Thursday, August 21, 2008

CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - August 21, 2008

This is the Cape May Birding Hotline, a service of New Jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird Observatory. This week's message was prepared on Thursday, August 21, 2008. Highlights this week include sightings of BUFFLEHEAD, HOODED MERGANSER, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, MERLIN, MARBLED GODWIT, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, WILSON'S PHALAROPE, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL, BLACK TERN, RUFOUS/ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD, WESTERN KINGBIRD, CERULEAN WARBLER, MOURNING WARBLER, LARK SPARROW, DICKCISSEL, and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD.

A RUFOUS/ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD was seen flying past the South Cape May Meadows/CMMBR on 8/14. Other reports from the Meadows included a LARK SPARROW on 8/14; multiple BLACK TERNS, numerous LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and the long-staying HOODED MERGANSER throughout the week.

The AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN and GLAUCOUS GULL continued at Brig/Forsythe NWR this week. The juvenile WHITE IBIS was re-found at Gull Pond on 8/19, and 2 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS have been reported with blackbird flocks throughout the week. LARK SPARROW, WILSON'S PHALAROPE, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE and MARBLED GODWIT were tallied here on 8/16.

MARBLED GODWITS were also recorded this week from Old Avalon Boulevard on 8/20, and from Bunker Pond (Cape May Point State Park) on 8/17 and 8/19.

Another YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was reported from the back edge of Bunker Pond on 8/20, and a MERLIN was noted flying over the State Park on 8/19. The BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was last reported from the State Park on 8/15.

Highlights from Higbee Beach WMA this week included MOURNING WARBLER on 8/14, DICKCISSEL on 8/15, WESTERN KINGBIRD on 8/16, and 2 CERULEAN WARBLERS on 8/19.

A BUFFLEHEAD was noted in the back bays behind Avalon on 8/17.


ANNOUNCEMENTS:
CMBO'S Northwood Center in Cape May Point will be open 7 days a week beginning SEPTEMBER 1. CMBO's Center for Research and Education in Goshen will remain on its current schedule.

Inventory Closures: CMBO's Northwood Center in Cape May Point will be closed on Monday, 8/25 and Tuesday, 8/26 for inventory. CMBO's Center for Research & Education in Goshen will be closed on Thursday, 8/28 and Friday, 8/29 for inventory. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

CMBO is offering a special to new and upgraded membership renewals. Join CMBO for the first time or upgrade from Individual or Family to The Hundred and receive Charley Harper's Migration Mainline- Cape May lithograph poster, valued at $50. Call either CMBO center to ask an associate about joining today!

******CMBO Bookstore FALL HOURS (starting September 1) are as follows: Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open 7 days a week, 9:30am to 4:30pm. The Center for Research and Education on Rt. 47 in Goshen is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9:30am to 4:30pm; closed Mondays.******

The Cape May Birding Hotline is a service of the New Jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird Observatory and details sightings from Cape May, Cumberland, and Atlantic Counties. Updates are made weekly. Please report sightings of rare or unusual birds to CMBO at 609-884-2736. Sponsorship for this hotline comes from the support of CMBO members and business members, and should you not be a member, we cordially invite you to join. Individual membership is $39 per year; $49 for families. You can call either center to become a member or visit. Become a member in person and you'll receive a FREE gift (in addition to member discount in the stores).

Good Luck and Good Birding!

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