SANDWICH TERN- TNC's Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge

A Sandwich Tern was spotted by Tom Reed ( at about 3:50 p.m.) this afternoon, hanging on the middle island at TNC's CMMBR.

Below is the list from my time spent birding this location in the morning.  Most of the couple hours at the Meadows this morning were spent looking over the ocean for birds over the water.  Highlights were one Northern Gannet and a dark Parasitic Jaeger cruising around with no apparent agenda.  Otherwise the waster was devoid of any species other than the typical terns and gull that you would expect.  There were a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the beach toward the west trial dune crossing, along with great black-backs and Herring Gulls.  One Ring-billed Gull in the middle of the mix.

The Hooded Merganser continues to be seen at the meadows and shorebird numbers continue to build.  Bob Fogg said that he also had a decent number of shorebirds along the plover ponds at the Cape May Point State Park today.  No surprises in terms of species but nice close looks which afforded good study opportunities.

Below the meadows list from today I've included the list from my birding up at Belleplain State Forest on Tuesday, 7/15.  I had a meeting up at the Center for Research and Education all day and figured that while I had to head up that way anyway....might as well throw some birding in before being locked inside all day.

The birding was not spectacular by Belleplain standards but I had great looks at Worm-eating Warblers feeding young and managed to hear or see most of the expected species for the area.  That morning's birding was capped off by a short trip to Jake's Landing on my way into the center for the meeting.  I just don't get to Jake's enough so I am always excited about the birding there.  A very distant harrier and a Salt-marsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow giving great looks in the road were highlights.  Other than that, numerous Seaside Sparrows flying back and forth with food for young and Marsh Wrens doing the same were nice sights to see.

Location:     South Cape May Meadows
Observation date:     7/17/08
Notes:     2548 steps = approx. 1.66 miles
Number of species:     58

Canada Goose     65
Mute Swan     12
Gadwall     8
Mallard     35
Hooded Merganser     1
Northern Gannet     1
Double-crested Cormorant     4
Green Heron     2
Glossy Ibis     4
Osprey     2
Semipalmated Plover     4
Piping Plover     1
Killdeer     6
American Oystercatcher     6
Spotted Sandpiper     3
Solitary Sandpiper     2
Greater Yellowlegs     16
Willet     2
Lesser Yellowlegs     18
Semipalmated Sandpiper     3
Least Sandpiper     25
Pectoral Sandpiper     1
Short-billed Dowitcher     35
Laughing Gull     X
Ring-billed Gull     1
Herring Gull     30
Lesser Black-backed Gull     4
Great Black-backed Gull     45
Least Tern     X
Common Tern     2
Forster's Tern     20
Royal Tern     2
Black Skimmer     1
Parasitic Jaeger     1
Rock Pigeon     X
Mourning Dove     X
Chimney Swift     3
Belted Kingfisher     2
Downy Woodpecker     1
Northern Flicker     1
Eastern Kingbird     2
Fish Crow     X
Purple Martin     X
Tree Swallow     3
Northern Rough-winged Swallow     4
Barn Swallow     X
European Starling     X
Yellow Warbler     5
Common Yellowthroat     X
Song Sparrow     3
Northern Cardinal     X
Indigo Bunting     4
Red-winged Blackbird     X
Common Grackle     X
Brown-headed Cowbird     X
House Finch     X
American Goldfinch     X
House Sparrow     X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2

Location:     Belleplain SF - Sunset Bridge
Observation date:     7/15/08
Notes:     922 steps = approx. .6 miles
Number of species:     33

Laughing Gull     X
Mourning Dove     X
Yellow-billed Cuckoo     2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird     2
Red-bellied Woodpecker     1
Hairy Woodpecker     2
Eastern Wood-Pewee     4
Acadian Flycatcher     5
Great Crested Flycatcher     X
Eastern Kingbird     X
White-eyed Vireo     18
Carolina Chickadee     X
Tufted Titmouse     6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     6
Wood Thrush     3
American Robin     X
Cedar Waxwing     X
Yellow-throated Warbler     3
Pine Warbler     4
Prairie Warbler     1
Black-and-white Warbler     3
Worm-eating Warbler     6
Ovenbird     3
Common Yellowthroat     1
Hooded Warbler     1
Scarlet Tanager     1
Eastern Towhee     8
Chipping Sparrow     1
Northern Cardinal     X
Bobolink     2
Common Grackle     X
Brown-headed Cowbird     X
American Goldfinch     X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2

Location:     Jakes Landing
Observation date:     7/15/08
Notes:     830 steps = approx. .5 miles
Number of species:     17

Great Egret     20
Snowy Egret     6
Glossy Ibis     75
Northern Harrier     1
Clapper Rail     8
Least Sandpiper     4
Laughing Gull     X
Herring Gull     X
Great Black-backed Gull     1
Forster's Tern     4
Bank Swallow     1
Barn Swallow     25
Marsh Wren     18
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow     1
Seaside Sparrow     25
Red-winged Blackbird     X
Common Grackle     X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2