Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Meadows Watch

Vince Elia has been checking the South Cape May Meadows a.k.a. TNC Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge most mornings, mainly from the observation platform. This morning he reports 14 Greater Yellowlegs, 4 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 Short-billed Dowitchers, 1 Willet (migrant), all on the move. In addition, 2 Spotted Sandpipers, 5 Least Sandpipers, 1 White-rumped Sandpiper, 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper (latter same birds as have been there), all feeding. Vince also had 3 Bank Swallows and a Caspian Tern, but only 5 Glossy Ibis, with no other long-legged wader movement.

My semi-daily cycle along the bay yielded a "new" Blue Grosbeak along the road to David C. Douglas Park, the park near the ferry terminal north of the canal. New means hasn't been there, likely a floating male. Also of note were 2 Great Blue Herons flying over Villas. Great Blues don't breed in the county, and are scarce in summer. I wonder if these birds were moving in response to the front that passed last night.

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