Exactly

On the Rocks

Harlequin Ducks

The stars of Barnegat never fail to entertain.  I love their squeeky dog toy noises and bickering. 

Shore

This flock of Purple Sandpipers, with their Rudy Turnstone friend, were actively digging for food along the rocks at Barnegat on Sunday. 

Long Tail

A little white for what should be a snowy day.  The Long-tailed Ducks were nice and close to the jetty on Sunday.  I always feel like I'm taking too many photos when I'm on the jetty, in this case more than 1800.  But at home it never seems like I've taken enough.  It would be great to spend a couple days in Barnegat to have time to reassess my light and focus needs and get back out there.  It's very different from taking photos at my refuge and once a year just isn't enough.

Barnegat

My activities have kept me close to home this winter.  As a result Sunday was my first trip out to Barnegat this season.  Despite an unpleasant forecast it turned out to be a great day.  Lots of sunshine and nearly all the birds I saw were close to the jetty.  This is my first good look at a Surf Scoter.

Savannah Sparrows at Barnegat

Barnegat Lighthouse State Park

Red-breasted Merganser

Red-breasted Mergansers are pretty funny on a windy day.  That hair kind of blows all over the place!  The duck numbers at Barnegat seemed to be down from last year (just based upon my personal viewing.)  But to compensate the ducks that were out stayed nice and close to the jetty.  This is absolutely the closest I've ever been to a Red-breasted Merganser.

Something Different

These are the Harlequin Ducks in the shadow of a rock.  I love the color palate in these photos, very different from my other 1,000 Harlequin photos.

Long-tailed Ducks

I had a great time out at Barnegat today.  There were not nearly as many Harlequin Ducks as last year but the Long-tailed Ducks were worth the trip.

Allergies, Asthma, and Other Complaints

I'm not quite sure what this little guy (Rudy Turnstone) was actually doing.  I didn't hear any sound or see any hairballs...so maybe he was also having problems breathing! 

Talking a Walk

 

I brought Matt and Olivia out to Barnegat on Sunday.  It was supposed to be sunny after noon but instead turned out to be quite grey and foggy.  We had to walk a long way down the jetty before we saw the ducks and I was worried they wouldn't be there.  But as soon as I saw the big cameras and tripods I knew the ducks were there.

More From Barnegat

A few more photos from last weeks Barnegat trip.  This time I explored a new area, a beach across the inlet which I think is still part of Barnegat State Park.  It was a good spot to see those elusive Long-tailed Ducks, more loons (either red-breasted or common I'm not sure), and my first certain siting of Red-breasted Mergansers.

Interaction

I visited the Harlequin Ducks again on Tuesday.  There seemed to be a lot of activity in the preening, posturing, and bickering categories.

Long-tailed Duck

 These are very strange looking ducks.  They didn't come nearly as close as the Harlequin but at least I was able to get a few decent shots.  Hopefully next time I go to Barnegat they'll more within range.