Lesser Black-backed Gull and Willow Flycatchers in the Meadows

CMBO's Monday morning Meadows walk featured a Lesser Black-backed Gull on the beach and two territorial Willow Flycatchers along the west path. The gull was an interesting individual, wearing what appeared to be first summer plumage but with a more substantial light base to the bill than is typical for this age. Second and third calendar year lessbacks are nothing if not variable, making aging them accurately difficult.

A Common Loon in breeding plumage flew over, and one Blackpoll Warbler sang from the cedars. The full list is below.

Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 5/26/08
Number of species: 57
Canada Goose 30
Mute Swan 5
Gadwall 3
Mallard 10
Common Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant 5
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 5
Green Heron 2
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Glossy Ibis 25
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 3
Semipalmated Plover 2
Piping Plover 2
Killdeer 2
American Oystercatcher 1
Spotted Sandpiper 4
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Willet 2
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 10
Least Sandpiper 10
Laughing Gull 20
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 50
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 20
Least Tern 20
Forster's Tern 30
Black Skimmer 3
Rock Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 5
Chimney Swift 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Willow Flycatcher 2
American Crow 5
Purple Martin 1
Tree Swallow 5
Barn Swallow 10
Carolina Wren 5
American Robin 1
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 5
European Starling 2
Cedar Waxwing 2
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 6
Song Sparrow 2
Swamp Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 3
Red-winged Blackbird 30
Common Grackle 20
Boat-tailed Grackle 5
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
House Finch 2
House Sparrow 5