CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - February 21, 2008

This is 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, February 21, 2008. Highlights this week include sightings of BARNACLE GOOSE, TUNDRA SWAN, CANVASBACK, REDHEAD, NORTHERN GANNET, LITTLE BLUE HERON, OSPREY, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, RED KNOT, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, DOVEKIE, SHORT-EARED OWL, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, EASTERN PHOEBE, PALM WARBLER, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, 'IPSWICH' SAVANNAH SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, SNOW BUNTING, EASTERN MEADOWLARK, and RUSTY BLACKBIRD.

The BARNACLE GOOSE continues on Cape Island, last reported from Lily Lake during the afternoon of 2/19.

A road-killed DOVEKIE was found on Landis Ave. between Sea Isle City and Strathmere on 2/16. Observers are encouraged to continue searching Atlantic Coast inlets and near jetties for this species.

A LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen at Two Mile Landing near Ocean Drive on 2/16. About 60 RED KNOTS continue this week in Hereford Inlet; 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were here on 2/20.

An OSPREY continues to overwinter at Brig/Edwin B. Forsythe NWR, last reported from the entrance road ponds on 2/19. 3 TUNDRA SWANS, 2 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS and 1 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK were seen here on 2/18.

A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was seen again at Cape May Point State Park on 2/15. A PALM WARBLER was seen here on 2/20. Several 'IPSWICH' SAVANNAH SPARROWS and up to 80 SNOW BUNTINGS have been seen on the beachfront between the South Cape May Meadows and the State Park throughout the week. 4 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were seen at the South Cape May Meadows on 2/16. An EASTERN PHOEBE was seen at The Beanery on 2/16.

3 REDHEADS and 2 CANVASBACKS were seen at Ponderlodge/Villas WMA on 2/16. 2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were here on 2/15. 45 EASTERN MEADOWLARKS were found at Hidden Valley on 2/16. RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen this week at Villas WMA, Hidden Valley and The Beanery. NORTHERN GANNETS are increasing; 203 were seen from Cape May Point on 2/17, and many have been seen feeding behind the Cape May-Lewes Ferry this week. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen along Route 9 in Lower Township on 2/18.

SHORT-EARED OWLS continue to be seen. Up to 5 remain at Jake's Landing; 2 were at Stipson Island and another was at Reed's Beach on 2/15. 4 were seen at Brig/Forsythe NWR on 2/14.


ANNOUNCEMENTS:
CMBO's Northwood Center will be CLOSED (in addition to its regular Tues. closing) from WEDESDAY 2/27 through FRIDAY 2/29 for inventory. CMBO's Center for Research & Education will be CLOSED on THURSDAY 2/28 and FRIDAY 2/29 for inventory. Both centers will re-open at 9:30AM on SATURDAY, MARCH 1.

See Life Paulagics will be running a pelagic trip out of Cape May on SUNDAY, MARCH 16 for winter seabirds. The boat is scheduled to leave at 6:00 AM and return around 6:00 PM. For more information, contact them at 215-234-6805 or go to their web site at www.paulagics.com.

CMBO will be hosting its 13TH ANNUAL OPTICS SALE on Saturday, MARCH 15 and Sunday, MARCH 16 at the Center for Research & Education in Goshen. The sale runs from 9:00am to 5:00pm both days. You must be a member of CMBO or NJAS to purchase at the sale.

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 Harper's 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, starting December 1, will be closed on Tuesdays. 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 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 $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!