CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - February 28, 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 28, 2008. Highlights this week include sightings of BARNACLE GOOSE, EURASIAN WIGEON, GREAT EGRET, OSPREY, GOLDEN EAGLE, AMERICAN KESTREL, 'WESTERN' WILLET, MARBLED GODWIT, BLACK-HEADED GULL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, SHORT-EARED OWL, EASTERN PHOEBE, TREE SWALLOW, PINE WARBLER, PALM WARBLER, and SNOW BUNTING.

The BARNACLE GOOSE continues to be seen around Cape Island, with reports from the South Cape May Meadows/CMMBR and Lily Lake on 2/25.

A BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen at the Ferry Terminal in North Cape May on 2/25.

An OSPREY continues to overwinter around the entrance road ponds at Brig/Forsythe NWR, with the latest report on 2/24. Also at Brig this week were 7 TUNDRA SWANS and a EURASIAN WIGEON in the West Pool 2/24-/25, a PINE WARBLER on 2/24, EASTERN PHOEBE, 4 SHORT-EARED OWLS and 3 PEREGRINE FALCONS on 2/23.

18 'WESTERN' WILLETS and 2 MARBLED GODWITS were found at Brigantine Island on 2/24.

SNOW BUNTINGS continue to be seen along the beach between the South Cape May Meadows/CMMBR and Cape May Point State Park. 3 PALM WARBLERS were found along the State Park trails on 2/25; 1 was seen near the Hawk Watch Platform on 2/26.

A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen from Sunset Beach on 2/26.

A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen from Hansey Creek Road in Cumberland County on 2/21. AMERICAN KESTRELS were seen this week at The Beanery, Hansey Creek Road, and along Railroad Avenue south of Rio Grande.

6 TREE SWALLOWS, 5 GREAT EGRETS and TUNDRA SWAN were seen at Corbin City/Tuckahoe WMA on 2/24.

SHORT-EARED OWLS continue to be reliable at Jake's Landing, Turkey Point and Mott's Creek this week.

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 will be closed on Tuesdays until April 1. The center will be open Wednesday-Monday, 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!