Brigantine NWR is 10 miles away from my house, so I get to visit it quit often. Although the variety of birds is nowhere near what I've seen in years past, it can still be very productive. Here is a summary of some of my resent trips:

December 2003

Visited the refuge a few times this month. Snow Geese are a common site. Fist look at a Barred Owl ( 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 ). I also saw this raptor (Red-shouldered? Broad-winged? Cooper's?)... Great Blue Heron is always a favorite subject for me. An American Coot feeding , a Belted Kingfisher with a last bite before sunset, and one of the 5-6 Pied-billed Grebes I saw.

September 2003

Was able to finally take a semi-OK picture of a Northern Harrier. Was also able to get very close to a Cattle Egret. First image of a Northern Bobwhite and Caspian Tern.

July 18-25 2003

I got my first Gull-billed Tern ( 1 ) a few shots of Black Skimmers ( 1 - 2 - 3 ) and some sunset images of Glossy Ibis ( 1 - 2 ). Shore bird numbers are steadily increasing ( 1 ).