CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - April 30, 2009

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!