Jeannette and I have just returned from a long weekend trip down to New Jersey. After three late nights with friends and family, including a wedding – and the associated gluttony associated with weddings and visits with friends and family – we were finally back into the field early Monday morning. I was after Kentucky Warblers.

My NJ state list is still sans Kentucky Warbler, since I have only heard them – although on many occasions – and I only count seen birds on the state lists for states that I live or have lived in (not for any particular reason other than I like to see birds!). And, since I have decided to work on filling this hole, Kentucky Warblers have turned into quite a nemesis for me down here.

After contacting some friends for recommendations, we decided to pursue my quarry in Burlington County. Close proximity to my Mom’s house – where we were staying for the second half of our visit, allowing for a reasonable start time, sealed the deal. Plus, my friend Tom provided some fantastically specific directions.

Kentucky Warblers are reaching the northern limits of their range in New Jersey, and reach the limit of their relative common-ness in Central NJ. They prefer dense, tangly, impenetrable streamside thickets. That doesn’t help in making them easy to see. Plus, they arrive on territory early in May down here, and have usually shut-up by now. (Other than whirlwind visits for the World Series of Birding, where I have failed in seeing one during scouting, my time in NJ during Kentucky Warbler prime time has been rather limited). My work was cut out for me, and my hopes were not high.

However, our morning’s plan included visiting two locations that I have never been to, and we would undoubtedly see a number of fun species that we rarely – if ever – see in Maine, so really, the Kentucky Warbler was just an excuse to go birding in this area!

Perfect Kentucky Warbler habitat!

We began at the Dot and Brooks Evert Memorial Nature Trail (that’s a mouthful) in Pemberton. A rich mix of plants at the margin of the Pine Barrens results in a plentiful mix of birds. Hooded Warblers were all over – and some provided great looks, which was a real treat. Yellow-billed Cuckoos were common – I’m guessing that they are well fed this year with the huge Gypsy Moth outbreak that has nearly completely defoliated large tracts of oaks in this area this year – large sections of woodlands that were finally regenerating stripped leaves looked more like April than July! Lots of Carolina Wrens, Wood Thrushes, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and the usual cast of characters. Carolina Chickadees are always nice for us northerners to see as well, as well as one Acadian Flycatcher, and lots of White-eyed Vireos.

A little pishing produced a point-blank Worm-eating Warbler that came in to within 5 or so feet! So close, that even with our naked eye we could see its wing molt! Then, just a handful of feet beyond, burst the loud, liquid “churry, churry, churry,” of a Kentucky Warbler! Was this going to be my lucky day?

He continued to sing away, probably within 25 to 30 feet. But, I couldn’t buy a glimpse. He moved a little further away. I followed a deer trail a little deeper into the woods – collecting a few Lone Star Ticks along the way (another species, of the non-feathered kind, we haven’t seen in a while!). I was getting close. He continued to sing.

He was just on the other side of this thicket!

He wasn’t far. The problem was I was at an impasse – a dense, impenetrable thicket of greenbriar was between me and my quarry. I was pretty sure that I knew exactly what bush he was in, but I couldn’t get there. I began pishing, squeaking, and otherwise irritating everything around me. An Ovenbird vigorously called from the top of the bush, and the Kentucky called from the depths below. Hooded Warblers, White-eyed Vireos, Tufted Titmice, and others came in to investigate the racket, but the Kentucky couldn’t care less. Instead, he continued to sing, just to torment me no doubt.

Not getting through this. Despite the heat, I found myself wishing for a nice, heavy, thick pair of Carhartts insetad of thin, cool Coolmax Nylon!

And, then he moved deeper into the woods, much farther away, and then fell silent. I returned to the trail, my head held down, and Jeannette knew what that meant. We, liked the Kentucky Warbler, moved on.

About 20 minutes later, after birding our way down a short spur to a stream – perfect for Kentuckys – we returned to the main trail and our friend began to sing. Again. I ran down the path - not easy for me to do, considering it was already approaching 90 degrees, and the humidity was already oppressive. But, this time, his torment only persisted for a few minutes, so we moved on.

Having spent 2 ½ hours birding this short 1.5-mile loop, it was already about 9:30 when we arrived at site two – the Bear Swamp-Red Lion Preserve, as Tom also recommended. With the increasing heat (predictions today called for the heat index to reach 105!), birdsong and activity was greatly reduced, but we had a great look at a Prothonatory Warbler. In other words, we had great looks at just about all of the “southern woods” denizens we had hoped for today. With my low expectations for actually seeing my nemesis today, this was really all I had hoped for. But, having come so close (yet remaining so far!), I was certainly feeling a bit disappointed. Luckily, GREAT pizza – the best I’ve had since my last visit to NJ – with a good friend that we met for lunch (and some cannolis to go for later) more than made up for the “dip.”

A shorty stroll in typical Pine Barrens habitat killed some time.

I was seriously considering tormenting myself further with a second try – either at the same places or elsewhere – on Tuesday morning. But, with even more oppressive weather – it was 80 degrees at 6:00am!!! – on tap, that idea seemed even less rewarding. Instead, we decided to also make some progress on the drive home.

So, we decided to spend a few hours working along the Raritan Bayshore – one of my old stomping grounds, and an area that Jeannette has not been to before. We began at Conaskonk Point and continued westward to South Amboy, checking many of the few undeveloped nooks and crannies in between. The heat was brutal, the haze was even worse – we could not see very far into the bay, but the birding was decent. We enjoyed a few species that we don’t see in Maine (one calling Clapper Rail at Conaskonk Point and scattered small groups of Boat-tailed Grackles) or see rarely (i.e. Forster’s Tern – one at Conaskonk Point). 100+ Common Terns, including a number of juveniles, were roosting on the South Amboy mudflats as the tide receded, and we had a handful of migrant shorebirds (3 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 Short-billed Dowitchers, and 1 Least Sandpiper at Conaskonk Point, along with 4 Least Sandpipers at South Amboy) to round out the outing.

Jeannette scans the flats.

Then, we hoped on the Turnpike at headed north. And, by the time we reached Portland in the early evening, the temperature was 30 degrees cooler! Ahhhhh…..

Now, you all know how much I do love birding in my former home state. Previous blog entries during and after my visits there have certainly highlighted some of the wonders of the state. It really isn't ALL pavement and strip malls. However, for sake of "truth in reporting," it is only fair to be truly "fair and balanced" and also mention that this too, is birding in New Jersey:

Yes, it is most definitely good to be home, with or without a Kentucky Warbler on my NJ state list!