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!