For once we had some decent weather this December for the annual north Jersey cemetery Christmas Bird Count. Not too windy, not terribly cold, and cooperating birds! This year, the birds decided they wanted to go in on the theme and hang out on the various gravestones, monuments, and statues throughout the cemeteries that we visited.
Most of the cemeteries in our Lower Hudson run are in North Bergen so we started there.
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- Mockingbird #1
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- Mockingbird #2
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- Mockingbird #3
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- This Mourning Dove didn’t fly off!
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- Just stared at me suspiciously
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- Cutest Song Sparrow
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- Red-tailed Hawk fluffed up
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- Grouchy Red-tailed
We even got a couple of unexpected surprises:
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- One of three Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers
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- Eastern Phoebe made an appearance!
And finally, in hopes of spotting a local celebrity, the Painted Bunting, we stopped off at Harsimus Cemetery in Jersey City. We did see the bunting, though he never came down close, but other little friends were a little more cooperative.
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- Hermit Thrush gave us good looks
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- A gravestone presents the thrush
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- Cutest junco
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- A regal White-throated Sparrow
I sadly missed last year’s CBC (I think I was sick) so I was glad to get out again this year, especially on a decent day. Already looking forward to what next year will bring!
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