinguish it from Clark's
Grebe, which has occurred in Virginia and
Maine. This Western Grebe represents the
second site record for Sandy Hook. |
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