May 28: Birding Day 5
Date: May 28, 2021
Time: 6:45am-11:25pm
Location: Richard W. DeKorte Park, Bergen NJ
Weather: 55-65 degrees F, partly cloudy, little to no wind
Habitat: Mixed habitat, ranging from shrub to water/wetland to mixed coniferous and deciduous forest.
Over winter break, I frequented DeKorte Park at least 3 times a week to bird. This was my first time to DeKorte since late January, and I was shocked at how lively and full with life my park has become. DeKorte is mainly wetland- a plot of land in the middle of a dense urbanized area with a stunning and full view of the New York skyline (we are about 5 miles from NYC).
I think what shocked me the most was the amount of songbirds present. When I was there in the winter, the only non-water birds I would come across were White-throated Sparrows and House Finches. I was seeing little streaks of yellow everywhere from American Goldfinches, Yellow Warblers, and Common Yellowthroats (tiny flying bananas). The air was filled with sound from gulls and ducks and songbirds!
I got into birding in October, so I am fairly new and this is my first spring migration period! I am constantly at awe by all of the fast moving spring birds like Swallows and Flycatchers. However, shorebirds hold a special place in my heart. My favorite shorebirds are Ruddy Turnstones and Dunlin, but close behind them are sandpipers and Dunlin. No Dunlin spotted today, but I was a nice big puddle of Least Sandpipers (image included!). I love their behavior, how quick and urgent they are to peck the mudflats. They are so tiny too! I believe the smallest sandpiper. Today was amazing, what a mix or shore and songbirds!
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