Report of a female FRIGATEBIRD sp.

I just received an email from Pete Bacinski from NJAS Sandy Hook Bird Observatory that there was a report of a female FRIGATEBIRD sp. seen on 7/29. The bird was seen from the Cape May/Lewes Ferry (closer to Lewes DE.) as the bird followed along side the ferry for about five minutes.

If you are in Cape May, Delaware or happen to be riding the ferry in the near future keep an eye out for this bird. There have been a number of sightings of this species from this region in the last few years. The most recent that comes to mind was this very spring.

Good luck.

Fledglings, Peregrine, Western S.P., and Juvenile Least Sandpiper at the Meadows

Extreme humidity and rumbling thunder didn't dissuade CMBO's Monday morning Cape May meadows walk.

Many Least Tern chicks remain within the colony at the meadows (a.k.a. TNC's Cape May Migratory Refuge), with their parents. Some of these are still downy and flightless, especially those east of the east path, which is the place to go if you want to watch chicks being fed and learning to fly. All the tern chicks beg incessantly - after each feeding you can almost hear the adults mutter, 'I can't believe this kid eats so much!"

While we were watching the terns and gulls by the Plover Pond, a Peregrine Falcon put all to flight and proceeded to fly south out over the bay and out of sight in the distant sea fog, apparently headed to Delaware. It was too far and too fast to assess age or race. It's also completely possible that this bird will fly back over to the meadows tomorrow, they do that now and then!

My favorite bird of the day was a juvenile Least Sandpiper, bright and shiny with upperpart feathers edged in orange-rufous. This was the second juvenile shorebird I've seen this "fall," the first being yesterday's Lesser Yellowlegs. A Black-bellied Plover, heard as a flyby before the walk, was another first of fall for me. A Western Sandpiper, quite white-headed as they often are this time of year, fed in the impoundment east of the east path (the path with the tower along it). This is where most of the shorebirds are.

Today's complete list follows.

Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 7/30/07
Notes: CMBO's Monday morning walk
Number of species: 59
Canada Goose 50
Mute Swan 2
Mallard 10 a family group was feeding on rye seeds along path
Northern Bobwhite 1
Brown Pelican 1
Great Egret 5
Snowy Egret 10
Green Heron 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 3
Glossy Ibis 35 flyovers all
Osprey 3 2 perched together on the nest platform
Cooper's Hawk 1 almost certainly from the state park nest
Peregrine Falcon 1 flew over, flushed everything from the plover ponds, headed south over the bay and disappeared
Black-bellied Plover 1 heard before walk, first one in NJ this "fall" for me
Semipalmated Plover 10
Piping Plover 2
Killdeer 5
American Oystercatcher 3
Greater Yellowlegs 5
Lesser Yellowlegs 10
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Sanderling 30
Semipalmated Sandpiper 20
Western Sandpiper 1
Least Sandpiper 40 Included the first juvenile of fall for me
Pectoral Sandpiper 4
Stilt Sandpiper 1
Short-billed Dowitcher 10
Laughing Gull 30
Ring-billed Gull 20
Herring Gull 20
Great Black-backed Gull 30
Royal Tern 1
Common Tern 20
Forster's Tern 5
Least Tern 60
Black Skimmer 10
Rock Pigeon 1
Mourning Dove 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
American Crow 2
Purple Martin 20
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 5
Barn Swallow 10
American Robin 5
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 2
Cedar Waxwing 5
Yellow Warbler 5 all flybys
Common Yellowthroat 3
Song Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 1
Indigo Bunting 5 all flybys
Red-winged Blackbird 15
Common Grackle 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
House Finch 5
House Sparrow 5
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

10 (!) Stilt Sandpipers at Cape May Point State Park, also first juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs

An hour's birding today at Cape May Point State Park, focused on Bunker Pond (which is where I suggest any birders visiting the state park focus at this time of year) yielded a nice selection of shorebirds. The highlight for me was the first juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs I've seen this "fall," which was also the first juvenile anything, shorebird wise, I've seen this fall as well. Juv. shorebirds are special for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is that they somehow find their way south without parental guidance. In most species, adults depart the breeding grounds about a month before the juveniles do.

Juvenile shorebirds, by the way, are universally characterized by feathers in uniform condition (all are brand new, having been grown as the bird passed out of the downy stage on the breeding grounds) and the feathers are usually in very good condition when the juvenile birds first arrive in Cape May or elswhere in the mid-Atlantic. Juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs show fresh upperparts, the brownish ground color laced with well-defined white spots.

Another highlight was a total of 10 Stilt Sandpipers, all adults in breeding plumage, some more vivid than others. On an outward walk past Bunker Pond, the Stilt Sands were scattered, but on the return they had coalesced into a single flock on the "shorebird island" of the pond, joining dowitchers and yellowlegs there.

Five Solitary Sandpipers belied their name by flying over the parking area in a group, circling once, and continuing on across the Delaware Bay, and Yellow Warblers and Indigo Buntings continue to "seep" and "bzzt" overhead.

This mornings complete list is below.

Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 7/29/07
Number of species: 41
Canada Goose 10
Mute Swan 35
Mallard 20 included a brood of ~12, very recently hatched
Great Blue Heron 8
Great Egret 15
Snowy Egret 5
Glossy Ibis 1
Osprey 4
Semipalmated Plover 2
Killdeer 5
Greater Yellowlegs 10 ratio between greater and lesser has increased this week
Lesser Yellowlegs 20 includes the first juvenile of year for me
Solitary Sandpiper 6
Sanderling 200 included obs on beach of SCMM, new high count for me
Semipalmated Sandpiper 20
Western Sandpiper 2
Least Sandpiper 20
Pectoral Sandpiper 3
Stilt Sandpiper 10 at first the stilts were scattered, then coalesced into one flock at "shorebird island" in Bunker Pond
Short-billed Dowitcher 20
Laughing Gull 25
Ring-billed Gull 10
Herring Gull 2
Gull-billed Tern 2
Common Tern 5
Forster's Tern 5
Least Tern 20
Black Skimmer 2
Rock Pigeon 15
Mourning Dove 5
Eastern Kingbird 1 No sign of activity at the nest near Bunker Pond
Purple Martin 50
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 5
Yellow Warbler 2
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 1
Indigo Bunting 5
Red-winged Blackbird 5
Common Grackle 2
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 10
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Cape May Point State Park Saturday

Karl Lukens reports the following from CMBO's Saturday 7/28/07 walk at Cape May Point State Park:

A nice variety of shore and land birds this morning. Brown Pelicans off-shore, Black and Gull-billed Terns in Bunker Pond along with numerous waders including 1 white Little Blue. Shore birds included Least, Semi- sands, SB dowitchers, 2 Stilt, 3 spotted, & 1 Solitary Sandpiper. Woods birds included, 5-6 Orchard Orioles, 2 Yellow Warblers, Blue Grosbeak, 3 Indigo Buntings, as well as Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. The complete list is below:

SPECIES SEEN 7/28/2007 in Cape May Point
71 species seen

Brown Pelican 3
Great Blue Heron 11
Great Egret 20
Little Blue Heron 1
Snowy Egret 25
Black-crowned Night-Heron 2
Glossy Ibis 5
Mute Swan 35
Canada Goose 18
Mallard 35
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 3
American Oystercatcher 1 /h
Semipalmated Plover 10
Killdeer 12
Piping Plover 2
Short-billed Dowitcher 18
Whimbrel 1
Greater Yellowlegs 5
Lesser Yellowlegs 20
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Sanderling 12
Semipalmated Sandpiper 12
Least Sandpiper 30
Pectoral Sandpiper 2
Stilt Sandpiper 2
Great Black-backed Gull 10
American Herring Gull 10
Laughing Gull 50
Gull-billed Tern 1
Common Tern 10
Forster's Tern 20
Least Tern 70
Black Tern 1
Black Skimmer 1
Rock Pigeon 8
Mourning Dove 6
Chimney Swift 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 3
Eastern Kingbird 2
Purple Martin 25
Tree Swallow 8
Barn Swallow 8
Cedar Waxwing 3
Carolina Wren 7
House Wren 4
Gray Catbird 3
Northern Mockingbird 3
American Robin 3
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 6
European Starling 12
House Sparrow 20
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 2
Yellow Warbler 2
Prairie Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 6
Yellow-breasted Chat 1 /h
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 4
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 3
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 3
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Orchard Oriole 5

Eastern Kingbirds at Citizen's Bank Park (and the Phillies Win!)

Vince Elia, research associate at Cape May Bird Observatory, remarked to me a while ago that, "I'm never not birding." So it is with all birders, I think.


So, for example, while enjoying the Philadelphia Phillies' triumph over the Pirates last night at Citizen's Bank Park in the city, I also enjoyed three Eastern Kingbirds which fed from the cables holding up the screen behind home plate. Seeing these marvelous and very wild birds ensconced in such a human-dominated environment surprised me, a pleasure that far surpassed the expected Rock Pigeons, House Sparrows, and gulls floating overhead, and maybe even the game, too.


During the national anthem, one kingbird sallied repeatedly into left field, snatching up moths barely above the turf. The moths, I guessed, were drawn by and then confused by the stadium lights.


As soon as the players took the field and Jamie Moyer threw his first pitch (a strike), the kingbirds flew steadily towards the left field wall and disappeared over it, not to return that night. They had been present and feeding for at least 45 minutes before that point. I wonder how many fans noticed? It helped, I suppose, to be carrying some fine German optics to watch the game, and the birds. . .

CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE July 28, 2007

CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE July 28, 2007You have reached the Cape May Birding Hotline, a service of New Jersey Audubon Society’s Cape May Bird Observatory. This week’s message was prepared on Saturday July 28, 2007. Highlights this week include sightings of ROSEATE SPOONBILL, NORTHERN GANNET, GULL-BILLED TERN, BLACK TERN, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, MARBLED GODWIT and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

We are pleased to announce the launch of CMBO’s new, dynamic website; www.BirdCapeMay.org. This site promises to be a virtual Cape May if you will. With daily to semi-daily sightings reports you can log on to see what is happening in Cape May in real time. Now, you can bird Cape May every day.


Now for the hotline;

EDIT: A report just came in that the ROSEATE SPOONBILL was seen last night, 7/27.

The ROSEATE SPOONBILL continues to be seen at Brigantine NWR as of 7/24. The bird is still being seen in the area of the gull pond tower in the morning and evening.

LEAST BITTERNS continue to make routine flights around gull pond for observers waiting to see the spoonbill.

Also at Brigantine NWR were two CATTLE EGRETS, multitudes of shorebirds and a report of a VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW on 7/24. There have been no further reports of this swallow species.

NORTHERN GANNETS have been reported flying past and feeding off the coast of Cape May in the last week.

Two to four GULL-BILLED TERNS continue to be seen easily from the Cape May Point State Park. Look for the small flocks of terns roosting on the “sand bar” in Bunker pond. Or, look for these birds flying over Lighthouse pond.

Also seen at the State Park today 7/28, a basic plumage BLACK TERN which has been frequently seen around Bunker Pond.

A first summer LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen roosting with GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS on the beach at the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge on 7/25.

A MARBLED GODWIT was seen at Stone Harbor Point, yesterday, 7/27.

Lastly, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS seem to be showing up in various places this week. One was at Stone Harbor Point on 7/27 as well as two to three at Brigantine NWR on 7/26.

2nd ANNOUNCEMENT:

The Northwood Center will be closed on Monday 7/30 and Tuesday 7/31 for inventory. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.


CMBO Bookstore hours are as follows; Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point; summer hours, Wednesday- Monday 9:30-4:30. The Northwood Center will be closed on Tuesdays. The Center for Research and Education on Rt. 47 in Goshen is open Tuesday- Sunday 9:30- 4:30. At least one CMBO center will be open everyday to serve our members needs.


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 $35 per year; $45 for families. You can call either center to become a member or visit. Become a member in person and you’ll receive your choice of a FREE gift (in addition to member discount in the stores).

Good Luck and Good Birding!

Delaware Shorebirds, View from the Ferry (including a dead Leatherback)

CMBO's School of Birding workshop, "Adult Shorebirds Peaking at Bombay Hook," on Wednesday and Thursday enjoyed just that - abundant shorebirds, in breeding dress for the most part, though returning adult shorebirds at this time of year are in worn plumage and many have begun to molt in the gray feathers of non-breeding plumage.

Perhaps the best spot was Taylor's Gut at Woodland Beach Wildlife Area, along route 9 north of Bombay Hook. Go there at high tide, it's too dry at other times, and in the morning for the best light conditions. This is a great spot to study peep, with scores of Semi-palmated and Least Sandpipers, and many Western Sandpipers to compare. A Black Tern in breeding plumage flew over while we were there Thursday, and a little later a very dark juvenile Peregrine Falcon blew all the birds out - if you arrived after the Peregrine, you would think there wasn't a shorebird in Delaware! A river otter fished in the "gut" behind us as well, occasionally surfacing at close range.

Raymond Pool at Bombay Hook held it's usual array of Black-necked Stilts and Avocets, hundreds of dowitchers, dozens of Stilt Sandpipers, two different-plumaged Wilson's Phalaropes, and an early juvenile Bonaparte's Gull. We worked hard to pick out Long-billed Dowitchers and found (and heard) several.

Thanks to the gracious folks at Bombay Hook NWR, who allowed us to use the Visitor Center auditorium, we held indoor sessions with slides each afternoon, after which participants could again hit the field to practice what we learned.

At Port Mahon, shorebirds still fed on horseshoe crab eggs on the bayshore (crabs continue spawning well into summer), and we found two breeding plumage red knots likely on their return trip. We also found a Semipalmated Sandpiper banded with a white flag, which means it came somewhere from Canada, and a Ruddy Turnstone with green bands on both legs and a green flag (greens means U.S., likely this bird was banded by NJDEP along the NJ side of the bay).

On the ferry trip back across to Cape May Thursday evening, I counted over 150 Snowy Egrets roosting on the Lewes breakwater at dusk, and a sadly dead huge (5' shell length) Leatherback sea turtle floated past the boat, easily identified by its lack of scutes. Unlike other turtles, the leatherback has no visible hard shell; instead, it has a carapace made up of hundreds of irregular bony plates covered with a leathery skin appearing segmented in longitudinal rows.

The full workshop lists are below:

Location: Bombay Hook NWR
Observation date: 7/26/07
Notes: CMBO's 2 day shorebird workshop. This is a composite list from 2 days of observation, total 12 hours in the field.
Number of species: 67
Canada Goose 30
Mallard 6
Green-winged Teal 15
Northern Bobwhite 2
Great Blue Heron 10
Great Egret 30
Snowy Egret 60
Tricolored Heron 1
Glossy Ibis 300
Turkey Vulture 10
Osprey 5
Bald Eagle 3
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestrel 2
Clapper Rail 2
Semipalmated Plover 5
Killdeer 5
Black-necked Stilt 40
American Avocet 120
Greater Yellowlegs 20
Lesser Yellowlegs 60
Semipalmated Sandpiper 50
Western Sandpiper 10
Least Sandpiper 20
Stilt Sandpiper 30
Short-billed Dowitcher 300
Long-billed Dowitcher 5
Wilson's Phalarope 2 1 male/winter; 1 male or worn/molting female
Laughing Gull 10
Bonaparte's Gull 1 A surprise, very brown-backed juvenile
Great Black-backed Gull 10
Caspian Tern 2
Forster's Tern 20
Black Skimmer 2
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 20
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 5
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 3
Willow Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 10
Purple Martin 30
Tree Swallow 30
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 10
Bank Swallow 30
Barn Swallow 30
Carolina Chickadee 1
Carolina Wren 2
House Wren 1
Marsh Wren 5
American Robin 5
Gray Catbird 5
Northern Mockingbird 2
Cedar Waxwing 10
Field Sparrow 1
Seaside Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal 5
Blue Grosbeak 4
Indigo Bunting 4
Bobolink 5
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Common Grackle 5
Brown-headed Cowbird 40
Orchard Oriole 4 at least 1 adult feeding 3 flying young
House Finch 5
House Sparrow 2

Location: Woodland Beach Wildlife Area
Observation date: 7/26/07
Notes: CMBO's shorebird workshop. Also saw River Otter!
Number of species: 51
Canada Goose 10
Northern Bobwhite 1
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 5
Snowy Egret 10
Little Blue Heron 1
Green Heron 1
Glossy Ibis 10
Black Vulture 6
Turkey Vulture 15
Osprey 2
Bald Eagle 1
Peregrine Falcon 1 Very dark juvenile came in and blew everything out.
Semipalmated Plover 5
Killdeer 5
Black-necked Stilt 6
Greater Yellowlegs 5
Lesser Yellowlegs 15
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Semipalmated Sandpiper 300
Western Sandpiper 20
Least Sandpiper 100
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Stilt Sandpiper 20
Short-billed Dowitcher 40
Long-billed Dowitcher 1
Laughing Gull 10
Ring-billed Gull 5
Forster's Tern 10
Black Tern 1
Mourning Dove 5
American Crow 5
Fish Crow 1
Purple Martin 5
Tree Swallow 10
Bank Swallow 10
Barn Swallow 10
Carolina Wren 1
Marsh Wren 4
Eastern Bluebird 1
American Robin 5
Gray Catbird 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Seaside Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 5
Indigo Bunting 1
Bobolink 10
Red-winged Blackbird 5
Common Grackle 2
House Finch 1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Location: Port Mahon
Observation date: 7/26/07
Notes: CMBO's shorebird workshop. Apparently the birds were feeding on horseshoe crab eggs, many dead crabs in evidence.
Number of species: 8
Osprey 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 10
Ruddy Turnstone 5 1 with two green bands and one green flag on l leg.
Red Knot 2
Sanderling 10
Semipalmated Sandpiper 100 1 with a white flag on r leg - from Canada.
Laughing Gull 50
Forster's Tern 5
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Nummy Island and Cape May Point State Park

This morning we decided to try and see what shorebirds might be up on Nummy Island at high tide. Unfortunately, I was wrong and there we not too many shorebirds using the island this morning. It did look like there was a good number of birds on Stone Harbor Point but given the grey overcast conditions we didn't scope over that way too much.

Since not much was going on at Nummy, we headed down to the Cape May Point State Park. Finally got good looks at the Black tern that has been hanging out around Bunker pond. Also a total of four Gull-billed terns in the park, 2 on Bunker pond and two flying over Lighthouse pond. The list of species observed is below.

Location: Nummy Island
Observation date: 7/26/07
Number of species: 27
Canada Goose 15
Great Blue Heron 5
Great Egret 67
Snowy Egret 54
Little Blue Heron 3
Tricolored Heron 4
Black-crowned Night-Heron 6
Glossy Ibis 2
Osprey 2
Semipalmated Plover 6
Killdeer 3
American Oystercatcher 2
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 4
Least Sandpiper 5
Short-billed Dowitcher 8
Laughing Gull 350
Herring Gull 3
Great Black-backed Gull 6
Common Tern 75
Forster's Tern 15
Black Skimmer 49
Seaside Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 2
Red-winged Blackbird 12
Common Grackle 4
Boat-tailed Grackle 18
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 7/26/07
Number of species: 44
Canada Goose 34
Mute Swan 54
Mallard 16
Great Blue Heron 13
Great Egret 22
Snowy Egret 24
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 3
Semipalmated Plover 6
Piping Plover 3
Killdeer 14
Greater Yellowlegs 8
Lesser Yellowlegs 23
Semipalmated Sandpiper 4
Least Sandpiper 46
Short-billed Dowitcher 25
Laughing Gull 150
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Gull-billed Tern 4
Common Tern 15
Forster's Tern 34
Least Tern 75
Black Tern 1
Rock Pigeon 6
Mourning Dove 12
Eastern Kingbird 1
White-eyed Vireo 6
Purple Martin 30
Tree Swallow 10
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3
Barn Swallow 15
Carolina Chickadee 8
Carolina Wren 12
American Robin 16
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 2
Cedar Waxwing 6
Yellow Warbler 3
Common Yellowthroat 14
Northern Cardinal 6
Red-winged Blackbird 6
Common Grackle 4
Orchard Oriole 2
House Sparrow 5
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

ROSEATE SPOONBILL still being seen at Brigantine NWR

This was emailed to me from one of CMBO's Associate Naturalists. Evidently, this bird is still a possibility for those of you who have yet to try and see it. Good luck.


"The Roseate Spoonbill flew into the Gull/Heron Pond about 6:50 pm this evening providing good views in the pond feeding and roosting in the trees. About 7:15 pm it flew out toward the N. Dike."

Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge

My arm was twisted this morning to visit the CMMBR again as we decided to look for any new shorebirds that might have flown in the last few days. A list of species observed is below.

Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 7/24/07
Number of species: 50
Canada Goose 30
Mallard 2
Northern Bobwhite 1
Northern Gannet 1
Snowy Egret 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Glossy Ibis 3
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 3
Semipalmated Plover 13
Piping Plover 2
Killdeer 6
American Oystercatcher 5
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 3
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 4
Least Sandpiper 36
Pectoral Sandpiper 2
Laughing Gull 250
Herring Gull 20
Great Black-backed Gull 25
Forster's Tern 40
Least Tern 75
Black Skimmer 2
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 3
Chimney Swift 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
White-eyed Vireo 1
American Crow 2
Purple Martin 12
Tree Swallow 135
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3
Barn Swallow 15
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 4
Yellow Warbler 5
Common Yellowthroat 7
Song Sparrow 6
Northern Cardinal 3
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 2
Red-winged Blackbird 8
Common Grackle 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 21
House Finch 9
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 11
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Juvenile Bonaparte's Gull and Wilson'sPhalarope (but not in Cape May)

Wilson's Storm-petrels went undetected from the 7:30 a.m.Cape May-Lewes Ferry trip this morning, but a different Wilson's was waiting at Bombay Hook NWR in Delaware - that being a male/winter Wilson's Phalarope. Floating next to it, in fact feeding very much like it come to think of it, was a juvenile gull that stopped me for a moment. After rewinding some mental tape as to the difference between juv. Sabine's and Bonaparte's Gulls, I and a birder from Salisbury MD concluded it was indeed the more common, but still unusually early, Bonaparte's.

Things are looking good for CMBO's Shorebird Workshop Wednesday and Thursday. Besides the phalarope, dowitchers are plentiful down here, including at least 5 adult Long-billed amidst the many Short-billed. This means it's time to look for Long-billeds in Cape May, or up at Brig. The bulk of Long-billed Dowitcher migration in the mid-Atlantic comes much later, but the first adults begin trickling through in late July.

Other highlights today included the many Black-necked Stilts, American Avocets, a dozen or more Stilt Sandpipers, quite a number of Western Sandpipers amidst the Semis and Leasts, both Yellowlegs, Black Tern, Bald Eagles, Blue Grosbeaks, Northern Bobwhites. . . not all shorebirds, it's true, but good stuff nonetheless.

Least Tern Fledgling Photo

Here's a look at a one of the Least Tern fledglings mentioned in my previous post. Photo (c) Karl Lukens.

An evening at the Cape May Point State Park- 7/22/07

Since it was such a beautiful day yesterday, after work we decided to take a stroll around the State Park to see if we could find the Black tern that has been hanging around the last couple of days.

Well, no luck with the tern but a list of what we did observe is below. With the rain this morning I'm glad I took that walk yesterday. Migration just isn't strong enough yet for me to want to get out of bed and bird in the rain.

Location: Cape May County, NJ, US
Observation date: 7/23/07
Notes: Cape May Point State Park
Number of species: 48
Canada Goose 34
Mute Swan 50
Mallard 25
Great Blue Heron 18
Great Egret 8
Snowy Egret 1
Glossy Ibis 2
Osprey 4
Cooper's Hawk 3 - young birds, fledged from a nest at the St. Park. They were quite obvious as they were chasing each other around and calling quite a bit.

Semipalmated Plover 4
Piping Plover 1
Killdeer 12
Greater Yellowlegs 6
Lesser Yellowlegs 10
Solitary Sandpiper 2
Least Sandpiper 48
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 50
Herring Gull 35
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Common Tern X
Forster's Tern 26
Least Tern 50
Rock Pigeon 18
Mourning Dove 12
Chimney Swift 6
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Kingbird 6
Fish Crow 3
Purple Martin 25
Tree Swallow 13
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 10
Barn Swallow 12
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 3
House Wren 1
American Robin 4
Northern Mockingbird 2
Cedar Waxwing 3
Northern Cardinal 4
Indigo Bunting 2
Bobolink 2
Red-winged Blackbird 16
Common Grackle 6
Orchard Oriole 4
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)

Fledged Least Terns and Staging Swallows

This morning's CMBO walk at the South Cape May Meadows (TNC's Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge) ducked between showers and featured breezy conditions, great light for birding including incredibly clear viewing offshore (we could see the Ocean City, Maryland water tower), and evidence of the way birds shift across the continent like desert sands.

In the shifting department, the first accumulation of tree swallows made the dunes seem festive - we estimated over 300 total swallows, including 250 Tree Swallows. Many of these rested for extended periods on the dunes, in between foraging flights. A Belted Kingfisher appeared, the first I've seen at the meadows since the site re-opened. The ratio of Least Sandpipers to Semi-palmated Sandpipers has begun to tilt towards the Semis, though the Leasts still are substantially more common and may continue to be at the meadows if conditions stay the same. Plain, unvegetated mud and shallow water are in short supply, and that's the habitat the Semis prefer. The Leasts are quite happy with the small areas of moist soil with vegetation growing on it.

6 Juvenile Gannets was a highish count for July, and the rips were alive with birds but too far out to do much with. Sanderlings numbered over 100 on the beach.

Many fledgling Least Terns followed their parents around over the meadows, giving their plaintive two-note whistles, and some even ventured offshore. We watched one drop to the ocean and grab. . . a piece of seaweed. Good attempt, anyhow. I've watched juvenile herons "catch" and drop sticks repeatedly, all part of the learning process.

The wind made hearing flyovers a bit of a challenge, but a few Yellow Warblers, Bobolinks, and Indigo Buntings were passing. One of the participants asked, "You mean that 'bzzzt'?" when I called out an Indigo; I couldn't have described it better.

We had some interesting discussion on counting birds, which is difficult. With the peep, for example, I tried to come up with a total number of birds and then figure the ratio of Leasts to Semis, though looking back (and if I hadn't been leading a walk and had the time) I might have been better off doing two actual counts, one for each species, as I scoped the mud). The e-bird site has some interesting discussion on counting. One point made is that if you don't count and just list species, the data you enter will indicate that, say, Pectoral Sandpipers are as common as Least Sandpipers, which they clearly are not.

It's important to remember that a field count does not represent how many birds there were; it is only how many birds were seen (or heard), and even at that will be imprecise for most species. But over time, counting can reveal patterns in populations.

Today's list is below.

Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 7/23/07
Notes: CMBO Monday walk, with K & J Lukens, T Parsons, S Weiss + participants
Number of species: 51
Canada Goose 40
Mute Swan 2
Northern Bobwhite 1
Northern Gannet 6 All juvs, fishing off 2nd ave.
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 1 notably absent in the meadows, as were snowies - did they eat all the fish?
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 5
Semipalmated Plover 10
Piping Plover 6
Killdeer 5
American Oystercatcher 3
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 5
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Spotted Sandpiper 5
Sanderling 100 highest count so far
Semipalmated Sandpiper 40 increased since last walk
Least Sandpiper 60
Pectoral Sandpiper 2
Short-billed Dowitcher 5
Laughing Gull 500
Ring-billed Gull 20
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 40
Common Tern 10
Forster's Tern 10
Least Tern 100 Many of the young are now flying well and following the adults around in the Meadows and offshore, giving a whiny two-noted whistle similar to but not as harsh as that of the adults. We watched one juv. drop to the surface of the ocean and pick up a bit of seaweed, still has some learning to do.
Black Skimmer 5
Mourning Dove 5
Chimney Swift 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Belted Kingfisher 1 first in a long time at the Meadows
American Crow 5
Purple Martin 20
Tree Swallow 250 Shades of staging to come, this is the first aggregation of tree swallows at the Meadows we've heard about.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 20
Barn Swallow 50
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 4 3 birds including at least one juv on dunes at east crossover
Yellow Warbler 5 3 overhead, 2 flew up out of the bayberry, and back down again
Common Yellowthroat 4
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 5
Indigo Bunting 5 1 singing at lot, 4 overhead
Bobolink 5
Red-winged Blackbird 15
Common Grackle 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
House Finch 15
House Sparrow 5
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Higbee Beach WMA

This morning I decided to see what passerines the northerly winds over night might have blown down to the Cape. One thing I found out; the deerflies are still thick in areas of Higbee, especially around the pond.

The bird of the morning has to be the Great horned owl that flushed from the east side of the second field. It was a tail end view the whole way but the bird flew the length of the field affording me the ability to study a seldom seen view of this species.

Other nature notes:

Butterflies, in no particular order;
- Common wood-nymph, Monarch, Variegated fritillary, Summer azure, Spicebush swallowtail, Tiger swallowtail, Cabbage white, Red-spotted purple, Sachem and at least one other Skipper sp., Horace's duskywing, Eastern comma, Red admiral, Common buckeye.

Dragonflies, in no particular order. In fact I know even fewer dragonflies so the list is short.
- Green darner, Swamp darner, Common whitetail, Twelve-spotted skimmer, Black saddlebags, Halloween pennant.


Location: Cape May County, NJ, US
Observation date: 7/22/07
Notes: Higbee Beach WMA
Number of species: 37
Snowy Egret 1
Green Heron 1
Osprey 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Laughing Gull 50
Mourning Dove 14
Great Horned Owl 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 2
White-eyed Vireo 7
American Crow 1
Purple Martin 6
Tree Swallow 3
Barn Swallow 4
Carolina Chickadee 17
Tufted Titmouse 3
Carolina Wren 22
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 8
American Robin 12
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 5
Cedar Waxwing 4
Yellow Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 2
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Field Sparrow 12
Northern Cardinal 6
Blue Grosbeak 3
Indigo Bunting 7
Red-winged Blackbird 28
Common Grackle 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 45
Orchard Oriole 1- carrying food
House Finch 4
American Goldfinch 2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

This just in.....CMBO Cape May Point State Park walk

The list of birds below was just emailed to me from one of the walk leaders. Looks like heading out on a CMBO walk might be a good idea.

Good walk this morning. "Good" birds were;
1 Black Tern
2 Gull-billed Terns at Bunker pond,
Peregrine Falcon
1 Mississippi Kite- JG note-very good bird this time of year!
2-3 Yellow Warblers
1 Blue Grosbeak
3 Orchard Orioles.

Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge (CMMBR)

First, I'd like to say sorry if anyone had any issues with the map I photo shopped yesterday. I anticipated that the photo would be displayed at a larger size. I guess you can chalk it up to a new website in it infancy. As with all sites there is constant tweaking to be done and bugs to be worked out.

That leads me to ponder; where did we get the phrase "bugs to be worked out"? Anyone have any ideas? Feel free to email if you know.

Today is one of those days......it's so gorgeous outside that hate to think of having to be inside at work all day. Even worse I had a hard time deciding where to go birding. With the passage of a cool front (fall's here!) I thought, maybe Higbee would be good to try for a few of the early passerine migrants. But, since I had predicted that shorebirds would be showing up in numbers I figured that I'd try the CMMBR again.

I still maintain that the property needs a good bit more water to be truly a great shorebirding spot. Though, there were slightly inflated numbers of some species in comparison to my visit there last week. Least sandpiper numbers certainly have grown at the CMMBR. Just a note for anyone who is planning on birding this location. Most all of the shorebirds I encountered were seen from the east trail (the one closer to town) and all on the east side of the trail. Most who are not familiar with the geography of the Cape would think that what I am calling east is north, just something to keep in mind.

So following in Don Freiday's footsteps, I have decide to use e-Bird to keep track of my sightings as well as make posting a list in it's entirety easier. In fact, I would encourage all of you to use e-Bird for keeping record of your sightings. Not only does it do most of the work for you, you are contributing to science as well. For those whom are unfamiliar with e-Bird, check it out at https://ebird.org/content/ebird/index.html

My most exciting observations of the morning were 3 Northern gannets flying south over the ocean. By the way there were big numbers of birds moving around out there today. Mostly Laughing gulls and various terns but all in pretty good numbers. The second was hearing the resident Northern bobwhite calling in the distance. Bobwhite is a good bird on the island with only a pair or two left. I was lucky enough to see a male with three chicks at the back feeders of the Northwood Center last summer.


This time my list is in a particular order. An "X" by a species mean that there were numbers present and I did not make note of exact counts. More than 100 would probably be a good bench mark.

Location: Cape May County, NJ, US
Observation date: 7/21/07
Notes: Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge
Number of species: 39

Canada Goose 66
Mute Swan 15
Mallard 26
Northern Bobwhite 1
Northern Gannet 3
Great Blue Heron 2
Green Heron 1
Black Vulture 3
Turkey Vulture 5
Osprey 3
Semipalmated Plover 27
Killdeer 15
American Oystercatcher 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Sanderling 72
Semipalmated Sandpiper 2
Least Sandpiper 87
Pectoral Sandpiper 3
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull 15
Forster's Tern X
Least Tern X
Tree Swallow 5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 3
Northern Mockingbird 6
Cedar Waxwing 2
Yellow Warbler 3
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 1
Bobolink 2
Red-winged Blackbird 5
Common Grackle 25
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE July 20, 2007

You have reached the Cape May Birding Hotline, a service of New Jersey Audubon Societys Cape May Bird Observatory. This weeks message was prepared on Friday July 20, 2007. Highlights this week include sightings of ROSEATE SPOONBILL, GULL-BILLED TERN and CURLEW SANDPIPER.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

We are pleased to announce the launch of CMBOs new, dynamic website; http://www.birdcapemay.org/. This site promises to be a virtual Cape May if you will. With daily to semi-daily sightings reports you can log on to see what is happening in Cape May in real time. Now, you can bird Cape May every day.


Now for the hotline;

The ROSEATE SPOONBILL, found on 7/12, continues to be seen at Brigantine NWR as of yesterday 7/19. Most observations are in the early morning and late evening; all came from the freshwater wetlands around the gull pond tower. Occasionally the bird is viewed in the west pool roosting in shrubs early/late in the day or in trees west of gull pond. Please continue to report sightings of this bird.

Also at Brigantine NWR during the week were: LEAST BITTERN, CATTLE EGRET, GULL-BILLED TERN (many), CASPIAN TERN and WHIMBREL.

A CURLEW SANDPIPER was found at Stone Harbor Point on the evening of 7/18 at low tide. The bird was again viewed on 7/19 in the vicinity at high tide. It is assumed that one might have a good chance to see this bird from the free bridge to Nummy Island at low tide.

Up to four GULL-BILLED TERNS have been frequenting the Cape May Point State Park at Bunker pond. Look for the birds roosting with other terns on the sandbar near the new non-public board walk.


CMBO Bookstore hours are as follows; Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point; summer hours, Wednesday- Monday 9:30-4:30. The Northwood Center will be closed on Tuesdays. The Center for Research and Education on Rt. 47 in Goshen is open Tuesday- Sunday 9:30- 4:30. At least one CMBO center will be open everyday to serve our members needs.


The Cape May Birding Hotline is a service of the New Jersey Audubon Societys 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 $35 per year; $45 for families. You can call either center to become a member or visit. Become a member in person and youll receive your choice of a FREE gift (in addition to member discount in the stores).

Good Luck and Good Birding!

Cape May Point State Park

This morning I decided to take some time and walk the trails at the Cape May Point State Park. In fact, I have taken a photo of the map displayed in front of the hawkwatch platform and highlighted a few of the spots I was able to photograph some birds, as well, I highlighted the trail I walked.

A few observations: When I headed out, I stood atop the first dune crossing to do a little sea watching. No shearwaters or storm-petrels seen but there were numbers of little flocks of shorebirds moving; from Least sandpipers to Short-billed dowitchers and Lesser yellowlegs. All shorebirds were flying very low over the water headed toward Delaware. Interestingly, I also spotted a flock of 6 Great blue herons flying in off the ocean. While up on the dune crossing I did notice numbers of the a fore mentioned shorebirds getting up and leaving the point as well. I am not sure if these birds are moving south on the pre-frontal conditions (all flocks of shorebirds were flying into the wind which was SW'ish) or I just happened to see a bunch of groups of birds moving around.

That being said, given the forecast for northerly winds for the next couple of nights I would venture a guess that we'll see a good increase in the number of shorebirds in our area. I do not attest to be a Paul Lehman in predicting weather and migration. But, then again, even if I am wrong and you spent some time out birding this weekend, is that such a bad thing?

I guess the highlight for me today was hearing the(?) Hooded warbler singing in the inaccessible woods across from the second observation deck on Lighthouse pond. We had this bird the week of the World Series of Birding and actually were able to count the bird on the big day (usually something as good as a Hooded warbler would disappear on the big day) So the question is, has this bird been here since May? Did it attempt to breed? What is the breeding status for this species down this far in South Jersey? They definitely breed in Belleplain State Forest, and I heard one at our house (about half way between Belleplain SF and the point) earlier in May but not since. Unfortunately we may never know what this bird was doing on the island this summer.

The hawkwatch platform. This is the spot to be during much of the fall

Insiders tip: The covered picnic area to the left of the hawkwatch platform can often be a great place to look for migrants (especially warblers) in the later morning and afternoon. Notice the enticing cedars and pines surrounding the pavilion. I have seen my fair share Cape May warblers in these cedars while I was the hawkcounter. In fact many times these bird will stick around for a day or two. Just this spring a Blackpoll warbler was in these cedars for at least three days.

If you've been reading these posts long you know I am fond of the lighthouse shots. After all it is supposed to be the most photographed lighthouse in the country.

If you are interested in learning a bit more about Purple martin behavior, the state park is the place to go, as you can approach the martin nest boxes (with in a reasonable distance) and the birds really don't seem to care. They are 15 or so feet above you.

The photos below were taken this morning during my walk and labeled "picture 3-6" and "picture 7" on my photo-shopped map. Sorry for any confusion I may have caused, I decided to throw in the lighthouse and martin house photo after I made up the map. To further confuse things the labels should read "picture 5-9" and "picture 10"

There is a nice little "sandbar", if you will, in Bunker pond which is attracting a nice variety of shorebirds and terns. Today while I was there: 15+ Short-billed dowitchers, a couple of Black skimmers flew in along with an American oystercatcher. A few least sandpipers, the above Pectoral sandpiper and a hand full of Lesser yellowlegs. The roosting tern flock, primarily consisting of Forster's terns, also held four Gull-billed terns.

Down along the trail (dirt road) between the ponds and the dune I had the good fortune to see a number of martins lined up along the rope fence. Not sure if it will show up in the photo but the bird in the middle is a bird hatched this year. The fleshy gape is still obvious in this bird.

Still numbers of Red admirals in the area. While the influx seems to have slowed down a bit, many can still be found pretty much anywhere on Cape Island that butterflies would typically be found.

Birds observed, in no particular order;

Snowy egret

Great egret- many

Great blue heron- 15+

Mute swan- up to 50 total

Canada goose

Mallard

Semipalmated plover

Killdeer

American oystercatcher

Greater and Lesser yellowlegs

Spotted sandpiper- interestingly I had one in alternate and one in basic-ish plumage.

Solitary sandpiper

Pectoral sandpiper

Least sandpiper

Short-billed dowitcher

Herring gull

Laughing gull

Great black-backed gull

Royal tern

Common tern

Forster's tern

Least tern

Gull-billed tern

Black skimmer

Mourning dove

Chimney swift

Northern flicker

Eastern kingbird

Purple martin

Barn swallow

Northern rough-winged swallow

Tree swallow

Carolina chickadee

Carolina wren

American robin

Yellow warbler- calling as it flew over

Common yellowthroat

Hooded warbler- heard in the woods across from the second observation platform on Lighthouse pond, Not the bird blind.

Northern cardinal

Indigo bunting

Red-winged blackbird

House finch

American goldfinch

Lightning Strikes Twice . . .

. . . in the form of the, or a, breeding plumaged Stilt Sandpiper that dropped into the same spot at the same time it did exactly one week ago. The spot is the little tern/shorebird island in Bunker Pond at Cape May Point State Park, and once again our Thursday morning walk participants enjoyed nice comparisons between the Stilt Sandpiper and a nearby Short-billed Dowitcher. Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs also offered side-side views, as did multiple Common and Forster's Terns. There is no better way to learn to distinguish similar species than to see them this way, side by side.



Purple Martin chicks are sitting visible in the martin house holes at the state park, and the Least Tern chicks in the South Cape May colony continue to grow and continue to be urged to fly by their parents to fly. It's a funny time of year, really - all this "baby stuff," and yet the shorebirds migrate on.



As do some others. Prior to the walk, I heard two Yellow Warblers "seep" overhead, as well as two Indigo Buntings with their distinctive "zzeep", buzzier than than the warblers'. Bobolinks contiue to fly over as well - "boink" is the best I can do to describe the overhead note of this species.

The full list for today's walk follows:

Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 7/19/07
Notes: CMBO's Thursday "Bird Walk for All People," co-led by Bert Hixon. Hot, clear/hazy, light south wind.
Number of species: 45
Canada Goose 1
Mute Swan 25
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 5
Snowy Egret 15
Glossy Ibis 10
Osprey 2
Piping Plover 1 1 juv in Bunker Pond
Killdeer 1
Greater Yellowlegs 5
Lesser Yellowlegs 10
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Sanderling 10
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1
Least Sandpiper 10
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Stilt Sandpiper 1
Short-billed Dowitcher 10
Laughing Gull 50
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Gull-billed Tern 1
Royal Tern 3
Common Tern 50
Forster's Tern 30
Least Tern 75
Black Skimmer 2
Rock Pigeon 10
Mourning Dove 5
Eastern Kingbird 2 Female now sitting on nest (construction observed 1 wk ago)
Fish Crow 5
Purple Martin 50
Tree Swallow 5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 10
Carolina Wren 1
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 15
Yellow Warbler 2 flyover
Northern Cardinal 1
Indigo Bunting 2
Bobolink 6 flyover
Red-winged Blackbird 5
House Sparrow 5
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Roseate Spoonbill still a Brigantine NWR

All,

Just a quick post to let you know we received a call this morning to the Northwood Center (less than 20 min. ago) that the ROSEATE SPOONBILL is still being seen at the Gull Pond Tower area at the Brigantine NWR.

Dowitcher Movement and Gull-billed Terns at Cape May Point State Park

Karl Lukens reports that the CMBO morning walk at Cape May Point State Park had good numbers of shorebirds, especially Short-billed Dowitchers, with 75+. Also a couple of Gull-billed Terns, both of these were sitting with the Forster's and Commons on a sand bar in Bunker Pond. Later one flying over Lighthouse pond may have been a third bird.

Pelicans, Terns and Shorebirds at Norbury's Landing

A low-tide walk at Norbury's Landing, on the Delaware Bayshore about 10 miles north of Cape May Point, yielded the first Brown Pelican of the summer at this location for me. Even more exciting, a tight migrating flock of 26 Willets (distant and in the sun, but based on shape and thick bill structure I believe Eastern) flew south along the bayshore and then dispersed, coalesced, and crossed the bay. Eastern Willets get out of town early, any willet after July is likely a Western. Something to pay attention to, since Eastern and Western Willet are a very likely future "split."

Also exciting were several juvenile Least Terns of this year's brood, flying well and being fed by attending parents. These birds were farther along than those we saw at the meadows just yesterday - I wonder where they are from.

Least Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper were all new since spring. I was expecting Sanderlings, but none appeared. Perhaps next time.
Complete list is below.

Location: Norbury's Landing
Observation date: 7/17/07
Notes: Walked north from the landing ~ 1 mile, low tide, incoming on return.
Number of species: 28
Mallard 1
Brown Pelican 1 First I've seen at Norbury's.
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 10
Osprey 2
Clapper Rail 8 Several calling in slow series of keks that make you want to say it's a King, haven't heard this call pattern until today.
Willet 30 Includes a flock of 26 flying south along the beach, then heading out across the bay, in the sun and silouetted but pretty sure Eastern.
Spotted Sandpiper 4
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1 first since may
Least Sandpiper 30 first since may
Laughing Gull 50
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Forster's Tern 4
Least Tern 10 There were 1-2 fledglings with the adults, begging and being fed but flying well
Black Skimmer 7
Eastern Kingbird 3
Purple Martin 3
Barn Swallow 25 a big increase from last visit, includes new fledglings no doubt
Carolina Wren 1
American Robin 1
Northern Mockingbird 2
Common Yellowthroat 3
Northern Cardinal 1
Red-winged Blackbird 8
Common Grackle 2
House Sparrow 2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Migrant Shorebirds and Bobolinks, Least Tern First Flights

This morning's walk at the Nature Conservancy's Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge, a.k.a. the Meadows, produced many flyby shorebirds and some on the ground (complete list below.) The highlight was a breeding plumage Stilt Sandpiper, which could be the same individual found at Bunker Pond last Thursday. If it was, it seemed to have less red-orange on the ear coverts than it did only 4 days ago, so I'm not sure.

The fledgling Least Terns were another highlight. They are beginning to take their maiden flights, stretching to 20 yards or so before they crash-land, still staying within the roped-off colony. The adults entice their offspring to fly by carrying fish nearly to the barred-backed young, then flying up and away again. We saw both spearing and sand eels brought to the colony.

Of note were two recently fledged juvenile Herring Gulls, very fresh and neat on the back and with noticeably shorter bills than the adults. I've heard that Herring Gulls have been nesting on top of some of the buildings along Ocean Drive, this could be the closest place they are nesting to Cape May Point and the origin of these birds, but there is no way to be sure.

Today's list:

Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 7/16/07
Notes: CMBO's Monday walk. Counts ending in 5 or 0 are estimates, not actual. Not all birds were seen by all people.
Number of species: 55
Canada Goose 30
Gadwall 2
Mallard 40
Northern Bobwhite 1
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 5
Snowy Egret 10 Increased from previous weeks, have more fish moved into the meadows?
Black-crowned Night-Heron 3
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 3
Semipalmated Plover 1
Piping Plover 3
Killdeer 5
American Oystercatcher 3
Greater Yellowlegs 12
Lesser Yellowlegs 7
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Sanderling 8
Least Sandpiper 15
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Stilt Sandpiper 1
Short-billed Dowitcher 20 Many flybys, 3 on ground
Laughing Gull 200
Ring-billed Gull 10
Herring Gull 50
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 1st summer
Great Black-backed Gull 50
Common Tern 10
Forster's Tern 20
Least Tern 40 We observed some of the chicks making their first flights, crash-landing again within the colony.
Black Skimmer 3
Rock Pigeon 10
Mourning Dove 1
Eastern Kingbird 1
Fish Crow 4
Purple Martin 10
Tree Swallow 3
Barn Swallow 15
Carolina Wren 1
American Robin 10
Gray Catbird 1
European Starling 60
Yellow Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 4
Song Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 1
Indigo Bunting 1
Bobolink 14 mostly high overhead
Red-winged Blackbird 8
Common Grackle 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
House Finch 2
House Sparrow 4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Spoonbill chase.......

So we decided to head up to Brigantine NWR to look for the Roseate spoonbill that has been hanging around in the gull tower pond area since 7/12/07.


To make a long story short, we arrived and no one had seen the bird since morning. Having read the reports we figured we might have a good chance of seeing the bird since it had been observed the last two nights somewhere between 6:30 and 7:30, if I remember the posts correctly.

Well, it seems that 6:30 is the witching hour for this bird. We were all standing around when I noticed a bird that looked a little odd. It's been a while since I've seen a spoonbill, since last I was home in Fla. As it turns out my search image didn't fail me. It must be that birding by GISS stuff they all keep talking about around here.


We did have a few other nice birds on the rest of the drive around. I've included the list of species and then a few photos (sorry none of the spoonbill). Oh, I almost forgot to mention the new hybrid we observed this evening. My best guess is that this is a Louisiana (or Tricolored) ibis. Interesting bird.


Birds in no particular order;


Roseate spoonbill, Great egret, Snowy egret, Glossy ibis, Gull-billed tern- a very scientific, lots, Laughing gulls, Black-crowned night-heron, Great blue heron, Canad goose, Mallard, Wood duck, Osprey, Peregrine falcon, Greater and Lesser yellowlegs, Spotted sandpiper, 19 Whimbrel, Least and Semi-palmated sandpiper, Pectoral sandpiper, Short-billed dowitcher, Herring and Great black-backed gulls, Caspian and Forster's terns, Eastern meadowlark, Seaside sparrow and probably a few I forgot.


Short-billed dowitchers

Louisiana ibis?



Diamondback terrapin

Sanderlings are Back

A post-beach-crowd evening walk today yielded 49 Sanderlings between Cape May Point State Park and 2nd Avenue in Cape May City. This is the first significant accumulation of the little clockwork toys I've seen in Cape May since early June, and an exciting development. Think of where these birds have been since spring - I believe the nearest nesting area for Sanderling is Southhampton Island at the north end of Hudson Bay!

Nearly all were still largely in the lovely orangy breeding dress that can cause the unwary to think they're looking at a Red-necked Stint. Sanderlings behave much differently than stints, or "peep" as we call that group on this side of the Atlantic, and are really much larger, weighing more than twice as much as the average Semi-palmated Sandpiper, for example.

A little seawatching

Had time for a small amount of seawatching this morning. After reading all the posts on Jersey Birding and in the sightings log at the Northwood Center about sheawaters (Cory's and Greater) being seen, I had to get out and see if I could add one of these to the year list.

So I headed out to the platform at St. Mary's jetty and spent about 45 min. looking to see what was out on the water today. It was very hazy and there weren't too many birds feeding in the rips. Mostly the feeding birds were Laughing gulls, I had about 240 in one mass at one point. Not a surprising number since the largest colony of nesting laughers in the world is just up the coast in the Stone Harbor area. Well as luck would have it, I have nothing much to report. Birds observed are below.

EDIT: Forgot to mention the three Brown pelicans that flew over this morning. Two adults and one immature bird cruised down the beach while I was looking out over the bay. Wish I had brought my camera along this morning, would have made a nice shot.

One last note, this about the ROSEATE SPOONBILL at Brigantine NWR was gleaned from http://www.birdingonthe.net/, posted to the New Jersey Birding listserv this morning.

"The Spoonbill was seen this morning, 7/15. It flew in from the West Pool at around 6:40am and perched in a tree about 50-75 yards west of the Gull Tower. Another birder told me it was in the same tree last night before heading out to the West Pool."


Birds seen in no particular order;

Common tern
Forster's tern
Least tern
Laughing gull
Great black-backed gull
Herring gull
Purple martin
Barn swallow
Chimney swift
Brown pelican

Ferry Trip to Delaware + Ruff et. al. at Bombay Hook NWR

In prep for CMBO's coming workshop at Bombay Hook (there's still room - click on Programs & Events and then on School of Birding for more info, or call 609.861.0700 to sign up), I rode the Cape May-Lewes Ferry early this morning and drove up to Bombay Hook to scout things out.

I was hoping for pelagic species from the ferry, but the best I could do were 4 Wilson's Storm-petrels. A few shearwaters have been around Cape May Point, but the wind this morning was very calm, not the sort of conditions to entice dynamic-soaring tubenoses to move around.

Bombay Hook NWR was terrific as always. It's a delight to climb up the observation toward at Raymond Pool and find dozens of American Avocets and Black-necked Stilts waiting. At Tyalor's Gut (Woodland Beach Wildlife Refuge), a Ruff had been discovered by other birders (thanks go out to Sandra Keller for letting me in on it), and the flocks of dowitchers, yellowlegs, Semi-palmated Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers were well-laced with Western Sandpipers. The Westerns are easy to pick out at this time of year, since they still are in good plumage, sporting many rufous-edged scapulars and plenty of spots below. I suspect most of the Westerns I saw were females, typical early in the season, since most had bills at the long end of the spectrum.

CMBO Sightings

Here is a list of some of the more exciting birds reported to the Northwood Center today.

All birds observed at the Cape May point State Park.

Red-headed woodpecker- 1 adult and 1 imm.
Bobolink- 5+
Gull-billed tern- 1
Lesser yellowlegs- 8
Short-billed dowitcher- 6
Solitary sandpiper- 3
Spotted sandpiper- 2

On 7/13/07 from the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge

Cory's shearwater- 3

There was no report of the Roseate spoonbill at Brigantine NWR today.

Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge (CMMBR)

Well this morning I wanted to finally see what the new and improved Nature Conservancy's Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge was all about. Those of you who have visited Cape May in the last 6-8 months will remember that this area had been closed off due to a habitat restoration project that was taking place. Many of you know this area as the South Cape May Meadows or simply the "Meadows."

Well the area has been re-opened for about a month now and I was ashamed to say that I had yet to visit the site. In fact along with the new look they have re-branded the property as the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge.

All I can say is that they have done one heck of a job. Only time will tell how effective the restoration truly was, as is the case with all restoration projects. But from the start it looks like this could bring back the shorebird shows that I always hear everyone talking about. With a bit more water we have the making for a fall shorebird wonderland. If you'd like to read a little more about this site check out the link I found to TNC's website. http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/newjersey/work/art21876.html

One note about the "new" refuge is that there is now an access fee. You are able to purchase daily or yearly passes. Daily is $3 for member of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and $5 for nonmembers or yearly for $10 members of TNC and $15 for non-members. For further info contact TNC at (609) 861-0600.

My intention with this post is to provide a pictorial highlight of my two or so hours birding there. I tried my hand at some digiscoping again after years of not bothering and I didn't want to carry my other equipment around. It is way tougher than I remembered to hold the camera up at the right angle to the eyepiece. Guess I'll have to look into one of those digital camera adapter we sell here at Northwood.

Anyway, I don't profess to be a Kevin Karlson or Lloyd Spitalnick but the photos get my point across. And that point is......when you come to Cape May you have to bird CMMBR.

Enjoy.

This is a looking S-SSE from the east trail up near the bend in the trail turning away from Sunset Blvd. In other words I am walking toward the beach at this point. Still needs some water.
You have to get a shot of the Cape May Lighthouse.

Here's a view from atop the new raised platform which is nice and high, gives a great 360 view of the property. This is looking in the same direction as two pictures back- SSE.

This shot is looking, again from atop the platform, east to northeast. There were good numbers of egrets and herons in the area today. Birds noted will be listed below but let me say first that I counted up to 90 Snowy egrets this morning. Try as I might I was not able to turn any into a Little egret!

Here's a group of those snowys with a Glossy ibis mixed in for good measure.

A couple of Black-crowned night-herons joined the group looking for a few morsels.

This is by far one of my worst digiscoping attempts. But see if you can find the Short-billed dowicthers in the photo. They are not evident here but Least sandpiper, Great and Lesser yellowlegs, Killdeer and Solitary sandpiper were also near by.

Headed out to the beach to see what was out on the sand. Another view of the lighthouse.

Pretty much all of the Piping plover nests that will hatch, have. While I didn't spy any little fluff balls running around I did happen to find this bird relaxing in the sun.

That doesn't mean that the beach was devoid of chicks. While I didn't see any piping plover chicks I did find these. Can you guess what species these are?

Give up? Ok, I'll take it easy on you. After all this isn't the photo quiz section but you should still check that part of the site out as well.

Ok, here's the adult but I'm still going to make you identify the bird on your own.

Heading back up toward Sunset Blvd. on the west trail side, view looking north-westish.

There were a couple of passerine migrants in evidence, a couple of Yellow warblers flew over at about 8:45 along the dunes. I also have it on good authority that there was an adult and imm. Redheaded woodpecker at the Cape May Point State Park this morning.

Some of the last birds I found were a Green heron and another snowy on the west trail.

Birds observed at the CMMBR this morning in no particular order;

Snowy egret- approx. 90

Great egret- approx 10

Great blue heron- approx. 4-5

Green heron

Glossy ibis- 2

Black-crowned night-heron -2

Least Sandpiper- a few

Short-billed dowitcher- approx. 10

Solitary sandpiper- at least one

Killdeer- many

Greater yellowlegs

Lesser yellowlegs

Common tern

Forster's tern

Least tern

Piping plover

Laughing gull

Herring gull

Great black-backed gull

Yellow warbler

Worth waking up early!

Well, today is a special day indeed. You might be asking yourself why I would think that Friday the 13th. is a special day. Personally, I don't see the day as all that unlucky. In fact I asked my wife to marry me on a Friday the 13th......and she said yes!



But today is lucky in different way. How? Well today, we bring you this most excellent web site you are currently viewing. That's why the day is lucky for you.



For me the day is lucky because I finally was able to get some of the best views you could ever hope to have of a Chuck-wills-widow. After about three weeks or so of being quiet the Chuck-wills-widow which resides somewhere in the vicinity of our back yard decided to start calling again last night. The problem was that he would call once and then be quiet for 15 min. or more. Try as I may with the failing light in the evening I was never able to locate the bird. It doesn't matter whether you have the most expensive or least expensive binoculars in the world, there is a finite amount of light available for gathering at any given point in the day. The expensive binoculars just help the world stay brighter a little longer.



What made getting up early this morning worth it was the fact that in the morning the light is working with you. Ever so slightly the daylight is getting brighter and brighter. So when I heard the Chuck-wills-widow call around 5:15 a.m. I sat out on the back porch and tried to put the biting mosquitoes in the background. After a few frustrating minutes I saw a brownish flash in the cleared lot next to our house and then a whitish flash of the tail as the bird came to rest atop a broken off tree next door. This was the view I had been waiting years for. I've actually seen Chuck's once, briefly in a flash of light, in a property behind my parent's house in Florida; this was of course before the land was cleared for a housing development. But now, this bird is calling in my own backyard.



For the next half hour we enjoyed stellar views of the Chuck-wills-widow as it flew around in and out of the trees in the next door property and even with in about 20 yards of us in our own parcel. These birds in particular have always fascinated me being that we seem to know so little about their life histories. This is one of the reasons we named our World Series of Birding team the Steiner/CMBO Northwood Nightjars. After all, how often do you get to study a Chuck-wills-widow in flight?



Another interesting observation we made was the groaning, croaking noise the bird was making. More often then not is signaled it's return to hunting by emitting this croaking noise I could only liken it to hearing a very distant Black-crowned night-heron. It also had a slightly higher pitched similar sounding croaking call it made. Having spent a very limited time with this species these noises were new to me. My question, do these noises pertain to the mate? In other words, was this bird "talking" to a female or even chicks (probably not chicks since all information I could find indicates that the female of this species does all of the parenting work)? At one point it landed on the ground and moved around, I couldn't see it but could hear it moving. How exciting would it be to actually have this species nest with in sight of our house. Chances are it was just moving about in search of more to eat.



All in all one of the most exciting birding experiences I have ever had.



Since I was up and about early I figured that I'd take a quick spin around Higbee's Beach WMA before I headed in to the Northwood Center. I can't say that had anything as exciting as my early morning experience but the local breeders were in evidence this morning. A partial list of species observed from my quick jaunt is below. I also have heard word that the breeding Prtothonotary warblers at the Beanery (Rea's Farm) were singing this morning. As well, a Northern bobwhite was heard in the vicinity of the Beanery.





Not in any particular order;



Carolina chickadee

Tufted titmouse

White-eye vireo

Indigo bunting

Brown thrasher

Orchard oriole

Great-crested flycatcher

Eastern kingbird

Barn swallow

Carolina wren- quite boisterous this morning as usual

Yellow-breasted chat

Common yellow-throat

Field sparrow- also quite boisterous this morning

CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE- July 12, 2007

You have reached 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 July 12, 2007. Highlights this week include sightings of ROSEATE SPOONBILL, CORY’S SHEARWATER, SANDWICH TERN, GULL-BILLED TERN, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, STILT SANDPIPER, LARK SPARROW and SWAMP SPARROW.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

We are please to announce that on Friday, July 13th, CMBO will be launching it’s new, dynamic website; www.BirdCapeMay.org. This site promises to be a virtual Cape May if you will. With daily to semi-daily sightings reports you can log on to see what is happening in Cape May in real time. Now, you can bird Cape May every day.


Now for the hotline;

An immature ROSEATE SPOONBILL was discovered at Brigantine NWR today, 7/12. The bird was viewed from the end of the gull pond tower road in the freshwater marsh to the east. Additional viewing points to try and look for the bird include the north dike before it leaves the wetland section and the bridge just before the iron tire spikes. NWR staff has opened a small portion of the dike road that extends east from the gull pond tower for viewing, as of the time of compilation of this report. This is a second state record of this species in New Jersey.

A CORY’S SHEARWATER was observed from Alexander Ave. in Cape May Point on 7/11.

On 7/8 two adult SANDWICH TERNS were on Champagne Island in and amongst the nesting ROYAL TERNS.

Three GULL-BILLED TERNS were on Bunker Pond at the Cape May point State Park on 7/11.

As of 7/8 one RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH continued at a private feeder in the Villas.

A STILT SANDPIPER was seen on the CMBO walk this morning, 7/12, at the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge (CMMBR.)

An unusual find was a LARK SPARROW at Brigantine NWR on 7/6. There has been no further report of this bird since its initial sighting.

On 7/7 a SWAMP SPARROW was also observed at the CMMBR.
CMBO Bookstore hours are as follows; Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point; summer hours, Wednesday- Monday 9:30-4:30. The Northwood Center will be closed on Tuesdays. The Center for Research and Education on Rt. 47 in Goshen is open Tuesday- Sunday 9:30- 4:30. At least one CMBO center will be open everyday to serve our members needs.


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 $35 per year; $45 for families. You can call either center to become a member or visit. Become a member in person and you’ll receive your choice of a FREE gift (in addition to member discount in the stores).

Good Luck and Good Birding!

Stilt Sandpiper and kingbirds building nest

This morning's "Bird Walk for All People" at Cape May Point State Park was highlighted by an absolutely stunning Stilt Sandpiper, which dropped into Bunker Pond directly in front of the group, landing next to a Short-billed Dowitcher for some nice comparisons. Second in the highlight department was the Eastern Kingbird constructing a nest, fairly exposed at the top of a bayberry bush along the path to the plover ponds. I guess Eastern Kingbirds can afford to be exposed, brazen as they are.

Laughing Gulls pursued Purple Martins returning to the colony, forcing the martins to drop their prey, which seemed to consist mostly of dragonflies. Also of interest were the 10+ Great Blue Herons, an apparent migratory movement.

An excellent morning indeed. The complete list is below.

Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 7/12/07
Notes: First "Bird Walk for All People," with Bert Hixon and Patty Rourke and a crew of folks.
Number of species: 43
Canada Goose 10
Mute Swan 25
Mallard 50
Northern Bobwhite 1
Great Blue Heron 10 May have been more, several groups seemed to arrive in Cape May Point, settle, and fly again. First significant Great Blue movement I've observed this year.
Great Egret 5
Snowy Egret 1
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 10
Osprey 6
Cooper's Hawk 1 A juvenile perched in the tree line, likely from the local nest.
Killdeer 2
Greater Yellowlegs 5
Lesser Yellowlegs 15
Least Sandpiper 15
Stilt Sandpiper 1 Plopped down into Bunker Pond.
Short-billed Dowitcher 20
Laughing Gull 100
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Common Tern 20
Forster's Tern 5
Least Tern 30
Black Skimmer 1
Rock Pigeon 10
Mourning Dove 4
Eastern Kingbird 2 Building a nest in a bayberry, about 10' up, fairly exposed at 12 o clock in the bush. Brought frayed string to the nest as we watched.
Purple Martin 40
Tree Swallow 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 8
Barn Swallow 12
House Wren 1
American Robin 10
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 4
Common Yellowthroat 1
Northern Cardinal 1
Indigo Bunting 1
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Common Grackle 10
Brown-headed Cowbird 10
House Finch 2
House Sparrow 8
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)