This is the 3rd article in the series on Waterfowl that I’ve been posting, and this time the focus is on those amazing birds that surf and feed and live in the ocean near the coast of New Jersey. (Use the link below to see all articles in the Waterfowl series.)

View the entire series

Most of the shots in this post were taken at what I consider the premier location for birds of this type in the entire state, Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, in Barnegat Light, NJ. The Barnegat inlet and jetty provide environments that cause a fantastic variety of waterfowl (as well as shorebirds) to flock here, especially in Winter. While this post is by no means complete in showing all of the types of waterfowl you can see here, the majority of species you are likely to encounter are represented.

As I mention in my other post about Barnegat Light here, Winter Birding and Photography at Barnegat Light Inlet and Jetty the jetty is a sometimes daunting place to bird and to carry a camera while walking along the boulders. Still, the rewards far outweigh the risks, at least for the die-hards among us.

One of the most appealing and stunning of those birds is the Harlequin Duck.

Harlequin Ducks (Males and Females) hugging the jetty boulders in the early morning sun

Harlequin ducks actually prefer the rough surf and rocky coastlines. In this case, that rocky coast is man-made. An enormous jetty on both sides of the Barnegat inlet.

The inlet was originally “Barendegat,” or “Inlet of the Breakers,” and was named by Dutch settlers in 1609 for the waterway’s turbulent channel. The volume of water passing through this narrow inlet is so massive during tide changes that breakers appear as the water forces it’s way in or out of the Barnegat Bay. It’s the second swiftest current and most perilous inlet in the country, second only to Woods Hole, Mass. Many ships met their demise by being grounded or torn apart or smashed against the rocks in early times as a result of trying to make passage through it.  Amazingly, that movement of water is what churns up and brings so many food sources into a narrow area, and waterfowl (especially diving birds) feast under the surface on the plentiful supply.

The Harlequins are some of the most colorful and wildly “painted” of all ducks. (Males). They are at home sitting on the rocks getting splashed by huge waves, or setting out into the rough surf to dive for a meal. It’s amazing to watch them get tossed about by the massive swells and waves. At one point, I watched one female get tossed 3 feet into the air by a wave that she was riding when it met another wave going the opposite direction after that wave was “bounced” off of the jetty. She didn’t even put out her wings, just plopped back down like nothing happened.

Harlequins, like many of the other species that Winter here, spend their summers in the very far North, even the arctic. To them, this is like summer. To the photographer, it’s just damned cold and windy! But they (the Harlequins) and we photographers, love it.

Harlequin Drakes taking in the first light of day on the Barnegat jetty.

A pair of Harlequin females swimming the inlet.

The females are extremely attractive in their own right, with a gorgeous array of browns and different like shades, along with the prominent white spots about the head. However, next to the males they often overlooked as photographic subjects. It’s a shame, because they are beautiful birds. The Harlequins visit our area from about November until as late as April, but the largest numbers are seen during the heart of Winter, in January and February. That makes for some very cold birding and photography, and when you factor in the potential for ice on the jetty, and the prevalent strong winds, it’s always an interesting and exciting excursion to go out and get the shots.

Harlequin drake using his feet to paddle around and against the current

While the Harlequins always steal the show, there are a great number of other wonderful species to see near our coasts or in the shallow bays protected by New Jersey’s barrier islands. There are 2 varieties of Scoters that visit our shores with regularity. The Black Scoter, and the Surf Scoter. Scoters are fairly large (19-22 inches long) diving ducks. They too are at home in rough surf and will ride the waves and dive for food, seemingly without a care.

Black Scoter swimming in the Barnegat Inlet

Small flock of Black Scoters on the wing over the Barnegat Inlet

Scoters tend to be a difficult subject to photograph because of their predominantly black coloration, but with sharp, bright colors on the bills of both species. The other challenge with them and many of the other ocean going waterfowl is when there is rough surf. It’s quite the challenge to get a focus lock or even see the bird when it is rising and falling with the waves.

Surf Scoter lives up to its name, sailing in heavy surf at the Barnegat Inlet

Surf Scoter (Male) paddling along and surfing the waves

Juvenile Male (L) and Female Surf Scoters

As is typical with a fair number of the ocean-going ducks and waterfowl, the female is predominantly brown.

Surf Scoter (Male) up close and personal

Surf Scoter (Male) just starting a dive

Surf Scoter (Male) on his way down for a meal

Surf Scoter - Head on view of that amazing bill and face.

Surf Scoter surfing with a pair of Long-Tailed Ducks

One of my absolute favorites of the ocean-going waterfowl is the Long-Tailed Duck (formerly known as “Oldsquaw”). They are comical and flamboyant. The males have impossible looking colors and feathers, and an extremely long tail. They also have a sweet and distinctive call, that sounds like “Owl, Owl, Omelette!”.

Long-Tailed Duck (Male) with windblown feathers.

Long-Tailed Duck (Male) closeup

Long-Tailed Duck (Young Female)

Long-Tailed Duck (Female) goes for a dive

The other charming and fun thing that Long-Tailed ducks do is the way they land on the water. Not content to merely coast in and splash down gently, they come in fast and hard and skip on the surface as if like stone you’d throw across a pond as a kid. This makes from some spectacular shots and very funny moments.

Splash one!

Splash Two!

Splash Three! (and this looks almost painful)

Long-Tailed ducks are surprisingly proficient and quick fliers. They will sometimes fly as a pair as well, much like Mallards, Pintails and a number of other ducks.

Long-Tailed Ducks on the wing (2 Males, 1 Female)

Long-Tailed Duck pair preparing to land

Long-Tailed Duck mating pair sailing along together

One of the largest of the diving birds, the Common Loon, is a frequent visitor to our shores and bays. They are over 30 inches long, and incredible divers. They can stay under the water for very long periods, and often will emerge as much as 1/4 mile or more from where they first dove under the surface. They can catch and eat very large fish. Sometimes surprisingly large. I’ve seen them eat a Flounder that had to be 8 or 9 inches long.

Common Loon

The Common loon rides low in the water, and is able to dive very quickly from that profile and position. They have a stunning and almost ghostly deep red eye that is very distinctive. In addition to fish, they will also eat crabs and other bottom dwelling crustaceans.

Common Loon with his own bow wave

Common Loon - Front view

Common Loon prepares to swallow a crab

I can’t even imagine choking down a crab like that (above), but the Loons don’t seem to mind. That has to hurt going down, though.

Another prevalent visitor to New Jersey shores and bays in Winter is the Red-Breasted Merganser. One of the fastest flying birds, and fastest among waterfowl. It can reach speeds exceeding 115 mph in level flight. (Faster than a Peregrine Falcon, except when in a dive) Built for aerodynamic efficiency, it is so well streamlined that it can glide under water quickly and overtake swimming fish to grab a meal.

Red Breasted Merganser taking off

Pair of Red Breasted Mergansers (Males) cruising just above the water

Red Breasted Merganser - Female

Red Breasted Merganser (Female) starts a dive

Red Breasted Merganser - Male

Red Breasted Merganser (Male) starts a dive

One of the most interesting ducks to see in Winter on the coast of New Jersey is the Common Eider. These large ducks ride heavy surf and seem to prefer it. They are also accomplished and proficient divers, and they tend flock together to feed. They have very distinctive sloping foreheads, and their profile is pretty unmistakable.

Common Eider - Male

Common Eiders - group of males.

(Note, one of the above, on the left, is a juvenile male)

Common Eiders, Females with one Male.

Common Eider - Juvenile Male

The Common Eider, like the Harlequin and the Long-Tailed Duck spends summers in the far North, on the northern coasts of Canada in the Arctic, and off the coast of Alaska. They are wonderful visitors to our shores in the Winter.

We are fortunate to have a variety of coastal environments, including the rocky shores of Barnegat Inlet. Being on the coast, and in the Eastern Migratory flyway, New Jersey is home to a fabulous assortment of waterfowl that call this home for the colder months. If you’ve never been to the shore, especially the Barnegat inlet, in Winter, it is worth the trip. You’ll get a chance to see all of these incredible birds, and possibly a good number of other species, such as King Eider and Red-Throated Loons, as well as the occasional Horned Grebe and even Eared Grebes. (I will feature Grebes in another article in this series).