So many birds, so little time

The delight and dilemma about writing about birds in Cape May in fall is that there are too many to write about. By way of catching up. . . there was a huge Gannet flight Friday morning, at the sea watch and in Cape May, and a number of Parasitic Jaegers were seen. 1-2 Cave Swallows are daily at the hawkwatch (with more, 5-15, today), pipits are where pipits are (normally flying over), and a Common Redpoll flew over the hawkwatch Friday.

On Saturday a Dickcissel, Clay-colored Sparrow, and 3 White-crowned Sparrows were at the state park as well, reported by George Myers.

At least one Golden eagle has been seen from the hawkwatch each of the past three days; one was among the 1168 raptors counted today.

A fine mix of dabbling ducks is present at Cape May Point State Park, and the "wintry mix" of shorebirds is in full force along the coast. 300 Red Knots were reported at Anglesea, along with a Western sandpiper. A Purple Sandpiper, Western Willet, Ruddy Turnstones, Black-bellied Plovers, Dunlin, and even Brant were practically walking on my feet as I fished near Townsend's Inlet early this morning - watch for these species near any rocky jetty now.

Karen Johnson called me today to report a Western Kingbird on Money Island Road near Fortescue Road in Newport.

Below are lists from CMBO's Beanery walk on Saturday morning (as reported by Karl and Judy Lukens), and our state park walk Saturday afternoon (as reported by Chuck and Mary Jane Slugg).

SPECIES SEEN ~ CMBO TRIP
11/3/2007 ~ in Beanery ~ New Jersey Checklist ~ 49 seen

Common Loon 6
Double-crested Cormorant 5
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 1
Snow Goose 8
Canada Goose 30
Wood Duck 1
Mallard 10
Ring-necked Duck 11
Black Vulture 4
Turkey Vulture 5
Osprey 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 5
Red-tailed Hawk 2
American Kestrel 2
Merlin 1
Killdeer 2
Great Black-backed Gull 1
American Herring Gull 3
Rock Pigeon 10
Mourning Dove 10
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 10
Eastern Phoebe 1
Tree Swallow 5
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Carolina Wren 5
Gray Catbird 1
American Robin 3000
Carolina Chickadee 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 10
European Starling 15
House Sparrow 5
Pine Siskin 1
American Goldfinch 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 20
Chipping Sparrow 1
Field Sparrow 3
Savannah Sparrow 10
Song Sparrow 5
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 5
Dark-eyed Junco 5
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 60
Eastern Meadowlark 8
Common Grackle 10
Brown-headed Cowbird 10

Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 11/3/07
Number of species: 49
Canada Goose 50
Mute Swan 25
Gadwall 25
American Wigeon 75
American Black Duck 3
Mallard 60
Blue-winged Teal 6
Northern Shoveler 15
Northern Pintail 10
Green-winged Teal 70
Bufflehead 1
Hooded Merganser 2
Ruddy Duck 20
Northern Gannet 50
Double-crested Cormorant 120
Great Blue Heron 10
Great Egret 5
Snowy Egret 6
Turkey Vulture 15
Osprey 1
Bald Eagle 2
Northern Harrier 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk 5
Cooper's Hawk 4
American Kestrel 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
American Coot 5
Sanderling 20
Ring-billed Gull 25
Herring Gull 50
Great Black-backed Gull 100
Rock Pigeon 30
Mourning Dove 2
American Crow 10
Tree Swallow 150
Carolina Chickadee 5
Carolina Wren 5
Winter Wren 1
American Robin 20
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 20
American Pipit 15
Cedar Waxwing 15
Yellow-rumped Warbler 10
Song Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow 5
White-throated Sparrow 2
Red-winged Blackbird 20
House Sparrow 20