Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge This Morning

It was windy and chilly but clear for this morning's South Cape May Meadows Walk. A pair of Ruddy Ducks, a Bonaparte's Gull, and both Tri-colored and Little Blue Herons are birds many World Series of Birding teams would have welcomed!

Beach nesting birds were severely impacted by the northeaster last Monday, so another highlight was seeing the Meadow's two pairs of American Oystercatchers. Two Piping Plover nests survived at South cApe May, and another pair was seen going through a full blown courtship display there by Cape May Weekend participants on Sunday, likely a pair that was washed out but will renest. The area between the main dune and the ocean is still flooded, so visitors to the Meadows should be advised for the the time being that there is no beach access, though the loop trail can still be walked from inside of the dune. This morning's full list follows:

Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 5/19/08
Notes: CMBO Sunday morning Meadows walk
Number of species: 69
Canada Goose 25
Mute Swan 4
Gadwall 1
Mallard 2
Ruddy Duck 2
Northern Gannet 10
Double-crested Cormorant 20
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 5
Little Blue Heron 1
Tricolored Heron 1
Green Heron 1
Glossy Ibis 15
Black Vulture 5
Turkey Vulture 5
Osprey 5
Cooper's Hawk 1
American Kestrel 1
Semipalmated Plover 20
Piping Plover 2
Killdeer 2
American Oystercatcher 4
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs 5
Willet 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Ruddy Turnstone 20
Sanderling 5
Semipalmated Sandpiper 5
Least Sandpiper 10
White-rumped Sandpiper 1
Short-billed Dowitcher 10
Laughing Gull X
Bonaparte's Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull 10
Herring Gull 20
Great Black-backed Gull 30
Least Tern X
Common Tern X
Forster's Tern X
Royal Tern 10
Black Skimmer 5
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 5
Chimney Swift 10
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Willow Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 2
American Crow 5
Fish Crow 10
Purple Martin X
Tree Swallow X
Northern Rough-winged Swallow X
Bank Swallow 1
Barn Swallow X
Carolina Wren 5
Gray Catbird 3
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 5
Yellow Warbler 5
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 7
Song Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Common Grackle 15
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 10