The New Jersey coastline from Sandy Hook to Cape May, or the “Jersey Shore” as it’s commonly referred to, is renowned for its variety of beautiful beaches, unique boardwalks and quaint towns. During the summer months, the sands are packed with sun worshipers and surf lovers. The restaurants are filled with the noise of crowds dining on fresh seafood or enjoying simple boardwalk treats like ice cream and saltwater taffy. Entertainment venues such as the casino concert halls in Atlantic City or the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, where Bruce Springsteen got his start, attract sold out crowds with a variety of musical shows to fit everyone’s taste.
But when Labor Day marks the end of summer and the crowds disperse, The Shore provides a different type of entertainment, along with enough variety to keep birders happy throughout the fall and long winter months. Birds from Alaska, Canada and as far away as the Arctic Circle spend winter along this coast where they can easily find food away from the pack ice up north. So, a trip to the beach takes on a whole different meaning during these months. Ah yes! It is truly amazing that I can zip down the Garden State Parkway at any time on a Saturday morning during the winter, have my pick of shore points to explore along the way, and not have to worry about being caught in the crawling beach traffic that typifies a weekend mid-morning summer trip to the beaches.
One of the best places on the eastern seaboard to see all kind of winter migrants is at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park and Barnegat Inlet. The park is at the northern tip of Long Beach Island and is a very big winter birding hotspot. One of the most popular birds to see is the colorful Harlequin Duck. The Atlantic population of this duck breeds from Baffin Island, Greenland and Iceland through central and eastern Quebec, eastern Labrador and northern Newfoundland and winters in coastal areas from Greenland and Iceland south through Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and down to Maryland. About half the population winters in Maine. New Jersey has only a few select spots on its coast where Harlequin Ducks can be seen, so it’s a real treat to observe and photograph them.
Other wonderful winter sea ducks that I’ve seen at Barnegat include Common Eider, Surf Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead and Brant. Photographing these birds can be very challenging in winter, especially when temperatures drop and the winds kick up. Capturing sharp images of these birds in flight under these conditions is doubly challenging, yet extremely rewarding if you’re lucky enough to get one or two. (I’ll be writing more about my personal technique for this in other posts).