CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - FRIDAY MARCH 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, March 6 2009. Highlights this week include sightings of SNOWY OWL, PEREGRINE FALCON, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, BONAPARTE'S GULL, NORTHERN GANNET, REDHEAD, KING EIDER, COMMON EIDER, PINE SISKIN, GREAT EGRET, AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, HORNED LARK, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, OSPREY, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, and announcements about CMBO's Optics Sale March 14 and 15 and a change in hours at CMBO-CRE in Goshen.

The Stone Harbor Point SNOWY OWL was seen Thursday March 5 2009, perched on a dune southeast of the viewing platform at 5:50 p.m. A PEREGRINE FALCON was also seen there March 5.

A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen at Saint Mary's Jetty in Cape May Point on Sunday March 1 2009. On Friday March 6, several hundred BONAPARTE'S GULLS were there and a significant movement of NORTHERN GANNETS was flying out of Delaware Bay. Several thousand dark-winged SCOTERS continue there as well.

17 REDHEADS were seen at Forsythe NWR on Saturday February 28 2009.

The hen KING EIDER continues at the 8th Street Jetty, Avalon as of Thursday March 5 2009. A COMMON EIDER was also seen there on Saturday February 28 2009. The eiders move around and are sometimes far offshore; it may be necessary to walk out on the jetty to see them.

PINE SISKIN was reported at Cape May Point on Sunday March 1 2009.

A GREAT EGRET is still hanging on at the "Ibis Pond" on the north side of Reeds Beach Road as of Saturday February 28 2009. An AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER was also present at the opening of Bidwell's Creek at the north end of Reed’s Beach on February 28 2009.

9 HORNED LARKS were at the Beanery Monday, March 2 2009. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were reported along New England Road and at the TNC Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge this week.

A returning OSPREY was reported over Cape May Court House Thursday, March 5.

With recent snow AMERICAN WOODCOCK have been quite visible in southern NJ. On Wednesday, March 4 2009, 18 to 20 American Woodcock were seen shoulder of Sunset Boulevard in Cape May. They have also been reported in scattered yards throughout Cape May County, and displaying along Reed's Beach Road and at Turkey Point, Cumberland County, both on Friday March 6, 2009.

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 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 thru the month of March ******

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!

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!