Sunday, January 19, 2014

Birding the Jersey Shore



  I am linking up with Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday 

January 19, 2014

On Thursday, hubby and I went on an overnight visit to the Jersey shore. We drove as far as Barnegat Lighthouse Beach, then we headed south to Edwin Forsythe NWR and our somewhat of a free night at Trump's Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.





At the Barnegat Lighthouse beach  we saw the Common Loon, Long-tailed Ducks and Harlequin Ducks. Lots of Scoters, Brants and Sanderlings and gulls.







Two Long-tailed Ducks with a Harlequin duck in the middle.. This was one of the only Harlequins I sighted at Barnegat this visit. In past years I have seen higher counts.  I wonder if something is happening to them?
 





At Barnegat the Mergansers were plentiful..




Snowy Owl on the roof of the Edwin Forsythe NWR visitor center.





This is this third Snowy Owl I have seen since late November. The first sighting was in Delaware, second sighting was in Maryland and this last Snowy Owl was in New Jersey.. They seem to be everywhere  this winter..

 




 Above is a view of the sunset from our room, a shot of the Trump tower and the almost full moon.

I am sure I will be doing more on our Jersey shore visit..Including some beautiful sunrise shots for Skywatch Friday..

Thanks for visiting my blog. I always appreciate your comments.
Join in on the fun and for more wonderful photos please visit  Mosaic Monday and more
 from  Our World Tuesday

 Thanks to our host: Mary our host of Mosaic Monday and to the hosting group of Our World Tuesday: Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia, Sandy and Jennifer.  I wish everyone a happy week ahead!


87 comments:

  1. congrats on another snowy! awesome! and love the long-tailed and harlequins. so pretty!

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  2. Your photography is beautiful as always!
    Greetings, RW & SK

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  3. The snowy owl is beautiful!!! Lucky you spotting the harlequin duck. So many wonderful waterfowl here and that sunset! Wow.

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  4. Gorgeous waterfowl! The owl is awesome! I'd love to see one someday. Love the lighthouse! Reminds me of the lighthouses on the Great Lakes.

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  5. Oh how I would love to see a snowy owl! Your photos are fabulous, Eileen! Thanks so much for sharing at MM, and have a great week! xo

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  6. lovely photos, specially the one of the two long tailed ducks and the harlequin,. I hope nothing is happening to the harlequins to reduce their numbers,

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  7. Super photos, but the snowy owl, stunning, looks like a great place to stay. Cheers from Jean.

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  8. Eileen,

    I cannot believe the show Jersey put on for you: from the lovely lighthouse and the winged water babies, to that gorgeous Snowy Owl, one of my favourite birds, and that piercing moon! WOW! All your images are spectacular!

    Have a great week, my friend!

    Poppy

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  9. Oh I love that owl :) And the other views are lovely too!

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  10. A nice trip away with lots of birds and pleasant views.

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  11. I'm in love with that snowy owl Eileen!
    The one and only one I've ever seen was while on a trip to England years ago.
    The local Bird Protection Society had some in cages on display in Bournemouth - it was love at first sight for me!
    Wonderful photos!
    Shane

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  12. Nice photos! Love your Snowy Owl shots.

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  13. Such a handsome owl! Very nice post!!Have a grand week!

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  14. I love the big moon and would love to visit that lighthouse! Looks like a nice trip. Enjoy your week!

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  15. PS AND the snowy owl is magnificent! What a fabulous sighting!

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  16. What a great post Eileen!!Lucky you!!!Another snowy owl!!Wonderful pictures of the lighthouse the lovely birds that you saw on your walk,and the beautiful sunrise well captured from your camera!I really enjoyed all your pictures!Wish you a nice week!!Hugs!!
    Dimi...

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  17. That white owl is amazing. And I always love a picture of a lighthouse.

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  18. Your pictures of the Snowy Owl are fantastic.

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  19. Śnieżne sowy są śliczne. Piekny spacer. Pozdrawiam.
    Snowy owls are beautiful. Beautiful walk. Yours.

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  20. ooohhhh that's a real "jackpot"!! I need to go back to barnegat, it's only about a half hour south of me!!

    Have I told you about the seals at sandy hook. I have read there are about 100 there!!

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  21. Love the Snowy Owl not seen here, or I never seen one.
    Merle............

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  22. Hi Eileen, a great treat to see a snowy owl. Glad you shared.
    Joy

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  23. Wonderful mosaics and pictures; I can't believe that beautiful snowy owl just sitting there unconcerned on the roof of the visitor center; amazing!

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  24. the lighthouse . . . the sweet face of the owl . . . the sunset . . . all wonderful.

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  25. The snowy owl is such a beautiful bird. I have seen lots of photos of them on google + this year. Valerie

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  26. i love the lighthouse & the snowy owl. what a gorgeous bird. ( :

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  27. We see Harlequin Ducks from time to time - rather exotic among the ordinary mallards.
    I like the blues and greys in your first collage - so real that I get a sense of the cold and wind on your coast.

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  28. I love your snowy owl photos! So neat that you got to see another one.

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  29. Another great series of photos, especially the snowy owl. There was one in the area where we used to live that attacked a Jack Russell Terrier, and I was shocked at how many people wanted 'revenge' on the owl--I'm hopeful none carried through with their threats, they are really amazing and so beautiful!

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  30. Love the photo of the snowy owl! I've never seen one. Also love the lighthouse. They are one of my favorite things to visit.

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  31. wow Eileen you do it in style. Dinner out and all those fabulous photos in the deal? I LOVED the Snowy Owl especially; what a treat.

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  32. Hi Eileen
    How perfect was that a light house Snowy Owl and full moon? Those three always add a little magic to the photos. Looks a dead posh place for a free night and what a bonus taking all those wonderful photos.
    Wren x

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  33. The pictures of the snowy owl are fantastic, Eileen.
    A nice week desired, Irma

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  34. A superbe series of pictures here Eileen!
    How I wish I could see Common Loons, Long-tailed and Harlequin Ducks!
    Wonderful sightings too for the Snowy owl, this won't happen soon again!!
    Cheers!

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  35. Wow...impressive bird spotting Eileen. Love the lighted Trump Tower.

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  36. Snowy Owl pictures always bring a smile to my face, as does pictures of the lighthouse. The lighthouse reminds me of when I lived in New Jersey.

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  37. The Snowy Owl sightings must be a thrill! Great photos!

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  38. Looks like a GREAT trip! So many awesome sighting; look the Harlequin duck! Those Snowy Owls sure do seem to be everywhere this year!

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  39. What a treat for me to view your awesome photos. HOpe you have a lovely Monday!

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  40. How cool that you are seeing so many snowy owls!

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  41. Good for you Eileen, getting another shot of the snow Owl!! I'm afraid I'd stay right there until he/she flew off!! Amazing!!

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  42. I love the Snowy Owl picture. and I really love that lighthouse as well!

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  43. Lovely and soft photos in this subtle grey tones. Amazing !
    Best regards, Synnöve

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  44. Looks like you had a lovely trip Eileen. I am learning a lot of different varieties of birds thanks to your photos, and how exciting to see the snowy owl again. I would definitely fall out of my shoes if I saw one of those :)

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  45. Absolutely beautiful photos, Eileen and the snowy owl is so amazing to see!

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  46. How lucky you are to see and photograph the snowy owl. Birders have spotted a couple here in Louisville. Sadly one was injured on the expressway and rescued for rehabilitation but died suddenly. Wonder if your bird populations have been affected by Sandy? Can't wait to see your sunrises/sets over Taj Majhal.

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  47. I saw my first and only loon in Minnesota when we vacationed there some years ago. Just beautiful!

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  48. Hi Eileen, I have never been to NJ. Your assortment of birds spotted is amazing! Nice photographs. I sure do hope to see those Harlequin Ducks and also the Snowy Owls. Have a fantastic coming week and thanks for your always great comments on my blog! I do appreciate your expertise and blogger friendship!

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  49. Wonderful shots of the place. The snowy owl is cute.

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  50. The snowy owl is amazing,at first glance I thought it was ceramic!

    Happy Monday!
    Ruby

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  51. Great shots of the birds. The snowy owls are so beautiful.

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  52. I have climbed that lighthouse in years past. It's on Long Beach Island? Love the photo of the snowy owl.

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  53. Those ducks are so cute! And the snowy owl is just lovely. Great shots!

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  54. Wow, lovely shots. We were out trying to get snaps of birds today (my 3yr old and I).

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  55. what kind of world do you live in? Jersey, Tai Mahal? Interesting! But there are some great birds in the area. :)

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  56. Magnificent photography ~ as always ~ love the snowy owl ~ they have been seen on Cape Ann MA as well ~ carol, xxx

    www.acreativeharbor.com

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  57. The Snowy Owl has my vote, as does its slightly prim expression. :)

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  58. Hi,
    I like your pictures. Sometimes I try to photograph birds but its really difficult. :)

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  59. You truly are fortunate seeing those birds and fowl!!...:)JP

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  60. Great photos of that owl. I'm so jealous that they are so frequently seen in your area.

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  61. Your snowy owl photos are great. I have wanted to see one in person but I have not had such luck yet.

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  62. That's a nice sunset view. I've never been to Atlantic City.

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  63. Wonderful , exquisite beauty in these pictures!

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  64. Your photographs are beautiful especailly the pictures of the Snowy Owl. He looks like he is posing for you! Looks like a wonderful visit.

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  65. An interesting post with some nice pictures.

    Thank you. Love love, Andrew. Bye.

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  66. The snowy owl is just so beautiful! I can't get enough.

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  67. Gorgeous shots. I used to visit NJ when I lived in NY.

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  68. Gorgeous shots! Love love that snowy owl.

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  69. Nice set of pictures - I wonder if the radiation from the satellite dish is keeping the owl warm!!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  70. Beautiful! Great shots of the Snowy!

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  71. Beautiful Eileen, and is it not just great to travel somewhere and share the beauty. You have done a fine job...oh to see a Snowy Owl, must be amazing and such a thrill. Glad to see you on FB.

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  72. I liked the snowy owl very much, it has such a cute look.

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  73. Great collection of images. Love the snowy owls!

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  74. Dearest Eileen;
    Yes, I DO remember the snowy owl you posted; aren't they beautiful(*^_^*)
    How I wish to see this luck bringing (in Japan they are thought to be) bird with you, my friend!
    Oh, how great to have this wonderful trip. I enjoyed the pictures of lovely ducks others♡♡♡ Thank you SO much for sharing your great trip with gorgeous pictures(^_^)v

    Sending you lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*

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  75. I wonder do the birds get cold bobby on the cold water? The snowy owl looks content with his lofty post.
    Have a wonderful week and thank you for stopping by my blog. Always great to hear from you.

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  76. Ohhhh ...... snowy owl that I find really great!!
    Wonderful to see and also very nice pictures!

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  77. Those last 3 photos are beautiful! You captured shadows of the moon quite well. I absolutely love birds, but where I live, there isn't much variety. I love the chance to see new species!

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  78. Oh.. I love the owl! Nice pictures :)

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  79. What a character that Snowy owl is.

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