CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE December 21, 2007

CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE December 21, 2007

The Cape May Birding Hotline is a service of New Jersey Audubon Societys Cape May Bird Observatory. This weeks message was prepared on Friday December 21, 2007. Highlights this week include sightings of ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, EASTERN PHOEBE, KING EIDER, COMMON EIDER, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, BLUE-HEADED ORIOLE, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, TREE SPARROW, GLAUCOUS GULL, SEDGE WREN, HOUSE WREN, COMMON REDPOLL, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, SNOW BUNTING, BARNACLE GOOSE, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, PRAIRIE WARBLER, RED CROSSBILL, TUNDRA SWAN, CANVASBACK and DOVEKIE

ANNOUNCEMENT: Both CMBO Centers (the Northwood Center in Cape May Point and the Center for Research and Education in Goshen) will be closed for the holidays. We will close on 12/24 thru 1/1. We will resume our normal winter hours on 1/2 opening at 9:30 a.m.

Cape May CBC (12/16) highlights were; 3 ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS, one found on Cape May NWR property in Green Creek, one in the third field at Higbee and the long staying bird at TNCs Cape Island Preserve. TNCs Cape Island Preserve also held a NASHVILLE WARBLER. The BARNACLE GOOSE was refound on CBC day in a field along Batts Lane. One of the top birds for the CBC has to be the DOVEKIE which stayed in the mouth of the Cape May harbor for most of the day. The bird was only viewable from Coast Guard Base property and has not been reported since. Also, a PRAIRIE WARBLER and a fly over RED CROSSBILL seen in the Dias Creek area. Four KING EIDERS and 12 COMMON EIDER seen from the Coast Guard Base, Cape May Point, and Stone Harbor; King, and Avalon Seawatch/ Stone Harbor and Cape May; Common. AN ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen near New Jersey Ave. and New York Ave. in Cape May. Also one was found at the Cape May Point State Park. Additionally at the state park were a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and 99 SNOW BUNTINGS. A SEDGE WREN was seen in the vicinity of Norburys Landing in Del-Haven. Four HOUSE WRENS were tallied, two in West Cape May and Rio Grande. Also at Norburys Landing was a fly over imm. GLAUCOUS GULL and two COMMON REDPOLLS. Three BALTIMORE ORIOLES and 4 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were seen on Cape May NWR property in Green Creek. An imm. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was spotted at the Schellenger Tract of the Cape May NWR and also 4 at Villas WMA and one at the Cape May County Airport. Stone Harbor/Nummy Island held a LAPLAND LONGSPUR, 2 ICELAND GULLS and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. A TUNDRA SWAN was seen on Bunker Pond at the Cape May Point State Park.

Other finds for the week were;

A BLUE-HEADED VIREO was found at the Cape May Point State Park on 12/18, near the outside parking area. Also in the area were three BALTIMORE ORIOLES.

A fourth ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was found on 12/18 in West Cape May. The bird was originally found in the vicinity of State St. and 5^th & 6^th Avenues. The most recent report (12/19) was that the bird moved west a block into the edge of the Beanery, Rea’s Farm property.

Also with the most recent Ash-throated was a late EASTERN PHOEBE, in the same area.

A hen CANVASBACK was on Lake Lily on 12/18.

The BARNACLE GOOSE continues in fields near Batts Lane as of 12/19.

At least 50 SNOW BUNTINGS were moving between the Cape May Point State Park and TNCs CMMBR on 12/20.

Lastly, 10 RED CROSSBILLS flew over the Coast Guard Base of 12/17.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

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 Harpers Migration Mainline- Cape May lithograph poster, valued at $50. Call either CMBO center to ask an associate about joining today!

******CMBO Bookstore hours are as follows; Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point, will be closed on Tuesdays during the winter. The center will be open Wednesday-Monday for the winter; hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Center for Research and Education on Rt. 47 in Goshen is open Tuesday- Sunday 9:30- 4:30.******

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 $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 discount in the stores).

Good Luck and Good Birding!