Excellent Birding at Glenmere Lake, 01/01/18

~What a little cutie – Golden-crowned Kinglet at Glenmere Lake, 01/01/18.~

I really didn’t have much in the way of expectations for my first day of birding in 2018. I knew I wanted to get up early to try for the two ROSS’S GEESE at Glenmere Lake, but beyond that I didn’t have a plan. It was zero degrees Fahrenheit when I woke up, but I managed to rustle myself out of bed and get to the lake before the geese left. When I arrived, there were several other birders that had the same idea as me: Karen Miller, Diane Bliss, Mike Mallon, Rick Hansen, and Kathy Ashman were all present, getting their Orange County Ross’s Goose for the new year. I waited with Karen, Diane, and Mike for the geese to pick up, since the 2 Ross’s spent most of the time with their heads tucked in. On my way out, I was talking to Kathy in the parking lot and we decided to walk the trail. Kathy had already walked it earlier with Rick, but was game for some more birding.

~I have to say I was definitely surprised to see Yellow-rumped Warblers on the trail today. Glenmere Lake, 01/01/18.~

I haven’t spent much time birding the trail at Glenmere, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. We ended up having an incredible morning with nice variety of songbirds and some close encounters. How’s this for some good birds on January 1st: Golden-crowned Kinglet (many!), Yellow-rumped Warbler (7), Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush, Eastern Bluebird (12), and six different species of woodpecker! (Hairy, Downy, Red-bellied, N. Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and Pileated). Of the likely woodpeckers, we only missed the Red-headed Woodpecker (which is still present, Judy Cinquina, Tom Millard, and Maria Loukeris all saw it today).

~Hermit Thrush at Glenmere Lake, 01/01/18.~

At one point, I had a Golden-crowned Kinglet feeding just inches from my right shoulder! I stayed completely still and just enjoyed it; I couldn’t believe how close the bird was, nor could I believe how very tiny they are when you see them that close – they are just little peanuts! We walked the trail until it opens up to a field. The field was very active and we weren’t sure where to look for the next bird. Then a Pileated Woodpecker flew out of the trees right towards us, banking right over our heads before landing on a nearby tree. It really was a super morning of birding and in the end we tallied 28 species for the morning. I’ve not birded one on one with Kathy much before this, and I have to say it was a joy and she is really good – always a step ahead of me picking up birds all around us. Good birding for sure and a great way to start the year.

~One of my favorites! Brown Creeper at Glenmere Lake, 01/01/18.~
~Big, dinosaur like bird – Pileated Woodpecker at Glenmere Lake, 01/01/18.~
~The 2 ROSS’S GEESE take off from the lake just after 8 am. Glenmere Lake, 01/o1/18.~
~Mike Mallon picked up two coyotes crossing the lake in the distance. Glenmere Lake, 01/01/18.~
~One more butter-butt. Yellow-rumped Warbler with a snack at Glenmere Lake, 01/01/18.~
~In the afternoon, I headed back out. I met up with Kyle Dudgeon and we cruised the black dirt. Kyle picked up his lifer Lapland Longspur, and we both got shots of this awesome Merlin. Black Dirt Region 01/01/18.~

15 thoughts on “Excellent Birding at Glenmere Lake, 01/01/18”

  1. All your photos from today are wonderful, Matt, but I have to say that Golden-crowned Kinglet in the Eastern Red Cedar is just spectacular! The grumpy looking Hermit Thrush is fabulous as well. Thanks for an enjoyable morning of birding. It was such a marvelous way to start off the new year……Good birds and good friends.

    1. I like that Kathy – good birds and good friends. Glad you like the pics and thanks again for a great morning of birding. Matt

  2. Great shots and a good start to the New Year. Had a good day myself picking up a lifer in Monmouth county- a Le Contes sparrow (pictures on my Flickr page). Ended up at Schwangunk in time to see the short ears and rough legs
    Bruce

    1. Le Contes Sparrow! Now that’s a good way to start the year! And to top it off with Shorties and Roughies, not too shabby. Happy New Year. Matt

  3. what a great day – you saw so many great birds – thanks for sharing -Happy New Year

    1. Good to hear from you Renee, thanks for the kind words and Happy New Year to you too. Matt

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