We had an eventful birding by boat trip yesterday — including a balky engine, an extremely high tide, and solid looks at a vehicle-carrier fire along the Turnpike.

Had lots of great looks at cool birds as well, including quite a show by hundreds of Semipalmated Sandpipers hanging out by the River Barge Park docks at high tide.

A link to John Pastore’s photos of the adventure cruise is here. (Thanks to John for the photo above as well.)

Stay tuned: A second “birding by Boat” pontoon-boat cruise is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 27.

Denise Farrell’s list of birds seen along the way follows. (Thanks, Denise!)

River Barge Park, Bergen County, New Jersey,
Thu Jul 25, 2013 10:00 AM
Party Size: 14
Duration: 2 hour(s), 15 minute(s)
Comments: Birding by Boat with the BCAS and NJMC
24 species total

Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Green Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Forster’s Tern
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Barn Swallow
Marsh Wren
American Robin
European Starling
Swamp Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird