CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE- February 7, 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 7, 2008.

Highlights this week include sightings of BARNACLE GOOSE, CANVASBACK, REDHEAD, COMMON EIDER, COMMON GOLDENEYE, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, AMERICAN KESTREL, PEREGRINE FALCON, RED KNOT, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, BLACK-HEADED GULL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, SHORT-EARED OWL, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, EASTERN PHOEBE, NASHVILLE WARBLER, PALM WARBLER, SNOW BUNTING, and COMMON REDPOLL.

For more up to the minute Cape May sightings information check the "View from the Cape" section of www.BirdCapeMay.org

The BARNACLE GOOSE continues on Cape Island, last seen at Lily Lake on 2/3. A female CANVASBACK has been regular here, and a male REDHEAD was last reported on 2/2.

A BLACK-HEADED GULL has been reported at least twice between Sunset Beach and Higbee Beach WMA, with the last report on 2/4.

A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT has been observed at Cape May Point State Park around the Hawk Watch Platform, as of 2/4. Another CHAT was present at Higbee Beach WMA on 2/4. Other lingering birds at the State Park included an EASTERN PHOEBE and a PALM WARBLER on 2/4. 50-60 SNOW BUNTINGS continue on the beach between the State Park and the South Cape May Meadows as of 2/4.

A NASHVILLE WARBLER is attempting to overwinter in West Cape May, last seen on 2/2. An AMERICAN KESTREL is wintering around the entrance of the Beanery, seen today, 2/7.

A COMMON REDPOLL flew over CMBO's Northwood Center in Cape May Point on 2/5.

5 COMMON EIDERS have been seen regularly from Cape May Point, with the latest report coming from the beach-access at the end of Pearl Street today, 2/7.

60 RED KNOTS and an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL were noted in Hereford Inlet on 2/4.

A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen in the back portion of the Schellenger Tract of Cape May NWR on 2/4.

SHORT-EARED OWLS continue along the Delaware Bayshore, with as many as 8 at Turkey Point, Cumberland County on 2/2, and as many as 5 at Jake's Landing throughout the week. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and a PEREGRINE FALCON were also at Turkey Point 2/2. A GOLDEN EAGLE was observed at Brig/E.B. Forsythe NWR on 1/31.

East Point, Cumberland County hosted 12 COMMON GOLDENEYE on 2/3, and nearby Heislerville WMA held 2 GREAT EGRETS the same day. 2 GREAT EGRETS also continue in the "ibis pond" along Reeds Beach Road.

AMERICAN WOODCOCK have been displaying throughout the area this week during warmer evenings. 3 were displaying at Kimble's Beach Road and 2 were displaying at the Woodcock Trail tract of Cape May NWR on 2/5.


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 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!