CMBO Twilight Watch... walk at the Meadows- 09/03/08

The first CMBO Twilight Watch walk held at TNC's CMMBR (the Meadows) went off with out a hitch this evening. It was a nice cool evening for 28 people to enjoy sharing some bird sightings. While the wind did not really promise any landbird migrants (winds were in an easterly direction) on Thursday morning, it did provide a nice bug free evening.

Early on in the walk while we were being treated to watching the differences in yellowlegs foraging behavior, a Whimbrel flew over for a few in the group to see. A White-rumped Sandpiper flew around giving its mousy call. And, I found myself in awe watching the Tri-colored Heron soar in to ultimately land on the back side of the "Goose Island." A nice, but quick view of the night award, was a Wilson's Snipe that landed at the end of the east path (near the dune) but we were unable to relocate due to the cat-tail being to high.

I thought the 5 Green Herons near the tower area a good sign of the health of this recently "restored" habitat. As would be the general numbers of birds which use the property now. Not that there are any additional species that use the habitat, but it is nice to see such numbers. I'm hoping we have a nice duck fall and winter due to the additions of the amount of open wetland the project created. Now we just need the rain. As luck would have it we might get it (the rain) and possibly a storm bird or two if we are really lucky.

Try as I might, I couldn't actually turn one of the green herons into a Least Bittern. There were just too many people around to pull that off. Over all, shorebird numbers were down but still good diversity. There was quite a nice flight of herons and egrets to roost this evening. It would be interesting to sit out in the dune and do a comparative count from time to time. I'm still looking for the Buff-breasted Sandpiper to show up on the sod in the middle of the main channel area, though recently there was a Wilson's Phalarope (as in on Monday, the 1st) near the tower. This seems to be a place worth checking throughly as I know of a handful of good birds seen from this general vicinity.

Speaking of grasspipers, a young Baird's Sandpiper was observed today at Bunker Pond. If you try for this bird (which I'd guess sticks around for at least a few days....maybe), while you are down at the state park make sure and stop by to say hello to the CMBO seasonal staff. The Morning Flight is off to a good start as is the hawkwatch from what I hear. The fantastic comparative photo below of a Least Sandpiper and the Baird's Sandpiper was provided by Bob Fogg.

Photo courtesy of Bob Fogg, www.keekeekerr.com

Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 9/3/08
Notes: First CMBO Twilight Watch walk at the Meadows
2427 steps = approx. 1.5 miles
Number of species: 48

Canada Goose 125
Mute Swan X
Gadwall X
Mallard X
Blue-winged Teal 12
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Egret 45
Snowy Egret 75
Little Blue Heron 3
Tricolored Heron 1
Green Heron 5
Black-crowned Night-Heron 6
Glossy Ibis 45
Turkey Vulture 1
Merlin 1
Black-bellied Plover X
Killdeer 15
Solitary Sandpiper 3
Greater Yellowlegs X
Lesser Yellowlegs X
Whimbrel 1
Sanderling X
Semipalmated Sandpiper X
Least Sandpiper X
White-rumped Sandpiper 1
Pectoral Sandpiper 3
Wilson's Snipe 1
Laughing Gull 300
Herring Gull 4
Great Black-backed Gull 25
Forster's Tern X
Royal Tern 2
Black Skimmer 250
Mourning Dove X
Chimney Swift 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Tree Swallow X
Barn Swallow X
Carolina Wren 2
American Robin X
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling X
Yellow Warbler 3
Common Yellowthroat 2
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
House Finch 3
House Sparrow X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2