Birds ~ New Jersey Kayaking

Birds

These are some birds you are likely to see around the water.

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Belted Kingfisher

This is one of my favorite birds to see when I am out paddling. You're not going to get very close though, a good reason to bring along the binoculars. The Kingfisher is a songbird that thinks it's a hawk. They are actually related to Hummingbirds. You might think that makes them not very aquatic, but I have seen them dive into the water, surface, and take off again, so I guess they put some effort into evolving. ( The Cormorant might want to take notes. ) Kingfishers usually sit in branches near the shoreline, and fly very low and fast over the water.

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Double-Crested Cormorant

This is a bird that you are almost guaranteed to see on any kayaking excursion. This is because they are very common, and not very waterproof. After diving underwater, they need to dry their sodden feathers in the sun, as the one above is doing. You can often get pretty close to them at these times.

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Ducks, Geese, Swans

Mallard Duck

There are many kinds of wild ducks, and even more types of domesticated ducks, but the Mallard is a good representative of all. Ducks are harmless. Bring some bread along, I never met a duck that didn't expect to be fed.

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Egrets & Herons

These are all long-legged, long-necked wading birds typically seen near the water's edge. They will tolerate your approach to a point, and then fly away - one of the advantages of being a bird.

Snowy Egret

The Snowy Egret is very easy to spot, because it makes no attempt at camouflage, and stands out in any environment. They make up for this by being rather wary, although I have seen individuals beg for food from fishermen, a learned behavior that is not common. The Snowy Egret is very common; it would be difficult to go out kayaking and not spot at least one.

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Gulls, Terns, etc

These birds are all associated with marine environments, but the truth is, they don't care. You'll find them wherever there is food. Since no place in New Jersey is really very far from the ocean, you can find most of these almost anywhere.

Herring Gull

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Ospreys & Eagles

Osprey

Ospreys, or "Fish Hawks", are surprisingly common, and can be found just about anywhere. You'll typically see them flying high over the water from a tree on one side to a tree on the other, occasionally diving down on some unlucky fish. Ospreys are usually seen alone, but mating pairs stay together, and I think young siblings stay together for a while as well. Ospreys are one of the biggest birds that you are likely to see. A single species has an almost worldwide distribution - pretty much everywhere except Australia.

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Swifts & Swallows

These are small birds that are often seen over water. They both feed on flying insects, which they catch on the wing, and over water seems to be a good place to do that. At night, these birds are replaced by bats, doing the same thing. You are unlikely to get a good look at any of these, as they are all very fast and agile fliers.

Chimney Swift

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October 20, 2024

Clever Me

October 20, 2024

The problem with scupper carts is that they always seem to need a third hand to set up, and that hand is usually attached to someone else, in which case you don't really need a scupper cart, do you? Newer models have a built-in kickstand that looks so useful, it got me thinking. For twelve dollar's worth of plumbing parts at Home Depot, I made this.

First, I cut a 1/4-inch slot out of the back side of the plastic tee. Then I cut a rubber drain union in two pieces which fit tightly between the tee and the cart tube. The hose clamps are the rest of the union, and can be adjusted to set the friction for holding the angle. The arm is a foot of schedule-40, not glued in, so I can pop it off when not in use. It is tied on to keep from losing it.

This old scupper cart has seen a lot of use, and this is a yuge improvement. Yuge, I tell you, yuge.

Update

Works great! You can sight the cart through the scupper holes to line it up. Fold the arm up before you go to keep it from hitting the ground.