We started the second half of the calendar year today, and I figured this would be a good time to assess how my birding adventures went in the first half. I’ve done OK.
My species total in New Jersey stands at 104, lagging a bit behind my total of 116 at the same point last year. Given that with knee surgery I wasn’t able to get out for about a month, I’m pleased with that total.
During the past six months, I added two birds to my life list: a horned grebe in one of my first post-surgery outings, and a yellow-breasted chat. I did not see the chat, but I definitely heard it many times over. Merlin left no doubt, and I finally logged it on e-Bird. That brought my in-state species life list up to 200.
On my last outing of the first half of the year, I was surprised yesterday to find the female orchard oriole topping this post in the grasses off the central path at the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm. I also was lucky to get fairly close to an Eastern wood-pewee in heavy shade in the woods.
Today I started the second half by logging the usual suspects at home. Common grackles have descended on our neighborhood again, and they made short work of the suet cakes I put in the feeder. As I write this post late in the afternoon after a thunderstorm rolled through, the grackles are pecking away in our backyard grass. The brown-headed cowbirds that have been unusually scarce in recent weeks are making their own comeback.
Whether I’m out in the woods or just sitting at home, I’m grateful that so many birds fly in and out of view. They enrich my days, as I hope they do yours. 🦅
The Jersey Birder 
What an amazing amount of sightings, Dan! Sorry about the grackles but there’s probably a story there too. Horned grebe and yellow-breasted chat. New Jersey is a very great state for birds and sightings!
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Yes, New Jersey is a fortunate state!
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