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).

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