Birding Hotline

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

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, October16 , 2008. Highlights this week include sightings of HUDSONIAN GODWIT, POMARINE JAEGER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, STILT SANDPIPER, WILSON'S PHALAROPE, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, VESPER SPARROW, SNOW GEESE, PINE SISKIN, HERMIT THRUSH, RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, CAPE MAY WARBLER, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, PIPING PLOVER.

The Avalon Seawatch saw a HUDSONIAN GODWIT on Sunday 10/12/08 and a young POMARINE JAEGER on Tuesday 10/14/08.

Several ORANGE CROWNED WARBLERS have been noted around Cape Island, the latest being noted on Friday 10/16/08 at Higbee Beach. Other Higbee birds on Friday included HERMIT THRUSH and WHITE-CROWNED and VESPER SPARROWs.

ORANGE-CROWNED and CAPE MAY WARBLERS were seen on the Hawk Watch Big Sit at Cape May Point State Park on Sunday 10/12/08. Other notable sightings from this event included a STILT SANDPIPER, PARASITIC JAEGERS, WHITE CROWNED SPARROW, PURPLE FINCHES, AMERICAN PIPITS, and flocks of SNOW GEESE.

A late WILSON'S PHALAROPE with an injured leg was seen at the South Cape May Meadows Wednesday-Thursday October 15-16.

A PINE SISKIN was heard at HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH on Sunday 10/12/08. Other sightings there include HERMIT THRUSH and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.

The RUFF and AVOCETS that were reported last week at Forsythe NWR have not been seen as of 10/16/08.

A remaining LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was also seen on the beach on Wednesday 10/15/08.

PIPING PLOVER can still be seen at Stone Harbor Point as of Tuesday 10/14/08.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
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!

******CMBO Bookstore FALL HOURS (starting September 1) are as follows:

Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open 7 days a week, 9:30am to 4:30pm.

The Center for Research and Education on Rt. 47 in Goshen is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9:30am to 4:30pm; closed Mondays.

****** 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!