I took a recent business trip to visit one of the company planta in Thorofare, NJ., I chose to make the solo trip behind the wheel vs. the Boston to Philly flight. The air trip takes nearly as long as driving by the time I'd drive to the airport, wait, board the jet...and wait, fly for an hour, get a rental car and drive to the plant. The drive gave me an oppertunity to listen to some music and do some casual birding from behind the wheel.
The first good bird bird was a red-shouldered Hawk the passed over the vehicle just into Conn.(on rte 395), a few miles later a Northern Raven was a nice surprise. Though Ravens have expanded their range south and east in New England so I doubt it was "out of place". A big surprise was the fact I did not see a Red-tailed Hawk until I was well into New York, in the Tapan Zee Bridge area. Afterwards I saw my fair share of "tails", then several Turkey Vultures once I was within New Jersey.
Once near Thorofare, which just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, were 3 Black Vultures, flapping and soaring just to the west of rte 295. I had a few free minutes before my 1PM meeting and drove a few side streets near Paulsboro, NJ...near the Delaware River. There were many Canada Geese, Black Ducks, Mallards, Ring-necked Ducks, a few Buffleheads, Hooded and Common Mergansers. A red-throated Loon was on the river and a few Great Blue Herons. Gulls numbers were dominated by Ring-billed along with few Herring and Great Black-backed.
I haven't been posting too much, as my house sold and I had to find a new place to live which will be in Westminster (locals call it Westminister... an extra "i") the next town to the east of Gardner. So... So...while the corporate headquarters, of "Birding North Central Massachusetts...and beyond", is changing...I woun't have to change the blog name :)
The species list of the Jersey trip:
Canada Goose
Black Duck
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Mute Swan
Red-throated Loon
Great Blue Heron
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Turkey Vulture
Black Vulture
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Northern Raven
Downy Woodpecker
Americna Robin
Northern Mockingbird
Junco
White-throated Sparrow
House Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
