Hotline: Cape May Birding Hotline
To Report: call: (609) 884-2736, or email: sightings@birdcapemay.org
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic Counties, NJ
Compiler: David Lord, Cape May Bird Observatory
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, April 30, 2009.
Highlights this week include sightings of SAY'S PHOEBE, SWALLOW-TAILED KITE, MISSISSIPPI KITE, BLACK-NECKED STILT, STILT SANDPIPER, COMMON TERN, BROWN PELICAN, BARN OWL, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, WOOD THRUSH, ACADIAN FLYCATCHER, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, WARBLING VIREO, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, CERULEAN WARBLER, WORM-EATING WARBLER, HOODED WARBLER, SUMMER TANAGER, SCARLET TANAGER, and BLUE GROSBEAK.
A SAY'S PHOEBE was found at the Cove Pool boardwalk, located at the end of Mount Vernon Avenue in Cape May, on 4/30. The bird continued through 3:00pm, usually in the dunes visible from the end of the boardwalk.
A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was seen along Route 55 in Cumberland County, heading south from mile marker 35, on 4/27.
A MISSISSIPPI KITE was seen about a mile south of CMBO's Center for Research & Education, circling above a field next to Route 47, on 4/28.
A BLACK-NECKED STILT was seen at the South Cape May Meadows "plover pond," the pond between the Meadows and the beach, on 4/29 and 4/30. A newly-arrived COMMON TERN was also here on 4/29.
A CERULEAN WARBLER was seen at Higbee Beach on 4/26, as was CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER and YELLOW-THROATED VIREO.
Several RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS have been noted throughout the area, including Cape May Point State Park and Villas WMA, both on 4/26. One was near Lily Lake on 4/29.
2 BROWN PELICANS were seen off the Cape May Point State Park beach on 4/28. Perhaps the same duo was also seen from a Villas beach the same day.
A STILT SANDPIPER was reported at Heislerville WMA in Cumberland County on 4/26.
Both SCARLET and SUMMER TANAGERS were seen in Belleplain State Forest on 4/25. WORM-EATING WARBLERS, HOODED WARBLERS, BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS and WOOD THRUSH were also located there the same day. Other arrivals this week included WARBLING VIREO, BLUE GROSBEAK, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER and ACADIAN FLYCATCHER.
A BARN OWL was heard at Turkey Point, Cumberland County on 4/24.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
******Due to a staffing shortfall, Cape May Bird Observatory's Center for Research and Education on Route 47 north of Goshen will be closed to the public effective April 11, 2009. The grounds and gardens will remain open to the public. CMBO's Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open daily, 9:30am to 4:30pm.******
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!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Say's Phoebe Continues; Belleplain, Peaslee Notes
Karl Lukens sent word that the Say's Phoebe continued to be seen through 3:00 this afternoon, in the dunes at the end of the boardwalk at Mt. Vernon Avenue (Cove Pool). See the original post from earlier today for directions.
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In other news, a whole host of CMBO naturalists report the following from this morning's tour of Belleplain State Forest: "...Lots of bird activity at times. New FOS for many including Great Crested Flycatcher, Northern Parula, Prairie, Prothonotary, Worm-eating, and Hooded, either seen or heard or both. Baltimore and Orchard Orioles both put on a good show as did the Summer and Scarlet Tanagers."
- Karl, (Jim, Judy, Tom, Bert, Patty, Jim Waldie, and leader Emeritus Bill Glaser)
---
Additionally, Janet Crawford reports the following from Wednesday morning's walk at Peaslee WMA, which tallied 50 species: "...First Ave. was amazingly birdy. We had good looks at American Redstart, Northern Parula, Prairie Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo and Ovenbird. There were a pair of Wood Ducks on Tarkiln Pond."
---
Pictures and list from this morning's Belleplain walk included below:
Location: Belleplain State Forest
Observation date: 4/30/09
Notes: CMBO Trip-JA,K,J,T,BH,PR,JW,BG+8.Ptlysun,55,NE5.
Number of species: 51
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 3
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Killdeer 1 heard only
Laughing Gull 4
Herring Gull 4
Mourning Dove 6
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 1 heard only
Eastern Phoebe 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
White-eyed Vireo 3
Blue-headed Vireo 1 heard only
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 5
Fish Crow 3
Tree Swallow 3
Carolina Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6
Eastern Bluebird 1
American Robin 1
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 6
Northern Parula 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Yellow-throated Warbler 5
Pine Warbler 3 heard only
Prairie Warbler 6
Black-and-white Warbler 2
Prothonotary Warbler 1 /p
Worm-eating Warbler 2 /p
Ovenbird 15
Louisiana Waterthrush 3 heard only
Hooded Warbler 3 heard only
Summer Tanager 1 female
Scarlet Tanager 1 male
Chipping Sparrow 3
Field Sparrow 1 heard only
White-throated Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 15
Brown-headed Cowbird 8
Orchard Oriole 3
Baltimore Oriole 2
American Goldfinch 5
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
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In other news, a whole host of CMBO naturalists report the following from this morning's tour of Belleplain State Forest: "...Lots of bird activity at times. New FOS for many including Great Crested Flycatcher, Northern Parula, Prairie, Prothonotary, Worm-eating, and Hooded, either seen or heard or both. Baltimore and Orchard Orioles both put on a good show as did the Summer and Scarlet Tanagers."
- Karl, (Jim, Judy, Tom, Bert, Patty, Jim Waldie, and leader Emeritus Bill Glaser)
---
Additionally, Janet Crawford reports the following from Wednesday morning's walk at Peaslee WMA, which tallied 50 species: "...First Ave. was amazingly birdy. We had good looks at American Redstart, Northern Parula, Prairie Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo and Ovenbird. There were a pair of Wood Ducks on Tarkiln Pond."
---
Pictures and list from this morning's Belleplain walk included below:
[Orchard Oriole (left) and Worm-eating Warbler (right)]
Location: Belleplain State Forest
Observation date: 4/30/09
Notes: CMBO Trip-JA,K,J,T,BH,PR,JW,BG+8.Ptlysun,55,NE5.
Number of species: 51
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 3
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Killdeer 1 heard only
Laughing Gull 4
Herring Gull 4
Mourning Dove 6
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 1 heard only
Eastern Phoebe 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
White-eyed Vireo 3
Blue-headed Vireo 1 heard only
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 5
Fish Crow 3
Tree Swallow 3
Carolina Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6
Eastern Bluebird 1
American Robin 1
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 6
Northern Parula 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Yellow-throated Warbler 5
Pine Warbler 3 heard only
Prairie Warbler 6
Black-and-white Warbler 2
Prothonotary Warbler 1 /p
Worm-eating Warbler 2 /p
Ovenbird 15
Louisiana Waterthrush 3 heard only
Hooded Warbler 3 heard only
Summer Tanager 1 female
Scarlet Tanager 1 male
Chipping Sparrow 3
Field Sparrow 1 heard only
White-throated Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 15
Brown-headed Cowbird 8
Orchard Oriole 3
Baltimore Oriole 2
American Goldfinch 5
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Say's Phoebe at Cove Pool / 2nd Avenue Jetty Area
UPDATE: Karl Lukens reports that the Say's Phoebe is currently feeding in the dunes at the end of the boardwalk at Mt. Vernon Avenue, as of 12:15pm.
---
(10:30am) - Bob Fogg just called to say that a SAY'S PHOEBE was found this morning at Cove Pool (the very east side of the Meadows/Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge), seen from the boardwalk at the end of Mount Vernon Avenue. The following directions from Bill Boyle are right on the money:"From the traffic light at Sunset and Broadway in West Cape May, continue on south on Broadway to Mt. Vernon (3 blocks) and turn right. Go two blocks to the end of Mt. Vernon and
scan for the bird from the boardwalk."
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Cape May Point on a Windy Wednesday Morning
"CMBO Walk at Cape May Point...Before we left the parking lot we had a male Blue Grosbeak in the scope. Also had Killdeer, and Rough-winged, Tree, and Barn Swallows before we started walking. Other Highlights were an Osprey catching a very large perch in Lily Lake, and by luck we found a Red-headed Woodpecker in a tree while trying, successfully, to find a Green Heron in a tree!"
-Karl (Warren, Tom)
Location: Cape May Point
Observation date: 4/29/09
Notes: CMBO Trip-K,T,WC,+4.Cldy,Poss rain,55,NE16.
Number of species: 53
Canada Goose 6
Mute Swan 4
Mallard 5
Northern Gannet 6
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 1
Green Heron 1
Glossy Ibis 3
Turkey Vulture 7
Osprey 6
Northern Harrier 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot 2
Killdeer 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Laughing Gull 15
Ring-billed Gull 4
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 3
Forster's Tern 8
Rock Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 5
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Eastern Kingbird 1
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 3
Purple Martin 15
Tree Swallow 10
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 15
Barn Swallow 4
Carolina Chickadee 2
American Robin 25
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 6
Yellow-rumped Warbler 10
Common Yellowthroat 3
Eastern Towhee 3
Chipping Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 4
Northern Cardinal 8
Blue Grosbeak 1 /p
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 20
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 7
House Sparrow 5
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
-Karl (Warren, Tom)
Location: Cape May Point
Observation date: 4/29/09
Notes: CMBO Trip-K,T,WC,+4.Cldy,Poss rain,55,NE16.
Number of species: 53
Canada Goose 6
Mute Swan 4
Mallard 5
Northern Gannet 6
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 1
Green Heron 1
Glossy Ibis 3
Turkey Vulture 7
Osprey 6
Northern Harrier 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot 2
Killdeer 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Laughing Gull 15
Ring-billed Gull 4
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 3
Forster's Tern 8
Rock Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 5
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Eastern Kingbird 1
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 3
Purple Martin 15
Tree Swallow 10
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 15
Barn Swallow 4
Carolina Chickadee 2
American Robin 25
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 6
Yellow-rumped Warbler 10
Common Yellowthroat 3
Eastern Towhee 3
Chipping Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 4
Northern Cardinal 8
Blue Grosbeak 1 /p
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 20
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 7
House Sparrow 5
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Black-necked Stilt at the Meadows
The Black-necked Stilt pictured above was standing in the plover pond between the Meadows and the State Park this morning. (Greater Yellowlegs on the left.) The cold front that passed through this morning may have pushed some of these shorebirds down as they were migrating.
There were also over a dozen Eastern Willets, 40 Forster's Terns and 1 Common Tern sitting amongst the Ring-billed, Laughing and Great-black Backed Gulls in the SE corner. 
The Common Tern is the second bird in from the left. Notice the darker bare parts, dark outer primaries and greyer chest.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Belleplain: Tanagers, Acadian Flycatcher Return
Janet Crawford checked in with this summary of the morning's "Hidden Corners" adventure in Belleplain:
"CMBO Hidden Corners of Belleplain walk - Highlights included good looks at Hooded Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Scarlet and Summer Tanagers, White-eyed Vireo, Baltimore and Orchard Orioles and Eastern Kingbird. The Acadian Flycatcher is back at the Campground intersection."
Location: Belleplain State Forest
Observation date: 4/28/09
Number of species: 54
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Killdeer 2
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Laughing Gull 31
Herring Gull 15
Mourning Dove 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 7
Northern Flicker 1
Acadian Flycatcher 2
Eastern Phoebe 3
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Eastern Kingbird 4
White-eyed Vireo 10
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 17
American Crow 6
Fish Crow 6
Barn Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 9
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 14
Wood Thrush 11
American Robin 15
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 3
Blue-winged Warbler 3
Northern Parula 2
Yellow-throated Warbler 7
Pine Warbler 4
Prairie Warbler 5
Black-and-white Warbler 6
Prothonotary Warbler 1
Worm-eating Warbler 5
Ovenbird 10
Louisiana Waterthrush 2
Hooded Warbler 4
Summer Tanager 1
Scarlet Tanager 2
Eastern Towhee 11
Chipping Sparrow 9
Field Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 6
Northern Cardinal 8
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Common Grackle 12
Brown-headed Cowbird 8
Orchard Oriole 2
Baltimore Oriole 2
American Goldfinch 4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
"CMBO Hidden Corners of Belleplain walk - Highlights included good looks at Hooded Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Scarlet and Summer Tanagers, White-eyed Vireo, Baltimore and Orchard Orioles and Eastern Kingbird. The Acadian Flycatcher is back at the Campground intersection."
Location: Belleplain State Forest
Observation date: 4/28/09
Number of species: 54
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Killdeer 2
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Laughing Gull 31
Herring Gull 15
Mourning Dove 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 7
Northern Flicker 1
Acadian Flycatcher 2
Eastern Phoebe 3
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Eastern Kingbird 4
White-eyed Vireo 10
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 17
American Crow 6
Fish Crow 6
Barn Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 9
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 14
Wood Thrush 11
American Robin 15
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 3
Blue-winged Warbler 3
Northern Parula 2
Yellow-throated Warbler 7
Pine Warbler 4
Prairie Warbler 5
Black-and-white Warbler 6
Prothonotary Warbler 1
Worm-eating Warbler 5
Ovenbird 10
Louisiana Waterthrush 2
Hooded Warbler 4
Summer Tanager 1
Scarlet Tanager 2
Eastern Towhee 11
Chipping Sparrow 9
Field Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 6
Northern Cardinal 8
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Common Grackle 12
Brown-headed Cowbird 8
Orchard Oriole 2
Baltimore Oriole 2
American Goldfinch 4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Mississippi Kite over Goshen
Dale Rosselet had a Mississippi Kite circling over a field off Route 47 this morning ~10:30AM. The bird was 1 mile south of the CRE building in Goshen.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Weekend Highlights from Belleplain
The following just in:
"Saturday Morning Belleplain Walk was an enjoyable time for all. Many birds were First of Seasons for many, including a Hooded Warbler which everyone in the group saw! Not a common feat. Other highlights include an Orchard Oriole at Vine St., and a Common Loon that flew by the Triangle and Called!! Karen Johnson, B.J. Pinnock, Shaun Bamford, and David Lord."
Location: Belleplain State Forest
Observation date: 4/25/09
Notes: CMBO Belleplain Walk. KJ,SB,BJ.P,DL.
Number of species: 58
Canada Goose 3
Wild Turkey 2
Common Loon 3 Fly Bys. One Called!
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 8
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Laughing Gull 16
Ring-billed Gull 5
Herring Gull 7
Mourning Dove 18
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 3
Eastern Phoebe 4
Eastern Kingbird 2
White-eyed Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 7
American Crow 5
Fish Crow 6
Tree Swallow 11
Barn Swallow 3
Carolina Chickadee 12
Tufted Titmouse 9
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 13
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5
Wood Thrush 2 FOS
American Robin 22
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 2
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 25
Blue-winged Warbler 3 FOS
Yellow-rumped Warbler 13
Yellow-throated Warbler 6
Pine Warbler 4
Prairie Warbler 6
Black-and-white Warbler 6
Worm-eating Warbler 2 FOS
Ovenbird 10
Louisiana Waterthrush 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Hooded Warbler 2 FOS. All 14 Participants saw this bird!!
Eastern Towhee 4
Chipping Sparrow 9
Field Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 8
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 15
Observation date: 4/25/09
Notes: CMBO Belleplain Walk. KJ,SB,BJ.P,DL.
Number of species: 58
Canada Goose 3
Wild Turkey 2
Common Loon 3 Fly Bys. One Called!
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 8
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Laughing Gull 16
Ring-billed Gull 5
Herring Gull 7
Mourning Dove 18
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 3
Eastern Phoebe 4
Eastern Kingbird 2
White-eyed Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 7
American Crow 5
Fish Crow 6
Tree Swallow 11
Barn Swallow 3
Carolina Chickadee 12
Tufted Titmouse 9
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 13
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5
Wood Thrush 2 FOS
American Robin 22
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 2
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 25
Blue-winged Warbler 3 FOS
Yellow-rumped Warbler 13
Yellow-throated Warbler 6
Pine Warbler 4
Prairie Warbler 6
Black-and-white Warbler 6
Worm-eating Warbler 2 FOS
Ovenbird 10
Louisiana Waterthrush 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Hooded Warbler 2 FOS. All 14 Participants saw this bird!!
Eastern Towhee 4
Chipping Sparrow 9
Field Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 8
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 15
Eastern Meadowlark 1
Common Grackle 12
Brown-headed Cowbird 18
Orchard Oriole 1
American Goldfinch 2
-----------------
Common Grackle 12
Brown-headed Cowbird 18
Orchard Oriole 1
American Goldfinch 2
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"Sunday's "Bird Butterflies and Botany of Belleplain included a Blue Corpreal Dragonfly just turning blue, another Blue Gray Gnatcatcher nest on Tom Field Road, and some Henry's Elfins duking it out also on Tom Field Road. Another first of Spring butterfly sighting was a Female Tiger Swallowtail by Lake Nummy. Will Kerling and Dave Lord led."
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Cerulean Warbler, Red-headed Woodpeckers
This Cerulean Warbler was amongst a mixed flock of migrants at Higbee Beach this morning including Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-winged Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler and Northern Parula. Not long afterwards, this Barred Owl flew across the field and landed out in the open while searching the ground for some food.After birding Higbee Beach, a walk around the State Park turned up this fly-by Red-headed Woodpecker!
There was also a Red-headed Woodpecker at Bellplain State Park this evening hawking insects from the top of a dead snag.
Sunday Morning at Ponderlodge/Villas WMA
[American Kestrel (left) and Green Heron (right), photographed by Karl Lukens during this morning's CMBO walk.]
Chuck & Mary Jane Slugg report the following from this morning's walk at Ponderlodge/Villas WMA, which in addition to the birds photographed above, was also highlighted by newly-arrived Great Crested Flycatchers and two Red-headed Woodpeckers.
Location: Villas WMA
Observation date: 4/26/09
Notes: A very large group at Villas WMA this morning enjoyed a variety of birds; red-headed woodpecker, little blue heron, and green heron were life birds for some.
Number of species: 43
Canada Goose 4
Wood Duck 2
Mallard 6
Common Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant 15
Little Blue Heron 1
Green Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 1
American Kestrel 1
Merlin 1
Laughing Gull 10
Mourning Dove 5
Red-headed Woodpecker 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 8
Downy Woodpecker 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Blue Jay 6
American Crow 20
Fish Crow 12
Purple Martin 2
Tree Swallow 10
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 4
Carolina Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 8
Red-breasted Nuthatch 3
Carolina Wren 7
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Eastern Bluebird 12
American Robin 15
European Starling 20
Yellow Warbler 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 20
Prairie Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 5
Common Yellowthroat 4
Chipping Sparrow 10
Field Sparrow 6
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Common Grackle 8
Brown-headed Cowbird 4
American Goldfinch 1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Beanery, State Park Walk Results
CMBO Walk - Test Drive Optics at the Rea Farm (Beanery). Beautiful weather and lots of birds, many of which were First Of Year (FOY) for many in the group. We had fly over Common Loons and DC Cormorants, a Merlin, a Red-tail, Ospreys, and two Great Horned Owls in the scope! Also had Great, Snowy, and Cattle Egrets as well as a fly-over Green Heron. Passerines included Eastern Kingbird, Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireos,and Yellow and Black and White Warblers. An Eastern Meadowlark sitting up in the sun in the scope was also a treat. Almost forgot the bright male Blue Grosbeak was also a hit with the crowd!
Karl, (Chuck, Mary Jane, Warren)
Location: The Beanery
Observation date: 4/25/09
Notes: CMBO Trip-K,C&MJ,WC,+15.Clr,58,W5. 4 FOY birds for KL
Number of species: 54
Canada Goose 10
Mallard 6
Common Loon 6
Double-crested Cormorant 250
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 2
Cattle Egret 5
Green Heron 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 6
Glossy Ibis 12
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 4
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Merlin 1
Killdeer 2
Solitary Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Laughing Gull 10
Herring Gull 10
Rock Pigeon 3
Mourning Dove 6
Great Horned Owl 2 perched!
Chimney Swift 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Kingbird 2
Blue-headed Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 10
Tree Swallow 1
Tufted Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 8
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
Eastern Bluebird 3
American Robin 1
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 6
Yellow Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 9
Black-and-white Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 4
Savannah Sparrow 8
White-throated Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 10
Blue Grosbeak 1
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Eastern Meadowlark 2
Common Grackle 8
Brown-headed Cowbird 10
American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 1
Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 4/25/09
Notes: The Indigo Bunting was a life bird for some participants on the Walk for All People.
Number of species: 41
Canada Goose 8
Mute Swan 10
Mallard 8
Blue-winged Teal 2
scoter sp. 25
Red-throated Loon 1
Common Loon 1
Northern Gannet 25
Double-crested Cormorant 150
Great Egret 3
Turkey Vulture 3
Osprey 6
Piping Plover 10
Killdeer 2
American Oystercatcher 6
Laughing Gull 20
Herring Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Forster's Tern 15
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 6
Fish Crow 10
Purple Martin 20
Tree Swallow 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee 8
Carolina Wren 6
American Robin 25
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler 6
Eastern Towhee 2
White-throated Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 2
Blue Grosbeak 1
Red-winged Blackbird 12
Common Grackle 12
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
House Sparrow 2
Karl, (Chuck, Mary Jane, Warren)
Location: The Beanery
Observation date: 4/25/09
Notes: CMBO Trip-K,C&MJ,WC,+15.Clr,58,W5. 4 FOY birds for KL
Number of species: 54
Canada Goose 10
Mallard 6
Common Loon 6
Double-crested Cormorant 250
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 2
Cattle Egret 5
Green Heron 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 6
Glossy Ibis 12
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 4
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Merlin 1
Killdeer 2
Solitary Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Laughing Gull 10
Herring Gull 10
Rock Pigeon 3
Mourning Dove 6
Great Horned Owl 2 perched!
Chimney Swift 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Kingbird 2
Blue-headed Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 10
Tree Swallow 1
Tufted Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 8
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
Eastern Bluebird 3
American Robin 1
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 6
Yellow Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 9
Black-and-white Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 4
Savannah Sparrow 8
White-throated Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 10
Blue Grosbeak 1
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Eastern Meadowlark 2
Common Grackle 8
Brown-headed Cowbird 10
American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 1
Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 4/25/09
Notes: The Indigo Bunting was a life bird for some participants on the Walk for All People.
Number of species: 41
Canada Goose 8
Mute Swan 10
Mallard 8
Blue-winged Teal 2
scoter sp. 25
Red-throated Loon 1
Common Loon 1
Northern Gannet 25
Double-crested Cormorant 150
Great Egret 3
Turkey Vulture 3
Osprey 6
Piping Plover 10
Killdeer 2
American Oystercatcher 6
Laughing Gull 20
Herring Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Forster's Tern 15
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 6
Fish Crow 10
Purple Martin 20
Tree Swallow 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee 8
Carolina Wren 6
American Robin 25
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler 6
Eastern Towhee 2
White-throated Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 2
Blue Grosbeak 1
Red-winged Blackbird 12
Common Grackle 12
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
House Sparrow 2
Friday, April 24, 2009
CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - FRIDAY, APRIL 24 2009
Hotline: Cape May Birding Hotline
To Report: call (609) 884-2736, or email sightigns AT birdcapemay.org.
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland and southern Atlantic Counties , NJ
Compilers: David Lord and Don Freiday, Cape May Bird Observatory
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, April 24, 2009. Highlights this week include sightings of SWALLOW-TAILED KITE, YELLOW RAIL, SHORT-EARED OWL, CATTLE EGRET, and southern NJ first of spring arrivals of OVENBIRD, YELLOW WARBLER, NORTHERN PARULA, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, EASTERN KINGBIRD, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, RED-EYED VIREO, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, ORCHARD ORIOLE, HOUSE WREN, WHITE-EYED VIREO, BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, WHIMBREL, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, AMERICAN REDSTART, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, INDIGO BUNTING, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, WORM-EATING WARBLER, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, and BLACK SKIMMER.
A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was seen Thursday, April 23 over the Beanery and Friday, April 24 over Cape May Point State Park.
2 YELLOW RAILS have been heard at Turkey Point, Cumberland County this week, most recently around 1:30 a.m. on Friday, April 24, 2009 just past the "dog leg."
A lingering SHORT-EARED OWL was seen at Jake's Landing Road on Saturday, April 18, 2009.
CATTLE EGRET sightings include up to 4 in the vicinity of Bayshore Road and Stevens Street near the Beanery on Cape Island on Thursday, April 23 2009. A large egret roost has been forming at the Beanery every evening in recent days. The two SNOW GEESE are still present along Stevens Street through Friday, April 24 2009.
OVENBIRD arrived at Belleplain Sate Forest on Friday April 17, 2009. Other sightings from Belleplain include YELLOW WARBLER, NORTHERN PARULA, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, and EASTERN KINGBIRD on Saturday, April 18, 2009, and BROAD-WINGED HAWK and AMERICAN REDSTART on Tuesday, April 21, 2009.
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER and WHITE-EYED VIREO arrived at Higbee Beach on Friday, April 17, 2009.
A RED-EYED VIREO was seen at the Cape May Point State on Saturday, April 18, 2009, part of a good flight there. Other State Park birds ON Saturday included BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, HOUSE WREN, INDIGO BUNTING and BALTIMORE ORIOLE.
ORCHARD ORIOLE arrived in Goshen and Cape May on Tuesday, April 21 2009.
Eight WHIMBREL were seen on Nummy Island on Saturday, April 18, 2009.
A ROSE BREASTED GROSBEAK was seen at a feeder along Sea Grove Ave. in Cape May Point on Wednesday, April 22, 2009.
An INDIGO BUNTING and a WORM-EATING WARBLER were found in Belleplain Sate Forest on Wednesday, April, 22, 2009.
A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was seen at the Coral Ave. Dune Crossing in Cape May Point on Wednesday, April 22, 2009.
A BLACK SKIMMER was seen at Jakes Landing Road on Saturday April 18, 2009.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
******Due to a staffing shortfall, Cape May Bird Observatory's Center for Research and Education on Route 47 north of Goshen will be closed to the public effective April 11, 2009. The grounds and gardens will remain open to the public. CMBO's Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open daily, 9:30am to 4:30pm.******
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!
To Report: call (609) 884-2736, or email sightigns AT birdcapemay.org.
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland and southern Atlantic Counties , NJ
Compilers: David Lord and Don Freiday, Cape May Bird Observatory
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, April 24, 2009. Highlights this week include sightings of SWALLOW-TAILED KITE, YELLOW RAIL, SHORT-EARED OWL, CATTLE EGRET, and southern NJ first of spring arrivals of OVENBIRD, YELLOW WARBLER, NORTHERN PARULA, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, EASTERN KINGBIRD, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, RED-EYED VIREO, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, ORCHARD ORIOLE, HOUSE WREN, WHITE-EYED VIREO, BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, WHIMBREL, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, AMERICAN REDSTART, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, INDIGO BUNTING, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, WORM-EATING WARBLER, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, and BLACK SKIMMER.
A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was seen Thursday, April 23 over the Beanery and Friday, April 24 over Cape May Point State Park.
2 YELLOW RAILS have been heard at Turkey Point, Cumberland County this week, most recently around 1:30 a.m. on Friday, April 24, 2009 just past the "dog leg."
A lingering SHORT-EARED OWL was seen at Jake's Landing Road on Saturday, April 18, 2009.
CATTLE EGRET sightings include up to 4 in the vicinity of Bayshore Road and Stevens Street near the Beanery on Cape Island on Thursday, April 23 2009. A large egret roost has been forming at the Beanery every evening in recent days. The two SNOW GEESE are still present along Stevens Street through Friday, April 24 2009.
OVENBIRD arrived at Belleplain Sate Forest on Friday April 17, 2009. Other sightings from Belleplain include YELLOW WARBLER, NORTHERN PARULA, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, and EASTERN KINGBIRD on Saturday, April 18, 2009, and BROAD-WINGED HAWK and AMERICAN REDSTART on Tuesday, April 21, 2009.
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER and WHITE-EYED VIREO arrived at Higbee Beach on Friday, April 17, 2009.
A RED-EYED VIREO was seen at the Cape May Point State on Saturday, April 18, 2009, part of a good flight there. Other State Park birds ON Saturday included BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, HOUSE WREN, INDIGO BUNTING and BALTIMORE ORIOLE.
ORCHARD ORIOLE arrived in Goshen and Cape May on Tuesday, April 21 2009.
Eight WHIMBREL were seen on Nummy Island on Saturday, April 18, 2009.
A ROSE BREASTED GROSBEAK was seen at a feeder along Sea Grove Ave. in Cape May Point on Wednesday, April 22, 2009.
An INDIGO BUNTING and a WORM-EATING WARBLER were found in Belleplain Sate Forest on Wednesday, April, 22, 2009.
A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was seen at the Coral Ave. Dune Crossing in Cape May Point on Wednesday, April 22, 2009.
A BLACK SKIMMER was seen at Jakes Landing Road on Saturday April 18, 2009.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
******Due to a staffing shortfall, Cape May Bird Observatory's Center for Research and Education on Route 47 north of Goshen will be closed to the public effective April 11, 2009. The grounds and gardens will remain open to the public. CMBO's Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open daily, 9:30am to 4:30pm.******
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!
Swallow-tailed RE-redux, Higbee walk
Apparently all you have to do to see a Swallow-tailed Kite in Cape May is stand next to Mark Garland, whose group had one AGAIN this morning over the state park.
CMBO's Higbee walk this morning featured nice looks at territorial White-eyed Vireos and a Barred Owl that flew right in front of the group along the cedar-lined path that heads south towards "catbird corner" next to the tower field. We also had nice looks at Black-and-white Warbler, glimpsed several Blue-headed Vireos, and heard an Indigo Bunting flying over. The Common Yellowthroat that sings two-noted phrases "witchy-witchy-witchy-witchy-witchy" is back again this year, or one with his song, near catbird corner. A nice little flight of herons was underway this morning, too. The full list is below.
Bob Fogg just poked his head in and mentioned he had a Blue-winged Warbler at the south end of the third field at Higbee, and a Northern Waterthrush at Davey's Lake.
Location: Higbee Beach
Observation date: 4/24/09
Notes: CMB0 Friday walk. Pine Warbler heard before walk.
Number of species: 53
Canada Goose 1
Mute Swan 2
Mallard 2
Double-crested Cormorant 75
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 5
Snowy Egret 10
Glossy Ibis 3
Northern Harrier 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestrel 1
Black-bellied Plover 1
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Willet 1
Laughing Gull 20
Herring Gull 10
Mourning Dove 5
Barred Owl 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 5
White-eyed Vireo 3
Blue-headed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 5
Fish Crow 20
Carolina Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 10
Carolina Wren 20
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5
Hermit Thrush 2
American Robin 5
Gray Catbird 1
Brown Thrasher 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler 10
Pine Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 2
Ovenbird 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Eastern Towhee 5
Chipping Sparrow 2
Field Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 10
Northern Cardinal 10
Indigo Bunting 1
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 15
Brown-headed Cowbird 25
American Goldfinch 10
CMBO's Higbee walk this morning featured nice looks at territorial White-eyed Vireos and a Barred Owl that flew right in front of the group along the cedar-lined path that heads south towards "catbird corner" next to the tower field. We also had nice looks at Black-and-white Warbler, glimpsed several Blue-headed Vireos, and heard an Indigo Bunting flying over. The Common Yellowthroat that sings two-noted phrases "witchy-witchy-witchy-witchy-witchy" is back again this year, or one with his song, near catbird corner. A nice little flight of herons was underway this morning, too. The full list is below.
Bob Fogg just poked his head in and mentioned he had a Blue-winged Warbler at the south end of the third field at Higbee, and a Northern Waterthrush at Davey's Lake.
Location: Higbee Beach
Observation date: 4/24/09
Notes: CMB0 Friday walk. Pine Warbler heard before walk.
Number of species: 53
Canada Goose 1
Mute Swan 2
Mallard 2
Double-crested Cormorant 75
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 5
Snowy Egret 10
Glossy Ibis 3
Northern Harrier 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestrel 1
Black-bellied Plover 1
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Willet 1
Laughing Gull 20
Herring Gull 10
Mourning Dove 5
Barred Owl 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 5
White-eyed Vireo 3
Blue-headed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 5
Fish Crow 20
Carolina Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 10
Carolina Wren 20
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5
Hermit Thrush 2
American Robin 5
Gray Catbird 1
Brown Thrasher 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler 10
Pine Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 2
Ovenbird 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Eastern Towhee 5
Chipping Sparrow 2
Field Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 10
Northern Cardinal 10
Indigo Bunting 1
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 15
Brown-headed Cowbird 25
American Goldfinch 10
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Swallow-tailed Kite Redux, other reports
Mark Garland reports a Swallow-tailed Kite soaring over the Beanery in Cape May as I write this, a little before 3:00 p.m. If you go, watch for Cattle Egrets, there were 3 at the "pond" on the corner of Stevens Street and Bayshore this morning, and another in the field pond at the Beanery proper, with 30 Snowy Egrets.
Here's the word from Belleplain this morning: "CMBO Belleplain walk. Beautiful day but birds seemed not to be freely singing, just enough to make it interesting. Of course the Ovenbirds are in and were vocal. Also heard Louisiana Waterthrush in several areas, great looks at Yellow-throated Warbler and 2 Prothonotary, saw 1 Pine, and heard several Black and Whites. Two fly-over Bald Eagles, Red-tails, and a Broad-winged Hawk. - Karl Lukens"
My FOS Green Heron just flew over Route 47 near Goshen.
Here's the word from Belleplain this morning: "CMBO Belleplain walk. Beautiful day but birds seemed not to be freely singing, just enough to make it interesting. Of course the Ovenbirds are in and were vocal. Also heard Louisiana Waterthrush in several areas, great looks at Yellow-throated Warbler and 2 Prothonotary, saw 1 Pine, and heard several Black and Whites. Two fly-over Bald Eagles, Red-tails, and a Broad-winged Hawk. - Karl Lukens"
My FOS Green Heron just flew over Route 47 near Goshen.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Indigo Bunting, Worm-eating, Rosy-gros
[A bird to brighten the day: Karl Lukens photo'd this Rose-breasted Grosbeak at his feeders in Cape May Point this morning.]An Indigo Bunting was at Belleplain near the headquarters this morning, according to Janet Crawford, and Karen Johnson had a Worm-eating Warbler was along Tom Field Road, the sand road off Sunset near the bridge in Belleplain.
The CMBO walk at Cape May Point State Park also had an Indigo Bunting: "Damp, showery, and cool this morning for the CMBO Cape May Point Walk. Sea watching produced numerous close Gannets, as well as Black and Surf Scoters, and a couple of Red-throated Loons. A number of Dolphin were also in close. Several Osprey with fish, and numerous Barn and N. Rough-winged Swallows over Lily Lake. A Cattle Egret was found in the reeds at the juncture of Lighthouse Pond east and west, and a male Indigo Bunting was along the entrance Rd. to the State Park! A Rose-breasted Grosbeak was sighted after the walk at my driveway feeder on Sea Grove Ave.
- Karl (Warren, Tom)"
We also had a Rose-breasted Grosbeak here at the CRE feeders today.
I walked Cook's Beach Road this morning. This road, just north of the Cape May County Mosquito Commission Office's along Route 47, runs out to the bay and is a fine (though bumpy) alternative to Reed's Beach for viewing shorebirds, when they're in. Which they were not, not along the bay anyhow (I hear numbers like 4,000 about the shorebirds at Heislerville lately), but the road has other redeeming values. It's lousy with Seaside Sparrows and Clapper Rails, for one thing, and Willets, and Marsh Wrens out towards the end, and usually pocked with ibis and egrets, which it was. Both Merlin and Sharp-shinned Hawk flew by in (probable) migrating flights northward along the bay, and a White-eyed Vireo sang back at me everytime I imitated the "tschak" that starts the typical WEVI song.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Orchard Oriole in at Goshen
The chatter of an Orchard Oriole greeted me as I left the CMBO Center for Research and Education in Goshen late in the afternoon. It turned out to be an adult male. This species has already been reported this year in northern NJ, but this is the first one I've heard of in Cape May county.
[Reminder: CMBO CRE on Route 47 in Goshen is temporarily closed to the public except for special events. However, visitors are welcome to explore the grounds there.]
Thinking I would take advantage of a nice evening, I bicycled from my home on the sunny Delaware bayshore over to Stone Harbor. It was was a different world east of the Garden State Parkway, as it sometimes is, one encased in dense fog thanks to a stout onshore wind. The wind right now seems to be south-southwest and is forecast to stay southwest all night. Expect more migrants tomorrow, as David laPuma's birding forecast says, although unless a storm grounds them, new birds will be dispersed.
The new moon is not until Saturday, but there was an exceptionally high tide tonight thanks to the wind, and even in the fog shorebirds were evident along the Stone Harbor causeway and Nummy Island, primarily Greater Yellowlegs, Short-billed Dowitchers, Willets, Dunlin, and Black-bellied Plovers. I also heard one of the sharp-tailed sparrows give 2-3 flight calls on Nummy Island.
[Reminder: CMBO CRE on Route 47 in Goshen is temporarily closed to the public except for special events. However, visitors are welcome to explore the grounds there.]
Thinking I would take advantage of a nice evening, I bicycled from my home on the sunny Delaware bayshore over to Stone Harbor. It was was a different world east of the Garden State Parkway, as it sometimes is, one encased in dense fog thanks to a stout onshore wind. The wind right now seems to be south-southwest and is forecast to stay southwest all night. Expect more migrants tomorrow, as David laPuma's birding forecast says, although unless a storm grounds them, new birds will be dispersed.
The new moon is not until Saturday, but there was an exceptionally high tide tonight thanks to the wind, and even in the fog shorebirds were evident along the Stone Harbor causeway and Nummy Island, primarily Greater Yellowlegs, Short-billed Dowitchers, Willets, Dunlin, and Black-bellied Plovers. I also heard one of the sharp-tailed sparrows give 2-3 flight calls on Nummy Island.
BELLEPLAIN ARRIVALS
Janet Crawford reports a Broad-winged Hawk near the campground at Belleplain State Forest as well as American Redstart, male, on Cedar Bridge Road near the electric fence; both sightings this morning on CMBO's regularly scheduled Tuesday Morning Bird Walk.
We also received a report of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak coming to a feeder in Little Egg Harbor, courtesy of Cynthia Harter.
We also received a report of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak coming to a feeder in Little Egg Harbor, courtesy of Cynthia Harter.
Monday, April 20, 2009
The Meadows in Wind and Rain: 9 Snipe + interesting Red-winged behavior
This morning was a good gear-tester, raingear to be exact. Nine Wilson's Snipe provided the highlight for the CMBO meadows/TNC Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge walk when they flushed from the damp meadow east of the parking area, landed, and flushed again. Two Common Yellowthroats have arrived in the bayberry thicket along the dunes, and we saw 5 Piping Plovers and two pairs of American Oystercachers. Plenty of gannets were reasonably close offshore. The full list, somewhat meager thanks to the weather, is below.
We had an interesting observation involving a Red-winged Blackbird that hovered into the wind-driven rain, facing the group and displaying it's red epaulets persistently as we walked along the west path. I looked around to see what that was about, and found one of our participants had red gloves on! When she waved them, the blackbird responded again.
By mere virtue of their visibility, Red-winged Blackbirds make excellent subjects for behavior watching. On Saturday during a workshop we spent some time watching two male redwings square off when one crossed an obvious territorial boundary. They sang and flared epaulets continuously for about five minutes, only 3-4 feet apart, before the intruder gave way and went back to the center of his territory.
A few years ago I was driving a red Jeep Cherokee up the road into Sandy Hook (Monmouth County, NJ) and had one Red-winged Blackbird after another display at the Jeep as I passed, quite the case of super-stimulation!
Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 4/20/09
Notes: CMBO Monday walk; rain, wind NE 15-25
Number of species: 39
Brant (Atlantic) 1
Canada Goose 6
Mute Swan 28
Wood Duck 2
Gadwall 2
Mallard 10
dark-winged scoter sp. 50
Red-throated Loon 5
Northern Gannet 100
Double-crested Cormorant 10
Great Egret 2
Snowy Egret 1
Turkey Vulture 5
Osprey 5
American Coot 6
Piping Plover 5
American Oystercatcher 4
Sanderling 5
Wilson's Snipe 9
Laughing Gull 20
Herring Gull 50
Great Black-backed Gull 10
Forster's Tern 50
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 5
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 10
Tree Swallow 10
Barn Swallow 5
European Starling 5
Palm Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 2
Eastern Towhee 3
Savannah Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 1
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 15
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
House Sparrow 5
We had an interesting observation involving a Red-winged Blackbird that hovered into the wind-driven rain, facing the group and displaying it's red epaulets persistently as we walked along the west path. I looked around to see what that was about, and found one of our participants had red gloves on! When she waved them, the blackbird responded again.
By mere virtue of their visibility, Red-winged Blackbirds make excellent subjects for behavior watching. On Saturday during a workshop we spent some time watching two male redwings square off when one crossed an obvious territorial boundary. They sang and flared epaulets continuously for about five minutes, only 3-4 feet apart, before the intruder gave way and went back to the center of his territory.
A few years ago I was driving a red Jeep Cherokee up the road into Sandy Hook (Monmouth County, NJ) and had one Red-winged Blackbird after another display at the Jeep as I passed, quite the case of super-stimulation!
Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 4/20/09
Notes: CMBO Monday walk; rain, wind NE 15-25
Number of species: 39
Brant (Atlantic) 1
Canada Goose 6
Mute Swan 28
Wood Duck 2
Gadwall 2
Mallard 10
dark-winged scoter sp. 50
Red-throated Loon 5
Northern Gannet 100
Double-crested Cormorant 10
Great Egret 2
Snowy Egret 1
Turkey Vulture 5
Osprey 5
American Coot 6
Piping Plover 5
American Oystercatcher 4
Sanderling 5
Wilson's Snipe 9
Laughing Gull 20
Herring Gull 50
Great Black-backed Gull 10
Forster's Tern 50
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 5
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 10
Tree Swallow 10
Barn Swallow 5
European Starling 5
Palm Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 2
Eastern Towhee 3
Savannah Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 1
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 15
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
House Sparrow 5
Sunday, April 19, 2009
One of the best mid-April days of birding in Cape May. . .
[This Little Blue Heron entertained participants on CMBO's Sunday morning Villas WMA walk today. Photo by Karl Lukens]"One of the best mid-April days of birding in Cape May" is how yesterday morning (Saturday) was characterized by Vince Elia and others. Birds seen on Cape Island (primarily Cape May Point State Park and Higbee Beach) included Black-throated Green, Black-and-white, Palm, Yellow-throated and Prothonotary Warblers, Louisiana Waterthrush, Baltimore Oriole, Blue-headed, White-eyed and Red-eyed Vireo, and House Wren. I hear there was some volume behind this flight, in addition to diversity. Many of these birds were picked up later in the day on the afternoon CMBO walk.
CMBO's Cruisin' for Loons and Waterfowl Cruise also did well on Saturday, scoring among other things great looks at a Whimbrel, according to Kathy Horn. There is still room on the April 25 Loons and Shorebirds Cruise.
Today in Cape May was expectedly slower, although I did have my FOS Common Yellowthroat at the state park and there were plenty of waterbirds like ibis, cormorants and herons around. Each plover pond at the state park hosted a pair of Piping Plovers, and two Common Snipe twisted past. An Eastern Meadowlark in the grass at the state park parking lot was another highlight. The two Snow Geese are still along Stevens Street, today out amidst the vineyard.
At Beaver Swamp WMA yesterday we found 2 eaglets capable of flight in and around the nest there, as well as a nice mixed flock of migrants near the parking area including a Blue-headed Vireo and Palm Warblers.
Janet Crawford reports from the Heislerville field trip on Thursday: "Highlights of the Heislerville walk on 4/16 were 1100 Dunlin in various stages of molt, a Peregrine Falcon that sent the shorebirds into the air, 2 Bald Eagles, 1 adult and 1 immature, clouds of shorebirds across the Maurice River at Bivalve, a close Yellow-crowned Night Heron, 4 Northern Gannets and an Osprey with fish so big that she could barely fly being chased by a horde of gulls. The Osprey went down into the marsh, and her mate joined her for the feast." The next Heislerville trip is Thursday April , 2-4 p.m., and there should be piles of shorebirds by then.
Yellow Rails have been reported on the jerseybirds listserve as calling well after dark at Turkey Point, and should be listened for at other salt marsh locations, e.g. Jake's Landing.
CMBO's Cruisin' for Loons and Waterfowl Cruise also did well on Saturday, scoring among other things great looks at a Whimbrel, according to Kathy Horn. There is still room on the April 25 Loons and Shorebirds Cruise.
Today in Cape May was expectedly slower, although I did have my FOS Common Yellowthroat at the state park and there were plenty of waterbirds like ibis, cormorants and herons around. Each plover pond at the state park hosted a pair of Piping Plovers, and two Common Snipe twisted past. An Eastern Meadowlark in the grass at the state park parking lot was another highlight. The two Snow Geese are still along Stevens Street, today out amidst the vineyard.
At Beaver Swamp WMA yesterday we found 2 eaglets capable of flight in and around the nest there, as well as a nice mixed flock of migrants near the parking area including a Blue-headed Vireo and Palm Warblers.
Janet Crawford reports from the Heislerville field trip on Thursday: "Highlights of the Heislerville walk on 4/16 were 1100 Dunlin in various stages of molt, a Peregrine Falcon that sent the shorebirds into the air, 2 Bald Eagles, 1 adult and 1 immature, clouds of shorebirds across the Maurice River at Bivalve, a close Yellow-crowned Night Heron, 4 Northern Gannets and an Osprey with fish so big that she could barely fly being chased by a horde of gulls. The Osprey went down into the marsh, and her mate joined her for the feast." The next Heislerville trip is Thursday April , 2-4 p.m., and there should be piles of shorebirds by then.
Yellow Rails have been reported on the jerseybirds listserve as calling well after dark at Turkey Point, and should be listened for at other salt marsh locations, e.g. Jake's Landing.
[More entertainement from the Villas WMA walk today, this banded Merlin was seen eating a bird. Photo by Karl Lukens.]
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Saturday Notes: Whimbrel, Other Arrivals
In addition to the birds already noted at Belleplain, there was also a Yellow Warbler present this morning, as well as four Louisiana Waterthrushes and a Red-breasted Nuthatch.
Some time spent on the hawkwatch platform at Cape May Point State Park provided a nice snapshot of the day's migration, highlighted by a nearly continuous stream of northbound Double-crested Cormorants, as well as a few migrant raptors, including two Merlins and a Northern Harrier. A fellow birder reports that a Red-eyed Vireo was along the State Park trails this morning.
Nummy Island on a high tide provided at least eight Whimbrel on its south end, my first of the year. Also in the area were a single Great Cormorant and several small flocks of Short-billed Dowitchers.
A late-afternoon visit to Beaver Swamp WMA yielded two large Bald Eagle fledglings sitting atop the nest, five Wood Ducks, and a single Bank Swallow among numerous Purple Martins over the millpond. The swampy woods at the end of the walking dike here provided two male Prothonotary Warblers fighting over boundary lines, and a close-up look at a Yellow-throated Warbler.
Lastly, a dusk vigil at Jake's Landing produced some characteristic sounds of the season: calling Willets, singing Meadowlarks and buzzing Seaside Sparrows. Over 40 Black-crowned Night-Herons flew by shortly after sundown, a lingering Short-eared Owl made two distant, brief appearances, and a Wilson's Snipe shot out of the marsh at last light. A Whip-poor-will wouldn't shut up in the woods about halfway down the road on the way out.
FOS Belleplain Ovenbird, Eastern Kingbird
It looks like Michael O'Brien and Louise Zemaitis get the FOS (first-of-season) award for their Ovenbird at Belleplain State Forest yesterday (Friday). Karen Johnson, Dave Lord, Janet Crawford and others reported more Ovenbirds there today, as well as arriving Eastern Kingbird for that location (Eastern Kingbird was seen along New England Road in Cape May on Friday). Other Belleplain/Peaslee WMA birds this morning included Northern Parula, Blue-headed Vireo, and Prairie & Prothonotary Warblers.
Jake's Landing Road this morning had the usual multiple Pine and Yellow-throated Warblers, plus Red-breasted Nuthatch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, thrasher, towhee, and other early arrivers/singers. Two immature Bald Eagles and 4 pairs of Willets were out at the end of the road.
Jake's Landing Road this morning had the usual multiple Pine and Yellow-throated Warblers, plus Red-breasted Nuthatch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, thrasher, towhee, and other early arrivers/singers. Two immature Bald Eagles and 4 pairs of Willets were out at the end of the road.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Prairie Warbler, White-eyed Vireo + Reports from Here and There
This morning's CMBO Higbee Beach walk featured singing White-eyed Vireo and Prairie Warbler, both FOS for me and apparently Cape May County. Hooting like a Barred Owl yielded brief looks at a Black-and-white Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and some very interested Downy Woodpeckers, plus a real Barred Owl which responded from the Hidden Valley area to the east. A Field Sparrow obligingly ignored us as it sang teed-up in the tower field, all three mimids were detected, and a decent flight of Common Loons was underway. The full list from Higbee is below.
I understand from Karen Johnson, Janet Crawford, Karl Lukens et. al. that Black-and-white Warblers are solidly in in Belleplain, and three Louisiana Waterthrushes were at the Sunset Bridge yesterday.
The "Cape Island pair" of Bald Eagles soared over Lily Lake yesterday morning in the company of six Ospreys, a nice way to start the day for Northwood Center staff.
I hear the Snow Goose duo along Steven's Street/Bayshore Road continues, and puddles there this morning attracted long-legged waders including Snowy and Great Egrets and Glossy Ibis, not to mention Blue-winged Teal.
If I was you I'd go birding tomorrow, I suspect a bunch of new birds will settle into Belleplain, and Higbee could be good, too. The National Weather Service is calling for winds with a southerly component going west around midnight, with clear skies. Highs tomorrow will be well into the 60's.
Location: Higbee Beach
Observation date: 4/17/09
Notes: CMBO FRIDAY WALK
Number of species: 46
Mute Swan 1
Wood Duck 2
Mallard 2
Common Loon 20
Double-crested Cormorant 80
Laughing Gull 20
Herring Gull 10
Mourning Dove 15
Barred Owl 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 7
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
White-eyed Vireo 1 FOS
Blue Jay 10
American Crow 10
Fish Crow 2
Purple Martin 1
Carolina Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 10
Carolina Wren 20
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
Hermit Thrush 4
American Robin 5
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 2
Brown Thrasher 5
European Starling 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Prairie Warbler 1 FOS
Black-and-white Warbler 1 MY FOS
Eastern Towhee 5
Chipping Sparrow 1
Field Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 10
White-throated Sparrow 15
Dark-eyed Junco 5
Northern Cardinal 10
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Rusty Blackbird 2
Common Grackle 30
Brown-headed Cowbird 40
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 5
I understand from Karen Johnson, Janet Crawford, Karl Lukens et. al. that Black-and-white Warblers are solidly in in Belleplain, and three Louisiana Waterthrushes were at the Sunset Bridge yesterday.
The "Cape Island pair" of Bald Eagles soared over Lily Lake yesterday morning in the company of six Ospreys, a nice way to start the day for Northwood Center staff.
I hear the Snow Goose duo along Steven's Street/Bayshore Road continues, and puddles there this morning attracted long-legged waders including Snowy and Great Egrets and Glossy Ibis, not to mention Blue-winged Teal.
If I was you I'd go birding tomorrow, I suspect a bunch of new birds will settle into Belleplain, and Higbee could be good, too. The National Weather Service is calling for winds with a southerly component going west around midnight, with clear skies. Highs tomorrow will be well into the 60's.
Location: Higbee Beach
Observation date: 4/17/09
Notes: CMBO FRIDAY WALK
Number of species: 46
Mute Swan 1
Wood Duck 2
Mallard 2
Common Loon 20
Double-crested Cormorant 80
Laughing Gull 20
Herring Gull 10
Mourning Dove 15
Barred Owl 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 7
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
White-eyed Vireo 1 FOS
Blue Jay 10
American Crow 10
Fish Crow 2
Purple Martin 1
Carolina Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 10
Carolina Wren 20
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
Hermit Thrush 4
American Robin 5
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 2
Brown Thrasher 5
European Starling 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Prairie Warbler 1 FOS
Black-and-white Warbler 1 MY FOS
Eastern Towhee 5
Chipping Sparrow 1
Field Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 10
White-throated Sparrow 15
Dark-eyed Junco 5
Northern Cardinal 10
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Rusty Blackbird 2
Common Grackle 30
Brown-headed Cowbird 40
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 5
Thursday, April 16, 2009
CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - THURSDAY, APRIL 16 2009
Hotline: Cape May Birding Hotline
To Report: call (609) 884-2736, or email sightings AT birdcapemay.org
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland and southern Atlantic Counties , NJ
Compilers: David Lord and Don Freiday, Cape May Bird Observatory
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, April 16, 2009. Highlights this week include sightings of SWALLOW-TAILED KITE, PILEATED WOODPECKER, BLACK-HEADED GULL, ICELAND GULL, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, LITTLE BLUE HERON, GREEN HERON, and PROTHONATARY WARBLER.
A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was seen on Monday, April 13, 2009 at The Nature Conservancy's Cape Island Creek Preserve. At least 11 species of raptors, not including the vultures, were south of the Cape May Canal this day.
A PILEATED WOODPECKER was seen flying south near the junction of Bayshore Road and Stevens Street in Cape May on Friday, April 10, 2009.
Two BLACK-HEADED GULLS were seen at East Point Light, Cumberland County on Wednesday, April 15 2009.
A first cycle ICELAND GULL was seen at Stone Harbor Point on Saturday, April 11, 2009.
A BROAD-WINGED HAWK was seen at the South Cape May Meadows on Monday, April 13, 2009, an apparent first-of-season for Cape May County. An adult LITTLE BLUE HERON was also seen there on the same day. A GREEN HERON was recorded over a yard in Cape May on Saturday, April 11, another apparent arrival for Cape May County.
A returning PROTHONATARY WARBLER was seen in Dividing Creek in Cumberland County on Thursday, April 9, 2009.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
******Due to a staffing shortfall, Cape May Bird Observatorys Center for Research and Education on Route 47 north of Goshen will be closed to the public effective April 11, 2009. The grounds and gardens will remain open to the public. CMBO's Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open daily, 9:30am to 4:30pm.******
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!
To Report: call (609) 884-2736, or email sightings AT birdcapemay.org
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland and southern Atlantic Counties , NJ
Compilers: David Lord and Don Freiday, Cape May Bird Observatory
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, April 16, 2009. Highlights this week include sightings of SWALLOW-TAILED KITE, PILEATED WOODPECKER, BLACK-HEADED GULL, ICELAND GULL, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, LITTLE BLUE HERON, GREEN HERON, and PROTHONATARY WARBLER.
A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was seen on Monday, April 13, 2009 at The Nature Conservancy's Cape Island Creek Preserve. At least 11 species of raptors, not including the vultures, were south of the Cape May Canal this day.
A PILEATED WOODPECKER was seen flying south near the junction of Bayshore Road and Stevens Street in Cape May on Friday, April 10, 2009.
Two BLACK-HEADED GULLS were seen at East Point Light, Cumberland County on Wednesday, April 15 2009.
A first cycle ICELAND GULL was seen at Stone Harbor Point on Saturday, April 11, 2009.
A BROAD-WINGED HAWK was seen at the South Cape May Meadows on Monday, April 13, 2009, an apparent first-of-season for Cape May County. An adult LITTLE BLUE HERON was also seen there on the same day. A GREEN HERON was recorded over a yard in Cape May on Saturday, April 11, another apparent arrival for Cape May County.
A returning PROTHONATARY WARBLER was seen in Dividing Creek in Cumberland County on Thursday, April 9, 2009.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
******Due to a staffing shortfall, Cape May Bird Observatorys Center for Research and Education on Route 47 north of Goshen will be closed to the public effective April 11, 2009. The grounds and gardens will remain open to the public. CMBO's Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open daily, 9:30am to 4:30pm.******
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!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Vote to Improve Habitat at Villas WMA!
[Red-headed Woodpecker, a state-endangered species and one of Villas WMA's specialties, at a prospective nest hole there this spring. Photo by Karl Lukens.]The Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ has a $50,000 grant proposal in with Redwood Creek Wines to improve habitat at Villas WMA, and because it is a competetive program, you can help. Simply go to the Redwood Creek Wines Great Outdoors Project Web Site, log in and vote for the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ's proposal. You can vote multiple times, once a day, so go back often.
I've had a number of recent conversations with NJDFW Endangered and Nongame Species Program staff about management at Villas WMA, a.k.a the old Ponderlodge Golf Course. An excellent management plan is in place, and we've had discussions about how to tweak it to best advantage migratory birds and also Red-headed Woodpeckers. The woodpeckers require snags (standing dead trees) and open understory, and management for them will become part of the Villas plan.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Job Opportunities at Cape May Bird Observatory
New Jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird Observatory has two positions open in our bookstores:
1. Full-time Bookstore Naturalist (Sales Associate). Must have strong working knowledge of optics and birding as well as excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Experience with web-based sales a plus. Must be able to work weekends. Salary competitive and commensurate with experience. Full benefits including health and retirement plan. Send letter of introduction and resume to Brian Moscatello, Cape May Bird Observatory, P.O. Box 3, Cape May Point, NJ 08212 or e-mail brian.moscatello AT njaudubon.org.
2. Part-time (4 days/week) Bookstore Naturalist (Sales Associate). Must have familiarity with birds and birders, sales experience, excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Must be able to work weekends. Salary competitive and commensurate with experience. Benefits include paid holidays and vacation. Send letter of introduction and resume to Brian Moscatello, Cape May Bird Observatory, P.O. Box 3, Cape May Point, NJ 08212 or e-mail brian.moscatello At njaudubon.org.
Full descriptions of these positions are available on New Jersey Audubon Society's jobs page.
1. Full-time Bookstore Naturalist (Sales Associate). Must have strong working knowledge of optics and birding as well as excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Experience with web-based sales a plus. Must be able to work weekends. Salary competitive and commensurate with experience. Full benefits including health and retirement plan. Send letter of introduction and resume to Brian Moscatello, Cape May Bird Observatory, P.O. Box 3, Cape May Point, NJ 08212 or e-mail brian.moscatello AT njaudubon.org.
2. Part-time (4 days/week) Bookstore Naturalist (Sales Associate). Must have familiarity with birds and birders, sales experience, excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Must be able to work weekends. Salary competitive and commensurate with experience. Benefits include paid holidays and vacation. Send letter of introduction and resume to Brian Moscatello, Cape May Bird Observatory, P.O. Box 3, Cape May Point, NJ 08212 or e-mail brian.moscatello At njaudubon.org.
Full descriptions of these positions are available on New Jersey Audubon Society's jobs page.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Northwest Wind in the Meadows: Swallow-tailed Kite, other Raptors, Herons
I just got word that Jason Guerard had a Swallow-tailed Kite in Cape May around noon today, over TNC's Cape Island Preserve east of Broadway. There is vicarious pleasure from the sighting, at least, since we predicted that species this morning during CMBO's Meadows walk, given the northwest wind.
Even sans kite it was a good raptor day for CMBO's Monday walk. We wound up with 8 raptor species, not including the vultures, with two perched Merlins on the beach a highlight. The "local" adult Bald Eagle soared over as the walk concluded at 9:30 a.m.
An adult Little Blue Heron flew over, briefly circling a roosting group of Great and Snowy Egrets as if looking for one of its own kind before continuing north towards the Beanery. Little Blue has been reported since at least March 31 this year, but this bird became my FOS (First of Season).
The water at the Meadows is very high, so high there is little shorebird habitat to speak of, other than the flooded meadow edge from which a Wilson's Snipe flushed. Pairs of Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal posed nicely together, but few other ducks were evident. I carefully counted the Mute Swans and came up with 18, including multiple nests. I and others have wondered if TNC intends to address the numbers of this attractive but non-native and problematic species.
The full list is below from today's walk is below.
Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 4/13/09
Notes: CMBO's Monday Meadows Walk. Cooper's Hawk came immediately after walk ended.
Number of species: 64
Canada Goose 20
Mute Swan 18
Gadwall 2
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 1
Mallard 10
Blue-winged Teal 6
Green-winged Teal 2
dark-winged scoter sp. 2
Red-throated Loon 10
Common Loon 1
Northern Gannet 20
Double-crested Cormorant 100
Great Egret 10
Snowy Egret 3
Little Blue Heron 1
Glossy Ibis 2
Black Vulture 10
Turkey Vulture 10
Osprey 5
Bald Eagle 1
Northern Harrier 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 4
American Kestrel 1
Merlin 2
American Coot 7
Piping Plover 3
Sanderling 4
Wilson's Snipe 1
Laughing Gull 25
Ring-billed Gull 5
Herring Gull 20
Great Black-backed Gull 10
Forster's Tern 25
Rock Pigeon 10
Mourning Dove 5
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 10
Purple Martin 12
Tree Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee 2
Carolina Wren 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
American Robin 5
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 10
Yellow-rumped Warbler 10
Palm Warbler 5
Savannah Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 5
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 36
Common Grackle 70
Boat-tailed Grackle 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 25
House Finch 10
House Sparrow 10
Even sans kite it was a good raptor day for CMBO's Monday walk. We wound up with 8 raptor species, not including the vultures, with two perched Merlins on the beach a highlight. The "local" adult Bald Eagle soared over as the walk concluded at 9:30 a.m.
An adult Little Blue Heron flew over, briefly circling a roosting group of Great and Snowy Egrets as if looking for one of its own kind before continuing north towards the Beanery. Little Blue has been reported since at least March 31 this year, but this bird became my FOS (First of Season).
The water at the Meadows is very high, so high there is little shorebird habitat to speak of, other than the flooded meadow edge from which a Wilson's Snipe flushed. Pairs of Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal posed nicely together, but few other ducks were evident. I carefully counted the Mute Swans and came up with 18, including multiple nests. I and others have wondered if TNC intends to address the numbers of this attractive but non-native and problematic species.
The full list is below from today's walk is below.
Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 4/13/09
Notes: CMBO's Monday Meadows Walk. Cooper's Hawk came immediately after walk ended.
Number of species: 64
Canada Goose 20
Mute Swan 18
Gadwall 2
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 1
Mallard 10
Blue-winged Teal 6
Green-winged Teal 2
dark-winged scoter sp. 2
Red-throated Loon 10
Common Loon 1
Northern Gannet 20
Double-crested Cormorant 100
Great Egret 10
Snowy Egret 3
Little Blue Heron 1
Glossy Ibis 2
Black Vulture 10
Turkey Vulture 10
Osprey 5
Bald Eagle 1
Northern Harrier 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 4
American Kestrel 1
Merlin 2
American Coot 7
Piping Plover 3
Sanderling 4
Wilson's Snipe 1
Laughing Gull 25
Ring-billed Gull 5
Herring Gull 20
Great Black-backed Gull 10
Forster's Tern 25
Rock Pigeon 10
Mourning Dove 5
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 10
Purple Martin 12
Tree Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee 2
Carolina Wren 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
American Robin 5
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 10
Yellow-rumped Warbler 10
Palm Warbler 5
Savannah Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 5
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 36
Common Grackle 70
Boat-tailed Grackle 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 25
House Finch 10
House Sparrow 10
Belleplain Yellow-throateds, Pines, Palms, Cooper's hawks and Chorus Frogs
If you want to see Yellow-throated or Pine Warblers easily and well, just find either bird singing at Belleplain and try some gentle pishing. Doing just that yesterday while bicycling the forest I had five (!) Yellow-throated Warblers in view at once, at eye level, for a long time. Leaves are just starting to appear on some trees, so visibility is excellent.
For best results, try this off the beaten path where birder traffic is low, rather than at well known spots. Pine Warblers are anywhere there are a few pitch pine trees, while Yellow-throated Warblers prefer taller white pine plantings. Please DON'T pish at heavily birded sites, e.g. the triangle/Sunset Bridge area in Belleplain. Patience, not pishing, is all that is necessary at the bridge - we had great looks at two Yellow-throated Warblers feeding low along the stream there.
Four Palm Warblers, 20 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and displaying Cooper's Hawks were other highlights of a very windy bike ride in Belleplain. One of the Cooper's Hawks was over Lake Nummy, circling with slow, exagerated wingbeats and undertail coverts fanned, obviously a bird nesting nearby.
Be sure to pause a moment and enjoy the New Jersey Chorus Frogs trilling from the cattails near Belleplain Headquarters. Chorus Frogs sound like someone running a finger along a comb, while the Spring Peepers also vocalizing there give repeated short whistles.
For best results, try this off the beaten path where birder traffic is low, rather than at well known spots. Pine Warblers are anywhere there are a few pitch pine trees, while Yellow-throated Warblers prefer taller white pine plantings. Please DON'T pish at heavily birded sites, e.g. the triangle/Sunset Bridge area in Belleplain. Patience, not pishing, is all that is necessary at the bridge - we had great looks at two Yellow-throated Warblers feeding low along the stream there.
Four Palm Warblers, 20 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and displaying Cooper's Hawks were other highlights of a very windy bike ride in Belleplain. One of the Cooper's Hawks was over Lake Nummy, circling with slow, exagerated wingbeats and undertail coverts fanned, obviously a bird nesting nearby.
Be sure to pause a moment and enjoy the New Jersey Chorus Frogs trilling from the cattails near Belleplain Headquarters. Chorus Frogs sound like someone running a finger along a comb, while the Spring Peepers also vocalizing there give repeated short whistles.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Stone Harbor and Environs: Iceland Gull, Short-billed Dowitchers, Oystercatchers
A darkish first cycle Iceland Gull brightened the windy and rainy beach about half way down Stone Harbor Point this afternoon. At least 8 Piping Plovers were along the beach at Stone Harbor, and Purple Sandpipers were on the jetty there.
Short-billed Dowitchers are building in, with 20+ on the mud flats of Great Channel, and American Oystercatchers were up to 75+ there this afternoon. I saw a distant Willet in flight, as well, and several Osprey towers hosted soggy residents waiting out the rain. Dunlin are beginning to develop black bellies, and the yellowlegs I saw today were well-patterned too, though not to the point of full breeding plumage.
Short-billed Dowitchers are building in, with 20+ on the mud flats of Great Channel, and American Oystercatchers were up to 75+ there this afternoon. I saw a distant Willet in flight, as well, and several Osprey towers hosted soggy residents waiting out the rain. Dunlin are beginning to develop black bellies, and the yellowlegs I saw today were well-patterned too, though not to the point of full breeding plumage.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Pileated!
In a classic "It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a . . . holy guacamole!" incident, while driving north on Bayshore Road just south of Stevens Stret this afternoon I picked up a bird that didn't click. But it clicked fine when it was straight over my vehicle and not all that high and, well, it was a Pileated Woodpecker, long neck, white wing linings, red crest, and all. The Pileated continued south, probably passing over Paul Lehman's old house (the yard list record holder, but I don't think he had Pileated).
I quickly reached the Bird Observatory on the phone, as well as Bob Fogg, Michael O'Brien and Vince Elia, all of whom were within striking distance of the bird. Thus far it has not been re-located. The last time this happened (several years ago) the bird reappeared along Sea Grove, according to folks who've been in Cape May longer than I.
There are precious few Cape Island records for Pileated Woodpecker, most in May, and the bird is rare anywhere in Cape May County, although somewhat more likely in the northern part of the county.
I quickly reached the Bird Observatory on the phone, as well as Bob Fogg, Michael O'Brien and Vince Elia, all of whom were within striking distance of the bird. Thus far it has not been re-located. The last time this happened (several years ago) the bird reappeared along Sea Grove, according to folks who've been in Cape May longer than I.
There are precious few Cape Island records for Pileated Woodpecker, most in May, and the bird is rare anywhere in Cape May County, although somewhat more likely in the northern part of the county.
Higbee Walk Results, Notes from Around the County
Higbee Beach highlights this morning were two singing Winter Wrens in the woods east of the second field, at least a dozen Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers, 3 Rusty Blackbirds back by the pond, 6 Common Loons overhead, and two Sharp-shinned Hawks. I clicked Carolina Wrens today, and came up with 22. The full list is at the bottom of this post.
Yesterday's Belleplain walk had some excitement: "CMBO Walk at Belleplain. Nice morning with temps ranging from 31 to 60 degrees. Got the usual suspects for early in the season, i.e., Pine and Yellow-throated Warblers, a 1st spring female Hooded Warbler which was an interesting ID, and Louisiana Waterthrush. An interesting highlight occurred while watching a grassy plot with Robins and Chipping Sparrows. An adult Cooper's Hawk flashed in and grabbed a robin and then flew off to enjoy his prey. Turkey(s) were seen in three different areas. - Karl, Jim, Tom, Patty, Bert"
A Whip-poor-will was calling at Jake's Landing on Wednesday, according to Karen Johnson, and Marleen Murgitroyde reports there was another at Hidden Valley this morning. Two Short-eared Owl's remain at Jake's Landing. And the two Snow Geese lingering with Canadas along Steven's Street near the Beanery in Cape May seem poised to be the ones checked off in the coming World Series of Birding, which is May 9.
[Merlin, Villas WMA on Thursday, photo by Kevin P.Inman.]
[Northern Gannets streaming past Avalon on Thursday. . .left to right means headed south, obviously not birds ready to head for their nesting colonies yet. Photo by Kevin P. Inman.]
Location: Higbee Beach
Observation date: 4/10/09
Notes: CMBO Friday Higbee Walk
Number of species: 42
Canada Goose 5
Mallard 2
Common Loon 6
Double-crested Cormorant 110
Great Blue Heron 2
Snowy Egret 1
Osprey 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Laughing Gull 25
Herring Gull 2
Forster's Tern 1
Mourning Dove 20
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 8
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 3
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 10
Fish Crow 2
Tree Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee 15
Tufted Titmouse 5
Carolina Wren 22 actual count with clicker
Winter Wren 2 singing
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 12
Hermit Thrush 2
American Robin X
Gray Catbird 1
Brown Thrasher 6
Yellow-rumped Warbler 20
Eastern Towhee 8
Field Sparrow 8
Song Sparrow 5
White-throated Sparrow 25
Northern Cardinal 10
Red-winged Blackbird X
Rusty Blackbird 3
Common Grackle X
Brown-headed Cowbird 20
American Goldfinch 1
Yesterday's Belleplain walk had some excitement: "CMBO Walk at Belleplain. Nice morning with temps ranging from 31 to 60 degrees. Got the usual suspects for early in the season, i.e., Pine and Yellow-throated Warblers, a 1st spring female Hooded Warbler which was an interesting ID, and Louisiana Waterthrush. An interesting highlight occurred while watching a grassy plot with Robins and Chipping Sparrows. An adult Cooper's Hawk flashed in and grabbed a robin and then flew off to enjoy his prey. Turkey(s) were seen in three different areas. - Karl, Jim, Tom, Patty, Bert"
A Whip-poor-will was calling at Jake's Landing on Wednesday, according to Karen Johnson, and Marleen Murgitroyde reports there was another at Hidden Valley this morning. Two Short-eared Owl's remain at Jake's Landing. And the two Snow Geese lingering with Canadas along Steven's Street near the Beanery in Cape May seem poised to be the ones checked off in the coming World Series of Birding, which is May 9.
[Merlin, Villas WMA on Thursday, photo by Kevin P.Inman.]
[Northern Gannets streaming past Avalon on Thursday. . .left to right means headed south, obviously not birds ready to head for their nesting colonies yet. Photo by Kevin P. Inman.]
Location: Higbee Beach
Observation date: 4/10/09
Notes: CMBO Friday Higbee Walk
Number of species: 42
Canada Goose 5
Mallard 2
Common Loon 6
Double-crested Cormorant 110
Great Blue Heron 2
Snowy Egret 1
Osprey 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Laughing Gull 25
Herring Gull 2
Forster's Tern 1
Mourning Dove 20
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 8
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 3
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 10
Fish Crow 2
Tree Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee 15
Tufted Titmouse 5
Carolina Wren 22 actual count with clicker
Winter Wren 2 singing
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 12
Hermit Thrush 2
American Robin X
Gray Catbird 1
Brown Thrasher 6
Yellow-rumped Warbler 20
Eastern Towhee 8
Field Sparrow 8
Song Sparrow 5
White-throated Sparrow 25
Northern Cardinal 10
Red-winged Blackbird X
Rusty Blackbird 3
Common Grackle X
Brown-headed Cowbird 20
American Goldfinch 1
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Restoration at the Beanery: Us vs. Phragmites and Porcelain Berry
Last Friday, NJAS/CMBO volunteers and staff continued an ongoing habitat improvement project at the Rea Farm/Beanery by native planting trees and shrubs and removing porcelain berry and phragmites from a heavily infested section. The birding at one of Cape May's favorite spots (where the birding privileges are leased by NJAS for the benefit of our members and friends) will get a little better. There's now a new path on the edge of the woods, just please be mindful of walking in the newly planted areas.
[The "before" picture above, taken July 21, 2006, displays an area dominated by phragmites reed and choked by a dense growth of porcelain berry, both exotic invasive species. One of the Beanery's Prothonotary Warbler spots is in the wet woods to the left of where the maple tree is.]
[Above, after the work on Friday, April 3 2009. The phragmites had been sprayed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife program (a program to help private landowners) last year and mowed by landowner Les Rea. Much of the porcelain berry was also sprayed and removed. The new path runs along the edge of the woods left of the maple in this view, should be a good spot to look for Prothonotary Warbler, hummingbird and the like this spring and summer.]
NJAS Conservation Department staff made these projects happen. Special thanks are due to volunteers Janet Crawford, Michael O'Brien, and Louise Zemaitis for their help, as well as to Les Rea for his help and interest in improving the habitat on his farm.
CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - THURSDAY, APRIL 9 2009
Hotline: Cape May Birding Hotline
To Report: call (609) 884-2736, or emailsightings AT birdcapemay.org
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland and southern Atlantic Counties , NJ
Compilers: David Lord and Don Freiday, Cape May Bird Observatory
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, April 9, 2009. Highlights this week include sightings of BROWN PELICAN, 'IPSWICH' SAVANNAH SPARROW, SHORT-EARED-OWL, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, and reports of returning YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, CATTLE EGRET,SPOTTED SANDPIPER,SOLITARY SANDPIPER,LEAST SANDPIPER, WHIP-POOR-WILL,CHIMNEY SWIFT,RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, PURPLE MARTIN, CLIFF SWALLOW, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, and HOODED WARBLER, and an announcement about the closure of Cape May Bird Observatory's Center for Research and Education in Goshen.
An apparent first of season juvenile BROWN PELICAN was seen off Stone Harbor Point on Saturday, April 4, 2009. Also there the same day was an 'IPSWICH' SAVANNAH SPARROW.
2 SHORT-EARED OWLS continue at Jake's Landing through Wednesday, April 8 2009.
2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continue at Villas WMA through Sunday, April 5, 2009, along with 3 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, GOLDEN CROWNED KINGLETS and BROWN CREEPER.
Following are some apparent first-of-season reports from southern New Jersey this week:
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON - April 5, 2009 at Avalon.
CATTLE EGRET - April 6, 2009 at the Beanery/Rea Farm.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER - reported April 8, 2009 at Beaver Swamp WMA.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER - April 5, 2009 at the Beanery/Rea Farm.
LEAST SANDPIPER - April 4, 2009 at the South Cape May Meadows.
WHIP-POOR-WILL - April 8, 2009 at Jake's Landing Road.
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD - April 4, 2009 at Leesburg, Cumberland County.
PURPLE MARTIN - March 31, 2009 at Villas WMA, with scouts now throughout Cape May County, including several at nest colony in Goshen on Monday, April 6, 2009.
CLIFF SWALLOW - April 4, 2009 at the South Cape May Meadows.
BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER - April 6, 2009 in Cape May Court House.
HOODED WARBLER - April 8, 2009 at Belleplain State Forest at the campground intersection.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
******Due to a staffing shortfall, Cape May Bird Observatory's Center for Research and Education on Route 47 north of Goshen will be closed to the public effective April 11, 2009. The grounds and gardens will remain open to the public. CMBO's Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open daily in spring, 9:30am to 4:30pm.******
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!
To Report: call (609) 884-2736, or emailsightings AT birdcapemay.org
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland and southern Atlantic Counties , NJ
Compilers: David Lord and Don Freiday, Cape May Bird Observatory
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, April 9, 2009. Highlights this week include sightings of BROWN PELICAN, 'IPSWICH' SAVANNAH SPARROW, SHORT-EARED-OWL, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, and reports of returning YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, CATTLE EGRET,SPOTTED SANDPIPER,SOLITARY SANDPIPER,LEAST SANDPIPER, WHIP-POOR-WILL,CHIMNEY SWIFT,RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, PURPLE MARTIN, CLIFF SWALLOW, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, and HOODED WARBLER, and an announcement about the closure of Cape May Bird Observatory's Center for Research and Education in Goshen.
An apparent first of season juvenile BROWN PELICAN was seen off Stone Harbor Point on Saturday, April 4, 2009. Also there the same day was an 'IPSWICH' SAVANNAH SPARROW.
2 SHORT-EARED OWLS continue at Jake's Landing through Wednesday, April 8 2009.
2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continue at Villas WMA through Sunday, April 5, 2009, along with 3 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, GOLDEN CROWNED KINGLETS and BROWN CREEPER.
Following are some apparent first-of-season reports from southern New Jersey this week:
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON - April 5, 2009 at Avalon.
CATTLE EGRET - April 6, 2009 at the Beanery/Rea Farm.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER - reported April 8, 2009 at Beaver Swamp WMA.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER - April 5, 2009 at the Beanery/Rea Farm.
LEAST SANDPIPER - April 4, 2009 at the South Cape May Meadows.
WHIP-POOR-WILL - April 8, 2009 at Jake's Landing Road.
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD - April 4, 2009 at Leesburg, Cumberland County.
PURPLE MARTIN - March 31, 2009 at Villas WMA, with scouts now throughout Cape May County, including several at nest colony in Goshen on Monday, April 6, 2009.
CLIFF SWALLOW - April 4, 2009 at the South Cape May Meadows.
BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER - April 6, 2009 in Cape May Court House.
HOODED WARBLER - April 8, 2009 at Belleplain State Forest at the campground intersection.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
******Due to a staffing shortfall, Cape May Bird Observatory's Center for Research and Education on Route 47 north of Goshen will be closed to the public effective April 11, 2009. The grounds and gardens will remain open to the public. CMBO's Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open daily in spring, 9:30am to 4:30pm.******
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!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Purple Martins
Tony Leukering had a single Purple Martin at Villas WMA on March 31, and tonight I observed 6, plus or minus, at a colony site along Route 47 south of Goshen.
At CMBO's Center for Research and Education in Goshen, we've been fighting the battle with House Sparrows and European Starlings that is so typical for those who want to attract martins. Every couple days we clear our colony boxes of the nests of the unwanted pests, but the invasive birds are annoyingly persistent. We'll keep at it and see what happens.
At Cape May Point State Park's successful colony, volunteer Dave Thomas tells me, they don't trap the invasive birds, but do have to keep at the nest removal.
At CMBO's Center for Research and Education in Goshen, we've been fighting the battle with House Sparrows and European Starlings that is so typical for those who want to attract martins. Every couple days we clear our colony boxes of the nests of the unwanted pests, but the invasive birds are annoyingly persistent. We'll keep at it and see what happens.
At Cape May Point State Park's successful colony, volunteer Dave Thomas tells me, they don't trap the invasive birds, but do have to keep at the nest removal.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Belleplain by Bicycle: Early Warblers, Butterflies
[THE early spring Belleplain bird: Louisiana Waterthrush, photo by MichaelO'Brien taken (where else) at Sunset Bridge. This bird was seen by ca. 20 birders, while we were there! Between CMBO field trips, general birder traffic, and the coming World Series of Birding, this could be the most often viewed Louisiana Waterthrush in the world.]
[Henry's Elfin, a good butterfly, on Sunset Road near the bridge. Photo by Michael O'Brien.]Friends and I enjoyed a bike ride in Belleplain on Sunday. For ebird purposes, we tried to carefully count a number of species - Michael O'Brien clicked 45 Pine Warblers, for example, while I counted 12 Yellow-throated Warblers and 27 Red-bellied Woodpeckers on a slow ride that lasted from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Other notables included 13 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and 10 Eastern Phoebes (some of these were migrants, others breeders.) It was a bit windy, and that suppressed song somewhat, and we didn't find any "new" arrivers, such as Black-and-white Warbler (which I understand was seen several places in NJ today), but what a wonderful place and time to be there. Bicycle is the perfect mode of transport at Belleplain. You can pick up a map of the forest at the headquarters off Route 550 west of Woodbine.
Location: Belleplain State Forest
Observation date: 4/5/09
Number of species: 43
Canada Goose 3
Wild Turkey 3
Black Vulture 3
Turkey Vulture 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Laughing Gull 5
Herring Gull 15
Mourning Dove 6
Red-bellied Woodpecker 27
Downy Woodpecker 5
Hairy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 4
Eastern Phoebe 10
Blue Jay 6
Fish Crow 10
Carolina Chickadee 45
Tufted Titmouse 100
Red-breasted Nuthatch 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 4
Brown Creeper 4
Golden-crowned Kinglet 30
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 13
Eastern Bluebird 2
Hermit Thrush 4
American Robin 100
Northern Mockingbird 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 3
Yellow-throated Warbler 12
Pine Warbler 45
Louisiana Waterthrush 1
Chipping Sparrow 30
Song Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 10
Northern Cardinal 6
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Eastern Meadowlark 1
Common Grackle 10
Brown-headed Cowbird 40
Pine Siskin 2
American Goldfinch 2
Thunder, Lightning, Scoters, Gannets
Faced with a fast-approaching t-storm, we moved the Monday meadows walk to the concrete ship, where 5-10 Northern Gannets passed per minute with lightning in the background, while 40 or more Red-throated Loons fed near the Concrete Ship. Scoters streamed by regularly, including two White-winged Scoters. A few Bonaparte's Gulls and Forster's Terns fed near the ship as well.
Later we moved over to Lily Lake, which was pretty quiet, although 3 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were along East Lake Drive and a pair of Ring-necked Ducks remains on the pond.
Both site lists are below, at the request of walk participants.
Location: Cape May - Concrete Ship
Observation date: 4/6/09
Number of species: 20
Mallard 3
Surf Scoter 500
White-winged Scoter 2
Black Scoter 100
Long-tailed Duck 25
Red-breasted Merganser 2
Red-throated Loon 50
Common Loon 1
Northern Gannet 500
Double-crested Cormorant 25
Sanderling 5
Bonaparte's Gull 5
Laughing Gull 40
Herring Gull 10
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Forster's Tern 20
Fish Crow 5
European Starling 5
Boat-tailed Grackle 1
Location: Cape May - Lily Lake
Observation date: 4/6/09
Number of species: 32
Canada Goose 2
Mute Swan 2
Mallard 2
Ring-necked Duck 2
Double-crested Cormorant 3
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 1
American Coot 6
Laughing Gull 5
Herring Gull X
Mourning Dove 5
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 3
Fish Crow 5
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 1
Carolina Wren 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
American Robin 10
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 10
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 10
Northern Cardinal 3
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 25
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
House Finch 3
House Sparrow 5
Later we moved over to Lily Lake, which was pretty quiet, although 3 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were along East Lake Drive and a pair of Ring-necked Ducks remains on the pond.
Both site lists are below, at the request of walk participants.
Location: Cape May - Concrete Ship
Observation date: 4/6/09
Number of species: 20
Mallard 3
Surf Scoter 500
White-winged Scoter 2
Black Scoter 100
Long-tailed Duck 25
Red-breasted Merganser 2
Red-throated Loon 50
Common Loon 1
Northern Gannet 500
Double-crested Cormorant 25
Sanderling 5
Bonaparte's Gull 5
Laughing Gull 40
Herring Gull 10
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Forster's Tern 20
Fish Crow 5
European Starling 5
Boat-tailed Grackle 1
Location: Cape May - Lily Lake
Observation date: 4/6/09
Number of species: 32
Canada Goose 2
Mute Swan 2
Mallard 2
Ring-necked Duck 2
Double-crested Cormorant 3
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 1
American Coot 6
Laughing Gull 5
Herring Gull X
Mourning Dove 5
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 3
Fish Crow 5
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 1
Carolina Wren 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
American Robin 10
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 10
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 10
Northern Cardinal 3
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 25
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
House Finch 3
House Sparrow 5
Sunday, April 5, 2009
CMBO Villas WMA Walk Report
Karl Lukens sends word of the finding from thismonring Villas WMA walk. Alos a nice photo of one of the two continuing Red-headed Woodpeckers. Let's hope that one is male and the other female!!
(Photo courtesy of Karl Lukens, http://www.home.comcast.net/~jklukens/)
"CMBO Walk at Villas WMA. Beautiful day with ~ 12 participants and lots of
birds. Pine warblers and Chipping Sparrows together in the trees and on the
ground giving their own versions of how to do a "trill". Good woodpeckers
with 6 or more Red-bellied, 3 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 4 Downies, 5+
Flickers, and 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers. One of the latter was at hole , a
possible nest site. Also Golden-crowned Kinglets, and a good look at a Brown
Creeper.
Karl, (Steve, Kathy, Roger, Janet, Patty)"
Location: Villas WMA
Observation date: 4/5/09
Notes: CMBO Trip-K,SW,K&RH,JC,PR.Clr,52,NW10.
Number of species: 37
Snow Goose 35
Canada Goose 3
Mallard 12
Ring-necked Duck 3
Turkey Vulture 4
Cooper's Hawk 1
Laughing Gull 10
Herring Gull 3
Mourning Dove 5
Red-headed Woodpecker 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 6
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3
Downy Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 5
Eastern Phoebe 12
Blue Jay 6
American Crow 12
Fish Crow 2
Barn Swallow 3
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 3
Brown Creeper 1
Carolina Wren 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 6
Eastern Bluebird 8
American Robin 12
European Starling 10
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Pine Warbler 12
Chipping Sparrow 20
Field Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 8
White-throated Sparrow 4
Northern Cardinal 4
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 5
Brown-headed Cowbird 15
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
(Photo courtesy of Karl Lukens, http://www.home.comcast.net/~jklukens/)"CMBO Walk at Villas WMA. Beautiful day with ~ 12 participants and lots of
birds. Pine warblers and Chipping Sparrows together in the trees and on the
ground giving their own versions of how to do a "trill". Good woodpeckers
with 6 or more Red-bellied, 3 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 4 Downies, 5+
Flickers, and 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers. One of the latter was at hole , a
possible nest site. Also Golden-crowned Kinglets, and a good look at a Brown
Creeper.
Karl, (Steve, Kathy, Roger, Janet, Patty)"
Location: Villas WMA
Observation date: 4/5/09
Notes: CMBO Trip-K,SW,K&RH,JC,PR.Clr,52,NW10.
Number of species: 37
Snow Goose 35
Canada Goose 3
Mallard 12
Ring-necked Duck 3
Turkey Vulture 4
Cooper's Hawk 1
Laughing Gull 10
Herring Gull 3
Mourning Dove 5
Red-headed Woodpecker 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 6
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3
Downy Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 5
Eastern Phoebe 12
Blue Jay 6
American Crow 12
Fish Crow 2
Barn Swallow 3
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 3
Brown Creeper 1
Carolina Wren 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 6
Eastern Bluebird 8
American Robin 12
European Starling 10
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Pine Warbler 12
Chipping Sparrow 20
Field Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 8
White-throated Sparrow 4
Northern Cardinal 4
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 5
Brown-headed Cowbird 15
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
Reports from The Beanery and Belleplain; Time to Hang Your Hummingbird Feeder
A trio of CMBO walk reports from Saturday reveal how good the birding's getting:
From Belleplain: "The first Saturday Belleplain walk started off with a blustery, yet successful day. Excellent looks were given by Louisiana Waterthrush, Yellow-Throated Warbler, Pine Warbler, and Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher. But the real highlight was a Red-tailed Hawk taking out a Grey Squirrel and absconding with it fresh in its talons! Leaders were Jim Armstrong, Bert Hixon, B.J. Pinnock, and Dave Lord."
From The Rea Farm/Beanery: "First CMBO Beanery Walk of the season. Clear and breezy but some birds showed in the sheltered areas. Nice look at Wilson's Snipe, Cooper's Hawk , Red-tail, and numerous Phoebes. One Horned Lark with Killdeer in the front field.
Karl, (Roger, Kathy, Jason)" [NJAS just completed a substantial reclamation of a section of the Beanery that had been coated with invasive species, mainly phragmites and porcelain berries. More on that in a future post.]
From the state park: "The highlight of todays 1st Bird Walk for All People [at Cape May Point State Park] was an adult Bald Eagle harrassing an Osprey until it dropped it's fish; the eagle caught it as it fell and flew off. A lone Piping Plover was huddled against some beach grass, cuteness-factor intact. There was a nice variety of ducks - Ring-necked, Blue and Green-winged teal, Gadwall, shoveler and wigeon. Phoebes and Yellow-rumped Warblers were fly-catching in several locations as were Tree and Barn Swallows. Leaders: Kathy & Roger Horn, Patty Rourke & Janet Crawford."
The Black-crowned Night-Heron roost on the island at Heislerville grew to 49 birds in the high winds yesterday, as the birds hunkered on the lee side. If there ever was a bird that "hunker" applies to, come to think of it, it's Black-crowned Night-Heron.
And finally, Janet Crawford called me yesterday to report a hummingbird had appeared at her house - get the feeders up!
From Belleplain: "The first Saturday Belleplain walk started off with a blustery, yet successful day. Excellent looks were given by Louisiana Waterthrush, Yellow-Throated Warbler, Pine Warbler, and Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher. But the real highlight was a Red-tailed Hawk taking out a Grey Squirrel and absconding with it fresh in its talons! Leaders were Jim Armstrong, Bert Hixon, B.J. Pinnock, and Dave Lord."
From The Rea Farm/Beanery: "First CMBO Beanery Walk of the season. Clear and breezy but some birds showed in the sheltered areas. Nice look at Wilson's Snipe, Cooper's Hawk , Red-tail, and numerous Phoebes. One Horned Lark with Killdeer in the front field.
Karl, (Roger, Kathy, Jason)" [NJAS just completed a substantial reclamation of a section of the Beanery that had been coated with invasive species, mainly phragmites and porcelain berries. More on that in a future post.]
From the state park: "The highlight of todays 1st Bird Walk for All People [at Cape May Point State Park] was an adult Bald Eagle harrassing an Osprey until it dropped it's fish; the eagle caught it as it fell and flew off. A lone Piping Plover was huddled against some beach grass, cuteness-factor intact. There was a nice variety of ducks - Ring-necked, Blue and Green-winged teal, Gadwall, shoveler and wigeon. Phoebes and Yellow-rumped Warblers were fly-catching in several locations as were Tree and Barn Swallows. Leaders: Kathy & Roger Horn, Patty Rourke & Janet Crawford."
The Black-crowned Night-Heron roost on the island at Heislerville grew to 49 birds in the high winds yesterday, as the birds hunkered on the lee side. If there ever was a bird that "hunker" applies to, come to think of it, it's Black-crowned Night-Heron.
And finally, Janet Crawford called me yesterday to report a hummingbird had appeared at her house - get the feeders up!
Friday, April 3, 2009
Higbee in the Fog: Gnatcatcher, Pine Warbler, Phoebes, Raptors
It was raining like crazy when I left home, but by the time I got to Higbee the precipitation had diminished enough for it to be birdable. Not surprisingly, no participants appeared for CMBO's Friday Higbee walk, which is a shame, because Karl Lukens, Steve Weis and I did the walk anyway and had some pretty good birding.
A female Blue-gray Gnatcatcher fed low and quietly back by the pond, and a Pine Warbler put in an appearance in the second field. Osprey, 2nd year Bald Eagle and Cooper's Hawk combined for a pretty good raptor list in such weather, all three offering great looks as they emerged from the fog at close range. Eastern Phoebes were common - the fields, mowed last fall, are perfect for them with lots of short sticks for perches - and Song Sparrows were everywhere, with up to 10 in a single binocular field at one point and at least 40 for the morning. The full list is below.
Location: Higbee Beach
Observation date: 4/3/09
Notes: CMBO's Friday Higbee walk, very foggy, occasional rain
Number of species: 32
Canada Goose 2
Osprey 1
Bald Eagle 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Laughing Gull 1
Herring Gull 1
Mourning Dove 8
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 6
Eastern Phoebe 12
Blue Jay 1
Fish Crow 1
Carolina Chickadee 10
Tufted Titmouse 5
Carolina Wren 15
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 10
Northern Mockingbird 1
Brown Thrasher 5
European Starling 10
Yellow-rumped Warbler 5
Pine Warbler 1
Eastern Towhee 5
Field Sparrow 8
Song Sparrow 40
White-throated Sparrow 20
Northern Cardinal 15
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 5
Brown-headed Cowbird 20
A female Blue-gray Gnatcatcher fed low and quietly back by the pond, and a Pine Warbler put in an appearance in the second field. Osprey, 2nd year Bald Eagle and Cooper's Hawk combined for a pretty good raptor list in such weather, all three offering great looks as they emerged from the fog at close range. Eastern Phoebes were common - the fields, mowed last fall, are perfect for them with lots of short sticks for perches - and Song Sparrows were everywhere, with up to 10 in a single binocular field at one point and at least 40 for the morning. The full list is below.
Location: Higbee Beach
Observation date: 4/3/09
Notes: CMBO's Friday Higbee walk, very foggy, occasional rain
Number of species: 32
Canada Goose 2
Osprey 1
Bald Eagle 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Laughing Gull 1
Herring Gull 1
Mourning Dove 8
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 6
Eastern Phoebe 12
Blue Jay 1
Fish Crow 1
Carolina Chickadee 10
Tufted Titmouse 5
Carolina Wren 15
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 10
Northern Mockingbird 1
Brown Thrasher 5
European Starling 10
Yellow-rumped Warbler 5
Pine Warbler 1
Eastern Towhee 5
Field Sparrow 8
Song Sparrow 40
White-throated Sparrow 20
Northern Cardinal 15
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 5
Brown-headed Cowbird 20
Thursday, April 2, 2009
CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2009
Hotline: Cape May Birding Hotline
To Report: call (609) 884-2736, or email sightings AT birdcapemay.org
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland and southern Atlantic Counties , NJ
Compilers: David Lord and Don Freiday, Cape May Bird Observatory
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 weeks message was prepared on Thursday, April 2, 2009. Highlights this week include sightings of KING EIDER, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, ICELAND GULL, ROYAL TERN, RED-NECKED GREBE, and AMERICAN BITTERN; seasonal arrivals of NORTHERN PARULA LITTLE BLUE HERON, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, GLOSSY IBIS, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, and BARN SWALLOW; reports of interest involving EASTERN PHOEBE, NORTHERN GANNET, LAUGHING GULL, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, GREAT EGRETS, and BLACK SCOTER; and an announcement about the closure of Cape May Bird Observatory's Center for Research and Education in Goshen.
3 KING EIDERS were observed off Cape Island on Tuesday March 31, 2009.
An immature ICELAND GULL and an arriving ROYAL TERN were seen at the Concrete Ship on Sunday, March 29, 2009.
Two RED-NECKED GREBES continued off the Cape May Convention Center April 1, 2009.
An adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen at the Concrete Ship on Saturday, March 28, 2009. The same or another was on the south jetty of the Cape May Canal the same day.
An early male NORTHERN PARULA was seen at the Villas WMA on March 31, 2009.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCHERS arrived with sightings at Cove Pool in Cape May on Tuesday, March 31, 2009, and at Belleplain State Forest on Wednesday April 1, 2009. Belleplain State Forest also had newly arrived YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 and LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH on Tuesday, March 31, 2009, the same date as last year. EASTERN PHOEBE, already reported elsewhere, returned to Belleplain on Friday, March 27, 2009.
A LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen from Sunset Beach on Tuesday, March 31 2009.
Arriving BARN SWALLOWS include one at Norbury's Landing on Sunday, March 29, 2009, and two at the South Cape May Meadows on Monday March 30, 2009.
NORTHERN GANNETS have been staging in Delaware Bay and around Cape May Point. Best viewing has generally been from Sunset Beach in Cape May Point. Estimates of 50 to 100 per minute were seen passing at various spots along the Delaware Bay on Saturday, March 28, 2009, and Sunday, March 29, 2009. A Flock of 600 resting on the water was seen from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry on Saturday March 28, 2009.
Flocks of LAUGHING GULLS totaling 400 birds were seen flying over the South Cape May Meadows on Monday, March 30, 2009. An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen there the same day.
30 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS were seen at Heislerville WMA on Wednesday, April 1, 2009. 57 GREAT EGRETS were at the Dennisville Lake roost along Route 47 on Wednesday, April 1 2009.
Finally, a male BLACK SCOTER was out of place on Lily Lake in Cape May Point on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
******Due to a staffing shortfall, Cape May Bird Observatory's Center for Research and Education on Route 47 north of Goshen will be closed to the public effective April 11, 2009. The grounds and gardens will remain open to the public. CMBO's Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open daily, 9:30am to 4:30pm.******
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, or visit, or join on-line. 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!
To Report: call (609) 884-2736, or email sightings AT birdcapemay.org
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland and southern Atlantic Counties , NJ
Compilers: David Lord and Don Freiday, Cape May Bird Observatory
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 weeks message was prepared on Thursday, April 2, 2009. Highlights this week include sightings of KING EIDER, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, ICELAND GULL, ROYAL TERN, RED-NECKED GREBE, and AMERICAN BITTERN; seasonal arrivals of NORTHERN PARULA LITTLE BLUE HERON, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, GLOSSY IBIS, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, and BARN SWALLOW; reports of interest involving EASTERN PHOEBE, NORTHERN GANNET, LAUGHING GULL, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, GREAT EGRETS, and BLACK SCOTER; and an announcement about the closure of Cape May Bird Observatory's Center for Research and Education in Goshen.
3 KING EIDERS were observed off Cape Island on Tuesday March 31, 2009.
An immature ICELAND GULL and an arriving ROYAL TERN were seen at the Concrete Ship on Sunday, March 29, 2009.
Two RED-NECKED GREBES continued off the Cape May Convention Center April 1, 2009.
An adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen at the Concrete Ship on Saturday, March 28, 2009. The same or another was on the south jetty of the Cape May Canal the same day.
An early male NORTHERN PARULA was seen at the Villas WMA on March 31, 2009.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCHERS arrived with sightings at Cove Pool in Cape May on Tuesday, March 31, 2009, and at Belleplain State Forest on Wednesday April 1, 2009. Belleplain State Forest also had newly arrived YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 and LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH on Tuesday, March 31, 2009, the same date as last year. EASTERN PHOEBE, already reported elsewhere, returned to Belleplain on Friday, March 27, 2009.
A LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen from Sunset Beach on Tuesday, March 31 2009.
Arriving BARN SWALLOWS include one at Norbury's Landing on Sunday, March 29, 2009, and two at the South Cape May Meadows on Monday March 30, 2009.
NORTHERN GANNETS have been staging in Delaware Bay and around Cape May Point. Best viewing has generally been from Sunset Beach in Cape May Point. Estimates of 50 to 100 per minute were seen passing at various spots along the Delaware Bay on Saturday, March 28, 2009, and Sunday, March 29, 2009. A Flock of 600 resting on the water was seen from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry on Saturday March 28, 2009.
Flocks of LAUGHING GULLS totaling 400 birds were seen flying over the South Cape May Meadows on Monday, March 30, 2009. An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen there the same day.
30 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS were seen at Heislerville WMA on Wednesday, April 1, 2009. 57 GREAT EGRETS were at the Dennisville Lake roost along Route 47 on Wednesday, April 1 2009.
Finally, a male BLACK SCOTER was out of place on Lily Lake in Cape May Point on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
******Due to a staffing shortfall, Cape May Bird Observatory's Center for Research and Education on Route 47 north of Goshen will be closed to the public effective April 11, 2009. The grounds and gardens will remain open to the public. CMBO's Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open daily, 9:30am to 4:30pm.******
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, or visit, or join on-line. 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!