We Are on a Roll

Day 4 Serious Birding Begins

The rain has gone! There were thunder boomers in the night, but by the morning the south wind had pushed them away and the sun was out. It stayed out all day with intermittent clouds. The temps got up to the low 60’s but what awaits us on Friday looks even better with temps in the 80’s scheduled (if you can schedule that sort of thing!).
It was a leisurely start as we heard birds singing in the Campground and then knew it would be a better day. No fog this morning, just sunshine. No time was wasted to get to the southern most units of Forsythe NWR (25 miles from the campground) and a dike drive that is 8 miles around some of the 43,000 acres that comprise this Refuge. It was good ‘hunting’ for us as the bird count went up quickly and Ruth was able to get many good pictures much like the baby Canadian Geese that you see. (Picture # 1) They were near the edge of the road so were almost ‘too’ close. This refuge has some units that are maintained by water level adjustment seasonally. Most of the area is tidal and seeks its own level. We caught the outgoing tide at 10:00 Am, which is ideal for shore birds that need food from the mudflats. It is a vast area that stretches some 40 miles N to S on the eastern shore of NJ, with private land in between some units.
The Reserve was established in 1939 expressly to save the Brant Goose and the fast flying Black Duck. It did just that as they both are thriving once again. From the distance across immense salt flats and tidal grasses, the tall buildings of Atlantic City can be seen easily. Quite a contrast, but it is a working arrangement...(picture # 2.)
We did see 27 species during the 8 mile drive around in the Reserve. (Our total for the day was 44 species.) Some outstanding ones were : Snow Goose, Brant Goose, Horned Grebe, many Osprey with some on their nesting platforms coddling eggs. (See picture #3) There were Willets, Greater Black Backed Gulls, Caspian Tern, Yellow Rumped Warbler, some hermit Thrushes, and the Wood Duck. At the end of the 8 mile loop are 5,000 acres of woodland suited to the smaller birds especially the warblers. We spotted our first warbler there. Lunch was at the side of the road watching Ducks, Egrets and Common Terns all busily eating.
Highway US 9 (the only N S highway along the coast for many years) parallels the coast so we took that route back in the afternoon to see some of the other Forsythe units even though there was not much activity. (The true migration is a few days away and we expect that in Cape May we will see them coming through in great numbers.) Another factor that kept the bird count down today was the 35 MILE PER HOUR WIND that blew all day. It was brisk to say the least.
This area is packed with early American (pre) history including George Washington’s stay at Morristown during two separate winters in the 1770’s. . Can you name them? (See below) Much of the military supplies especially cannonballs and forged steel pieces were formed here in the first anthracite furnace in North America, (Didn’t know that, eh?)
Today outside the wildlife sanctuaries and the Pine Barrens, there are elaborate housing developments especially along the available coastal areas. A unique development is that malls and store buildings cannot be constructed on main thoroughfares and must be off set by at least one block from the main highways. Sometimes they are actually invisible when looking for a gas station sign or store name as there are restrictions on height in placing the signs somewhere around an 8 foot maximum. I liked that.
Before getting our first meal out on the trip, Ruth and I did some shopping at a complete store called “Genaurdi’s”. They had the most elaborate deli/bakery/cake/cheese/coffee sections I had ever seen. One section specialized in just chocolate and cakes. Yes there was lots of fresh seafood.
Our first meal out on the trip, was at Stafford Restaurant on NJ 72. Tremendous preparation of just “ordinary” east coast fare. Ruth describes the chicken tenders over pasta as the best meal eaten out she has ever had. It had a light, subtle, garlic (lemon) sauce, and included potato, soup and rolls. Jim had a seafood (shrimp, large scallops and dried tomotoes) penne plate with soup. The dessert was bread pudding for Ruth and tapioca for Jim which was included in the meal. Excellent, eh?
Tomorrow we will explore the northern units of the Forsythe NWR and some of the woodlands to see if the warblers are arriving. With the rising temps and less wind it should bring them out in greater numbers.
P.S. In the evening Jim took a stroll in the campground (always a good habit) and stopped near a puddle left over from the rains. Into it flew a Blue Winged Warbler some 15 feet away and splashed about not just once but a second time some moments later. Lots of yellow and two white wing bars! A great way to end the day! The stars are out under a cloudless sky.
ANSWER; The two winters G. Washington spent in Morristown were 1777 and 1779-80.