By Scott Barnes, SHBO Senior Naturalist
This
description of birding the northern part of the New Jersey
"North Shore"
covers the areas south of Sandy Hook down to Deal
Lake. The area can be birded as an extension of a day
begun at the Hook or begun further south along the shore and
working one's way north. An aggressive birder with a full
day might possibly work the entire shore from Manasquan Inlet to
Sandy Hook. Birding this northern part of the North Shore
could take 2-3 hours by itself.
The time frame for productive birding of these areas is late
fall through early spring, with winter being the best.
Geographically, there are four main areas in this discussion:
1. Monmouth Beach- the Shrewsbury Rocks
2.
Long Branch- consisting of Seven Presidents Oceanfront
Park, Lake Takanassee, and Pullman Avenue in Elberon
3. Deal- three main viewing points of Roosevelt
Avenue, Phillips Avenue, and Clem Conover Blvd.
4. Allenhurst/Asbury Park- the boardwalk of
Allenhurst, Deal Lake, and the oceanfront/Deal Lake outflow
Shrewsbury Rocks
The Shrewsbury Rocks area, long known as an excellent
fishing area for Striped Bass, Bluefish, Blackfish (Tautog), and
Sea Bass, is also an excellent birding area. It has produced
many interesting records on "inshore" pelagic trips in the last
several years.
One of the best areas to scan the waters of the Shrewsbury Rocks
is from the southern end of Monmouth Beach, where the hard and
rocky bottom comes closest to shore. At the south end of the
Municipal Beach club is a parking lot, and the raised wooden
staircase there labeled "Little Monmouth" is a slightly elevated
spot from which you can scan. In years when alcids are present
this is a good place to bird. A Western Grebe was recorded from
this area in 2009.
Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park
One block east of the intersection of Joline Avenue (State
Route 36) and Ocean Avenue in North Long Branch, this Monmouth
County park can be good for near-shore seabirds, waterfowl, and
gulls. The ocean here is always worth a quick look for sea
ducks, loons, gannets, gulls, and alcids. During flight years
Razorbill is possible and more frequent visitors include Surf
and Black Scoters, Long-tailed Duck, and Red-throated and Common
Loons. A flock of Bonaparte's Gulls is usually present in winter
and there is often a Lesser Black-backed Gull in the area. A
short boardwalk on the north side of the bathrooms provides a
good place to scan. Check the brushy area here for any wintering
landbirds: Orange-crowned Warbler has been recorded and both White-winged
and Red Crossbills have visited the Japanese Black Pines.
During foul weather the extensive athletic fields attract a
large flock of Brant: check carefully for Black Brant among
them, which have been recorded several times. Gulls also
frequent the fields during rainy weather and should be sorted
through for white-winged and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. A
nor'easter in March of 2007 brought several Little Gulls and 2
Black-headed Gulls to this location for a few days. (The
Black-headed Gull photo above was taken by Scott Barnes and
Linda Mack in January 2008.) One nice feature of
birding this spot is that you can scan the fields from the
comfort of your car during bad weather. Look from the
parking lots inside the park and the roads bordering it.
Other interesting birds recorded at Seven Presidents include
Sooty Shearwater, Black-legged Kittiwake, Parasitic Jaeger,
Vesper Sparrow, and Snow Bunting.
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Lake Takanassee
O nce known as "Green's Pool," this series of ponds begins at
State Route 71 adjacent to Monmouth College and extends east to
Ocean Ave. All the ponds are worth checking for waterfowl from
November through March.
The main lake closest to Ocean Ave. is a reliable spot for
Canvasback, Ring-necked Duck, and Hooded Merganser. Flocks of
gulls often come here to drink and bathe, typically during
mid-day or afternoon. If the lake is partially frozen, it
can turn into a real magnet for larids. Sort through the
gulls for something different: this is a regular spot for Lesser
Black-backed Gull, and Iceland and Glaucous Gulls occur here
most years.
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Bridled Tern by Alex Tongas |
Black-headed Gull, formerly sometimes found here, has become much less frequent in recent memory,
though individuals are still noted at other nearby sites (see
Seven Presidents Park and Deal). Check any Bonaparte's
Gull flocks for Little Gull, which occurs from time to time.
During invasion years, Red-necked Grebe is sometimes noted on
the main lake. In some winters the main lake attracts a small flock of Redheads.
The next two ponds
to the west attract a mix of dabbling and diving
ducks. A Eurasian Wigeon wintered with the American Wigeon flock
for a couple of years and should be looked for in the future. Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Ducks, American Coots, and other common
waterfowl frequent the lakes. Continuing west past the
playground, check the lake with the wooded island (the western
edge of the lake borders Rte. 71) for Green-winged Teal and Wood
Ducks during winter.
Rarities at Lake Takanassee have included Tufted Duck (male,
31 Jan.-25 Feb. 2003), Red-necked Phalarope, Roseate Tern, and
Bridled Tern (the latter three during Tropical Storm Ernesto on
2 Sep. 2006). A Common Teal, shown here in a photo by
Nerses Kazanjian, visited in 2005.
Pullman Avenue
Located three blocks south of Lake Takanassee, this short
street offers excellent views of the ocean from an elevated
position and is one of the most productive spots locally for
seabirds. Regular species here include Red-throated Loon, Common
Loon, all three scoters (somewhat erratic), Long-tailed Ducks,
Northern Gannets, and gulls during winter. During the February
2005 invasion this was the spot for seeing Thick-billed Murre,
with at least two birds present for about two weeks. During
"good" years this is often a reliable place for Razorbill. Other
less common-to-rare birds found here have included Common Eider,
Harlequin Duck, Red-necked Grebe, Wilson's Storm-Petrel,
Red-necked Phalarope, Little Gull, Black-headed Gull, and
Black-legged Kittiwake. Like Seven Presidents Park and Lake
Takanasee, Pullman Avenue is a spot bird-able from your car
during foul weather.
Deal
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There are
many side streets east of Ocean Ave. in Deal that offer some
view of the ocean. The three best roads are (north to south)
Roosevelt Avenue, Phillips Avenue, and Clem Conover Blvd.
A Pacific Loon was present between Phillips and Roosevelt
Avenues 10-11 Mar. 2007, shown here in a photo by Jim
Gilbert.
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Allenhurst
A boardwalk runs the entire length of this small town and
provides an elevated site from which to view the ocean. A small
L-shaped jetty sometimes hosts Purple Sandpipers, ducks, and a
few gulls. Scan the ocean here for scoters, loons, and gannets. Look north from the northern end of the boardwalk and scan the
groins for waterbirds. Some
years a large flock of scoters winters; a drake
Harlequin Duck wintered here for three years. A Pacific Loon was
discovered here in March of 2003.
Deal Lake & Deal Lake Outflow
A quick scan of Deal Lake should be made, although there is
often little there except a few dozen Red-breasted Mergansers. Like Lake Takanassee, Deal Lake attracts gulls for bathing and
roosting. Check the grassy margins adjacent to Route 71; there
is often a Lesser Black-backed Gull there. Both Iceland and
Glaucous Gulls have been viewed on the lake as well. Angus
Wilson photographed the Iceland Gull shown here.