I thought it was interesting to read Bob's recount of the bay birding the morning. I was at the Concrete Ship after he'd seen the grebes and while I had mostly the same species we of course had two different perspectives.
I was interested to see that Bob's estimate of Black Scoter was just a little above mine but as he said we both gave very conservative counts. By and far the overall majority of scoter were Black with much lesser numbers of Surfs, that could be identified, and no White-wings that I could see. Also a good number of birds in the distance which I personally could not put to exact species and remained "dark winged".
In the realm of differing perspectives, while reviewing some eBird records I noted that other observations of about 5500 up to 8000 counts were submitted for dark winged and scoter species. I am not sure when those observations were made but given the lighting conditions, waves and whether or not the flocks were more mobile, it could be difficult to determine true densities of species. As always, it is best to err on the side of caution when you can't put an exact name to the birds. In the morning the flocks were close enough to determine that Black Scoter was the dominant but as the day wears on and the birds move farther into the bay it becomes much more difficult.
Other birds of note were the small numbers of Northern Gannets moving out of the bay this morning, a couple Greater Scaup and a small but decent number of Red-throated Loons. Also a very brief look at a young male Common Eider as it landed with one of the flocks of scoter. After the bird landed it was to never be seen again, by my eyes at least. The Red-throated Loon numbers should be building over the next few weeks as well and a great place to get looks at both scoter and the loons is Sunset Beach. There can often bee a 100 or so loons as well as the masses of scoter and often quite close.
Location: Cape May - Concrete Ship
Observation date: 2/26/09
Number of species: 15
Greater Scaup 2
Common Eider 1
Surf Scoter 350
Black Scoter 5000
dark-winged scoter sp. 1000
Long-tailed Duck 4
Red-breasted Merganser 1
Red-throated Loon 20
Common Loon 1
Northern Gannet 35
Bonaparte's Gull 15
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Fish Crow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
Thursday, February 26, 2009
CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - February 26, 2009
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, February 26, 2009. Highlights this week include sightings of REDHEAD, CANVASBACK, KING EIDER, COMMON EIDER, RED-NECKED GREBE, LITTLE GULL, BLACK-HEADED GULL, BONAPARTE'S GULL, ICELAND GULL, RAZORBILL, SNOWY OWL, SHORT-EARED OWL, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, DICKCISSEL, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL.
--For more up-to-the-minute sightings information and a downloadable birding map of Cape May, check out www.BirdCapeMay.org.--
An adult LITTLE GULL was seen among a flock of 300 BONAPARTE'S GULLS on 2/19, near the Concrete Ship at Sunset Beach. Also seen there that day was a fly-by RAZORBILL. An ICELAND GULL flew by Sunset Beach on 2/22; a RED-NECKED GREBE did likewise on 2/26.
At least 2 BLACK-HEADED GULLS were reported between St. Peter's in Cape May Point, Sunset Beach, and the Ferry Terminal in North Cape May throughout the week. FORSTER'S TERNS were also reported from Cape May Point throughout the week.
The Stone Harbor Point SNOWY OWL was seen again on 2/23.
Up to 7 COMMON EIDERS and a female KING EIDER continued to be seen in the area of the 8th Street Jetty in Avalon through 2/21.
REDHEAD, CANVASBACK and RED-HEADED WOODPECKER were all reported from Villas WMA on 2/21.
As many as 7 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were observed in the short pines near the "main" parking lot at Brig/Forsythe NWR through 2/23.
At Jakes Landing Road, SHORT-EARED OWLS are still flying, and up to 4 have been seen.
AMERICAN WOODCOCKS have been displaying throughout the area, including location such as Jakes Landing Road and Tuckahoe WMA.
A DICKCISSEL continues to be seen in West Cape May, through 2/25.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
CMBO'S FOURTEENTH ANNUAL OPTICS SALE will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 14 and 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the CMBO Center for Research and Education in Goshen. The sale offers a large selection of closeout, demo, factory-refurbished, new, and used optics priced to move. Binoculars and spotting scopes from all major brands will be available. There are no advance or phone orders: first come, first served. Shoppers must belong to NJAS or CMBO to take advantage of these great deals, so join today if you're not already a member.
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 WINTER HOURS are as follows: Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open Wednesday through Monday, 9:30am to 4:30pm; closed Tuesdays. NOTE: CRE Days of operation have changed, The Center for Research and Education on Rt. 47 in Goshen is open Tuesday through SATURDAY, 9:30am to 4:30pm; closed SUNDAYs and Mondays through the month of March. ******
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 discounts in the stores).
Good luck and good birding!
--For more up-to-the-minute sightings information and a downloadable birding map of Cape May, check out www.BirdCapeMay.org.--
An adult LITTLE GULL was seen among a flock of 300 BONAPARTE'S GULLS on 2/19, near the Concrete Ship at Sunset Beach. Also seen there that day was a fly-by RAZORBILL. An ICELAND GULL flew by Sunset Beach on 2/22; a RED-NECKED GREBE did likewise on 2/26.
At least 2 BLACK-HEADED GULLS were reported between St. Peter's in Cape May Point, Sunset Beach, and the Ferry Terminal in North Cape May throughout the week. FORSTER'S TERNS were also reported from Cape May Point throughout the week.
The Stone Harbor Point SNOWY OWL was seen again on 2/23.
Up to 7 COMMON EIDERS and a female KING EIDER continued to be seen in the area of the 8th Street Jetty in Avalon through 2/21.
REDHEAD, CANVASBACK and RED-HEADED WOODPECKER were all reported from Villas WMA on 2/21.
As many as 7 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were observed in the short pines near the "main" parking lot at Brig/Forsythe NWR through 2/23.
At Jakes Landing Road, SHORT-EARED OWLS are still flying, and up to 4 have been seen.
AMERICAN WOODCOCKS have been displaying throughout the area, including location such as Jakes Landing Road and Tuckahoe WMA.
A DICKCISSEL continues to be seen in West Cape May, through 2/25.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
CMBO'S FOURTEENTH ANNUAL OPTICS SALE will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 14 and 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the CMBO Center for Research and Education in Goshen. The sale offers a large selection of closeout, demo, factory-refurbished, new, and used optics priced to move. Binoculars and spotting scopes from all major brands will be available. There are no advance or phone orders: first come, first served. Shoppers must belong to NJAS or CMBO to take advantage of these great deals, so join today if you're not already a member.
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 WINTER HOURS are as follows: Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open Wednesday through Monday, 9:30am to 4:30pm; closed Tuesdays. NOTE: CRE Days of operation have changed, The Center for Research and Education on Rt. 47 in Goshen is open Tuesday through SATURDAY, 9:30am to 4:30pm; closed SUNDAYs and Mondays through the month of March. ******
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 discounts in the stores).
Good luck and good birding!
Odds and Ends around Cape May
Scoter numbers have been building up in the bay over the past few days. Yesterday, the strong westerly winds subsided and shifted to light southerly winds providing spectacular viewing conditions over the bay. My conservative estimate was 6,500 Black Scoters and 500 Surf Scoters. The birds have been drifting with the tide and then flying back against the tide to repeat the process. The picture above was from this morning when a large portion of the flock got up at once - an impressive sight!
At least one Black-headed Gull was feeding with the Bonaparte's Gulls yesterday morning and a bit of sea watching this morning turned up 1 Red-necked Grebe and 2 Horned Grebes (left) flying out of the bay.
A walk around the Meadows yesterday evening turned up this American Bittern which flew across the path and camouflaged itself against the phragmites. There have also been a few Horned Larks and American Pipits wandering around the fields at the Beanery.
Finally this Harbor Seal was basking on the concrete ship yesterday morning.
Monday, February 23, 2009
How to Tell a Well-designed Viewing Platform, and a Brief Cape May Report
[Mike Fritz photographed the Stone Harbor Snowy Owl on the new viewing platform last week.]Karl Lukens sent the following report on the CMBO Saturday Cape May Point Walk: "On this clear, brisk, chilly, morning the ducks still found areas of open water on Lighthouse Pond and Lily Lake. Close looks at perched Cedar Waxwings was nice and one of the 2 small gulls at St Peter's jetty was a Black-headed Gull. - Karl, (Tom, Kathy, Roger, Warren, Steve)"
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Gulls, Alcids, Eagles, Snowies, Finches and Good Times: Volunteer Naturalists' Massachusetts Expedition
[Above: Gray Ghost vs. Snowy Owl: one of many highlights on last week's CMBO Volunteer Naturalists' trip to Cape Ann and Newburyport, MA. All photos by Don Freiday; click to enlarge these, as well as most photos below.]Made famous by the "bird of the century Ross's Gull back in 1975, northeastern Massachusetts is still a mecca for winter birders. Ten CMBO volunteers and I made the 7 hour drive from Cape May and birded Cape Ann on Thursday and Plum Island/Newburyport on Friday. We've threatened to hold a winter birding workshop here, and perhaps someday we will - for obvious reasons.
In the completely unbelievable category, a second-year Bald Eagle over the Merrimac River dazzled us by casually grabbing a European Starling with its right talon and eating it on the wing, like a giant Merlin with a dragonfly!! Other highlights from the trip included 3 alcids (Black Guillemots, Razorbills, and a single Thick-billed Murre); White-winged Crossbills and Common Redpolls on Plum Island, and many white-winged gulls.
We also enjoyed the simple abundance of some birds that are scarce in Cape May - scenes like over 200 Common Eiders in a single flock, or a raft of Red-necked Grebes, or the chance to study many Iceland Gulls. Photo highlights and eBird lists from the trip follow.
[Above, scanning for guillemots from Dog Bar. Below, waves crashing on Eastern Point.]
In the completely unbelievable category, a second-year Bald Eagle over the Merrimac River dazzled us by casually grabbing a European Starling with its right talon and eating it on the wing, like a giant Merlin with a dragonfly!! Other highlights from the trip included 3 alcids (Black Guillemots, Razorbills, and a single Thick-billed Murre); White-winged Crossbills and Common Redpolls on Plum Island, and many white-winged gulls.
We also enjoyed the simple abundance of some birds that are scarce in Cape May - scenes like over 200 Common Eiders in a single flock, or a raft of Red-necked Grebes, or the chance to study many Iceland Gulls. Photo highlights and eBird lists from the trip follow.
[Above, scanning for guillemots from Dog Bar. Below, waves crashing on Eastern Point.]
[Karen Johnson somehow spotted this Snowy Owl (perched on machinery in the top center of the photo) from the Gloucester fishing pier. A repeated theme on our trip was, what happens when you get 11 good birders with good optics together in one place? The answer is, you find WAY more birds than a single birder ever could.]
[Karl Lukens first detected this adult "Kumlien's" Iceland Gull. Note the bright pink legs and the gray markings on the primaries characteristic of "our" race of Iceland Gull.]
[This Glaucous Gull seems to tower over the other gulls on Dog Bar.]
[I spent a lot of time photographing gulls for the CMBO's Gull Workshop next Saturday, like this first year Iceland. At one point we had over 10 Iceland Gulls in view at once.]
[Standing on a snowy Plum Island beach, trying to determine if Red-necked Grebes normally sleep with their bills tucked in their breast feathers, rather than with their heads turned over their backs.]
Location: Gloucester - Rockport
Observation date: 2/19/09
Number of species: 50
Snow Goose 1
Mute Swan 2
Gadwall 20
American Black Duck 50
Mallard 100
Greater Scaup 20
Common Eider 500
Harlequin Duck 20
Surf Scoter 20
White-winged Scoter 100
Black Scoter 10
Long-tailed Duck 20
Bufflehead 30
Common Goldeneye 30
Red-breasted Merganser 30
Wild Turkey 10
Common Loon 30
Horned Grebe 5
Red-necked Grebe 10
Great Cormorant 10
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Peregrine Falcon 1
Purple Sandpiper 30
Bonaparte's Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Iceland Gull 20
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Glaucous Gull 3
Great Black-backed Gull X
Thick-billed Murre 1
Razorbill 7
Black Guillemot 15
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Black-capped Chickadee 5
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Brown Creeper 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin X
European Starling X
Song Sparrow 5
White-throated Sparrow 5
Snow Bunting 1
Northern Cardinal 5
House Finch 5
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow X
Location: Plum Island
Observation date: 2/20/09
Number of species: 51
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
American Black Duck 300
Mallard X
Common Eider 20
Surf Scoter 10
White-winged Scoter 10
Black Scoter 5
Long-tailed Duck 10
Bufflehead 50
Common Goldeneye 50
Hooded Merganser 2
Red-breasted Merganser 10
Red-throated Loon 1
Common Loon 30
Red-necked Grebe 15
Great Cormorant 2
Bald Eagle 2
Northern Harrier 5
Red-tailed Hawk 5
Rough-legged Hawk 1
American Kestrel 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Sanderling 2
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Iceland Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Snowy Owl 1
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Horned Lark 10
Black-capped Chickadee 10
American Robin 40
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing X
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
American Tree Sparrow 10
Song Sparrow 5
White-throated Sparrow 5
Snow Bunting 2
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird X
House Finch X
White-winged Crossbill 10
Common Redpoll 60
Pine Siskin 1
American Goldfinch 10
House Sparrow X
Location: Cashman Park, Newburyport
Observation date: 2/20/09
Number of species: 2
Barrow's Goldeneye 1
Bald Eagle 1 2nd year bird was observed to grab a starling with right talon and eat on the wing like a merlin eating a dragonfly!!!!
[Standing on a snowy Plum Island beach, trying to determine if Red-necked Grebes normally sleep with their bills tucked in their breast feathers, rather than with their heads turned over their backs.]Location: Gloucester - Rockport
Observation date: 2/19/09
Number of species: 50
Snow Goose 1
Mute Swan 2
Gadwall 20
American Black Duck 50
Mallard 100
Greater Scaup 20
Common Eider 500
Harlequin Duck 20
Surf Scoter 20
White-winged Scoter 100
Black Scoter 10
Long-tailed Duck 20
Bufflehead 30
Common Goldeneye 30
Red-breasted Merganser 30
Wild Turkey 10
Common Loon 30
Horned Grebe 5
Red-necked Grebe 10
Great Cormorant 10
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Peregrine Falcon 1
Purple Sandpiper 30
Bonaparte's Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Iceland Gull 20
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Glaucous Gull 3
Great Black-backed Gull X
Thick-billed Murre 1
Razorbill 7
Black Guillemot 15
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Black-capped Chickadee 5
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Brown Creeper 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin X
European Starling X
Song Sparrow 5
White-throated Sparrow 5
Snow Bunting 1
Northern Cardinal 5
House Finch 5
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow X
Location: Plum Island
Observation date: 2/20/09
Number of species: 51
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
American Black Duck 300
Mallard X
Common Eider 20
Surf Scoter 10
White-winged Scoter 10
Black Scoter 5
Long-tailed Duck 10
Bufflehead 50
Common Goldeneye 50
Hooded Merganser 2
Red-breasted Merganser 10
Red-throated Loon 1
Common Loon 30
Red-necked Grebe 15
Great Cormorant 2
Bald Eagle 2
Northern Harrier 5
Red-tailed Hawk 5
Rough-legged Hawk 1
American Kestrel 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Sanderling 2
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Iceland Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Snowy Owl 1
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Horned Lark 10
Black-capped Chickadee 10
American Robin 40
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing X
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
American Tree Sparrow 10
Song Sparrow 5
White-throated Sparrow 5
Snow Bunting 2
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird X
House Finch X
White-winged Crossbill 10
Common Redpoll 60
Pine Siskin 1
American Goldfinch 10
House Sparrow X
Location: Cashman Park, Newburyport
Observation date: 2/20/09
Number of species: 2
Barrow's Goldeneye 1
Bald Eagle 1 2nd year bird was observed to grab a starling with right talon and eat on the wing like a merlin eating a dragonfly!!!!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Little Gull, Black-headed Gull and a Razorbill
This adult Little Gull joined the group of 300 Bonaparte's Gulls at the Concrete Ship this morning. The black in the underwing stands out at quite a distance and can be picked up with the naked eye. It also has a fluttery flight with rounded wings which sets it apart from the Bonaparte's Gulls. The adult Black-headed Gull was also in the flock but was more difficult to pick out since it wasn't flying around as much. While watching the gulls milling around, this Razorbill unexpectedly flew out of the bay fairly close. These birds may be related to the strong S/SSE winds that were blowing most of the day yesterday and into the night.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Two Black-headed Gulls
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Reports from Cape May Point and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry
CMBO held a special bird walk for beginners on President's Day, which found some pretty fancy birds in and around Cape May Point State Park. CMBO offers walks at the state park every Saturday morning beginning at 8:00 a.m. The following report is courtesy of Karl Lukens.
"CMBO Walk for Beginners. We did well on many of the usual winter suspects and had several "bonus " birds including a Bald Eagle and Northern Goshawk seen by a few, close-up looks at Cedar Waxwings, as well as a Black-headed Gull with Bonaparte's Gulls at St. Peter's jetty, and a Lesser Black-backed Gull on the jetty. - Karl (Chuck, Mary Jane, Marc, Lynne, Warren)"
I opted to take a trip across the bay on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry yesterday. Bird numbers on the bay itself were not especially high - I included my eBird report below - but the trip offered good to spectacular views of Northern Gannets, Red-throated Loons, scoters, a single Red-necked Grebe, Forster's Terns, and many Bonaparte's Gulls. A similar species list, and likely higher numbers, can be expected on our March 14 Poor Man's Pelagic.
In the near-our-region department, Brown-headed Nuthatches were easy to find at Cape Henlopen State Park, DE, and the Black-bellied Whistling-duck continues at Spring Lake in Reheboth Beach, DE along with a marvelous mixed flock of ducks including over 1000 Canvasbacks.
Location: Cape May-Lewes Ferry NJ Waters
Observation date: 2/16/09
Number of species: 17
Brant 5
Greater Scaup 16
Surf Scoter 55
Black Scoter 20
Long-tailed Duck 40
Bufflehead 20
Red-throated Loon 70
Red-necked Grebe 1
Northern Gannet 2
Great Cormorant 2
Sanderling 5
Bonaparte's Gull 100
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Forster's Tern 2
Rock Pigeon X
[This light morph Rough-legged Hawk was photographed by Kevin P. Inman at Tuckahoe WMA on February 13. Tuckahoe has been excellent for Rough-leggeds this winter.]
"CMBO Walk for Beginners. We did well on many of the usual winter suspects and had several "bonus " birds including a Bald Eagle and Northern Goshawk seen by a few, close-up looks at Cedar Waxwings, as well as a Black-headed Gull with Bonaparte's Gulls at St. Peter's jetty, and a Lesser Black-backed Gull on the jetty. - Karl (Chuck, Mary Jane, Marc, Lynne, Warren)"
I opted to take a trip across the bay on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry yesterday. Bird numbers on the bay itself were not especially high - I included my eBird report below - but the trip offered good to spectacular views of Northern Gannets, Red-throated Loons, scoters, a single Red-necked Grebe, Forster's Terns, and many Bonaparte's Gulls. A similar species list, and likely higher numbers, can be expected on our March 14 Poor Man's Pelagic.
In the near-our-region department, Brown-headed Nuthatches were easy to find at Cape Henlopen State Park, DE, and the Black-bellied Whistling-duck continues at Spring Lake in Reheboth Beach, DE along with a marvelous mixed flock of ducks including over 1000 Canvasbacks.
Location: Cape May-Lewes Ferry NJ Waters
Observation date: 2/16/09
Number of species: 17
Brant 5
Greater Scaup 16
Surf Scoter 55
Black Scoter 20
Long-tailed Duck 40
Bufflehead 20
Red-throated Loon 70
Red-necked Grebe 1
Northern Gannet 2
Great Cormorant 2
Sanderling 5
Bonaparte's Gull 100
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Forster's Tern 2
Rock Pigeon X
[This light morph Rough-legged Hawk was photographed by Kevin P. Inman at Tuckahoe WMA on February 13. Tuckahoe has been excellent for Rough-leggeds this winter.]
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Eagles (both), Rough-leggeds, Short-ears, and a few "honorary" raptors: Wintering Raptor Workshop report
We just finished up a three day raptor workshop that began at Beaver Swamp and ended at Tuckahoe, with some splendid birding in between.
The eagle pair at Beaver Swamp WMA has young! As of Friday, it was one of only two hatched NJ nests (the other is at Manasquan Reservoir, according to Larissa Smith of NJ Conserve Wildlife). Other highlights at Beaver Swamp included a Tree Swallow and a high-flying Peregrine. This WMA is accessed just north of CMBO's Center for Research and Education - from the center, go north on 47 to the first traffic light, turn right, make a quick first left and quicker right, and take the road to the end and park.
We tried for the Stone Harbor Snowy Owl both Friday night and this morning -with negative results - but a Great-horned Owl flew out of the bayberry thicket at Stone Harbor Point at dark Friday night and perched on a snag for some great scope views. A new viewing platform has been completed at Stone Harbor Point, just take the trail south from the parking lot and you'll find it. Purple Sandpipers, Black-bellied Plovers, Dunlin, Ruddy Turnstones and a single dowitcher were all on the Stone Harbor Point jetty at high tide today, and an immature Great Cormorant fed near the free bridge to Nummy Island.
Saturday morning at Jake's Landing we watched the very reliable dark Rough-legged Hawk and at least 6 Bald Eagles in varying plumages, as well as another Peregrine and several singing meadowlarks. The meadowlarks, Rough-legged Hawk, and a couple eagles were still around Saturday night, along with ~3 Short-eared Owls there. A Great-horned Owl appeared at Jake's at dusk Saturday as well, flying from out of the woods and all the way to Dennis Creek, where it perched on an Osprey platform.
A Short-eared Owl appeared at Turkey Point, Cumberland County, on Saturday around 3:30 p.m.. Saturday afternoon was terrifically windless, and had clouded over by that time, making for ideal SEO conditions. The short-ear came up from the south, flew right over Turkey Point Road, and disappeared near Fortescue to the north. We had up to 6 eagles simultanously at the Maple Avenue impoundments, including 5 in one field of view, but none were the Golden Eagle Karen Johnson and company reported at Turkey Point this morning. According to Karen, that bird flew, generally speaking, from the vicinity of Beaver Dam Boat Rentals towards Turkey Point.
This evening, two dark and one light Rough-legged Hawks entertained us at Tuckahoe, along with 20+ Tundra Swans.
Thanks to a tip from Michael O'Brien, we picked up the Black-headed Gull and a second winter Lesser Black-backed Gull feeding with many Bonaparte's Gulls next to the jetty at St. Peters in Cape May Point on Friday, and I understand both were there again today.
In the honorary raptor deparment, one of the Lily Lake River Otters swam by on Friday, and this morning at Avalon a Harbor Seal passed the north side of the 8th Street jetty, briefly but clearly visible in the reasonably transparent water as it surfaced briefly and dove again. Wind and chop made distant viewing there difficult, but one male Harlequin and several Common Eiders were still easy to find. If you try for the eiders (mostly Common with one female King), be advised - they sometimes wander far offshore, but reward patience by flying in or drifting in with the tide.
The eagle pair at Beaver Swamp WMA has young! As of Friday, it was one of only two hatched NJ nests (the other is at Manasquan Reservoir, according to Larissa Smith of NJ Conserve Wildlife). Other highlights at Beaver Swamp included a Tree Swallow and a high-flying Peregrine. This WMA is accessed just north of CMBO's Center for Research and Education - from the center, go north on 47 to the first traffic light, turn right, make a quick first left and quicker right, and take the road to the end and park.
We tried for the Stone Harbor Snowy Owl both Friday night and this morning -with negative results - but a Great-horned Owl flew out of the bayberry thicket at Stone Harbor Point at dark Friday night and perched on a snag for some great scope views. A new viewing platform has been completed at Stone Harbor Point, just take the trail south from the parking lot and you'll find it. Purple Sandpipers, Black-bellied Plovers, Dunlin, Ruddy Turnstones and a single dowitcher were all on the Stone Harbor Point jetty at high tide today, and an immature Great Cormorant fed near the free bridge to Nummy Island.
Saturday morning at Jake's Landing we watched the very reliable dark Rough-legged Hawk and at least 6 Bald Eagles in varying plumages, as well as another Peregrine and several singing meadowlarks. The meadowlarks, Rough-legged Hawk, and a couple eagles were still around Saturday night, along with ~3 Short-eared Owls there. A Great-horned Owl appeared at Jake's at dusk Saturday as well, flying from out of the woods and all the way to Dennis Creek, where it perched on an Osprey platform.
A Short-eared Owl appeared at Turkey Point, Cumberland County, on Saturday around 3:30 p.m.. Saturday afternoon was terrifically windless, and had clouded over by that time, making for ideal SEO conditions. The short-ear came up from the south, flew right over Turkey Point Road, and disappeared near Fortescue to the north. We had up to 6 eagles simultanously at the Maple Avenue impoundments, including 5 in one field of view, but none were the Golden Eagle Karen Johnson and company reported at Turkey Point this morning. According to Karen, that bird flew, generally speaking, from the vicinity of Beaver Dam Boat Rentals towards Turkey Point.
This evening, two dark and one light Rough-legged Hawks entertained us at Tuckahoe, along with 20+ Tundra Swans.
Thanks to a tip from Michael O'Brien, we picked up the Black-headed Gull and a second winter Lesser Black-backed Gull feeding with many Bonaparte's Gulls next to the jetty at St. Peters in Cape May Point on Friday, and I understand both were there again today.
In the honorary raptor deparment, one of the Lily Lake River Otters swam by on Friday, and this morning at Avalon a Harbor Seal passed the north side of the 8th Street jetty, briefly but clearly visible in the reasonably transparent water as it surfaced briefly and dove again. Wind and chop made distant viewing there difficult, but one male Harlequin and several Common Eiders were still easy to find. If you try for the eiders (mostly Common with one female King), be advised - they sometimes wander far offshore, but reward patience by flying in or drifting in with the tide.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Saturday Briefs - Snowy Owl Continues
Here's a few short notes regarding some birds around Cape May today:
A mid-day visit to the north end of Avalon failed to yield the eiders seen by CMBO's field trip a few hours earlier, but did result in a fine total of five Harlequin Ducks, including two adult males. Three White-winged Scoters were present among dozens of Black and Surf Scoters.
A Great Egret continues to linger in the Reed's Beach area, a sorta-impressive achievement considering the "relative" severity of the current winter.
Jason Guerard reports that the adult Black-headed Gull was present at the Ferry Terminal at 1:00pm. Later in the afternoon, there was no sign of the bird, but there were 4-5 Forster's Terns in the area.
Steve Mason spotted one of the Snowy Owls flying south over the beach at Stone Harbor Point at last light this evening, around 6:05pm.
A mid-day visit to the north end of Avalon failed to yield the eiders seen by CMBO's field trip a few hours earlier, but did result in a fine total of five Harlequin Ducks, including two adult males. Three White-winged Scoters were present among dozens of Black and Surf Scoters.
A Great Egret continues to linger in the Reed's Beach area, a sorta-impressive achievement considering the "relative" severity of the current winter.
Jason Guerard reports that the adult Black-headed Gull was present at the Ferry Terminal at 1:00pm. Later in the afternoon, there was no sign of the bird, but there were 4-5 Forster's Terns in the area.
Steve Mason spotted one of the Snowy Owls flying south over the beach at Stone Harbor Point at last light this evening, around 6:05pm.
Long-tails in Love on Cupid's Day
Long-tailed Duck (or if you prefer, Oldsquaw)It's that time of year again: waterfowl numbers are increasing, and with that, male ducks are of course courting females in anticipation of the breeding season. Long-tailed Ducks, or Oldsquaw as they were formerly known, are one of the species engaged in this behavior right now. The "south-southerly" calls of these ducks currently fill the airspace around inlets, harbors and beachfronts throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
CMBO has run an annual field trip to take in Long-tails (and other ducks) in all their splendor, and by luck, this year's trip occurred on Valentine's Day itself. Dave Lord just checked in with this rundown from today's "lovely" field trip down the coast:
"A beautiful St. Valentines Day produced a very enjoyable trip...The definitive highlights came at the 8th street jetty: 2 male Harlequin Ducks and the hen King Eider, a life bird for many. Other highlights included a Harbor Seal catching some sun at Nummy's Island before his date tonight, and a raft of 13 Horned Grebes at Sunset Lake. Leaders included Chuck and Mary Jane Slugg, Patty Rourke, Mark and Lynne Breslow, Judy Lukens, Shaun and Cindy Bamford, and Dave Lord."
I've included a sample of their day's list below:
-----
Location: Avalon Seawatch (note: includes 8th St. Jetty - TR)
Observation date: 2/14/09
Number of species: 14
Brant X
Brant (Atlantic) X
Lesser Scaup 12
King Eider 1
Common Eider 6
Harlequin Duck 2
Surf Scoter 75
Black Scoter 55
Long-tailed Duck 10
Ruddy Duck 2
Red-throated Loon 3
Common Loon 5
Purple Sandpiper 3
-----
Be sure to check out the Programs and Events page to keep abreast of upcoming happenings at CMBO. As February turns to March (and winter turns to spring), program offerings will continue to swell.
It's A Beautiful Day In The Cape May Neighborhood!
Of course apropos for Valentine's Day, the next line..."won't you be mine!"
While it was a bit on the cold side this morning, from my living room window it seemed as if it would be a great day to get out and look at some birds. But then again, when it is not a good day for that?
I decided to head over the the Cape May Point State Park since it had been so long since I walked the trails and I am glad that I did! Though I was surprised to see the large work vehicles on the beach, but this did not deter the birds (well, may be it did keep some birds away from that portion of the beach).
Some seawatching from the first dune crossover produced a number of birds including many Long-tailed Ducks and Red-thraoted Loons flying around. Thousands of scoter roosting on the water but too distant to identify or really tell if there was much else mixed in for that matter. There were a good number flying around as well, but most were logged as "dark winged" due to distance. A very nice find was four Horned Grebes floating in the flat water about 100 yards. or so from the bunker. While looking at the birds from this location (they were back lit) I was trying hard to make at least one an Eared Grebe, but shape doesn't lie! Though it was a great study on the shape of Horned and reinforced just how similar the birds can look at a distance especially when back lit and the reflection off of the water helps to make necks and beaks appear thinner.
Five Green-winged Teal flying over Bunker Pond sounded for all the world like distant oystercatchers to my ear. Interestingly, at first I could only hear the birds and was scrambling with my eyes to find what at the time I thought should be big black and white birds. Then I noticed a refection of birds in flight on the pond water but could still not see the birds. This really made my mind go into overdrive. It was not until I put my bins to my eyes that I finally found the teal in flight. They were so well camouflaged against the vegetation in the background that I could not pull them out naked eye.
[The teal] Working like foreshadowing in my life, I did find an American Oystercatcher on the cove beach (down toward the Meadows) along with some gulls, Sanderling and a lone Ruddy Turnstone. This was not before I'd had four Snow Buntings flyover though, which is what made me walk along part of the beach in the first place.
While the State Park was quite excellent birding this morning with good birds such as fly over Horned Lark, probably the best find for me today was a flock of 10 White-winged Crossbills that flew over headed in a southerly direction. I was happy enough to spy the birds in the first place because they were not calling at all (though I thought I had heard one while on the very back trail and had resigned myself to that being one that got away). But I was even more please that after having contacted a few folks, that others were able to relocate the birds both on Whilden Ave. and at St. Pete's in Cape May Point.
One thing if for sure though, many species are tuning up for spring. I had no less than 9 or 10 species in full song this morning. I'd say a very nice day in the neighborhood indeed. At least this is the case any time I am able to find 68 or so species in just about 2 hours.
I've also included lists from yesterdays walk at the Cape Island Preserve and the Beanery for note.
Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 2/14/09
Notes: 4536 steps = approx. 2.95 miles
Number of species: 68
Canada Goose 55
Mute Swan 4
Gadwall 115
American Wigeon 80
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 50
Northern Pintail 4
Green-winged Teal 45
Surf Scoter 35
Black Scoter 60
dark-winged scoter sp. 450
scoter sp. 3500
Long-tailed Duck 45
Bufflehead 1
Hooded Merganser 6
Red-breasted Merganser 8
Red-throated Loon 45
Common Loon 6
Horned Grebe 4
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 4
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Killdeer 2
American Oystercatcher 1
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Sanderling 35
Purple Sandpiper 10
Bonaparte's Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull 50
Herring Gull 35
Great Black-backed Gull 10
Rock Pigeon 12
Mourning Dove X
Downy Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 12
Blue Jay X
American Crow 18
Horned Lark 4
Carolina Chickadee 35
Tufted Titmouse 20
Red-breasted Nuthatch 3
Carolina Wren 18
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Hermit Thrush 2
American Robin X
Gray Catbird 4
Northern Mockingbird 8
Brown Thrasher 2
European Starling X
American Pipit 5
Cedar Waxwing 15
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 45
Palm Warbler (Western) 1
Eastern Towhee 6
Field Sparrow 4
Savannah Sparrow X
Fox Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 16
Swamp Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow X
Snow Bunting 4
Northern Cardinal 22
Red-winged Blackbird 50
Common Grackle 15
Brown-headed Cowbird X
House Finch X
White-winged Crossbill 10
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
Location: The Beanery
Observation date: 2/13/09
Notes: 2812 steps = approx. 1.83 miles
Number of species: 39
Canada Goose 135
Gadwall 2
American Black Duck 2
Mallard 65
Northern Shoveler 4
Green-winged Teal 8
Ring-necked Duck 4
Black Vulture 6
Turkey Vulture 10
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Rock Pigeon 6
Mourning Dove 8
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 6
Fish Crow X
Horned Lark 3
Carolina Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 4
Carolina Wren 2
Winter Wren 1
Eastern Bluebird 12
American Robin 75
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 150
American Pipit 3
Field Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow 6
Northern Cardinal 6
Red-winged Blackbird 30
Common Grackle 45
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
House Finch 3
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
Location: Cape Island Preserve
Observation date: 2/13/09
Notes: 4132 steps = approx 2.7 miles
Number of species: 38
Canada Goose 48
Mallard 2
Black Vulture 6
Turkey Vulture 4
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 2
American Kestrel 1
Ring-billed Gull 10
Herring Gull X
Rock Pigeon 6
Mourning Dove 10
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 6
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 10
Fish Crow 1
Carolina Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 15
Carolina Wren 8
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 125
Northern Mockingbird 6
European Starling 200
American Pipit 50
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 1
Field Sparrow 10
Fox Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 18
White-throated Sparrow 30
Northern Cardinal 12
Red-winged Blackbird 75
Eastern Meadowlark 19
Common Grackle 150
Brown-headed Cowbird 60
House Finch 10
House Sparrow 25
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
While it was a bit on the cold side this morning, from my living room window it seemed as if it would be a great day to get out and look at some birds. But then again, when it is not a good day for that?
I decided to head over the the Cape May Point State Park since it had been so long since I walked the trails and I am glad that I did! Though I was surprised to see the large work vehicles on the beach, but this did not deter the birds (well, may be it did keep some birds away from that portion of the beach).
Some seawatching from the first dune crossover produced a number of birds including many Long-tailed Ducks and Red-thraoted Loons flying around. Thousands of scoter roosting on the water but too distant to identify or really tell if there was much else mixed in for that matter. There were a good number flying around as well, but most were logged as "dark winged" due to distance. A very nice find was four Horned Grebes floating in the flat water about 100 yards. or so from the bunker. While looking at the birds from this location (they were back lit) I was trying hard to make at least one an Eared Grebe, but shape doesn't lie! Though it was a great study on the shape of Horned and reinforced just how similar the birds can look at a distance especially when back lit and the reflection off of the water helps to make necks and beaks appear thinner.
Five Green-winged Teal flying over Bunker Pond sounded for all the world like distant oystercatchers to my ear. Interestingly, at first I could only hear the birds and was scrambling with my eyes to find what at the time I thought should be big black and white birds. Then I noticed a refection of birds in flight on the pond water but could still not see the birds. This really made my mind go into overdrive. It was not until I put my bins to my eyes that I finally found the teal in flight. They were so well camouflaged against the vegetation in the background that I could not pull them out naked eye.
[The teal] Working like foreshadowing in my life, I did find an American Oystercatcher on the cove beach (down toward the Meadows) along with some gulls, Sanderling and a lone Ruddy Turnstone. This was not before I'd had four Snow Buntings flyover though, which is what made me walk along part of the beach in the first place.
While the State Park was quite excellent birding this morning with good birds such as fly over Horned Lark, probably the best find for me today was a flock of 10 White-winged Crossbills that flew over headed in a southerly direction. I was happy enough to spy the birds in the first place because they were not calling at all (though I thought I had heard one while on the very back trail and had resigned myself to that being one that got away). But I was even more please that after having contacted a few folks, that others were able to relocate the birds both on Whilden Ave. and at St. Pete's in Cape May Point.
One thing if for sure though, many species are tuning up for spring. I had no less than 9 or 10 species in full song this morning. I'd say a very nice day in the neighborhood indeed. At least this is the case any time I am able to find 68 or so species in just about 2 hours.
I've also included lists from yesterdays walk at the Cape Island Preserve and the Beanery for note.
Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 2/14/09
Notes: 4536 steps = approx. 2.95 miles
Number of species: 68
Canada Goose 55
Mute Swan 4
Gadwall 115
American Wigeon 80
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 50
Northern Pintail 4
Green-winged Teal 45
Surf Scoter 35
Black Scoter 60
dark-winged scoter sp. 450
scoter sp. 3500
Long-tailed Duck 45
Bufflehead 1
Hooded Merganser 6
Red-breasted Merganser 8
Red-throated Loon 45
Common Loon 6
Horned Grebe 4
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 4
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Killdeer 2
American Oystercatcher 1
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Sanderling 35
Purple Sandpiper 10
Bonaparte's Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull 50
Herring Gull 35
Great Black-backed Gull 10
Rock Pigeon 12
Mourning Dove X
Downy Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 12
Blue Jay X
American Crow 18
Horned Lark 4
Carolina Chickadee 35
Tufted Titmouse 20
Red-breasted Nuthatch 3
Carolina Wren 18
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Hermit Thrush 2
American Robin X
Gray Catbird 4
Northern Mockingbird 8
Brown Thrasher 2
European Starling X
American Pipit 5
Cedar Waxwing 15
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 45
Palm Warbler (Western) 1
Eastern Towhee 6
Field Sparrow 4
Savannah Sparrow X
Fox Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 16
Swamp Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow X
Snow Bunting 4
Northern Cardinal 22
Red-winged Blackbird 50
Common Grackle 15
Brown-headed Cowbird X
House Finch X
White-winged Crossbill 10
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
Location: The Beanery
Observation date: 2/13/09
Notes: 2812 steps = approx. 1.83 miles
Number of species: 39
Canada Goose 135
Gadwall 2
American Black Duck 2
Mallard 65
Northern Shoveler 4
Green-winged Teal 8
Ring-necked Duck 4
Black Vulture 6
Turkey Vulture 10
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Rock Pigeon 6
Mourning Dove 8
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 6
Fish Crow X
Horned Lark 3
Carolina Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 4
Carolina Wren 2
Winter Wren 1
Eastern Bluebird 12
American Robin 75
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 150
American Pipit 3
Field Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow 6
Northern Cardinal 6
Red-winged Blackbird 30
Common Grackle 45
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
House Finch 3
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
Location: Cape Island Preserve
Observation date: 2/13/09
Notes: 4132 steps = approx 2.7 miles
Number of species: 38
Canada Goose 48
Mallard 2
Black Vulture 6
Turkey Vulture 4
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 2
American Kestrel 1
Ring-billed Gull 10
Herring Gull X
Rock Pigeon 6
Mourning Dove 10
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 6
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 10
Fish Crow 1
Carolina Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 15
Carolina Wren 8
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 125
Northern Mockingbird 6
European Starling 200
American Pipit 50
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 1
Field Sparrow 10
Fox Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 18
White-throated Sparrow 30
Northern Cardinal 12
Red-winged Blackbird 75
Eastern Meadowlark 19
Common Grackle 150
Brown-headed Cowbird 60
House Finch 10
House Sparrow 25
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
Friday, February 13, 2009
NJDEP Needs Birders' Help to Identify Heron Nesting Sites
I know it seems a bit early to be thinking of spring and nesting....but it seemed prudent to try and get this in the minds of NJ birders earlier than later. The following is a request from the NJDEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife, Endangered and Nongame Species Program. They are looking for information on where in the state herons are nesting and it seems that no "colony" is too small.
Christina Kisiel (see contact info below), has indicated to me that NJDEP is very much interested in ANY Great Blue Heron nesting sites, especially, in Cape May and Cumberland Counties. Note that NJDEP is looking for NESTING locations not foraging or roosting locations. I'll let you read on for further details.
"The New Jersey DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife is seeking information on inland nesting colonies of herons. Colonies located on marsh islands along the Atlantic coast are easy to identify and monitor, but those in inland areas are more difficult to detect. Fish and Wildlife's Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) is therefore seeking information on these colonies to improve the understanding of the distribution of these species throughout the state.
Of special interest are Great Blue Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron and Black-crowned Night-Heron colonies (especially in the northeast portion of the state). A colony is defined as having one or more pairs of nesting birds so please don't hesitate to report locations that have a small number of birds utilizing them.
Anyone with information on heron colonies should submit it to Christina Kisiel at ckisiel AT hughes.net. Please include details on the species using the site and directions to the site."
Christina Kisiel (see contact info below), has indicated to me that NJDEP is very much interested in ANY Great Blue Heron nesting sites, especially, in Cape May and Cumberland Counties. Note that NJDEP is looking for NESTING locations not foraging or roosting locations. I'll let you read on for further details.
"The New Jersey DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife is seeking information on inland nesting colonies of herons. Colonies located on marsh islands along the Atlantic coast are easy to identify and monitor, but those in inland areas are more difficult to detect. Fish and Wildlife's Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) is therefore seeking information on these colonies to improve the understanding of the distribution of these species throughout the state.
Of special interest are Great Blue Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron and Black-crowned Night-Heron colonies (especially in the northeast portion of the state). A colony is defined as having one or more pairs of nesting birds so please don't hesitate to report locations that have a small number of birds utilizing them.
Anyone with information on heron colonies should submit it to Christina Kisiel at ckisiel AT hughes.net. Please include details on the species using the site and directions to the site."
Another Way Birding Can Help Avian Research and Conservation
As many of you know today marks the official start of the 12th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), headed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. But don't let the catchy name fool you, the intent of this citizen science endeavor is to garner as much information about the wintering status of birds as possible. So don't fee like you have to only watch the birds at your feeder for four days! That is unless you want to.
If you are a regular eBird user you can enter your sightings to eBird as usual and your records will still have the same overall effect. If you'd like for your sightings information to be used in the regional map information you need to inter your tallies to the GBBC site directly. There is also one difference in recording species numbers that I should point out. For the GBBC you are supposed to "Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that you see together at any one time" rather than the running total count system you may use for eBird. Of course you can find more specific info at the Great Backyard Bird Count site.
To be honest, and on my soap box for a moment, I really would love to see more of these types of counts at various times of the year! I know that the data gathered during these counts are often not quite as research robust as more rigorous Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS) or structured scientific research. But, I am a firm believer in every little bit counts. Imagine adding summer and migration counts (maybe even an early season and later season migration count) to the already rich data sets of CBCs, BBS, and GBBCs. Who knows what might be able to be pursed out of the data! Beside the importance of helping to instill a personal sense of place and value that comes along with our efforts at ensuring that the birds we all love to watch are benefiting from our "birding for science."
While the weather over most of the country will be cooling off over all, most locations should see decent weather for getting out to enjoy some birding. In the mid-Atlantic we can expect pretty nice partly cloudy conditions with decreasing winds but as I say getting a bit colder.
So, head out to your favorite birding "hot spot", take a nice long walk at your local patch, watch the backyard feeders, but do get out and find some birds. If nothing else, than for your own enjoyment. After all, it's proven that a nice leisurely walk does wonders to reduce stress and increase health!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12 2009
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
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, February 12, 2009. Highlights this week include sightings of BLACK-HEADED GULL, EURASIAN WIGEON, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, CANVASBACK, REDHEAD, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, TUNDRA SWAN, GOLDEN EAGLE, ROUGH LEGGED HAWK, HARLEQUIN, COMMON EIDER, PURPLE SANDPIPER, "WESTERN" WILLET, AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER and an announcement about CMBO's Optics Sale March 14 and 15.
An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL has been frequenting Cape May Point, mostly at the Concrete Ship at the end of Sunset but ranging well north towards the ferry terminal. It was last reported today, Thursday, February 12, 2009.
The hen EURASIAN WIGEON was still at the Villas WMA as of Monday February 9, 2009. Also continuing there as of Monday were a male REDHEAD, one RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, and one WHITE WINGED CROSSBILL. A CANVASBACK was there as of Sunday, February 8, 2009.
4 TUNDRA SWANS were seen at the Maple Ave. impoundments near Dividing Creek on Sunday, February 8, 2009. The large flock of 25+ was seen at Tuckahoe WMA on Monday, February, 9, 2009.
A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen at Tuckahoe WMA on Monday, February 9, 2009.
The dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen again at Jakes Landing Road on Sunday, February 8, 2009, and light and dark morphs continue at Tuckahoe WMA as of Monday February 9, 2009.
The duck collection continues at the 8th street Jetty in Avalon, including a drake HARLEQUIN, 12 COMMON EIDER, and a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, all through at least Sunday, February 8, 2009. PURPLE SANDPIPERS are also on the jetty there.
Great Channel, north of the free bridge to Nummy Island south of Stone Harbor, held 3 "WESTERN" WILLETS and 16 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS on Monday, February 9.
We received no reports of the RUFOUS-TYPE HUMMINGBIRD or the Stone Harbor Point SNOWY OWL this week, though they may still be present. Please continue to report these birds if seen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
CMBO'S FOURTEENTH ANNUAL OPTICS SALE will be Saturday and Sunday, March 14 and 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the CMBO Center for Research and Education in Goshen. The sale offers a large selection of closeout, demo, factory-refurbished, new, and used optics priced to move. Binoculars and spotting scopes from all major brands will be available. There are no advance or phone orders: first come, first served. Shoppers must belong to NJAS or CMBO to take advantage of these great deals, so join today if you're not already a member.
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 WINTER HOURS are as follows: Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open Wednesday through Monday, 9:30am to 4:30pm; closed Tuesdays. 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 discounts in the stores).
- End Transcript
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
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, February 12, 2009. Highlights this week include sightings of BLACK-HEADED GULL, EURASIAN WIGEON, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, CANVASBACK, REDHEAD, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, TUNDRA SWAN, GOLDEN EAGLE, ROUGH LEGGED HAWK, HARLEQUIN, COMMON EIDER, PURPLE SANDPIPER, "WESTERN" WILLET, AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER and an announcement about CMBO's Optics Sale March 14 and 15.
An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL has been frequenting Cape May Point, mostly at the Concrete Ship at the end of Sunset but ranging well north towards the ferry terminal. It was last reported today, Thursday, February 12, 2009.
The hen EURASIAN WIGEON was still at the Villas WMA as of Monday February 9, 2009. Also continuing there as of Monday were a male REDHEAD, one RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, and one WHITE WINGED CROSSBILL. A CANVASBACK was there as of Sunday, February 8, 2009.
4 TUNDRA SWANS were seen at the Maple Ave. impoundments near Dividing Creek on Sunday, February 8, 2009. The large flock of 25+ was seen at Tuckahoe WMA on Monday, February, 9, 2009.
A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen at Tuckahoe WMA on Monday, February 9, 2009.
The dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen again at Jakes Landing Road on Sunday, February 8, 2009, and light and dark morphs continue at Tuckahoe WMA as of Monday February 9, 2009.
The duck collection continues at the 8th street Jetty in Avalon, including a drake HARLEQUIN, 12 COMMON EIDER, and a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, all through at least Sunday, February 8, 2009. PURPLE SANDPIPERS are also on the jetty there.
Great Channel, north of the free bridge to Nummy Island south of Stone Harbor, held 3 "WESTERN" WILLETS and 16 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS on Monday, February 9.
We received no reports of the RUFOUS-TYPE HUMMINGBIRD or the Stone Harbor Point SNOWY OWL this week, though they may still be present. Please continue to report these birds if seen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
CMBO'S FOURTEENTH ANNUAL OPTICS SALE will be Saturday and Sunday, March 14 and 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the CMBO Center for Research and Education in Goshen. The sale offers a large selection of closeout, demo, factory-refurbished, new, and used optics priced to move. Binoculars and spotting scopes from all major brands will be available. There are no advance or phone orders: first come, first served. Shoppers must belong to NJAS or CMBO to take advantage of these great deals, so join today if you're not already a member.
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 WINTER HOURS are as follows: Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open Wednesday through Monday, 9:30am to 4:30pm; closed Tuesdays. 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 discounts in the stores).
- End Transcript
Another BLACK-HEADED GULL Image
While Bob Fogg's image of the continuing BLACK-HEADED GULL is absolutely fantastic for a study of this bird in flight, I wanted to share one more image. Karl Lukens sent this photo (below) to me, which is excellent for comparing the similarities between Black-headed an Bonaparte's Gulls roosting on the water.
While Laura and I could not try for the bird earlier this morning, we were able to get to the Concrete Ship later in the morning, but unfortunately were not able to locate the intended gull. There were numbers of Bonaparte, Ring-billeds, a hand full of Herring and a couple Great Black-backed Gulls. Most of the gulls were east of the ship toward the Alexander Ave jetty and with the high hinds/waves and sun it was difficult at best to really tell if the Black-headed was in the mix using only bins. Suffice for the very similar appearance of these species on the water!!
Boneparte's Gull, left and Black-headed Gull, right
(Photo Courtesy of Karl Lukens, http://home.comcast.net/~jklukens/)
While Laura and I could not try for the bird earlier this morning, we were able to get to the Concrete Ship later in the morning, but unfortunately were not able to locate the intended gull. There were numbers of Bonaparte, Ring-billeds, a hand full of Herring and a couple Great Black-backed Gulls. Most of the gulls were east of the ship toward the Alexander Ave jetty and with the high hinds/waves and sun it was difficult at best to really tell if the Black-headed was in the mix using only bins. Suffice for the very similar appearance of these species on the water!!
Boneparte's Gull, left and Black-headed Gull, right(Photo Courtesy of Karl Lukens, http://home.comcast.net/~jklukens/)
Gulls around Cape May
Bird activity over the water has been picking up over the past couple weeks around Cape May Point! Up until a couple weeks ago, the beaches around the point hosted a handful of Herring Gulls, scattered Bonaparte's Gulls, Ruddy Turnstones, Purple Sandpipers and Sanderling. Scoters were milling around far from the beach and Red-throated Loons were even hard to come across. Just a few days ago, numbers have started to increase and birds have been feeding more actively in the surf. Herring Gull numbers around the jettis have more than doubled from last month and large numbers of Long-tailed Ducks were exiting the bay over the past few days. This past weekend hosted the first concentrated group of ~60 Bonaparte's Gulls at the Concrete Ship, and quite predictably this Black-headed Gull showed up with the mix. I heard from Vince Elia that he was watching the bird this morning so I headed down there to have a look. He also saw the bird the other day, but it only made a brief appearance before heading out into the bay. There was also a Lesser-black Backed Gull hanging around the area which looked like the same bird that has made random appearances along the beach through December and January.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Only 5 Days Left!!!
To help further wintering range and populations knowledge of Rusty Blackbirds by taking part in the First Annual Rusty Blackbird Blitz.
If you live in the south east (including the Gulf States) pretty much south of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and you encounter Rusty Blackbirds during your birding foray, your sightings can be logged into eBird under the heading "Rusty Blackbird Blitz".
February 7-15, 2009 marks the dates for the Rusty Blackbird Blitz, a co-op effort by Cornell Lab's eBird and The Rusty Blackbird Working Group, in effort to try and garner a better understanding on this species major wintering areas and overall wintering population size. As many many know, Rusties have shown an 85%+ decline in population size (according to Breeding Bird Survey and Christmas Count data) over the last 40 years. It's not just the Red Knot and Semi-palmated Sandpiper folks!!
If you happen to be birding in Cape May there a numerous locations that can be good for Rusty Blackbirds. In fact, pretty much any wet woods may do the trick but you might try the wet woods at Higbee Beach WMA or the back of Hidden Valley. Villas WMA in the past few years has proved to be an excellent location to look for this species with flocks numbers upwards of 160+ at times. You can often find Rusties almost anywhere at Villas but the east-southeast portions prove to be the best. Not coincidentally this boarders some wet woods!
That being said though, we birded the Villas WMA on both Sunday and Monday and only came up with small number of these sought after blackbirds. There were hundreds of grackles and lesser number of red-wings and cowbirds. Probably the surprise bird of the day on Monday was, a male White-winged Crossbill that we found low in a shrub apparently having come down for a drink from the pond. I spotted the bird at first and thought that it was very bright Purple Finch, that is until it turned and showed it's white wing bars. There were many birds moving to and from the pond and thus we lost the bird only having gotten a quick glimpse and hearing the bird call as is departed.
Also at Villas WMA was the continuing Canvasback (on Sunday, not there on Monday), drake Redhead, one Red-headed Woodpecker and hen Eurasian Wigeon. On Sunday the "white headed" Canada Goose was in the roosting goose flock on the pond but also not present on Monday. I have a few photos to share but unfortunately I left them on my home computer!!
So, whether you make a concerted effort to go out looking specifically for Rusty Blackbirds or just happen upon them in the days birding, think about contributing your sightings info for science. You can read more about the Rusty Blackbird Blitz using the links provided above.
Location: Villas WMA
Observation date: 2/9/09
Notes: 4833 steps = approx. 3.15 miles
Number of species: 47
Canada Goose 20
Eurasian Wigeon 1
American Wigeon 40
Mallard 20
Redhead 1
Ring-necked Duck 25
Ruddy Duck 1
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Ring-billed Gull 30
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove 10
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 18
Downy Woodpecker 4
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 10
Carolina Chickadee 20
Tufted Titmouse 35
White-breasted Nuthatch 6
Carolina Wren X
Eastern Bluebird 25
American Robin 125
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling X
Palm Warbler 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Chipping Sparrow 35
Field Sparrow 15
Savannah Sparrow 15
Song Sparrow 18
White-throated Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 20
Northern Cardinal 4
Red-winged Blackbird X
Rusty Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 250
Brown-headed Cowbird 50
Purple Finch X
House Finch X
White-winged Crossbill 1
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
Location: Villas WMA
Observation date: 2/8/09
Notes: 3420 steps = approx. 2.23 miles
Number of species: 33
Canada Goose 175
Eurasian Wigeon 1
American Wigeon 35
Mallard 15
Canvasback 1
Redhead 1
Ring-necked Duck 25
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Merlin 1
Ring-billed Gull 45
Herring Gull 8
Mourning Dove X
Red-bellied Woodpecker 8
Downy Woodpecker 4
Blue Jay 3
American Crow X
Carolina Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse 12
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Eastern Bluebird 10
American Robin 30
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling X
Chipping Sparrow 20
Field Sparrow 25
Song Sparrow 15
Swamp Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird X
Rusty Blackbird 5
Common Grackle 200
Brown-headed Cowbird 20
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
If you live in the south east (including the Gulf States) pretty much south of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and you encounter Rusty Blackbirds during your birding foray, your sightings can be logged into eBird under the heading "Rusty Blackbird Blitz".
February 7-15, 2009 marks the dates for the Rusty Blackbird Blitz, a co-op effort by Cornell Lab's eBird and The Rusty Blackbird Working Group, in effort to try and garner a better understanding on this species major wintering areas and overall wintering population size. As many many know, Rusties have shown an 85%+ decline in population size (according to Breeding Bird Survey and Christmas Count data) over the last 40 years. It's not just the Red Knot and Semi-palmated Sandpiper folks!!
If you happen to be birding in Cape May there a numerous locations that can be good for Rusty Blackbirds. In fact, pretty much any wet woods may do the trick but you might try the wet woods at Higbee Beach WMA or the back of Hidden Valley. Villas WMA in the past few years has proved to be an excellent location to look for this species with flocks numbers upwards of 160+ at times. You can often find Rusties almost anywhere at Villas but the east-southeast portions prove to be the best. Not coincidentally this boarders some wet woods!
That being said though, we birded the Villas WMA on both Sunday and Monday and only came up with small number of these sought after blackbirds. There were hundreds of grackles and lesser number of red-wings and cowbirds. Probably the surprise bird of the day on Monday was, a male White-winged Crossbill that we found low in a shrub apparently having come down for a drink from the pond. I spotted the bird at first and thought that it was very bright Purple Finch, that is until it turned and showed it's white wing bars. There were many birds moving to and from the pond and thus we lost the bird only having gotten a quick glimpse and hearing the bird call as is departed.
Also at Villas WMA was the continuing Canvasback (on Sunday, not there on Monday), drake Redhead, one Red-headed Woodpecker and hen Eurasian Wigeon. On Sunday the "white headed" Canada Goose was in the roosting goose flock on the pond but also not present on Monday. I have a few photos to share but unfortunately I left them on my home computer!!
So, whether you make a concerted effort to go out looking specifically for Rusty Blackbirds or just happen upon them in the days birding, think about contributing your sightings info for science. You can read more about the Rusty Blackbird Blitz using the links provided above.
Location: Villas WMA
Observation date: 2/9/09
Notes: 4833 steps = approx. 3.15 miles
Number of species: 47
Canada Goose 20
Eurasian Wigeon 1
American Wigeon 40
Mallard 20
Redhead 1
Ring-necked Duck 25
Ruddy Duck 1
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Ring-billed Gull 30
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove 10
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 18
Downy Woodpecker 4
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 10
Carolina Chickadee 20
Tufted Titmouse 35
White-breasted Nuthatch 6
Carolina Wren X
Eastern Bluebird 25
American Robin 125
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling X
Palm Warbler 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Chipping Sparrow 35
Field Sparrow 15
Savannah Sparrow 15
Song Sparrow 18
White-throated Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 20
Northern Cardinal 4
Red-winged Blackbird X
Rusty Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 250
Brown-headed Cowbird 50
Purple Finch X
House Finch X
White-winged Crossbill 1
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
Location: Villas WMA
Observation date: 2/8/09
Notes: 3420 steps = approx. 2.23 miles
Number of species: 33
Canada Goose 175
Eurasian Wigeon 1
American Wigeon 35
Mallard 15
Canvasback 1
Redhead 1
Ring-necked Duck 25
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Merlin 1
Ring-billed Gull 45
Herring Gull 8
Mourning Dove X
Red-bellied Woodpecker 8
Downy Woodpecker 4
Blue Jay 3
American Crow X
Carolina Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse 12
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Eastern Bluebird 10
American Robin 30
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling X
Chipping Sparrow 20
Field Sparrow 25
Song Sparrow 15
Swamp Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird X
Rusty Blackbird 5
Common Grackle 200
Brown-headed Cowbird 20
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
Friday, February 6, 2009
CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2009
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
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 Friday, February 6, 2009. Highlights this week include sightings of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, RUFOUS-TYPE HUMMINGBIRD, SNOWY OWL, EURASIAN WIGEON, REDHEAD, CANVASBACK, SNOW BUNTING, EASTERN PHOEBE, HOUSE WREN, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, KING EIDER, HARLEQUIN DUCK, COMMON EIDER, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, TUNDRA SWAN, SHORT-EARED OWL, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and announcements about the Cumberland County Eagle Festival and CMBO's Wintering Hawks, Eagles and Owls birding workshop.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS continue to be seen throughout the region. A flock of 13-14 was seen at the end of Whildin Ave, Cape May point on Saturday, January 31, 2009. A single was at Villas WMA on Sunday, February 1, 2009 and a flock of 20+ was reported there on Monday February 2, 2009.
The RUFOUS-TYPE HUMMINGBIRD somehow continues to survive at 711 New England Road in Cape May as of Wednesday, February 4, 2009.
One of the Stone Harbor Point SNOWY OWLS was seen on Monday, February 2, 2009.
The female EURASIAN WIGEON continues at the Villas WMA, through Thursday, February 5, 2009. Other waterfowl sightings from Villas WMA include the male REDHEAD, a male WOOD DUCK through at least February 1, and a female CANVASBACK.
3 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were seen at the 8th street Jetty in Avalon. Also present were 10 COMMON EIDER, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and a continuing hen KING EIDER, all through at least Tuesday, February 3, 2009.
EASTERN PHOEBE continues at Cape May Point State Park through Monday, February 2, and a flock of 20+ SNOW BUNTINGS has been frequenting the dunes off the State Park and the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge, through at least February 2. Other Cape May Point State Park birds included HOUSE WREN and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, both on Sunday, February 1, 2009.
26 TUNDRA SWANS and two dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were seen at Tuckahoe WMA on Sunday February 1st 2009.
A SHORT-EARDED OWL was seen at Turkey Point on Sunday February 1st 2009.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
A great opportunity to see eagles and other raptors is coming this Saturday, February 7th, 2009, the date for the Ninth Annual Cumberland County Winter Eagle Festival centered at the Mauricetown Fire Hall on Noble Street in Mauricetown, NJ. Registration starts at 8 a.m. and admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children under twelve. For more info visit www.co.cumberland.nj.us.
A few spaces are still available on CMBO's Wintering Hawks, Eagles and Owls Workshop Feburary 13-15, 2009. Visit www.birdcapemay.org and click on School of Birding Workshops for more info.
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 WINTER HOURS are as follows: Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open Wednesday through Monday, 9:30am to 4:30pm; closed Tuesdays. 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 discounts in the stores).
- End Transcript
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
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 Friday, February 6, 2009. Highlights this week include sightings of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, RUFOUS-TYPE HUMMINGBIRD, SNOWY OWL, EURASIAN WIGEON, REDHEAD, CANVASBACK, SNOW BUNTING, EASTERN PHOEBE, HOUSE WREN, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, KING EIDER, HARLEQUIN DUCK, COMMON EIDER, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, TUNDRA SWAN, SHORT-EARED OWL, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and announcements about the Cumberland County Eagle Festival and CMBO's Wintering Hawks, Eagles and Owls birding workshop.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS continue to be seen throughout the region. A flock of 13-14 was seen at the end of Whildin Ave, Cape May point on Saturday, January 31, 2009. A single was at Villas WMA on Sunday, February 1, 2009 and a flock of 20+ was reported there on Monday February 2, 2009.
The RUFOUS-TYPE HUMMINGBIRD somehow continues to survive at 711 New England Road in Cape May as of Wednesday, February 4, 2009.
One of the Stone Harbor Point SNOWY OWLS was seen on Monday, February 2, 2009.
The female EURASIAN WIGEON continues at the Villas WMA, through Thursday, February 5, 2009. Other waterfowl sightings from Villas WMA include the male REDHEAD, a male WOOD DUCK through at least February 1, and a female CANVASBACK.
3 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were seen at the 8th street Jetty in Avalon. Also present were 10 COMMON EIDER, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and a continuing hen KING EIDER, all through at least Tuesday, February 3, 2009.
EASTERN PHOEBE continues at Cape May Point State Park through Monday, February 2, and a flock of 20+ SNOW BUNTINGS has been frequenting the dunes off the State Park and the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge, through at least February 2. Other Cape May Point State Park birds included HOUSE WREN and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, both on Sunday, February 1, 2009.
26 TUNDRA SWANS and two dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were seen at Tuckahoe WMA on Sunday February 1st 2009.
A SHORT-EARDED OWL was seen at Turkey Point on Sunday February 1st 2009.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
A great opportunity to see eagles and other raptors is coming this Saturday, February 7th, 2009, the date for the Ninth Annual Cumberland County Winter Eagle Festival centered at the Mauricetown Fire Hall on Noble Street in Mauricetown, NJ. Registration starts at 8 a.m. and admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children under twelve. For more info visit www.co.cumberland.nj.us.
A few spaces are still available on CMBO's Wintering Hawks, Eagles and Owls Workshop Feburary 13-15, 2009. Visit www.birdcapemay.org and click on School of Birding Workshops for more info.
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 WINTER HOURS are as follows: Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open Wednesday through Monday, 9:30am to 4:30pm; closed Tuesdays. 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 discounts in the stores).
- End Transcript
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Cumberland Eagle Festival!
[Immature Bald Eagle at last year's eagle festival. Photo by Don Freiday.]Cumberland County is the epicenter for Bald Eagles in New Jersey - where else do you routinely encounter groups of 5 or more eagles at a time? A great opportunity to experience eagles and other raptors is coming this Saturday, February 7th, 2009, the date for the Ninth Annual Cumberland County Winter Eagle Festival centered at the Mauricetown Fire Hall on Noble Street in Mauricetown, NJ. Registration starts at 8 a.m. and admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children under twelve.
CMBO naturalists with scopes and lots of eagle knowledge will be stationed at Turkey Point, Maple Avenue Causeway, Beaver Dam, and Newport Landing. Active Bald Eagle nests are present at the latter three sites, and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Rough-legged hawks or a Golden Eagle turn up during the day.
There is a lineup of speakers for the event. Here's the schedule:
10 a.m. Kathy Clark - Bald Eagles - Soaring in New Jersey
11 p.m. Jane Galetto - Seasons of the Maurice
1 p.m. Pete Dunne - The Art of Pishing
2 p.m. Margaret O'Gorman - New Jersey's Rare Wildlife
3 p.m. Don Freiday - Owls and How to Find Them
Karen Johnson is leading a sunrise walk at Turkey Point and I and others will lead an owl vigil beginning at 5:00 p.m. We traditionally see Great-horned Owls coming out to feed at dusk, and I hear a Short-eared Owl has appeared at Turkey Point after a winter when they have thus far been absent there. Steve Eisenhauer and Brian Johnson are offering two eagle walks throughout the day. At the Fire Hall a variety of vendors will be on hand with art, birding and general natural history material, and other articles and opportunities related to the appreciation of the beautiful natural areas in our region. Food will be available throughout the day courtesy of the Mauricetown Volunteer Fire Department. Their crabcake and fried oyster sandwiches are delicious!
For more information about the festival, check out the Cumberland County website, or call 856-453-2177 or 866 866-M-O-R-E
[Owl watchers under the moon at last year's festival. Photo by Don Freiday.]
Monday, February 2, 2009
Villas WMA (a.k.a. Ponderlodge) is the place!....
....For viewing White-winged Crossbills in Cape May County, it would seem. I received word this afternoon that a flock of crossbills were observed at the Villas WMA earlier today. As is typical they did not stay around too long but it would seem that anyone coming down to Cape May and hoping for a glimpse at this species would do well to spend a little time at this location. Not to mention the other goodies that have been hanging around the old golf course as has been mentioned in previous posts.
Another location one might try to see these beauties from the north would be the Cape May Point State Park, the pines in the back would be a good place to look. As well as the dunes (they are of course covered with pines) in between St. Mary's and St. Peter's. For extended searching you might try the whole dune line or heck anywhere in Cape May Point as pine trees are prolific and of course you never know what you may turn up.
Below are some photos from yesterdays birding in Avalon (see post info below). Photos provided generously by Karl Lukens. I am thankful that Karl showed up while we were on the jetty as I had stupidly forgotten my camera. Of course being the boyscout that he is, Karl is always prepared and wonderfully willing to share his great pics. For more photos of "interesting NJ birds" you might take a visit to his Karl and Judy Kukens' Website. Karl some how is pretty much always able to capture a shot or two of many of the rarities that visit southern Jersey.
Probably two of the most gorgeous ducks in North America!
This White-winged Scoter that has bee hanging out among the other sea ducks for the last week or so.
Some of the ten or so Common Eider and the hen King Eider that has been associating with them. Note the size and plumage differences which are readily apparent in this photo. Also note the structure differences in the head between the two species. Karl was able to capture an excellent comparison photo.
Another location one might try to see these beauties from the north would be the Cape May Point State Park, the pines in the back would be a good place to look. As well as the dunes (they are of course covered with pines) in between St. Mary's and St. Peter's. For extended searching you might try the whole dune line or heck anywhere in Cape May Point as pine trees are prolific and of course you never know what you may turn up.
Below are some photos from yesterdays birding in Avalon (see post info below). Photos provided generously by Karl Lukens. I am thankful that Karl showed up while we were on the jetty as I had stupidly forgotten my camera. Of course being the boyscout that he is, Karl is always prepared and wonderfully willing to share his great pics. For more photos of "interesting NJ birds" you might take a visit to his Karl and Judy Kukens' Website. Karl some how is pretty much always able to capture a shot or two of many of the rarities that visit southern Jersey.
Probably two of the most gorgeous ducks in North America!
This White-winged Scoter that has bee hanging out among the other sea ducks for the last week or so.
Some of the ten or so Common Eider and the hen King Eider that has been associating with them. Note the size and plumage differences which are readily apparent in this photo. Also note the structure differences in the head between the two species. Karl was able to capture an excellent comparison photo.
Turkey Point and Tuckahoe News: Eagles, Rough-leggeds, Tundra Swans
Janet Crawford and Karen Johnson sent the following report from CMBO's walks at Turkey Point Sunday morning and Tuckahoe Sunday evening. Turkey Point walks start 8 a.m. every Sunday through March, while the nightfall walks at Tuckahoe are on only certain dates (the next is February 22), on a rotation with vigils at Jake's Landing.
"On the 2/1/09 CMBO walk at Turkey Point, we saw 3 immature and 3 adult Bald Eagles. One of the adults was arranging a stick in the nest. A Winter Wren flew across the trail. The impoundments at Maple Avenue were thawing and some ducks were back, including 25 Gadwall.
"At McNamara WMA - Tuckahoe on the 2/1/09 CMBO walk, the highlights were 26 Tundra Swans; 2 dark morph Rough-legged Hawks, one of which was hunting close enough to give good looks; and a Short-eared Owl."
"On the 2/1/09 CMBO walk at Turkey Point, we saw 3 immature and 3 adult Bald Eagles. One of the adults was arranging a stick in the nest. A Winter Wren flew across the trail. The impoundments at Maple Avenue were thawing and some ducks were back, including 25 Gadwall.
"At McNamara WMA - Tuckahoe on the 2/1/09 CMBO walk, the highlights were 26 Tundra Swans; 2 dark morph Rough-legged Hawks, one of which was hunting close enough to give good looks; and a Short-eared Owl."
Sunday, February 1, 2009
8th Street Jetty, Avalon- 3 Harlequin Ducks, Common and King Eider, White-winged Scoter and others-2/1/08
Well, with the the excitement of the Super Bowl over, as a bird lover one might have hoped for the Arizona Cardinals to have emerged victorious but at the very least I was rooting for the "Cards" as the underdogs. I suppose it just was not meant to be . Or in the "cards" as it were....
As for real bird related things, Gail Dwyer had called to report a female Harlequin Duck, Common eider and White-winged Scoter from Avalon the other day. Tom Reed and others had these same species with the addition of a drake Harlequin Duck and the return of the female King Eider yesterday at the 8t Street Jetty.
So Laura and I decided to venture out with Gail today to see if we could spy a few of these species and of course we were hoping for a lucky find of an alcid with the south to southeasterly winds today. While we were not lucky enough to find any alcids we did find 3 Harlequin Ducks (one gorgeous drake and two hens) a number of Surf and Black Scoter, a hand full of Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Ducks and a lone White-winged Scoter. Also present were 10 Common Eider and the hen King Eider. Aside from the size and structure differences, the fact that I had recently ready Michael O'Brien's article "Was Your Eider Smiling?" in the Tigrina Times on-line magazine on this site, was coincidentally resonant for today birding. Probably one of the most wonderful parts of the day was listening to the Black Scoter's haunting peeeew whistle calls and the Long-tails doing their ow ow owelepping. If you are looking to experience any of these calls I would highly recommend visiting the 8th Street Jetty in Avalon in the near future. The views (due to the closeness to shore) of these species was truly amazing. I was kicking myself the whole time for forgetting my camera at home as the light was superb for trying to photograph these spectacular species. If anything may have hampered the photographic attempts it would have been the winds.
After birding the 8th Street Jetty we ventured to 80th Street to look for the Eared Grebe. We were unsuccessful in finding Eared Grebe but did spy 6 or so Horned Grebes along with a number of other duck species. See lists below.
The Snowy Owl at Stone Harbor was seen as recently as Saturday by a few observers. Tom Reed also reported the following at the Villas WMA; one White-winged Crossbill, the continuing female Eurasian Wigeon, Redhead and the addition of a Canvasback. Two drake Wood Ducks were a nice find for this time of year along with the typical flock of Rusty Blackbirds and Chipping Sparrows. The Red-headed Woodpeckers were not noted but probably present.
The Selasphorous Hummingbird (Rufous/Allen's) is still coming to the feeder on New England Ave. as of today according to Karl Lukens. Lastly the dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, American Bittern and Short-eared Owl were seen at Jake's Landing around sunset as of Saturday.
Location: 8th Ave Jetty
Observation date: 2/1/09
Number of species: 14
Brant 35
Greater Scaup 45
King Eider 1
Common Eider 10
Harlequin Duck 3
Surf Scoter 125
White-winged Scoter 1
Black Scoter 135
Long-tailed Duck 45
Common Loon 6
Ruddy Turnstone 3
Purple Sandpiper 20
Herring Gull 50
Great Black-backed Gull 1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
Location: 80th Street Stone Harbor/Avalon
Observation date: 2/1/09
Number of species: 7
Brant 135
American Black Duck 45
Mallard X
Bufflehead 125
Hooded Merganser 5
Red-breasted Merganser 6
Horned Grebe 6
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
As for real bird related things, Gail Dwyer had called to report a female Harlequin Duck, Common eider and White-winged Scoter from Avalon the other day. Tom Reed and others had these same species with the addition of a drake Harlequin Duck and the return of the female King Eider yesterday at the 8t Street Jetty.
So Laura and I decided to venture out with Gail today to see if we could spy a few of these species and of course we were hoping for a lucky find of an alcid with the south to southeasterly winds today. While we were not lucky enough to find any alcids we did find 3 Harlequin Ducks (one gorgeous drake and two hens) a number of Surf and Black Scoter, a hand full of Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Ducks and a lone White-winged Scoter. Also present were 10 Common Eider and the hen King Eider. Aside from the size and structure differences, the fact that I had recently ready Michael O'Brien's article "Was Your Eider Smiling?" in the Tigrina Times on-line magazine on this site, was coincidentally resonant for today birding. Probably one of the most wonderful parts of the day was listening to the Black Scoter's haunting peeeew whistle calls and the Long-tails doing their ow ow owelepping. If you are looking to experience any of these calls I would highly recommend visiting the 8th Street Jetty in Avalon in the near future. The views (due to the closeness to shore) of these species was truly amazing. I was kicking myself the whole time for forgetting my camera at home as the light was superb for trying to photograph these spectacular species. If anything may have hampered the photographic attempts it would have been the winds.
After birding the 8th Street Jetty we ventured to 80th Street to look for the Eared Grebe. We were unsuccessful in finding Eared Grebe but did spy 6 or so Horned Grebes along with a number of other duck species. See lists below.
The Snowy Owl at Stone Harbor was seen as recently as Saturday by a few observers. Tom Reed also reported the following at the Villas WMA; one White-winged Crossbill, the continuing female Eurasian Wigeon, Redhead and the addition of a Canvasback. Two drake Wood Ducks were a nice find for this time of year along with the typical flock of Rusty Blackbirds and Chipping Sparrows. The Red-headed Woodpeckers were not noted but probably present.
The Selasphorous Hummingbird (Rufous/Allen's) is still coming to the feeder on New England Ave. as of today according to Karl Lukens. Lastly the dark morph Rough-legged Hawk, American Bittern and Short-eared Owl were seen at Jake's Landing around sunset as of Saturday.
Location: 8th Ave Jetty
Observation date: 2/1/09
Number of species: 14
Brant 35
Greater Scaup 45
King Eider 1
Common Eider 10
Harlequin Duck 3
Surf Scoter 125
White-winged Scoter 1
Black Scoter 135
Long-tailed Duck 45
Common Loon 6
Ruddy Turnstone 3
Purple Sandpiper 20
Herring Gull 50
Great Black-backed Gull 1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
Location: 80th Street Stone Harbor/Avalon
Observation date: 2/1/09
Number of species: 7
Brant 135
American Black Duck 45
Mallard X
Bufflehead 125
Hooded Merganser 5
Red-breasted Merganser 6
Horned Grebe 6
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2