New Arrivals at Bayonne Parks

ow that's a bit more like it. Wood Thrush was filling the escarpment with song, though I only spotted two (actually, they were "spotted" before I came along, har.). A first-of-year Scarlet Tanager was hopping branch to branch in the top of a White Oak as well. And a pair of Baltimore Orioles were located at the far (south) end of the line, as a Green Heron was prowling the banks of the pond. A Northern Flicker was raising hella racket by drumming on the top of a streetlight.

Also saw Common Yellowthroat, Redstart, and Black-throated Blue Warbler. Then, my stumbling approach saved an Ovenbird from a feral cat, which glared at me from a rock after I spooked him from his stalk.

The mudflat held Spotted and (again) Solitary Sandpipers, a Great Egret, and the usual assortment of larids.

Usually choppy, Newark Bay was still and glasslike this morning. A persistent, light mist obscured three Common Loons a bit, but they along with several Double-crested Cormorant, a pair of Gadwall, Canada Geese with goslings, and a pair of Mallards were still easy to spot without the usual roiling on the bay's surface.

Much better than yesterday, and my leg wasn't nearly as bothersome.