Thursday, February 26, 2009

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.

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