Optimum time for viewing Snow Geese Migration in NJ?

[bobatkins]

Does anyone know when the Snow Goose migration at Brigantine NWR in

NJ usually peaks? I believe it's sometime in November but I can't seem

to find any hard data on the subject. I realize it's flexible (the

Geese don't have a calendar I guess) but I'm wondering if there's

a "most probable" time.

[don_baccus]

Ummm...have you tried calling Refuge Headquarters? Or does this one

not have a headquarters? As you note, it will vary from year-to-year,

and the Refuge will not only know the average times but should be

able to tell you if the migration looks to be early or late.

[jerome_smith]

I've always found the last 2 weeks in Nov./first 2 weeks in Dec. to

be optimum at Brig. for Snow Goose migration and staging. BTW, I

attended a slide show last nite given by Kevin Karlsen at Washington

Crossing (National) Audubon and he said that the refuge will allow

goose hunting on Wednesdays. Ugh. Can it be true? Photographers

beware!

[bobatkins]

I think the Wednesday hunting is only in September and October. There

was a notice to that effect last time I visited in August. The refuge

is, of course, closed to non-hunters on those days.

[ShunCheung]

Yesterday (November 7, 1998) I spent an afternooon at Brigantine.

There were quite a few snow geese there. However, I have seen a lot

more there before in the winter a few years ago, so I guess the

population hasn't "peak" yet (or has it past peak already?). Since I

don't go there in the winter very often, I don't have too many

reference points to compare with. Unfortunately, most of the geese

were pretty far away from the road so that photography was a bit

difficult.

[robert_p._boner]

I spent last Tuesday, Nov. 24, at Brigantine. The census taken the

previous Sunday indicated that there were in excess of 6000 snow

geese, 13000 Brandt, etc. There were a lot of birds. I got there

before sunrise and left after sunset. The morning was the best time

for photographing the geese. They were feeding right next to the

elevated road, and I could use the 500mm lens without TC. The rest of

the day I needed the 1.4 or the 2x, mostly the latter. I saw lots of

birds. Snow geese, brandt, black ducks, green winged teal, redheads,

mergansers, buffleheads, northern harriers, great blue heron, great

egret, and a whole bunch I couldn't identiy. As I was leaving, after

sunset, I saw 6 swans fly over. All in all, I had a great time. I hope

I got some decent photographs, but whether I did or not, it was a

great day.

[bobatkins]

To followup my own question, I spent the day at Brigantine NWR

yeterday (Dec 3rd). According to the refuge staff, snow geese

numbers had peaked already, but there were plenty of birds around.

 

<p>

 

As usual, a LONG lens was required to get decent shots from the

road. A 600/4 + 1.4x was about right to isolate a single bird

feeding close to the shore. The birds were as nervous

of humans with tripods as they usually are at Brigantine. There

was no way you could get out of the car, set up a tripod and leave

the road without the birds leaving first! Even cars driving by at

any speed seemed to upset them, but cars moving slowly were not

a problem.

 

<p>

 

I saw two waves of returning geese (many feed outside the refuge

during the day). The first wave came in around 2:30 - 2:45pm. The

second came in after sunset (about 4:45 - 5:00pm). There could

have been others, but you have to be in the right place at the

right time, and that's just luck.

 

<p>

 

There were lots of other birds around. A flock of red-winged

blackbirds, lots of pintails, various assorted raptors, gulls,

a few Canda geese, one or two egrets, but I didn't spot any herons

at all this time. The visitor log reported lots of different species

around (most of which I can't identify, not being a real birder).

There were reports of both bald and golden eagles. I've seen

bald eagles there several times (though not on this visit), but

I've never seen a golden eagle. The guy I spoke with said he saw

one a few days ago when it plucked a duck out of the air!