South of the Canal and Shellbay

[Nearly full moon rising over Jenkin's Sound at Shellbay Landing last evening. Photo by Don Freiday, click to enlarge.]

A couple birds of note were reported from south of the canal this morning, those being a dark Parasitic Jaeger and a young Northern Gannet seen off the Cape May Meadows by Vince Elia, Tom Magarian, and Jason Guerard. Tom also tells me he had a few Yellow Warblers. I also heard an amazing report, second hand but from a reliable observer, of a Purple Sandpiper at Stone Harbor.

This morning's CMBO Bird Walk for All People at the state park noted continued shorebird movement, mostly Least Sandpipers, yellowlegs, and dowitchers. I'm told Semi-palmated Plover and Pectoral Sandpiper were found at the meadows. We noted an apparent slight increase in Osprey numbers, and a few very new Least Tern chicks at the state park. The full list from the walk is below.

Last night I paddled around Jenkin's Sound, accessed from Shellbay Landing. Seaside Saprrows were constant (I listened carefully but unsuccessfully for Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows), as were Clapper Rails and foraging Black Skimmers from nearby Champagne Island. A few Black-crowned Night Herons began appearing as the sun set.

Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 7/17/08
Notes: CMBO Bird Walk for All People
Number of species: 35
Canada Goose 10
Mute Swan 1
Mallard 15
Great Egret 3
Glossy Ibis 20
Osprey 5
Piping Plover 1
Killdeer 3
American Oystercatcher 2
Greater Yellowlegs 5
Lesser Yellowlegs 10
Least Sandpiper 25
Laughing Gull X
Herring Gull 5
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
Great Black-backed Gull 10
Least Tern 25
Forster's Tern 5
Rock Pigeon 1
Mourning Dove 5
Chimney Swift 2
Eastern Kingbird 2
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2
Purple Martin 50
Barn Swallow 10
American Robin 5
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 5
Cedar Waxwing 2
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 2
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 10