“Brig”, as it is affectionately known by most of the birders and photographers who frequent it, is the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge – Brigantine Division, located in Oceanville, NJ.

I thought it would be interesting to talk about how just a single day there can be so incredibly productive and exciting for birders and photographers. On an early Winter’s day, such as the one these photos were taken on, there is a wealth of things to see and photograph. At this time of year, raptors are abundant, large flocks of ducks and waterfowl are settling in after migrating from the North and West.  Song birds are foraging for the last remaining berries and available seeds and other foods.  It’s as if the refuge is leased by a mass influx of new tenants, after the Summer residents have fled for warmer climes in South America and the Southern United States.

The sunrises here are spectacular.

Sunrise at the Edwin B. Forsythe NWR

The activity at the refuge starts to increase dramatically just minutes after the sun clears the horizon. Ducks and Geese fly in from their roosts and overnight lodging locations to start foraging for food in the available open waters. On this day, there is a significant amount of ice covering the freshwater areas. This tends to congregate a large number of birds and a large number of species in small areas, where they can then forage for plants and other food sources inaccessible in other areas of the ice-covered marsh. This of course means that food sources for raptors and birds of prey are concentrated, and they are now a very tempting target.

Northern Harriers are the first to be up in the air. They are already cruising the marsh looking for rodents and other small animals to eat.

Northern Harrier Female cruising the marsh for a meal.

Occasionally, one of these “Marsh Hawks” will make a close flyby and check us out to see what we are up to. Considered to be one of the more difficult of the Forsythe raptors to photograph, because they never linger over one spot too long. Always on the move. Always looking for something to eat. The regular photographers there all share stories of “chasing” these birds down Wildlife Drive in our cars. I don’t think any of us have ever caught up to one, or ever got a good shot doing that. However, that doesn’t mean that enthusiasm won’t continue to trump common sense in the future.

Northern Harrier (Female) checking out the photographer.

On this particular day, I would be treated to some spectacular sightings of a few other raptors. Bald Eagles have been making many appearances and new nesting pairs in the area means that they are continually hunting the surrounding terrain in search of food. No longer just passing through, but making this their home, and that of their offspring. Today, I got to see quite the show. A Bald Eagle flew by with a bird in it’s talons, but of course since I was getting everyone coffee out of the car at the time, the two friends who were with me were the only ones to get photos of it. I was however fortunate to get shots of another adult and a juvenile who appeared to be hunting in unison with the other adult who had made a successful grab.

Adult Bald Eagle calls out as it passes overhead.

Juvenile Bald Eagle

After that incredible show, it was all of about 9 AM. The day had just started, and after making one pass on Wildlife Drive, we returned to the location of the Bald Eagle sightings, The Gull Pond tower. This location is just off to the NorthEast from the entry to Wildlife Drive at “Brig”. It’s a most productive spot to look for all sorts of waterfowl, and consequently, a great hunting ground for raptors. It pays to spend some time there. On this day, we were treated to some great sights. Along with the Mallards a plenty foraging in the water near the ice was an American Widgeon and a pair of American Coots who seemed completely un-phased by our presence. This allowed for some wonderful photo opportunities.

American Widgeon

The Coots are fun to watch. They bob their heads in sync with their movement in the water, and the head bobs get faster the faster they move. Great fun to watch. They have some of the most unique toes and feet of any waterfowl. I compare them to the segmented body of some insect, like a Praying Mantis. Clearly, better designed for being in the water, than out of it.

American Coots

American Coot

Ducks and waterfowl on ice is sort of like watching our human neighbors and friends try to navigate an icy driveway, but worse. They are not designed very well for terrestrial navigation in the first place, and when it becomes slippery, it makes things more than a little daunting. We watched a number of  parades as dedicated and determined ducks, geese and other waterfowl left open water and decided to walk to the next foraging spot over the ice. Single file was the way to go, evidently. Some, such as Canada Geese, decided a short flight was better than a treacherous walk.

Mallard Duck (Drake)

Another Winter resident and visitor from the Great White North is the Tundra Swan. On this day, they were there in fairly large numbers. Foraging for food among the ducks and teal, fighting with the Canada Geese for the best locations, and biting ducks that got in their way. (Very humorous to watch!). And, a few of them were just showing off.

Tundra Swans

On the “drive” (Wildlife Drive), there are always interesting things to see. On this day, since much of the freshwater areas were ice-covered, it meant that the Great Blue Herons were vying for the best remaining fishing locations. (In the brackish and salt-water impoundments, which are farther out along Wildlife Drive). This mean that competition was a bit more fierce for good places to fish and to eat, and battles for territory ensued.

Great Blue Heron being big and bad.

Great Blue Heron at Sunrise

It was biting cold this day. The winds were increasing just after sunrise, and temperatures were in the upper 20′s. On days like this, birds come out and try to take advantage of those first rays of sun to bring their body heat up, in order to have energy to do the business of finding food for survival. It’s fascinating to watch here, as there are so many species of birds, and they each have their own way of finding the best spots to warm up. Songbirds ease out from deep cover to catch the rays of sun in the outer branches of dense brush cover. Diving birds such as Cormorants stand out in areas where they can soak up the maximum amount of sunlight and hence, infrared energy, to warm up for the day’s activities. They need to dry off frequently, and sometimes spread their wings in order to take advantage of the surface area and maximum amount of heat falling on their wings and bodies.

Double Crested Cormorant

Along the “Drive” at the Forsythe Refuge are many channels that are affected by the tides. The water levels are managed through the use of “gates” that allow water to enter and exit the outer impoundments. This makes for interesting opportunities to find waterfowl of great variety, taking advantage. Since the water flows through these narrow areas and pipes, the fish that come with the water are concentrated into small areas as they come through. The birds instinctively know this, or discover it, and then spend a great deal of time feeding there during tide changes. Although not primarily a fish eater, the Ruddy Ducks that have arrived for the winter from the North and West particularly like these locations. As do Hooded Mergansers, Common Mergansers, Red-Breasted Mergansers, Bufflehead, and of course, the ever-present Seagulls.

Ruddy Duck (Female, Winter Plumage)

Ruddy Duck taking a bath

Ruddy Duck dives for food

Of course, the Hooded Mergansers are some of the most timid and easily startled of waterfowl. Always a challenge to get close to, they are however predictable. If you pull up in your car near them, you can rest assured they will take flight pretty quickly, if not immediately. They jump to flight from the water extremely fast.

Hooded Merganser Pair Takes Flight

Winter at the Forsythe Refuge brings huge flocks of Snow Geese. It’s one of the most important Winter feeding grounds for them on the East Coast of the United States. The sight of a large flock (and the sounds!) coming in for a landing or taking off in unison never fails to impress, no matter how many times you’ve seen it.

Snow Geese Flock Takes Off

Towards the end of the day, we ended up at the Gull Pond tower location, to keep an eye out for Bald Eagles. We’ve come to learn that the most active times to see them are in the mornings from about 8 until 10AM, and in the afternoons, after about 2PM. (at least this time of year). This time, however, we would see no Bald Eagles. But we were treated to an amazing flyby and then fly-over by a Peregrine Falcon. This Falcon (a Female), was chasing and hunting the huge numbers of Green Winged Teal that were foraging in the vicinity.

Peregrine Falcon

Green Winged Teal Flock on the move

Peregrine Falcon

It was a spectacular end to an incredible day. The amazing variety of things to see and photograph there almost boggles the mind. These photos represent only a fraction of the numbers of birds and other wildlife seen during this short Winter day, and after firing the shutter nearly 2000 times, you come away with an incredible appreciation for this place. Such a wealth of exciting and interesting things to see. “Brig” is always alive and bustling. Winter is an exceptional time to go there and see things visible at no other time of year. It requires warm clothes, patience and hot coffee, but it’s worth every bit of it. If you are a serious birder, naturalist or nature photographer, a trip to the Edwin B. Forsythe refuge in Oceanville, NJ in winter will pay off in spades.