CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - THURSDAY MARCH 4 2010

Hotline: Cape May Birding Hotline
To Report: call (609) 884-2736, or email sightings@birdcapemay.org
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic Counties , NJ
Compiler: David Lord, Cape May Bird Observatory with additions by Don Freiday
URL: http://www.njaudubon.org ; http://www.birdcapemay.org

This is the Cape May Birding Hotline, a service of New Jersey Audubon's Cape May Bird Observatory. This week's message was prepared on Thursday, March 4, 2010. Highlights this week include sightings of NORTHERN SHRIKE, RAZORBILL, BLACK-HEADED GULL, KING EIDER, HARLEQUIN DUCK, COMMON EIDERS, SANDHILL CRANES, EURASIAN WIGEON, REDHEAD, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, SHORT-EARED OWL, and apparent arrivals of AMERICAN BITTERN, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON and an announcement about the CMBO annual Optics Sale March 13-14, 2010.

A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen at the Natural Lands Trust's Peek Preserve in Millville, Cumberland County on Wednesday, March 03, 2010.

A RAZORBILL was seen at the Coast Guard Jetty on Thursday, February 25, 2010. The immature male KING EIDER was seen at the same location on Saturday, February 27, 2010. The Coast Guard Jetty is viewable only by looking north from Poverty Beach, and this bird may be at a great distance.

One of the BLACK-HEADED GULLS was found at the end of Miami Avenue in the Villas on the morning of Wednesday, March 03, 2010. Look for these birds from Cape May Point north along the bay at places like Sunset Beach, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal, the mouth of Cox Hall Creek, and the end of Miami Ave. in the Villas.

Groups of up to 4 HARLEQUIN DUCKS and 60 or so COMMON EIDERS have been noted in Townsend's Inlet seen from Avalon, reported last on Sunday, February 28th, 2010. Viewing of these birds is best from the end of 3rd Avenue or the 8th Street Jetty.

The two Cape Island wintering SANDHILL CRANES were seen Sunday, February 28, 2010 in the field between St. Mary's Cemetery and The Assembly of God Church along Seashore Rd./Broadway.

Two drake EURASIAN WIGEONS were seen at Lighthouse Pond on Saturday, February, 27, 2010. The drake REDHEAD was reported there Wednesday March 3 2010.

A dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was observed at Husted's Landing Road, Cumberland County on Monday, March 1st, 2010.

Three SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen on the morning of Sunday, February 28th, 2010, at the end of Turkey Point Road in Cumberland County.

An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen flying over the Marsh on the west side of Avalon on Sunday February, 28th 2010.

An adult BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen along Ocean Drive on Sunday, February 28th, 2010.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

CMBO's Fifteenth Annual Optics Sale will be Saturday and Sunday, March 13 and 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the CMBO Center for Research and Education in Goshen. A large selection of closeout, demo, factory-refurbished, new and used optics will be priced to move. Binoculars and spotting scopes from all major brands will be available. There are no advance or phone orders: first come, first served. You must be a member of NJAS or CMBO to take advantage of these great deals, so join today if you’re not already a member.

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 WINTER HOURS are as follows: Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open Wednesday through Monday, 9:30am to 4:30pm; closed Tuesdays. The Center for Research and Education on Rt. 47 in Goshen is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30am to 4:30pm (but open Sunday March 14 for the Optics Sale); closed Mondays and Tuesdays. ******

The Cape May Birding Hotline is a service of the New Jersey Audubon'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 discounts in the stores).
Good Luck and Good Birding!