Kite Photo

[Karl Lukens took this photo of the subadult Mississippi Kite seen during CMBO's morning walk today.]

Mississippi Kite (s?), Pipit, Moorhen, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Hawk Flight underway

At least one Mississippi Kite has been floating around Cape May this morning, seen from the hawk watch, the Beanery, and the state park trails. The bird we saw on our Monday "meadows" walk (which was diverted to the state park because TNC's refuge remains closed for phragmites spraying) was a second year type, with mostly adult-like upperparts (including a very white head), but with a banded tail and streaking on the breast. It did not have white secondaries. A full adult was also reported, so two kites could be involved.

An American Pipit flew over before we started the walk, and Dan Berard reported that a Common Moorhen was on Bunker Pond first thing this morning. Another state park highlight was the Pied-billed Grebe on Lighthouse Pond. Apparently there's been a PBG on Lily Lake for a week or more. A list from this morning's walk is below.

A Yellow-headed Blackbird was among 1326 birds counted at Morning Flight. Palm, Northern Parula, Blackpoll, and Black-throated Blue were the dominant warblers.

As one would expect, an excellent hawk flight is underway today at the state park, with any given scan at around 10:00 a.m. yielding over 20 Sharp-shinneds, a few coops, kestrels and Merlins, and scattered buteos including Broad-winged, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks.

Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 9/29/08
Number of species: 66
Canada Goose 75
Mute Swan 10
Gadwall 3
Mallard 10
Northern Shoveler 1
Green-winged Teal 5
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Double-crested Cormorant 5
Great Egret 5
Snowy Egret 10
Little Blue Heron 2
Green Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 5
Osprey 10
Mississippi Kite 1
Northern Harrier 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk 50
Cooper's Hawk 5
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Broad-winged Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestrel 10
Merlin 5
Killdeer 2
Greater Yellowlegs 5
Lesser Yellowlegs 6
Western Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Forster's Tern X
Royal Tern 5
Rock Pigeon 25
Mourning Dove 10
Chimney Swift 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 15
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 75
American Crow 5
Fish Crow 1
Tree Swallow 300
Carolina Chickadee 2
Carolina Wren 5
House Wren 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Gray Catbird 5
Northern Mockingbird 2
Brown Thrasher 3
European Starling 50
American Pipit 1
Cedar Waxwing 10
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Prairie Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 10
Savannah Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 2
Indigo Bunting 2
Bobolink 25
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Baltimore Oriole 1
American Goldfinch 10
House Sparrow 5

Sunset Back Bay Cruise Report, a few notes from here and there

No further word on the state park Eurasian Collared-dove.

On Saturday, CMBO's first Sunset Cruise for Fall Migrants on Dave Githen's boat, the Osprey, enjoyed light winds and featured MANY herons and egrets, including a number of juvenile Tri-colored Herons. We boated from Cape May harbor to Champagne Island and back. A bathing adult Clapper Rail provided stellar views near the Miss Chris Marina, and there were two Peregrines near the usual Peregrine haunt at the Coast Guard Water Tower. The tide was up a bit so we had fewer mudflats than we would have liked, but nonetheless saw many Black-bellied Plovers, American Oystercatchers, Ruddy Turnstones, and other shorebird species. Caspian Terns were scattered along the intracoastal waterway, as were a few Royals, though the bulk of them were roosting on Champagne Island in Hereford Inlet. A few Common Terns fed under the toll bridge to Nummy Island. The full list is below. Our next cruise is Saturday October 11, and we also offer bird-focused back bay cruises on the Osprey on Sundays and Mondays.

Conditions have not been good for landbird migration in recent days, to put it mildly. E.g.,

Karl Lukens et. al. report on the CMBO Saturday "Beanery" walk: "Kind of slow going although the Sharp-shinned Hawks and Kestrels were constantly over head. - Karl (Judy, Kathy & Roger Horn, Patty Rourke, Bill Smythe)". It looks like birding on the passerine front will improve for Monday and Tuesday, according to David La Puma's birding forecast.

The Saturday afternoon Hawks, Trails and Beach Walk fared well, according to Chuck and MJ Slugg. This walk begins at the hawk watch platform at 3:00 p.m. The list from yesterday is below.

Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 9/27/08
Notes: A highlight of the Hawks, Trails, & Beach Walk was a Merlin sitting in a tree eating dinner. We also had great looks at the Common Nighthawks.
Number of species: 43
Canada Goose 15
Mute Swan 10
Gadwall 4
Mallard 30
Blue-winged Teal 10
Green-winged Teal 20
Ruddy Duck 1
Great Egret 2
Snowy Egret 8
Green Heron 1
Osprey 5
Merlin 2
Greater Yellowlegs 40
Lesser Yellowlegs 10
Least Sandpiper 4
Laughing Gull 16
Ring-billed Gull 5
Herring Gull 6
Great Black-backed Gull 50
Forster's Tern 2
Black Skimmer 75
Rock Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 3
Common Nighthawk 5
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 5
Tree Swallow 40
Barn Swallow 2
Carolina Wren 6
House Wren 1
Marsh Wren 1
Gray Catbird 5
Northern Mockingbird 6
Brown Thrasher 5
European Starling 20
Yellow Warbler 5
Palm Warbler 7
American Redstart 5
Savannah Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
American Goldfinch 2

Location: Grassy Sound
Observation date: 9/27/08
Notes: CMBO Sunset Cruise for fall Migrants, from Cape May Harbor to Champagne Island and back. A very few birds not seen by all participants (most were).
Number of species: 43
American Black Duck 5
Double-crested Cormorant 500
Great Blue Heron 15
Great Egret 30
Snowy Egret 80
Little Blue Heron 2
Tricolored Heron 8
Black-crowned Night-Heron 20
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 5
Turkey Vulture 10
Osprey 5
Northern Harrier 2
Peregrine Falcon 2
Clapper Rail 2
Black-bellied Plover 300
Semipalmated Plover 5
American Oystercatcher 140
Greater Yellowlegs 20
Willet 10
Ruddy Turnstone 20
Sanderling 10
Western Sandpiper 20
Least Sandpiper 10
White-rumped Sandpiper 2
Dunlin 5
Short-billed Dowitcher 10
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Caspian Tern 15
Common Tern 20
Forster's Tern X
Royal Tern 75
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Belted Kingfisher 1
American Crow X
Fish Crow X
Tree Swallow X
Marsh Wren 1
Red-winged Blackbird 50
Boat-tailed Grackle 25

Eurasian Collared Dove

A Eurasian Collared Dove was found at Cape May Point State park today, reported to me by offical counter Seth Cuttright. It was being seen from the platform, apparently up towards the park's "burn pile," a.k.a. the pile of brush along the road to the plover ponds.

Hudsonian godwit, Falcon Flight, Wheatear story, and Farewell to some British Friends

I learned second hand from Bob Fogg that a Hudsonian Godwit joined the shorebird flock near the Wetlands Institute mentioned below - apparently not long after my group left the site, as the tide continued to rise (rats!)

This morning's easterly gale didn't prevent an exciting falcon show at Cape May Point State Park, featuring multiple Merlins, Peregrines, and kestrels. The former two played with the wind, the latter struggled, a nice lesson for CMBO's Hawk Migration workshop, which I'm leading today and tomorrow with Mark Garland.

Interesting story: we were recently sent a note with a picture from a birder and CMBO member named Kate McCain, asking for help on a bird she found at the state park last Wednesday. It was the Northern Wheatear, 2 days before it's presence became widely known!

Finally, Lizzie Condon, one of our fall seasonal staff, shares the following story of some visiting birders from the U.K. Cape May is a popular place for European birders, since so many species can be seen so quickly in so small a space.

"A blog from the interns: So Long Twitchers!

"Cape May is a world-renowned hot spot for birding, attracting visitors from many exotic locales. Since the seasonal interns have started working we have had a few regular out of towners, and this blog is for them.

"I am the Morning Flight intern, which means I get to Higbee Beach and stand at the platform under the dike starting at 6:20AM 5 days a week to watch the songbird migration. For the past 2 weeks I have had early morning company every day (sometimes even beating me there!). Four British birders (perhaps twitchers?) have been working on their life lists and enjoying the spoils of Cape May birding. Their names are David and David, Jon and John.




Caption: From top right, clockwise: Dan Berard (swing counter), Seth Cutright (hawk counter), Jon Kauffman and Lizzie Condon (interpretive naturalist interns), David Angell, David Fieldsend, John Glendinning and Jon Buxton (all British birders visiting Cape May). Photo taken from the Hawk Watch platform at Cape May Point State Park.

And enjoy they have! The Davids spent two weeks here and have accumulated 43 life birds and a total trip list of 179, while the Johns were here for one week and got 1 life bird (American pipit) and a total trip list of 152.

As seasonal interns we are new to the area, and we appreciate the community of birders that has embraced us here in Cape May. Our goal is to help others feels included as well, and I feel that we accomplished this goal with our twitcher guests. You are well missed guys! We look forward to more Brits and other international birders as the season progresses. Thanks to our visitors so far for being so kind and enthusiastic!"

Thanks Lizzie, and thanks to all the seasonals for doing such a great job this year!

Meadows Closed; high tides and east winds

TNC has closed the South Cape May Meadows for phragmites spraying. This site is also known as the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge, along Sunset. During the closure, any CMBO walks scheduled for that site will shift to Cape May Point State Park.

The extreme northeast wind has caused very high tides along the shore, concentrating shorebirds at a few high ground locations. One such was the pool east of the Wetlands Institute along the Stone Harbor Causeway yesterday, which held many dowitchers (both species), yellowlegs, Western Willets, and others. Nummy Island is a good spot to check, too, and while you're there check the roadside vegetation for salt sparrows (Salt-marsh and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows and Seaside Sparrow were all seen there yesterday) and rails that have been pushed there by high tides. A small group I was leading there yesterday had all the herons and egrets save Green and Least Bittern - this included a flyby American Bittern and many Black-crowned Night-herons, 50 or more. Piping Plovers are still lingering at Stone Harbor Point, where one can also find Dunlin and a few Pectorals and White-rumpeds amid many Western Sandpipers and Sanderlings.

Cape May on a Northeast Wind: Peregrines, Jaegers, Moderate Numbers (by Cape May Standards) of Everything Else

Today's numbers from the hawk watch and morning flight are posted on View from the Field. I see Dan Berard detected 31 Peregrines among 925 total raptors, not a bad flight at all, though imagine what the Peregrine count might be if this northeast flow reappears in about 10 days. Peregrines peak in early October.

Sam Galick counted 575 total birds at Morning Flight, including 12 species of warblers. Sam also reports a Parasitic Jaeger, to which I can add another light adult picked by Marshall Iliff tonight off the meadows during a pre-conference field trip of the Northeast Bird Monitoring and Conservation Workshop, which NJAS is co-sponsoring in Cape May this week.

The thing to remember is that if "only" 575 birds are counted at Morning Flight, the general birder's experience at Higbee Beach is less exciting, though I did hear of a Mourning Warbler at Higbee yesterday, a species that apparently does not "fly out" - i.e., it does not engage in morning flight. I should also warn that mosquitoes at Higbee have been a significant presence of late.

Another set of birds that does not engage in apparent morning flight are the brown-backed thrushes - because they re-direct in the predawn hours. Or at least that's what I and others think. Sunday morning I did some listening along the bayshore, and sure enough heard Veeries and a couple Swainson's Thrushes flying north overhead about 6:10 a.m., well before sunup.

Karl Lukens et.al. report "CMBO morning walk at the "Meadows" (TNC property). Nice mix of shorebirds, waders, gulls and passerines. Ducks are coming in. One fairly bright (some ruddy) Ruddy Duck and the female Hooded Merganser still continues. [We saw the Ruddy again tonight.] Real nice view for several minutes, of an adult Bald Eagle attempting to steal a fish from an unwilling Osprey. Unfortunately the fish ended up in someone's yard."

The Avalon Sea Watch started today, but I have not yet heard what was seen. During this early period at the sea watch, expect a few gannets, cormorants, dabbling ducks, perhaps a smattering of scoters, terns, and attending jaegers. And you never know - 13 Marbled Godwits were recorded on 9/23/07. Speaking of which, I observed a "modgod" while kayaking in Stites Sound, near Avalon, just yesterday.

Of easterly winds, dragonfly swarms and stray butterflies

Judging from the east winds predicted on the Weather Channel's local forecast last night, it didn't appear as though today would pan out to be the most exciting of birding days on the Jersey Cape- but given that those same east winds helped produce yesterday's Northern Wheatear (which to my knowledge was not seen at all today), there wasn't much point in staying in, either.

Word has it that this morning's flight at Higbee wasn't too impressive, and likewise the hawkwatch was relatively quiet this afternoon, save for a nice showing of Merlins which were having a field day with the large numbers of dragonflies moving through the area. Unbeknownst to many, several species of dragonflies are in fact highly migratory, including Spot-winged and Wandering Gliders, Black and Carolina Saddlebags, Twelve-spotted Skimmer, Blue Dasher and Common Green Darner. All of these were easy to find (and in numbers) around the Point today. Big (or perhaps bigger) numbers were present yesterday- check out Erin Cord's review from yesterday to learn more.

Continuing with the insect theme, some time spent butterflying with Will Kerling and Steve Mason around the Point this afternoon produced 16 species of butterflies including two southern strays: a Clouded Skipper and two Long-tailed Skippers. Both of these species occur here only in late-summer/early-fall, so if you're game to see them, now's the time.

At the State Park we ran into the CMBO afternoon walk, which had come across a most cooperative Yellow-bellied Flycatcher toward the very back of the park. About a dozen Blue-winged Teal, five fly-over Stilt Sandpipers and a Dunlin were also nice to see.

An evening stroll around the Meadows featured a fly-over Tricolored Heron, one Lesser Black-backed Gull on the beach, a distant Parasitic Jaeger hunting offshore, and a Common Nighthawk at dusk.

Winds have died down to almost nothing tonight, and are forecast to be light out of the north tomorrow. Judging from the radar images and the flight calls coming from above, there doesn't seem to be a big flight occurring tonight, but I would expect the "regular" spots to hold at least a few migrants in the AM, and there could be a bit of a hawk flight tomorrow, as well.

No more sightings of the Northern Wheatear & CMBO Sunset Birding at the Meadows walk- 9/19/08

(Photos courtesy of Michael O'Brien)

Thanks to Michael O'Brien for providing a few more photos of yesterdays Northern Wheatear. Michael made an interesting observation about the birds overall plumage coloration under different lighting conditions. Michael pointed out that the bird looked buffy under the sunlight (top photo) but overall grayer when the sun was obscured by clouds (bottom photos.)

There have been no further sightings of this bird, this morning. But, it could be anywhere in the area or it truly has "flown the coup" (pun intended.) If you are headed down to Cape May to bird over the next day or so make sure you keep this bird in mind. It could very easily be hanging in the dunes. In fact, I'd have loved to have had more time before work this morning to check the dunes between the state park and the Meadows. Hopefully it will be refound. If so we'll get the word out as quickly as possible.

Speaking of finds, I wanted to thank the Hudson Mohawk group and Gerry Colborn, not only for this find but for getting the word out so quickly!

Below is the list and Karl Lukens' report from last evening's CMBO walk at the Meadows.

"CMBO Evening "Meadow" walk at the TNC. Shore birds were scarce but ducks
increasing in numbers although still in eclipse plumage. Found only one
Lesser Black-backed Gull. Nice views of Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and Palm
Warblers snagging insects."


Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 9/19/08
Notes: CMBO Walk-K,J,C&MJ,DL,+8.PtlySun,67,NE12.
Number of species: 46

Canada Goose 20
Mute Swan 12
Gadwall 4
American Wigeon 10
Mallard 25
Blue-winged Teal 6
Northern Shoveler 4
Green-winged Teal 1
Hooded Merganser 1
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 5
Snowy Egret 5
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Merlin 6
Semipalmated Plover 2
Killdeer 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Sanderling 15
Least Sandpiper 2
Laughing Gull 15
Ring-billed Gull 5
Herring Gull 15
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 40
Forster's Tern 10
Royal Tern 5
Black Skimmer 15
Rock Pigeon 1
Mourning Dove 5
American Crow 5
Tree Swallow 1
Carolina Wren 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 15
Yellow Warbler 2
Palm Warbler (Western) 3
American Redstart 3
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 5
House Finch 2
House Sparrow 2

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2

NORTHERN WHEATEAR- Photo

(Photo Courtesy of Bob Fogg, www.keekeekerr.com)

Thanks to Bob Fogg I was able to post a photo a lot faster than I thought. Enjoy!

NORTHERN WHEATEAR- Cape May Point State Park

At around 4:35 today I received a text message that a NORTHERN WHEATEAR had been found near the second plover pond at the Cape May Point State Park. Arriving as quickly as possible after I received the word, found that the bird had yet to venture off, and was still there when I left around 5:20 p.m.

Knowing that Wheaters often do not stick long and the lateness of the day, you may have a chance at this bird if you live in close proximity to Cape May. Otherwise, thank goodness it is Saturday tomorrow! The bird did seem to be in no hurry to move on and the general weather would indicate that there may be a good chance that it will stick.

So, if you want to try for this bird be at the Cape May point State Park first thing in the morning. It may certainly move around and could be pretty much anywhere in the dune area but I'd suggest trying to the bird right were it is today.

The bird was hanging around mostly on the ground but make sure you check the Bayberry bushes along side the trail as when I arrived it was actually sitting up in a bush with palm Warblers flitting around.

So, it's the location you'd like to know. The wheatear was initially found on the ground in the path between the first and second plover ponds. Found by a Hudson Mohawk birding group (sorry if I got this wrong, I'll make sure correct credit is given if I am wrong), the bird flew up and sat for a short time on a trial sign and then into the bush. See the Google Maps below for the "X" that marks the spot.

Also look for photos of this bird in the very near future.

Good Luck!

Higbee: Golden-winged Warbler and Philadelphia Vireo; belated report from Stone Harbor area

A female Golden-winged Warbler entertained CMBO's Friday walk this morning, right at the outset near the parking area. Halfway down the first field, a Philadelphia Vireo did the same, as it foraged eye level with two Red-eyed Vireos. Higbee also featured a nice selection of raptors including Peregrine, Merlin and Cooper's Hawk. Northern Parulas were perhaps the most common warbler among the 10 or so species we detected.

On Wednesday CMBO's Fall Migration Workshop headed over to Stone Harbor, where many Western Sandpipers foraged on the beach at the end of second avenue. About 5 Piping Plovers were with them. In the vicinity of the free bridge to Nummy Island, perhaps 100 Red Knots foraged on the exposed mudflats, with well over 100 American Oystercatchers. My first Dunlin of the fall flew over, and both Black-crowned and Yellow-Crowned Night-herons were roosting in trees in the vicinity. Caspian and Royal Terns were present both at Stone Harbor Point and Nummy. A Wood Thrush surprised us by calling and then appearing briefly in a little patch of brush on the Stone harbor side of the bridge - this was at about 4 in the afternoon, not exactly the place and time one would expect to find this species. Presumably it had come in with the morning flight and settled into the first patch of habitat it found suitable.

Below I've posted the list from our Thursday Bird Walk for All People at the request of the participants. We were treated to some of the "glamour" raptors - Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Cooper's Hawk are daily at the hawk watch now if there is any kind of flight happening.

Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 9/18/08
Notes: CMBO Bird Walk for all people
Number of species: 52
Canada Goose 100
Mute Swan 1
American Black Duck 2
Mallard 25
Blue-winged Teal 25
Northern Shoveler 1
Green-winged Teal 25
Double-crested Cormorant 20
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 10
Snowy Egret 20
Little Blue Heron 2
Turkey Vulture 10
Osprey 10
Bald Eagle 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 10
Cooper's Hawk 5
American Kestrel 5
Merlin 2
Peregrine Falcon 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 15
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1
Least Sandpiper 10
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Common Tern 2
Forster's Tern 10
Royal Tern 10
Rock Pigeon 25
Mourning Dove 10
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 10
Tree Swallow X
Barn Swallow X
Carolina Wren X
American Robin X
Gray Catbird X
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling X
Palm Warbler X
Black-and-white Warbler X
Northern Waterthrush X
Savannah Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 2
Bobolink X
Red-winged Blackbird X
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X

Cape Island Wild Turkey Photos and CMBO Twilght Watch walk

(Photo courtesy of Bob Fogg, www.keekeekerr.com)

Hen Wild Turkey with poult. There were about seven or eight individuals in all.

(Photo courtesy of Bob Fogg, www.keekeekerr.com)

Above are images taken by Bob Fogg of the turkey family group seen at the end of Bayshore Rd. on Tuesday 9/16. As I said in my last post, I am of the opinion that these young turkeys do not have the complete ability to fly the span of the Cape May canal. This would mean that this species is now nesting on Cape Island. While turkeys have definitely been on the rise in the lower half of the state, having a nesting pair on the island is a pretty exciting thing.

Last night was the regular CMBO Twilight Watch walk at TNCs CMMBR (the Meadows), and yet again, everyone walked away with having made some wonderful observations. The evening started off with our typical looks at the few remaining shorebirds in the main pool. Along with a few Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, either viewed as flybys or mixed in with the Mallards as is often the case.

A most excellent find was a very hard to see American Bittern in the cattails about half way down the east path, on the east side. The bird never did show the group its entire body but most of us were able to get views at the beak, head and neck, as it did its best to imitate the cattails. This proved to be an exercise in patience as we waited each time the bird went down and were able to see only a small pact of plumage through the vegetation.

Other exciting sights were a lesser amount (in comparison to what has been around as of late) Common Nighthawks bouncing around the sky. There were approximately eight that our group could find. Though, there was enough back and fourth movement over a large area, we could have easily have been seeing different birds but I chose to err on the side of the conservative for the numbers I was posting to eBird.

The last exciting find was a Great-horned Owl which John, a CMBO Interpretive Naturalist, spotted all the way across the west path toward the Cape May Point Stage Park property, from the east path. We were able to hear the young bird continuing to beg morsels from the parents with its raspy screech. Before we headed over to the east path to attempt a better look the bird flew toward the beach and we actually saw that there was a second owl as well. I'm guessing that these birds are siblings. I cannot imaging that the adult birds are still feeding young at this date. But, who knows. The bird was flying down as if attempting to hunt at least.

Knowing that these owls have been observed making use of the Osprey nesting platform by the Plover Pond we hastily headed over the the western dune crossing hoping to get a better look. A bit of quiet scanning and all of a sudden someone pointed out that the bird had come back to the Osprey platform. Even though the sun was past the horizon we were all still able to get decent looks at the bird, thanks to the outstanding Swarovski spotting scope optics. And while we thought that we'd had wonderful looks at very close range the best views (in my opinion and I am guessing the group's considering the ooo's and ahhh's) were had on our way back to the parking lot. Someone noticed about the time we were at the metal bridge that the bird had perched back on the platform. Same bird, same platform, a little further away. But, what was different this time was that we had the beautiful reds of the setting sun sky behind the bird. A gorgeous back drop to view a beautiful bird. I was kicking myself for the fact that I did not have a my camera with me.

So, the walk was successful in all endeavours again this week. While not all migrants we did view herons, owls and bats! Hopefully we'll see you out on the trail with Laura next week.

The list form last nights walk is below.


Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 9/17/08
Notes: CMBO Twilight Watch 2285 steps = approx. 1.5 miles
Number of species: 34

Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Wood Duck 1
Gadwall 1
Mallard X
Blue-winged Teal 5
Green-winged Teal 1
Double-crested Cormorant 2
American Bittern 1
Great Egret 8
Snowy Egret 16
Green Heron 2
Black-crowned Night-Heron 7
Merlin 5
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Lesser Yellowlegs X
Least Sandpiper X
Pectoral Sandpiper 4
Laughing Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Black Skimmer 1
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Great Horned Owl 2
Common Nighthawk 8
Barn Swallow 1
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling X
Common Yellowthroat 8
Savannah Sparrow 12
Red-winged Blackbird X
House Finch X
House Sparrow X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2

Migration is not always what it appears....

(Base Reflectivity radar image, Mt. Holly, NJ radar, from approx 3:30 a.m., www.BirdCapeMay.org)

(Base Reflectivity radar image, Dover AFB radar, from about 3:30 a.m., www.BirdCapeMay.org)

Yesterday we ran the September Cape Island Big Day and with high hopes hit the birding trail at about 4:20 a.m. Before we'd left the house, I did as I usually do and stood outside for a time listening for calls over head. Worried that I was not hearing as many calls as I should be, the weather was perfect for migration with a nice NW wind blowing, I went in to check the live radar on the Birding Forecast section. The above screen shots were what I found when I clicked "Animate." Looks like David was right, there were huge numbers of migrants over head, but why was I not hearing many? Well I may never have a good answer to that particular question but my mind was already racing for what we would find on our days birding. Or, I thought, "would the migration weather be so good that most of the birds pass us by"?

Laura and I had hopes of hitting 120 species for the day and figuring the amount of migration happening (by the looks of the radar) when I awoke at 3:00, I was secretly hoping for about 5-10 species more. We were aided for some of our day by a third pair of eyes and ears. Bob Fogg wanted to get up early for some missing owls he had from his Cape May Big Year list and ended up being there for some of the bigger finds along with adding a good deal to our days birding.

I became a good bit more worried about the days birding when we were out hooting and whistling for owls only to hear very few migrants over head. And even worse, few owls! Closer to first light we did start to hear some chips and calls and were able to tally a number of species. Swainson's and Gray-cheeked Thrushes. Possible tanagers but not countable. Savannah Sparrow, Green and Black-crowned Night Herons to name a few. At one point I thought that I'd heard a Black-billed Cuckoo but not well enough to count. Luckily we found this species later in the morning at Hidden Valley.

Higbee was "slow" in the fact that many of the birds were not sitting in the trees easy to see. But, if you found a flock of feeding/moving birds chances are that if you took some time and watched you were treated to a nice diverse flock of birds. At least that was our experience. We did have a flyover Red-headed Woodpecker while were were looking for birds in the second field at Higbee which is always a very nice find.

One excellent surprise for the day was a Wild Turkey family group which pretty much all but seals the case on breeding turkeys south of the Cape May canal. The young birds were too young to have flown across the canal, in my opinion. Having raised turkeys growing up I know they are not the over all strongest fliers in the avian world. That being said, I've seen adult fly across all four lanes of traffic on Rt. 55. I am just not thinking that these young would be able to make the approximately 125+ yrd. flight. Maybe they could but I'm betting on a new Cape Island nester!

Another surprise came in the later morning in the way of a rail we flushed at the Beanery. We were walking along the trail next to the pond and a bird, very "yellowish" in color with dark back with light streaks flushed. Immediately my mind jumped to Yellow Rail, and wouldn't that have been a heck of a find! Very quickly we realized that none of us had seen any amount of white in the secondaries. When the bird flushed a second time, Laura confirmed the id for us. She noticed that there was a faint white trailing edge in the secondaries which is spot on (with the other observations we made) for a young Sora. If nothing else this was a great learning event and an even better second, or fifth wind. Maybe next time it will be a Yellow Rail?

The rest of the day went well, we were a little behind "schedule" most of the day but it didn't end up hurting the daily total over all. We found a Baird's Sandpiper at the state park on the second plover pond where there has been at least one most of the month. As well, there was a very nice mix of warblers hanging in the cedars on the boardwalk trail. We picked up a species or two, most notable a Cape May Warbler (actually in the cedars next to the Hawkwatch platform) about our fourth Philly Vireo and Prairie Warbler.

Over all some of the more interesting observations were at the end of the day. Of course most are, especially since you kind of go into overdrive looking for any and all species that you may be missing for the day. We ended the day at TNC's CMMBR (the Meadows) adding about 8 or species at the very end. The 48 (my estimate) Common Nighthawks were a very nice sight especially since many of the birds ultimately moved from the Cape May Point area to the Meadows and were over head hawking insects. Also a young Great-horned Owl screeching in the woods at the east end of the Cape May Point State Park was a nice "find." And, in fact I did find one bird sitting on a dead branch at the edge of the woods. I was even treated to a quick look at the bird in flight as is swooped down to attempt a catch at some prey. I never saw the bird get back up so hopefully it was successful.

So the day ended with a team total of 125 species, not bad at all! Given what I was afraid the day would be like when I hear next to no birds calling over head at 4 a.m., I am quite pleased with our total for the day. In fact, next to our World Series of Birding total, this is the second highest for the year.


Location: Cape Island
Observation date: 9/16/08
Notes: 24020 steps = approx. 15.7 miles
Number of species: 125

Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Wood Duck 11
Gadwall 2
American Wigeon 1
Mallard X
Blue-winged Teal 16
Northern Shoveler 8
Green-winged Teal 8
Hooded Merganser 1
Wild Turkey 8
Double-crested Cormorant 25
Great Blue Heron 4
Great Egret 20
Snowy Egret 35
Little Blue Heron 2
Green Heron 22
Black-crowned Night-Heron 8
Glossy Ibis 1
Black Vulture X
Turkey Vulture X
Osprey X
Bald Eagle 2
Northern Harrier 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 30
Cooper's Hawk 8
Red-tailed Hawk 2
American Kestrel 18
Merlin 10
Peregrine Falcon 2
Sora 1
Semipalmated Plover 1
Killdeer 1
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs X
Lesser Yellowlegs 45
Sanderling 6
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1
Least Sandpiper 5
Baird's Sandpiper 1
Pectoral Sandpiper 5
Short-billed Dowitcher 1
American Woodcock 1
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull 3
Herring Gull X
Lesser Black-backed Gull 3
Great Black-backed Gull 135
Common Tern 3
Forster's Tern 35
Royal Tern 130
Black Skimmer X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Black-billed Cuckoo 1
Eastern Screech-Owl 1
Great Horned Owl 1
Common Nighthawk 48
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 6
Belted Kingfisher 4
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker X
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 9
Eastern Wood-Pewee 3
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 1
Eastern Phoebe 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 6
Eastern Kingbird 10
White-eyed Vireo X
Yellow-throated Vireo 1
Philadelphia Vireo 4
Red-eyed Vireo X
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Fish Crow X
Tree Swallow X
Carolina Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse X
Carolina Wren X
House Wren X
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 12
Veery X
Gray-cheeked Thrush X
Swainson's Thrush X
American Robin X
Gray Catbird X
Northern Mockingbird 16
Brown Thrasher 18
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing X
Tennessee Warbler 1
Northern Parula 25
Yellow Warbler 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler 10
Magnolia Warbler 15
Cape May Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 30
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 5
Palm Warbler (Western) X
Blackpoll Warbler 6
Black-and-white Warbler X
American Redstart X
Ovenbird 1
Northern Waterthrush X
Common Yellowthroat X
Scarlet Tanager 3
Eastern Towhee 1
Chipping Sparrow 2
Field Sparrow 6
Savannah Sparrow X
Northern Cardinal X
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting X
Bobolink 1200
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
Boat-tailed Grackle 1
Brown-headed Cowbird X
House Finch X
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2

Two CMBO Walks

Below are two lists below from the CMBO Higbee's walk on Tuesday morning and today's CMBO Cape May Point walk.  Good numbers of birds are and have been around.  Finding them can prove to be a bit of a challenge but when you find a feeding flock the warbler/vireo numbers can be quite good.

According to one sites statistics, 24 species of warbler were recorded yesterday with 150 species total being seen.  Not at all bad in my opinion.

"CMBO Cape May Point State Park Walk. As usual the varied habitat produced a
nice variety of birds. Numerous Sharp-shinned hawks and Kestrels were seen
overhead. Ducks are still in eclipse plumage but with careful scanning we
were able to pick out wigeons both teal and a pintail. Warblers were present
but not in the numbers found yesterday."



 Location:     Cape May Point SP
 Observation date:     9/17/08
 Notes:     CMBO Walk-K,J,T,BS,+11.Clr,60,N6.
 Number of species:     61

 Canada Goose     5
 Mute Swan     5
 American Wigeon     2
 American Black Duck     1
 Mallard     25
 Blue-winged Teal     1
 Northern Shoveler     5
 Northern Pintail     1
 Green-winged Teal     10
 Double-crested Cormorant     4
 Great Blue Heron     2
 Great Egret     10
 Snowy Egret     10
 Green Heron     1
 Turkey Vulture     2
 Osprey     5
 Northern Harrier     1
 Sharp-shinned Hawk     15
 Broad-winged Hawk     1
 American Kestrel     5
 Merlin     2
 Greater Yellowlegs     2
 Lesser Yellowlegs     10
 Sanderling     2
 Least Sandpiper     10
 Laughing Gull     20
 Ring-billed Gull     2
 Herring Gull     5
 Great Black-backed Gull     25
 Forster's Tern     10
 Royal Tern     15
 Rock Pigeon     5
 Mourning Dove     5
 Belted Kingfisher     2
 White-eyed Vireo     2
 Red-eyed Vireo     3
 Blue Jay     1
 American Crow     5
 Tree Swallow     100
 Carolina Chickadee     1
 Carolina Wren     5
 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     10
 Veery     1
 Gray Catbird     5
 Northern Mockingbird     2
 Brown Thrasher     1
 European Starling     25
 Yellow Warbler     3
 Magnolia Warbler     1
 Palm Warbler (Western)     8
 Black-and-white Warbler     2
 American Redstart     3
 Common Yellowthroat     6
 Northern Cardinal     5
 Bobolink     25
 Red-winged Blackbird     10
 Common Grackle     2
 Brown-headed Cowbird     1
 House Finch     5
 American Goldfinch     1
 House Sparrow     5
 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2

Location:     Higbee Beach
Observation date:     9/16/08
Notes:     The birds were there but they were not showing themselves to us.
Number of species:     37

Great Blue Heron     2
Great Egret     1
Snowy Egret     2
Osprey     5
Bald Eagle     2
Sharp-shinned Hawk     7
Spotted Sandpiper     2
Herring Gull     1
Great Black-backed Gull     2
Mourning Dove     10
Ruby-throated Hummingbird     2
Belted Kingfisher     1
Northern Flicker     5
White-eyed Vireo     3
Red-eyed Vireo     2
Blue Jay     6
American Crow     3
Tree Swallow     2
Carolina Chickadee     15
Carolina Wren     9
House Wren     2
Veery     1
American Robin     2
Gray Catbird     15
Northern Mockingbird     1
Brown Thrasher     4
European Starling     20
Cedar Waxwing     7
Northern Parula     8
Black-and-white Warbler     1
American Redstart     2
Common Yellowthroat     10
Northern Cardinal     6
Bobolink     40
Red-winged Blackbird     35
Baltimore Oriole     2
American Goldfinch     6

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2

Philly V, Connecticut, Yellow-bellied Fly, Summer Tan - highlights from Cape May

The obvious choice this morning for CMBO's Fall Migration Workshop was Higbee Beach, where CMBO also has a regular Tuesday walk at 7:30; where we conduct our Morning Flight count; where Michael O'Brien was leading a Guides for Hire (a service offered by CMBO, call 609.884.2736 for details). . . in other words, if there was a bird at Higbee today, it was seen.

Morning Flight counted several hundred warblers, but pickin's were considered slim in the fields by most people. Multiple Philadelphia Vireos were around, as well at least one Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and two Connecticut Warblers. An Alder Flycatcher was at the west side of the dike (reached by walking past the rusted pipe below the dike, opposite the Morning Flight Platform). Veeries called from the woods, and a few flickers heralded things to come. Warblers that put down in the fields were not particularly common. I included a full list of what we found on our workshop below, but I am sure other species were seen.

Jason Guerard tracked down the Bayshore Road Wild Turkeys previously mentioned, which I confirmed were first reported by Chris and Lee Hajduk. Take Bayshore Road north from Sunset. Continue straight through the New England Road stop sign and start looking.

Sheila Lego, Marleen Murgitroyde, Pete Dunne and I ate lunch outside at the Northwood Center in Cape May Point, where we were delighted to find a female Summer Tanager along with a few warblers. Always check the woods around Northwood for birds when you're down in Cape May (in addition to stopping into the store to see what's been seen).

Cape May Point State Park in the afternoon featured an awesome warbler feeding flock along the red trail, mainly near the first bench you encounter after leaving the parking lot, which contained multiple Prairies, Magnolias, Parulas, Cape May, Chestnut-sided, and others. A juvenile Baird's Sandpiper was in the 2nd plover pond, and a juvenile Stilt Sandpiper dropped into Bunker Pond late in the day, called out by swing counter Dan Berard. A list of what we found at the state park during the workshop is also below.

Make sure you check the reports from our fall research projects under View from the Field. For example, Dan Berard noted about yesterday: " This was our first really good day of the season. Over 700 birds counted. A good count of American Kestrels and Sharp-shinned Hawks was going on. Bald Eagles, Osprey, and Cooper's Hawks also made up a good number of the total."

CMBO Fall Migration workshop lists from Higbee and the state park follow.

Location: Higbee Beach
Observation date: 9/16/08
Number of species: 74
Mallard 5
Double-crested Cormorant 25
Great Egret 2
Snowy Egret 5
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 10
Bald Eagle 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 10
Cooper's Hawk 5
American Kestrel 5
Merlin 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 5
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
Great Black-backed Gull X
Forster's Tern X
Royal Tern X
Rock Pigeon 25
Mourning Dove 10
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 5
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 4
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 1
Alder Flycatcher 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 1
White-eyed Vireo 5
Philadelphia Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 10
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 10
Fish Crow 5
Tree Swallow X
Barn Swallow X
Carolina Chickadee 10
Tufted Titmouse 10
Carolina Wren 20
House Wren 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5
Veery 5
American Robin 10
Gray Catbird 5
Brown Thrasher 2
European Starling 10
Cedar Waxwing 25
Tennessee Warbler 1
Northern Parula 5
Yellow Warbler 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler 5
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 1
Bay-breasted Warbler 2
Black-and-white Warbler 5
American Redstart 10
Ovenbird 1
Northern Waterthrush 10
Connecticut Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 5
Scarlet Tanager 2
Northern Cardinal 5
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2
Indigo Bunting 5
Bobolink 25
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Common Grackle 25
Baltimore Oriole 5
American Goldfinch 5


Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 9/16/08
Number of species: 75
Canada Goose 50
Mute Swan 10
Gadwall 10
American Black Duck 2
Mallard 25
Blue-winged Teal 25
Northern Shoveler 6
Green-winged Teal 10
Double-crested Cormorant 50
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 15
Snowy Egret 15
Green Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 10
Osprey 5
Bald Eagle 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 20
Cooper's Hawk 10
Broad-winged Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 2
American Kestrel 10
Merlin 10
Semipalmated Plover 2
Killdeer 5
Greater Yellowlegs 5
Lesser Yellowlegs 25
Baird's Sandpiper 1
Pectoral Sandpiper 3
Stilt Sandpiper 1
Short-billed Dowitcher 1
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Caspian Tern 1
Common Tern 1
Forster's Tern 25
Royal Tern X
Black Skimmer 25
Rock Pigeon 10
Mourning Dove 10
Belted Kingfisher 1
White-eyed Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 10
Tree Swallow X
Cliff Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 10
House Wren 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 5
Northern Parula 5
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Magnolia Warbler 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 5
Palm Warbler 5
Black-and-white Warbler 1
American Redstart 5
Common Yellowthroat 5
Northern Cardinal 5
Indigo Bunting 2
Bobolink 5
Red-winged Blackbird X
House Finch 5
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 10

Meet CMBO's Fall 2008 Seasonal Staff

Since August, CMBO's Seasonal Staff have been posting daily counts to the View from the Field: Seasonal Research section and will continue to do so throughout the fall season.

Be sure to check out the current counts for the Morning Flight, Hawk Watch and detailed reports and photos from the Monarch Monitoring Project! Starting late-September we will also be posting counts from the Avalon Sea Watch.

Pipit, Pintail, Turkeys, More

An early American Pipit was detected at Cape May Point State Park on Thursday, by CMBO's seasonal crew there, and apparently seen again Friday. This hovers around the record early date for this species.

Wild Turkeys are not big news in the east generally, but a family group found south of the canal is a headliner. I believe these were initially discovered Saturday at the north end of Bayshore Road, but I'm not entirely sure of the discoverer or exact location. We found turkey droppings last May at Higbee Beach, so it seems likely that turkey nested south of the canal for the first time in modern times (probably since there was a canal!)

A Northern Pintail hen flew past the hawk watch on Saturday, a first for the fall for all present.

The CMBO Walk at "The Beanery" (Rea Farm) Saturday morning was a big day for Red-eyed Vireos and Flickers. Also of note, 5 Black-crowned Night-Herons at the willow pond, Blue Grosbeak, 3 Indigo Buntings, and a Skulky Yellow-breasted Chat. All from CMBO volunteers Karl & Judy Lukens, Tom Parsons, Kathy & Roger Horn.

Chuck and MJ Slugg reported 58 bird species and 17 participants in CMBO's first Saturday afternoon Hawks, Trails and Beach walk. Sometimes I feel like the state park is sneaky-good when it comes to birding - we haven't had piles of migrants the past couple days, and yet before you know it you've seen close to 60 species.

Speaking of sneaky good, so can be Higbee on a non-flight day, like Friday. CMBO's walk detected Yellow-bellied and "Traill's" Flycatchers, many Black-throated Blue Warblers (which are very dialed-in on porcelain berries), Parulas, Black and White, orioles, Red-eyed Vireos, etc. On a cloudy, non-flight day I like to walk the Higbee fields in "reverse, i.e. start on the west side. With clouds, the east side of the first three fields, the almost automatic starting route for many birders, has no sunlit edges to concentrate birds anyway.

Baird's still around, Plus Bird Walk for All People

This morning's Bird Walk for All People found a Baird's Sandpiper on the second plover pond at Cape May Point State Park, where they've been of late. Many of the shorebirds seemed to have cleared out of the state park, as has the eel-eating egret fest that was going on there last week. Interestingly, among the lingerers were several injured birds, all apparently with leg problems. In this category we saw Semi-palmated Plover, and Semi-palmated and Least Sandpipers.

A few Peregrines came over the platform, along with a lovely juv. harrier that spent much of the morning hunting the marsh in front of the platform. The full list is below.

Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 9/11/08
Notes: CMBO'S BIRD WALK FOR ALL PEOPLE
Number of species: 68
Canada Goose 20
Mute Swan 10
American Wigeon 2
Mallard 25
Blue-winged Teal 10
Northern Shoveler 10
Green-winged Teal 25
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Egret 5
Snowy Egret 5
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 10
Osprey 10
Northern Harrier 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2
Cooper's Hawk 2
American Kestrel 2
Peregrine Falcon 1
Semipalmated Plover 2
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs 5
Lesser Yellowlegs 10
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Sanderling 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 5
Least Sandpiper 10
Baird's Sandpiper 1
Wilson's Snipe 1
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 10
Forster's Tern 20
Royal Tern 10
Black Skimmer 15
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 10
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Kingbird 2
White-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 10
American Crow 10
Tree Swallow 10
Barn Swallow 5
Carolina Chickadee 1
Carolina Wren 1
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 5
European Starling 10
Cedar Waxwing 5
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 5
Magnolia Warbler 1
American Redstart 2
Northern Waterthrush 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Northern Cardinal 1
Indigo Bunting 1
Bobolink 25
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Common Grackle 5
Brown-headed Cowbird 10
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 5

CMBO Twlight Watch for Migrating Owls, Bats & Herons

Last night the CMBO Twilight Watch walk as usual, had many participants and many good sightings. One thing I like about this particular walk (and the reason that Laura wanted to take over this walk after Pat Sutton retired) is simply that birding the Meadows in the evening is a very fun time to be out there. Many people are not out birding at that time of day and it is very satisfying to watch the "changing of the guard", as the day birds retreat to their night time roosts and the nocturnal birds head out to make their living. Those who are out, may not always stick around to see the really good stuff. The "changing of the guard" happens well after sunset, but we are able to observe birds and such still because there is still a good amount of light in the sky. And lets' face it, with the quality of optics today you can see a lot even in very low light conditions. If you are lucky enough to own high-end optics you can virtually bird at night! When there is a full moon on a clear night I have more than once scanned tree tops for sitting owls and the such. A number of times I am rewarded with a silhouette or two.

And last night was no different, if you had left the meadows before the sun was down you might have missed a number of good sightings. On this walk we typically start walking the east path of the property first to take advantage of the good light at our backs, scanning the flats looking for shorebirds. Last night did not prove to be the most shorebirdy mostly due to the rains from TS Hanna and the additional 1/2" or so we received last Tuesday afternoon. Quite a bit of the sod bank that was exposed in the middle pool is now covered. There were a few Lesser Yellowlegs and Pectoral Sandpipers but over all the numbers of shorebirds were down. The Hooded Merganser is still hanging around along with a handful of Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal in the area.

Probably the birds of the night (for me at least) were the 35+ Common Nighthawks and the Great Horned Owl. Knowing that a few folks had seen Common Nighthawk in the area recently I figured that we had a good chance of finding one or two as they lifted off into the sky to hunt and ultimately migrate. The dunes at the Meadows make a perfect vantage point to look for these birds bouncing around the sky. Sure enough, even though at quite a distance, looking in to the fading lit western sky, there were multiple nighthawks in the distance. All in all I counted about 35 but I'd bet there were many more. Given the distance and approximate location the birds might have been better viewed from the Pond Creek Marsh area or Cape May Point.

The owl on the other hand was one of Laura's crazy insane finds. She has the almost supernatural ability to see owls (and other hard to see birds) with seemingly the greatest of ease. I was actually reminded of her finding of the fledgling Great Horned Owl at the back of Hidden Valley during scouting for this years World Series of Birding. It was daytime we were walking the back wet woods and she looks up and say "there's an owl." It took me 20 min with continuous directions from her as the bird was probably 50+ yrds. away from us and mostly covered by various layers of twigs and vegetation. Last night was no different in that Laura spotted and owl which landed on a tree on the north end of the TNC property. She was able to get the scope on it and even then it took many people in the group a little while to find the bird.

But, last night the walk lived up to its name. We did see at least one owl, bats and many herons. How many were migrating remains to be seen....

Below is Laura's eBird list from the evenings walk.

Location: Cape May Migratory Bird Sanctuary (South Cape May Meadows)
Observation date: 9/10/08
Number of species: 56

Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 6
Gadwall 4
Mallard X
Blue-winged Teal 5
Green-winged Teal 8
Hooded Merganser 1
Double-crested Cormorant X
Great Egret 3
Snowy Egret 5
Little Blue Heron 1
Green Heron 12
Black-crowned Night-Heron 6
Glossy Ibis 35
Turkey Vulture X
Osprey X
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 2
Merlin 3
Killdeer X
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 12
Sanderling X
Semipalmated Sandpiper X
Least Sandpiper X
Pectoral Sandpiper 5
Wilson's Snipe 1
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull 3
Herring Gull X
Lesser Black-backed Gull 3
Great Black-backed Gull 250
Forster's Tern X
Black Skimmer 150
Mourning Dove X
Great Horned Owl 1
Common Nighthawk 35
Belted Kingfisher 1
Eastern Kingbird 12
crow sp. 1
Tree Swallow X
Barn Swallow X
Carolina Wren X
American Robin X
Northern Mockingbird 3
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing X
Yellow Warbler X
Common Yellowthroat X
Northern Cardinal X
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
Brown-headed Cowbird X
House Finch X
American Goldfinch 1
House Sparrow X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2

State Park Report: 2-3 Baird's Sandpipers

Karl Lukens reports on the CMBO walk at Cape May Point State Park today: "A nice variety of shorebirds, waders, and passerines in this varied habitat. Of interest was the Baird's Sandpiper at the 2nd Plover Pond, and later at the finish, 2 Baird's Sandpipers at Bunker Pond. Two birds? 3 birds?? - Karl (Judy, Tom, Steve, Bill Smythe)"

Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 9/10/08
Notes: CMBO Walk-K,J,T,SW,BS,+11.Cldy,68,NE9.
Number of species: 61

Canada Goose 40
Mute Swan 6
Mallard 25
Northern Shoveler 5
Great Blue Heron 7
Great Egret 10
Snowy Egret 10
Turkey Vulture 3
Osprey 6
Bald Eagle 1
Semipalmated Plover 10
Killdeer 3
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 3
Lesser Yellowlegs 5
Sanderling 2
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1
Least Sandpiper 10
Baird's Sandpiper 2
Laughing Gull 25
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 10
Least Tern 1
Forster's Tern 10
Royal Tern 5
Rock Pigeon 3
Mourning Dove 20
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Least Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 1
White-eyed Vireo 3
Red-eyed Vireo 5
American Crow 5
Tree Swallow 5
Barn Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 1
Carolina Wren 5
American Robin 1
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 10
Cedar Waxwing 2
Northern Parula 3
Yellow Warbler 4
Magnolia Warbler 2
Pine Warbler 1
Palm Warbler (Western) 4
Black-and-white Warbler 3
American Redstart 5
Common Yellowthroat 5
Northern Cardinal 5
Bobolink 50
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 2
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
House Finch 2
House Sparrow 5

Higbee: Low volume, good quality, plus evening warblers at the state park

Morning Flight at Higbee Beach today was essentially absent, though quite a few birds made false starts and never flew on. Among these was a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, which flew north a few feet in front of me, then swung back over the dredge spoil and returned to the woods, giving Bob Fogg and me a great look, for a flyby empid. A Clay-colored Sparrow darted past and into the phragmites below the dike at around 8:30 a.m.

CMBO's Tuesday Higbee Walk (every Tuesday beginning at 7:30) featued a Philadelphia Vireo and both Least and "Trail's" Flycatchers - the full list is below, courtesy of Chuck and MJ Slugg.

Vince Elia told me he had 18 species of warblers yesterday evening at Cape May Point State Park, including Bay-breasted and Mourning. Watching for evening landbird activity on the day after a flight is often rewarding, especially if migration conditions continue to be good. Speaking of which, the National Weather Service says:

"A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SOUTHEAST FROM THE GREAT LAKES REGION AND CROSS THE REGION LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY TONIGHT. COOL HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN DOMINATE THE WEATHER WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY BEFORE SLIDING OFF TO THE EAST ON FRIDAY."

The front's forecast arrival shifted to a little earlier than was predicted yesterday, thus tomorrow should be very good birding, though the winds are supposed to swing around to northeast at dawn- which at least is good for Peregrines in Cape May.

Location: Higbee Beach
Observation date: 9/9/08
Notes: The Tues. Higbee Walk had great "parking lot birds" and then started slowly but we hit pockets of activity as the walk progressed.
Number of species: 46
Great Egret 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Bald Eagle 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Royal Tern 1
Mourning Dove X
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's) 2
Least Flycatcher 3
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 15
White-eyed Vireo 6
Philadelphia Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 25
Blue Jay 4
American Crow X
Fish Crow X
Tree Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 4
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 7
Carolina Wren 10
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 12
Veery 6
American Robin 8
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 1
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 10
Northern Parula 10
Magnolia Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 6
Black-and-white Warbler 20
American Redstart 25
Common Yellowthroat 4
Scarlet Tanager 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 6
Bobolink 15
Red-winged Blackbird 18
Common Grackle 10
Baltimore Oriole 15

Thoughts on today's flight

Today's four thousand plus bird flight at Higbee, counted by CMBO's Migration Counter Sam Galick at Morning Flight, is worth some consideration.

First of all, it was predictable, and heavy migration was indeed predicted - see David La Puma's forecast. If you didn't read the forecast last night, a more immediate predictor would have been to go outside to listen in this morning's darkness - Jon Kauffman (CMBO seasonal interpreter), Sam, Michael O'Brien and I all did so and had the same experience - many birds of many kinds calling overhead.

Second, it was wonderfully diverse - Redstarts overshadowed the other warblers, but significant numbers of Northern Parulas & Northern Waterthrushes passed, and several Dendroicas were well represented.

Third, "the end of fall" reared it's head, in my mind at least, in the form of Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers. Still plenty of diversity to come, mind, but besides the ones at the dike I had two Palms chipping along the trail by Bunker Pond at the State Park later in the morning. . .just like October. OK, OK Palms get thick beginning mid-September.

I do wonder if Sam's 64 Yellow Warblers will be the last big push for that species, and think it will. Yellows may be common, but that doesn't mean we don't miss them when they're through, or welcome them when they return from Mexico or points south in April.

Fourth - it was FUN! And fun whether or not one could identify every bird, because the truth is, no one could. The spectacle is enough. If you feel a little intimidated, therefore, don't - and know that an interpretive naturalist is on the Higbee Morning Flight Platform every morning through at least two hours after sunrise, and through October 31, to call out birds and explain the flight.

Meanwhile, back at the hawk watch - two adult Bald Eagles harassed by two Peregrines at mid-morning today was pretty special, as was the Merlin feeding on a dragonfly in flight. Not so special was my second miss of the Frigatebird - the first was the one at Higbee, seen as described by Jason below and also at Morning Flight [shortly after I left], and then, while I was off the hawk watch sawing away some vegetation that the state park graciously allowed us to remove to clear the view from the platform, Dan called out "FRIGATEBIRD!" Gone by the time I got up on the platform and found bins.

Looking to the future, keep an eye on this coming Thursday.

Magnificent Frigatebird over Cape May

(Photo courtesy of Bob Fogg, www.keekeekerr.com)

Who says that TS Hanna didn't bring much in the way of storm driven birds? It would seem that even though most of the tern and shearwater activity was to our south and west, that it took just one more day for the big surprise to fly over. At about 9:30 a.m. there was group of birders hanging around trying to re-find and adult male Golden-winged Warbler which Laura and I had seen earlier. Luckily we could not re-find it as when we were all headed away from the area, a visiting birder from the UK, Leslie, pointed to a bird flying over head a with a few Osprey.

As it turns out it was a female Magnificent Frigatebird which at the time was headed in a westerly direction. It all to quickly disappeared behind some trees until someone relocated the bird back from the are where we had been looking for the Golden-winged Warbler. The bird was above the tree line for a short appearance and then off again in a southwesterly direction.

There have been no further sightings (that I know of) of this bird since the initial discovery.

Edit: I suppose I should have included Laura's and my list from Higbee this morning. It seems by looking at View from the Field, that Sam had a pretty darn good day at the morning flight. A couple of Connecticut warblers, 22 warbler species in all and a flyby Golden-winged Warbler. I'll be interested to hear if Seth at the hawkwatch had a good flight. Check out the View from the Field section to keep up on the happenings at the seasonal counts. Other highlights for us were two Philadelphia Vireos, 25 Veerys all around Higbee. In fact we went back into the wet woods on the east side of Higbee and had about of Catharus thrushes, most probably being Veery but ultimately unidentified. We did have one Gray-cheek thrush in this wet woods area.

All in all a good morning.

Location: Higbee Beach
Observation date: 9/8/08
Notes: 3193 steps = approx 2.5 miles
Number of species: 60

Magnificent Frigatebird 1
Turkey Vulture X
Osprey 4
Cooper's Hawk 5
Laughing Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Chimney Swift 3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's) 5
Empidonax sp. 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Eastern Kingbird X
White-eyed Vireo 4
Philadelphia Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 75
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Purple Martin X
Tree Swallow X
Barn Swallow X
Carolina Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse X
Carolina Wren 15
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
Veery 25
Gray-cheeked Thrush 1
Catharus sp. 13
American Robin X
Gray Catbird X
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 65
Golden-winged Warbler 1
Northern Parula 6
Yellow Warbler 10
Chestnut-sided Warbler 8
Magnolia Warbler 4
Black-throated Blue Warbler 4
Black-throated Green Warbler 4
Blackburnian Warbler 2
Black-and-white Warbler 18
American Redstart 175
Worm-eating Warbler 1
Ovenbird 1
Northern Waterthrush 8
Common Yellowthroat X
Wilson's Warbler 1
Eastern Towhee 2
Northern Cardinal X
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4
Indigo Bunting X
Bobolink 100
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
Brown-headed Cowbird X
Baltimore Oriole 30
House Finch X
American Goldfinch X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2

More storm birds

Many people were out at Sunset Beach at first light this morning. All of course hoping that there would be a good showing of storm birds. Other wise they wouldn't be there, right? While the storm may have not packed the punch, in terms of birds, that we all were hoping would be here; there have been some birds seen. Early this morning there was a couple of Parasitic and I picked up on one dark morph Pomarine Jaeger. Also early on, some terns which looked good for Sooty Terns at a distance, though with the numbers and mix of Black Terns about, caused some discussion.

About 8:15 a couple of positive Sooty Terns and a couple of Bridled Terns flew out of the bay. Later, another jaeger or two and a few more of the distant possible Sooty Tern types. There continue to be very good numbers of Black Terns as well.

I am sure if one were to sit all day and scan that you'd come up with a decent total of birds but none seem to be in close the way we all are wishing they'd pass by. All in all you can't be too disappointed with the showing considering the how the storm played out. It's easy to look back and become frustrated with the general lack of storm driven birds, but like I suggested yesterday, it's probably better to take a look at the storm track and intensity. Compare that with other storms from them past and try to make this a learning experience. Isn't that what it is about really, continuing to educate yourself on when, where and why to expect birds no matter the specific weather phenomena.

Continuing on the photo kick that I've been on, I figured I'd share this photo of the two Buff-breasted Sandpipers seen yesterday, below from Karl Lukens.

(Photo courtesy of Karl Lukens, www.home.comcast.net/~jklukens)

"Tropical Storm Warning Is Cancelled"

This was the scrolling marquee at the bottom of the TV when I got home this evening. At one point we were supposed to be in the middle of the storm at 10:00, not the storm completely past. While the growing thought seems to favor the lack of storm birds in the morning; remember there could be anything anywhere. Besides what else were you planning to do at first light? I know where I'll be.

I figure nothing ventured nothing gained. In other words, if you aren't out, you'll never know what might have been around. Take what did show up with the storm today. 1 adult and 2 juv. SOOTY TERNS, a handful of Jaeger sp. at least one PARASITIC and one POMARINE JAEGER. A probable CORY'S SHEARWATER and many BLACK TERNS (though the latter has been around in very good numbers). It may not have been what birding dreams are made of but I suppose it's better to get the chance to see these species, right? If nothing else, take a look back at the storm as it approached the area, it never did end up "getting its act together" such that it concentrated birds in its center of circulation. See what you might be able to learn from this particular weather event.

Also remember that there could be other species that show up, even a day or two after a storm passes. I'm thinking that there might be a few good shorebirds that show up depending on how full of water the Meadows and Plover Ponds are after the rain. We did not get the full brunt of the rain so it might have been just enough. This is not limited to birds that are associated with water either. There is always the chance for as passerine to get blown back north with the storm.

Here's hoping for the continued good birding!

And it begins....First storm bird....

I received a text message indicating that Vince Elia had seen the first Sooty Tern of TS Hanna, in and amongst the feeding terns at the Concrete Ship. Since the bird was "feeding" I decided to take five min. to chase but as I expected the bird had moved along. While there I heard a rumor that a Shearwater sp. may have been sighted. I have no more information about this possible sighting.

I've also included a fantastic photo of a Buff-Breasted Sandpiper in flight from Bob Fogg. This was one of the 2 juv. birds that were hanging out at the second Plover Pond this morning.

(Photo courtesy of Bob Fogg, www.keekeekerr.com)

It's not birds, but very cool to look at none the less

Took a quick look at the live radar map on the Mid-Atlantic Forecast page.  While Laura's obvious intent for including this excellent feature in the  web sight was for folks to be able to watch migration real time, I find that the map serves a dual purpose.  Looking at tropical storm rain bands pass by.  If you are on the site pretty much anytime from now until say 1-2 a.m. or so you should be able to get a good look at what the radar picks up as the storm approaches and passes us by.

Many birders were out this morning  hoping to find some storm blown shorebirds or the such. Maybe even an early blown tern or two or shearwater.  No such luck as I could tell and no one has reported anything that is out of the expected, yet.  Though there were, this morning, 2 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS and at least one BAIRD'S SANDPIPER on the second Plover Pond.  I say at least one Baird's simply because a couple of birder's said they had one on Bunker Pond when they met us looking at one on the second Plover Pond.  There is the slight chance that their Baird's had flown up to the plover pond before we arrived.  Though I am guessing there are probably two around, though we did not see the Bunker Pond Baird's.

As for storm birding, only time will tell but I think the general consensus is that Sunday first thing in the morning will be the time to be looking for birds.  Don't get me wrong, myself with a number of others will probably be out at the end of the day still looking as the storm creeps closer.  But, with the forecast that the storm will be basically on top of Cape May by 8-ish p.m. (or possibly a little later) there is not much chance that there will be any real movement here during the day.  Hopefully I am wrong and we are treated to great looks at birds this afternoon evening.  But, unless you have plans to be else where on Sunday morning and you cannot get out of the commitment, find somewhere that would be a good vantage point to look for birds cruising back down the Delaware Bay.  Given that the track is supposed to actually curl a little east of the Cape May area, or at least that was the last that I had heard, I am guessing that inland locations for storms birds will be less reliable and coastal locations will be the best bet.  So think about joining the mobs that are sure to show up at Sunset Beach tomorrow.

Lastly, there are three lists below.  First is the list from our walk around the state park today.  The second is from the CMBO Beanery walk today and the last from last evenings CMBO Sunset Birding at the Meadows.  I am happy to hear that Sora has been seen last evening and today at the meadows.  I think that is the first "rail" sighting there in about two years.  So it would seem the phrase "build it and they will come" again fits for a habitat restoration project that seems to be working.  This is the first in many exciting finds at the meadows I am sure.

Location:     Cape May Point SP
Observation date:     9/6/08
Notes:     4027 steps = approx. 2.5 miles
Number of species:     81

Canada Goose     X
Mute Swan     X
Gadwall     4
Mallard     X
Blue-winged Teal     15
Northern Shoveler     6
Green-winged Teal     2
Double-crested Cormorant     2
Great Blue Heron     2
Great Egret     25
Snowy Egret     30
Tricolored Heron     3
Black-crowned Night-Heron     2
Glossy Ibis     5
Osprey     1
Cooper's Hawk     1
Merlin     1
Black-bellied Plover     X
Semipalmated Plover     25
Killdeer     X
Spotted Sandpiper     3
Solitary Sandpiper     1
Greater Yellowlegs     X
Lesser Yellowlegs     X
Ruddy Turnstone     1
Sanderling     5
Semipalmated Sandpiper     X
Western Sandpiper     2
Least Sandpiper     X
White-rumped Sandpiper     2
Baird's Sandpiper     1
Pectoral Sandpiper     12
Stilt Sandpiper     1
Buff-breasted Sandpiper     2
Short-billed Dowitcher     1
Laughing Gull     X
Ring-billed Gull     2
Herring Gull     25
Great Black-backed Gull     125
Least Tern     6
Black Tern     8
Common Tern     1
Forster's Tern     X
Royal Tern     X
Black Skimmer     25
Rock Pigeon     X
Mourning Dove     X
Ruby-throated Hummingbird     1
Belted Kingfisher     1
Downy Woodpecker     X
Eastern Kingbird     75
White-eyed Vireo     4
Red-eyed Vireo     1
Blue Jay     X
Tree Swallow     X
Barn Swallow     X
Carolina Chickadee     X
Tufted Titmouse     X
Carolina Wren     X
American Robin     X
Gray Catbird     X
Northern Mockingbird     X
European Starling     X
Northern Parula     1
Yellow Warbler     12
Black-throated Blue Warbler     2
Pine Warbler     1
Prairie Warbler     2
Black-and-white Warbler     1
Northern Waterthrush     6
Common Yellowthroat     X
Yellow-breasted Chat     1
Northern Cardinal     X
Indigo Bunting     X
Bobolink     X
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

"CMBO "Beanery" Walk at the Rea Farm. One taker for the walk this morning
before the storm. We actually had some sunshine. The birding was slow but we
did see many Baltimore Orioles, as well as 8 Wood Ducks, and 5 BC
Night-Herons at the willow pond. Only two warblers, Yellow and Common
Yellowthroat."

 Location:     The Beanery
 Observation date:     9/6/08
 Notes:     CMBO Walk-K,T,+1.PtlySun,77,E9.
 Number of species:     36

 Canada Goose     15
 Mute Swan     2
 Wood Duck     8
 Great Blue Heron     2
 Great Egret     2
 Snowy Egret     7
 Black-crowned Night-Heron     5
 Black Vulture     1
 Osprey     1
 Cooper's Hawk     2
 Killdeer     2
 Laughing Gull     5
 Great Black-backed Gull     1
 Rock Pigeon     2
 Mourning Dove     5
 Ruby-throated Hummingbird     8
 Red-bellied Woodpecker     1
 Downy Woodpecker     1
 Eastern Wood-Pewee     1
 Eastern Kingbird     2
 Blue Jay     3
 American Crow     25
 Tree Swallow     2
 Carolina Wren     5
 American Robin     5
 Gray Catbird     3
 European Starling     25
 Yellow Warbler     1
 Common Yellowthroat     1
 Northern Cardinal     5
 Bobolink     5
 Red-winged Blackbird     10
 Common Grackle     4
 Baltimore Oriole     15
 American Goldfinch     2
 House Sparrow     2

 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2

"CMBO Evening Meadows Walk (TNC). Again lots of Waders and Shorebirds. The
Hooded Merganser still continues. Also a couple of Merlin and Chuck saw a
Peregrine Falcon. The highlight was a Sora east of the east path. Haven't
seen one in the Meadows for over a year!"

 Location:     South Cape May Meadows
 Observation date:     9/5/08
 Notes:     CMBO Walk-K,J,C&MJ,+7.Cldy,rain shower,77,E5.
 Number of species:     68

 Canada Goose     30
 Mute Swan     6
 Gadwall     1
 American Black Duck     1
 Mallard     20
 Blue-winged Teal     6
 Green-winged Teal     4
 Hooded Merganser     1
 Double-crested Cormorant     1
 Great Blue Heron     2
 Great Egret     15
 Snowy Egret     20
 Little Blue Heron     1
 Green Heron     1
 Black-crowned Night-Heron     3
 Glossy Ibis     10
 Osprey     1
 Merlin     2
 Sora     1
 Semipalmated Plover     10
 Killdeer     4
 Spotted Sandpiper     1
 Solitary Sandpiper     2
 Greater Yellowlegs     10
 Lesser Yellowlegs     20
 Sanderling     20
 Semipalmated Sandpiper     5
 Least Sandpiper     10
 Pectoral Sandpiper     2
 Stilt Sandpiper     1
 Wilson's Snipe     1
 Laughing Gull     X
 Ring-billed Gull     2
 Herring Gull     10
 Lesser Black-backed Gull     1
 Great Black-backed Gull     20
 Least Tern     3
 Caspian Tern     1
 Forster's Tern     15
 Royal Tern     8
 Black Skimmer     75
 Rock Pigeon     2
 Mourning Dove     5
 Chimney Swift     3
 Ruby-throated Hummingbird     1
 Belted Kingfisher     1
 Eastern Kingbird     10
 Blue Jay     1
 American Crow     10
 Fish Crow     1
 Tree Swallow     10
 Barn Swallow     2
 Carolina Wren     2
 American Robin     5
 Gray Catbird     2
 Northern Mockingbird     2
 European Starling     20
 Cedar Waxwing     1
 Yellow Warbler     1
 Northern Waterthrush     1
 Common Yellowthroat     1
 Northern Cardinal     4
 Red-winged Blackbird     10
 Common Grackle     2
 Brown-headed Cowbird     2
 Baltimore Oriole     1
 American Goldfinch     2
 House Sparrow     2

 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2