Orange -crowned Warbler as seen from State St. in West Cape May(Photo courtesy of Bob Fogg, www.keekeekerr.com)
I decided to forgo hitting the Big Sit today on the hawkwatch platform in effort to find some sparrows. So I figured that Hidden Valley might be the place to start this morning. Unfortunately I think this parcel may be a little too grown over for "sparrowing' as I remember in years past. Today I only managed a hand full of sparrows of the Swamp, Field, Song and White-throated variety. With a few Savannah calling in the mix.
Other birds I did find; the first Hermit Thrush I've seen this fall, a very brief look at an Orange-crowned Warbler about half way down the west side and a number of Meadowlarks flitting about over head. An additional nice "find" was a fly over Pine Siskin which honestly took me a couple of calls to jog the brain. Also a couple fly over Rusty Blackbirds to round out the morning.
Speaking of Orange-crowned Warblers, it seems they moved in over night as there was one at the hawkwatch platform this morning and Bob Fogg found an additional two along State Street in West Cape May. This would match the Birds of Cape May indicated fall maximum of 4 from October2, 1982. The only difference is that all four from '82 were all at Higbee. It would be interesting to know if others were found at different locations on the Island. I didn't see any written on the sightings sheet here at the Northwood Center but I'm betting that if one searched enough they could dig up at least a few more birds.
Below are lists from the CMBO Beanery and Hawks and Trails (at the Cape May Point State Park) walks for yesterday, respectively. All in all it has been a good October for birding in Cape May...so far. As you can see from the lists below. As one web site compilation indicates, there have been 201 species reported on Cape Island alone so far this month. Hopefully though, if you have yet been able to make it to Cape May for some birding, your having a great and birdy October where ever you may be.
Location: Cape May - Hidden Valley Ranch
Observation date: 10/12/08
Notes: 1475 steps = approx. 1 mile
Number of species: 41
Mallard 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Merlin 1
Herring Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Mourning Dove X
Red-bellied Woodpecker 6
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 20
Eastern Phoebe 2
Blue Jay X
American Crow 45
Fish Crow 20
Carolina Chickadee X
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren X
House Wren 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet X
Hermit Thrush 1
Gray Catbird 4
Northern Mockingbird 3
Brown Thrasher X
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 12
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 60
Blackpoll Warbler 6
Common Yellowthroat 5
Eastern Towhee X
Field Sparrow 10
Savannah Sparrow X
Song Sparrow 6
Swamp Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 10
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 3
Northern Cardinal X
Red-winged Blackbird X
Eastern Meadowlark 12
Rusty Blackbird 2
Pine Siskin 1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
"CMBO "Beanery" walk (the Rea Farm). A big group of approx. 30 participants. Little pockets of warblers made it interesting although most were Yellow-rumps, Palms and Blackpolls. A nice sitting-up Bobolink made for good scope views. Seems like some "sparrows" moved in last night."
Location: The Beanery
Observation date: 10/11/08
Notes: CMBO Walk-K,J,BS,CS,+32.Clr,55,NE10.
Number of species: 54
Canada Goose 10
Mute Swan 2
Wood Duck 5
Mallard 2
Double-crested Cormorant 15
Great Egret 1
Black Vulture 5
Turkey Vulture 8
Osprey 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 8
Cooper's Hawk 1
American Kestrel 4
Herring Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 10
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 10
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 15
American Crow 20
Fish Crow 1
Tree Swallow 30
Carolina Wren 5
Golden-crowned Kinglet 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3
American Robin 30
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 25
Cedar Waxwing X
Northern Parula 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 50
Palm Warbler (Western) 10
Blackpoll Warbler 8
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 2
Eastern Towhee 1
Savannah Sparrow 25
Song Sparrow 5
Swamp Sparrow 5
White-throated Sparrow 5
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 2
Northern Cardinal 5
Bobolink 1
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Eastern Meadowlark 5
Common Grackle 10
Brown-headed Cowbird 10
House Finch 5
House Sparrow 5
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 10/11/08
Notes: It was a beautiful afternoon for a walk and we had a nice variety of birds. The American Wigeon gave a young boy his 200th bird for his life list.
Number of species: 46
Canada Goose 20
Mute Swan 10
Gadwall 6
American Wigeon 2
Mallard 20
Blue-winged Teal 8
Northern Shoveler 6
Green-winged Teal 20
Ruddy Duck 3
Double-crested Cormorant 50
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 2
Turkey Vulture 8
Osprey 12
Northern Harrier 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 9
Cooper's Hawk 3
American Kestrel 1
Merlin 7
Peregrine Falcon 2
Herring Gull 5
Great Black-backed Gull 15
Royal Tern 1
Black Skimmer 40
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 4
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 10
Eastern Phoebe 2
Blue Jay 10
American Crow 15
Tree Swallow 50
Carolina Chickadee 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 6
American Robin 2
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 3
European Starling 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler 40
Palm Warbler 6
Chipping Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow 2
Red-winged Blackbird 20
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
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