Cape May Birding Hotline

Hotline: Cape May Birding Hotline
To Report: call (609) 884-2736, or email sightings at birdcapemay.org
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic Counties , NJ
Compiler: David Lord, Cape May Bird Observatory, with additions by Don Freiday

This is the Cape May Birding Hotline, a service of New Jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird Observatory. This week's message was prepared on Thursday, October 23, 2008. Highlights this week include sightings of KING EIDER, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, SWAINSON'S HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW, SALT-MARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROW, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, PINE SISKIN, PURPLE FINCH, RED KNOT, BROWN PELICAN, PIPING PLOVER, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, MARBLED GODWIT, and HUDSONIAN GODWIT.

An immature male KING EIDER was with scoters off of St. Peter's Jetty on Sunday 10/19/08.

The season’s first NORTHERN GOSHAWK, a juvenile, was seen from the Cape May Hawk watch on Wednesday 10/22/08. A GOLDEN EAGLE was also seen Wednesday, and a few BROAD-WINGED HAWKS continue, with several seen in Cape May Point Thursday, 10/23/08. On Saturday 10/18/08, a SWAINSON'S HAWK and a GOLDEN EAGLE were both seen over the Hawk Watch platform. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen near the Concrete Ship in Cape May Point on Tuesday 10/21/08.

A good number of NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED and SALT-MARSH SHARP TAILED SPARROWS were seen on Nummy’s Island on Tuesday 10/21/08. Other highlights there included a large group of RED KNOTS, 2 MARBLED GODWITS, BROWN PELICAN, and a single PIPING PLOVER.

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were seen at Higbee Beach and the Rea Farm over the weekend, and one was seen at Cape May Point State Park Thursday 10/23/08. CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was at Higbee Beach over the weekend. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS have been reported from all the major birding spots south of the Cape May canal in recent days. LINCOLN'S SPARROW was found at the Beanery Saturday 10/18/08 and Higbee Beach the same day.

Small groups of PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES have been heard overhead daily around Cape May. Two WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were at Cape May Point State Park Wednesday 10/22/08, and a HUDSONIAN GODWIT flew over the Hawk Watch Thursday October 23.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

A Pelagic Trip has been scheduled for December 7, 2008 from 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM, call Sea Life Paulagics at 215.234.6085 for details.

CMBO is offering a special to new and upgraded membership renewals. Join CMBO for the first time or upgrade from Individual or Family to The Hundred and receive Charley Harper's Migration Mainline- Cape May lithograph poster, valued at $50. Call either CMBO center to ask an associate about joining today!

The Cape May Birding Hotline is a service of the New Jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird Observatory and details sightings from Cape May, Cumberland, and Atlantic Counties. Updates are made weekly. Please report sightings of rare or unusual birds to CMBO at 609-884-2736. Sponsorship for this hotline comes from the support of CMBO members and business members, and should you not be a member, we cordially invite you to join. Individual membership is $39 per year; $49 for families. You can call either center to become a member or visit. Become a member in person and you'll receive a FREE gift (in addition to member discount in the stores). Good Luck and Good Birding!