Three Finds in South Jersey 



BY ROBERT THOMAS MOORE 



Red-letter days are not so common to bird lovers as one 

 might infer from devouring the purple accounts of camping and 

 cruising ornithologists. With colony bird life the ordinary 

 bird lover has little to do. The populous islands and over- 

 crowding nests gleam and remain in the imagination, and are at 

 best but witching potentialities never actualized. If he would 

 contribute valuably to the store of bird knowledge he must sac- 

 rifice his gleaming visions on the altar of thorough study of the 

 commonplace. Occasionally, however, very occasionally, his 

 study trips are starred by finds ; he secures a rare bird or 

 chances upon nests unlisted before. And however much he 

 has been schooled by professional ornithologists to belittle his 

 feelings, he cannot help the heart-stopping thrill or altogether 

 check the frenzied shout. 



With the expectation of such a thrill I planned a trip to South- 

 ern New Jersey. The Pine Warbler and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 

 were immediate causes and attracting forces. The former, though 

 reported resident, has never had its nest recorded from the 

 State, and the latter both in person and home is exceedingly 

 rare. How often the clear monotone of the one or the flitting 

 blue form of the other had beckoned down the winter months. 

 At last May 13, 1908, arrived, and we started, my brother and 

 I, for Griscom Swamp. To reach it required fifty-three miles 

 of automobiling, by no means objectionable on a balmy May 

 morning. The rising sun had waked us and ushered in the 

 hottest day of the month, but the humidity was not excessive, 

 and an early start had sent us half our distance before the sun 

 had mustered all his forces. 



The trip was not all whirling monotony as long automobile 

 rides are apt to become. In the morning dusk rabbits darted 



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