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Brigantine and Mott’s Creek Special Field Trip – November 22, 2025

Leaders: Mary Watkins, John McElroy, Bernie Hodgdon & Barry Hershfeld

Temp: 50°F

Winds: 25 mph gusts

Weather Conditions: overcast

Pleasant day of birding with high-lights including a Common Goldeneye, a Wilson’s Snipe and 2 Red-throated Loons!

Edwin B. Forsythe NWR (formerly Brig) – 1:00pm

44 species 

Species Count
Brant 700
Canada Goose 36
Tundra Swan 2
Blue-winged Teal 2
Northern Shoveler 45
Gadwall 18
Mallard 22
American Black Duck 50
Northern Pintail 25
Green-winged Teal 130
Ring-necked Duck 16
Bufflehead 18
Common Goldeneye 1
Hooded Merganser 17
Red-breasted Merganser 3
Mourning Dove 2
American Coot 3
Wilson’s Snipe 1
Greater Yellowlegs 3
Dunlin 10
Ring-billed Gull 16
American Herring Gull 40
Great Black-backed Gull 6
Red-throated Loon 2
Common Loon 2
Double-crested Cormorant 5
Glossy Ibis 1
Great Egret 8
Great Blue Heron 4
Turkey Vulture 7
Northern Harrier 6
Bald Eagle 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 5
Carolina Wren 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
Eastern Bluebird 3
American Robin 150
American Goldfinch 2
White-throated Sparrow 4
Swamp Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 9

 

Edwin B. Forsythe NWR–Motts Creek – 4:30pm

Arrived just in time to witness changing of guard between harrier hawks. and short-eared owls. Thrilling to watch 3 owls simultaneously circling over the marsh!

3 species 

Species Count
American Black Duck 3
Northern Harrier 4
Short-eared Owl 3
New Jersey Audubon