By Joseph Sapia
Ever meet a serious birdwatcher?
Birders can take a very disciplined approach
to their watching and, in turn, this can be intimidating to outsiders or even novice birdwatchers.
So, Alison Astalos, a Monmouth County Park System naturalist, got to the point immediately with the six people in her group at the park system’s “Casual Birder” program Thursday.
“It’s nothing too serious this morning,” Astalos said.
The Casual Birder program is promoted as a “laid-back” hour or so of birding for those 8-years-old and up at Hartshorne Woods Park in Middletown.
Although it was about 60 degrees, along with a bit of rain just ending, it was still winter. Birds migrating here from the north were still around. It’s a good time of year for water fowl that have migrated south to New Jersey for the winter, said Astalos, as she headed to a cove off Claypit Creek.
“You get a lot of ducks,” she said.
The birders – four women, two men, from 45- to 68-years-old – stood on a bluff and looked down into the cove.
“There’s a bunch of ducks,” said Astalos, 31, a Park System naturalist for eight years. “Looks like a lot of mallards – your typical ducks everyone thinks of.”
But, then, Astalos picked out a hooded merganser, a diving duck probably wintering here from Canada.
“They’re cool,” said Tom McConville, 65, an East Brunswick resident who enjoys outdoor activities.
With its crest open, the merganser appears to have an oversized head. Crest closed, it looks like a mallard, a common duck easy to identify.
“I would say they’re more slender (than a mallard),” Astalos said.
Mallards also sat in the cove.
“A robin flew up over here,” Astalos said. “That bird singing over there, that’s a cardinal.”
Someone in the group also spotted a red-bellied woodpecker. Astalos went to a field guide and showed the group the difference between a red-bellied woodpecker, which is common, and a red-headed woodpecker, which is a jeopardized species in New Jersey.
“Basically, if you see a woodpecker, it’s going to be a red-bellied or a downy,” she said.
A crying blue jay flew by.
“I’ve never been out birding in the winter,” said Candice Burke, 45, of Colts Neck, a former Park System naturalist who had been based at Huber Woods Park in Middletown.
“Most people are interested in the songbirds,” said Burke, noting birds are especially vocal while mating in spring. “So, this is interesting.”
Without leaves on the trees, winter is a good time to see old nests, Astalos said. Come spring, she said, that is a good time to see birds actually nesting.
“There was a western kingbird seen here, maybe three or four years ago,” said Astalos, speaking of a species that is a rare visitor to the eastern half of the continental United States.
“That rattle-y noise,” said Astalos, noting a bird’s call, “is a kingfisher.”
Barbara Carreira spotted the kingfisher perched on a vegetative tangle.
“Good call,” Burke complimented Carreira.
Carreira, 46, of Middletown said she is more a naturalist and a stroller than a birder.
“I like to get out in the park when I can,” said Carreira, explaining why she was on the walk.
Barbara Donelik, 68, of Middletown described herself as a “backyard, casual birder.”
“I’m not familiar with the water fowl – I’m more familiar with the songbirds,” Donelik said. “It’s always good to have someone point them out.”
The group moved over to Claypit Creek, which flows into the Navesink River. McConville noted how “you’ll see a heck of a lot of species” of birds when boating these local waterways.
On a sandbar creeping into Claypit Creek from the shore, Canada geese were gathered. Over a grassy area, a bird with distinctive white on its wings flew from left to right.
“There’s a mockingbird that flew that way,” Astalos said. “You can see his white wing patches.”
In a tangle of brush on the edge of woods were a female and male cardinal. McConville pointed out how birds can be camouflaged.
“Birds, they blend in very easily,” McConville said.
Overhead, a vulture soared.
“Black vulture,” Astalos said, “their tails are shorter and stubbier.”
Toward the end of the walk, the group came upon a clump of feathers of a mourning dove, victim of a predator.
“I would guess a hawk,” Astalos said.
All levels of birders are welcome on the Casual Birder walks, but they are good for beginners, Astalos said.
“Hopefully, people aren’t intimidated,” she said. “Sometimes, birding’s intimidating.”
Upcoming Casual Birder outings are at 9 a.m. on the following Thursdays:
Feb. 18: Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park, Long Branch. Meet at the Activity Center.
March 3: Thompson Park, Middletown, Marlu Lake parking lot.
March 17: Bayshore Waterfront Park, Middletown, Activity Center.
April 7: Fisherman’s Cove Conservation Area, Manasquan, Activity Center.
April 21: Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown, parking lot.
May 5: Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold, parking lot.
May 19: Holmdel Park, Holmdel, Ramanessin parking lot.
More information about Casual Birder is available by calling the Monmouth County Park System. Call 732-751-9453.
