White-faced Ibis in West Cape May; Beanery Notes

[White-faced Ibis (foreground) with Glossy Ibis (background), seen this afternoon near the pond at the intersection of Shunpike and Stimpson Roads, near West Cape May. Photo by Karl Lukens.]

This morning's Beanery/Rea Farm walk is summarized below, as well as details regarding a White-faced Ibis seen nearby after the walk:

"...Started out birdy at the parking lot where we had Indigo Bunting and Blue Grosbeak in the same scope field of view in a tree top. Also had the Yellow-breasted Chat in the scope from the parking lot. Nice looks at Great-crested Flycatcher, a distant E. Kingbird and numerous Red-tailed Hawks. As for migrants we heard a Parula, and Blackpoll, and saw fleeting glimpses of an uncooperative Magnolia Warbler. After the walk some of us had a White-faced Ibis at the pond at Shunpike and Stimpson Rd."

- Karl (Chuck, Kathy, Roger)

(Note: to view this pond, drive north from the Beanery for about 1/4 mile, making a right onto Stimpson Rd. After a short distance, make a left onto Shunpike Road. The pond will be immediately visible to the left. This pond is on private property, so do not trespass and be respectful of others' privacy if you stop there. -TR)

[Male Blue Grosbeak (bottom left) and male Indigo Bunting (top right),
seen this morning from the Beanery/Rea Farm parking area.
Photo by Karl Lukens; click to enlarge.]

Location: The Beanery
Observation date: 5/30/09
Notes: CMBO Trip-K,C,K&RH,+8.Clr,70,W7.
Number of species: 51

Canada Goose 20
Mallard 6
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 1
Green Heron 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 /p
Glossy Ibis 2 /p After walk- shun pike/stimpson pond
White-faced Ibis 1 /p After walk- shunpike/stimpson pond
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 7
Osprey 5
Red-tailed Hawk 5
Laughing Gull 10
Herring Gull 2
Forster's Tern 1
Rock Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 6
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 heard
Chimney Swift 1
Downy Woodpecker 4
Empidonax sp. 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 4
Eastern Kingbird 1
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 12
Purple Martin 4
Barn Swallow 8
Carolina Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 1
Carolina Wren 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
American Robin 8
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 15
Northern Parula 1 heard
Magnolia Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 1 heard
Common Yellowthroat 3
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Northern Cardinal 8
Blue Grosbeak 1 /p
Indigo Bunting 3 /p
Red-winged Blackbird 15
Common Grackle 15
Brown-headed Cowbird 10
Orchard Oriole 1
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 3

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Roseate Tern, Whistling Duck pic

This Roseate Tern was sitting on the island at the SE corner of the Meadows yesterday evening. Roseate Terns generally show paler mantles then Forster's and Common Terns which tend to make it stand out in a flock.
Above is a picture of the four Black-bellied Whislting-ducks that turned up on a pond adjacent to Cape May Point State Park on May 26. The birds were called into the Observatory by the Landowners. I believe this is the third state record for Black-bellied Whistling-duck: one bird was at Brigantine May 27, 2000 and 9 birds flew by the Meadows on May 25, 2004.

CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - May 28, 2009

Hotline: Cape May Birding Hotline
To Report: (609) 884-2736, sightings@birdcapemay.org
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic Counties, NJ
Compiler: Tom Reed, 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, May 28, 2009.

Highlights this week include reports of BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK, CURLEW SANDPIPER, SURF SCOTER, RUDDY DUCK, SOOTY SHEARWATER, LEAST BITTERN, BLACK RAIL, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, RED KNOT, ICELAND GULL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, GULL-BILLED TERN, CASPIAN TERN, ROSEATE TERN, SANDWICH TERN, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, KENTUCKY WARBLER, MOURNING WARBLER, and GRASSHOPPER SPARROW.

- For more up-to-the-minute Cape May sightings information and a download-able birding map of Cape May, visit www.BirdCapeMay.org. Also follow us on Twitter at CMBObirds (www.twitter.com/cmbobirds - review list/rarities or spectacles only) -


4 BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS were discovered on a private pond in Cape May Point on 5/26. This pond is also visible from the "dead-end" trail at the back side of Cape May Point State Park, though heavily shrouded in vegetation. The birds have not been re-found since the 26th.

At least 1 CURLEW SANDPIPER continued at Heislerville WMA through at least 5/23.

A SANDWICH TERN made a brief appearance on the "gull island," along the east path of the South Cape May Meadows/CMMBR, on 5/23. A ROSEATE TERN was in the same location on 5/28, as were 2 GULL-BILLED TERNS on 5/25. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS have been noted there throughout the week, and a LEAST BITTERN was noted along the east path several times this week.

A SOOTY SHEARWATER was seen flying past the 2nd Avenue Jetty in Cape May on 5/26.

A BLACK RAIL was heard at Jake's Landing on the evening of 5/23.

An ICELAND GULL and a RUDDY DUCK were noted at Cook's Beach on 5/27, along with 2,000 RED KNOTS. Also in the lingering duck department were 3 SURF SCOTERS noted offshore of the South Cape May Meadows/CMMBR on 5/25.

MOURNING WARBLERS were found at CMBO's Northwood Center and at Cape May Point State Park on 5/27. A BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER was at the Northwood Center the same day.

An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was noted at Brig/Forsythe NWR on 5/23 and 5/24. CASPIAN TERNS were also seen there this week.

4 KENTUCKY WARBLERS were noted along Sunset Road in Belleplain State Forest on 5/23.

A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was heard from the west side of the Beanery/Rea Farm on 5/23.


ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Beginning June 1st, CMBO's Northwood Center will be open Wednesday - Monday (closed Tuesdays), 9:30am - 4:30pm. These hours will be in place through the end of August.

******Due to a staffing shortfall, Cape May Bird Observatory's Center for Research and Education on Route 47 north of Goshen is 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 Wednesday - Monday, 9:30am - 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!

Iceland Gull and Shorebirds

[Horseshoe crab eggs in wave-deposited layers at Cook's Beach today. Photo by Don Freiday.]

A first- or second-cycle Iceland Gull at Cook's Beach was perhaps the star there today (and a Ruddy Duck floating offshore was also of interest) but the 2000 Red Knots and piles of crab eggs stole the show.


[Close-up of Horseshoe Crab eggs. We haven't seen eggs on the surface like this in years. Photo by Don Freiday, click to enlarge.]

[This Purple Sandpiper, in breeding plumage, lingered with another at Stone Harbor Point today, on the jetty to the left as you look offshore from the parking lot crossover. Photo digiscoped by Don Freiday, click to enlarge.]

Whistling-Ducks; Late-Season Warbler Push; State Park Notes

[White-rumped Sandpiper, seen at one of the State Park's 'plover ponds' during this morning's CMBO walk. For full details, see below.]

4 Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks were found on private property in Cape May Point yesterday. The pond where the birds were found is also visible from Cape May Pt. State Park, adjacent to the "dead-end trail" along the back side of the park. The birds have not yet been seen today. Keep in mind that there is quite a bit of suitable habitat in this area for Whistling-Ducks to hide. The other State Park ponds, as well as the South Cape May Meadows complex, are good places to look.

There was a decent late-season push of warblers around Cape May today. Mourning Warblers were noted near CMBO's Northwood Center, as well as near the "dead-end trail" at the State Park. A Blackburnian Warbler was also hanging out at the Northwood Center. It seemed that most of today's flight consisted of Blackpoll Warblers and American Redstarts- I was able to tally a dozen of each at the State Park, even at noontime. There was also a Black-throated Green there.

And speaking of the State Park, here's a summary of this morning's CMBO walk there:

"...The walk on the red and yellow trails in the state park was very productive this morning. There were numerous Blackpoll Warblers and Redstarts heard as well as seen, and a few Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, and a couple of elusive Chats. Scarlet Tanager and Indigo Bunting were nice finds. As far as shore birds in the plover ponds, we found Least, and Semi-palmated Sandpipers, Piping Plover, a couple of Oystercatchers, and a nice White-rumped Sandpiper showing its long wings and side streaking, that was a life bird for at least one participant."

- Karl, (Warren, Tom)

Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 5/27/09 Notes: CMBO Trip-K,W,T,+14.Cldy,68,E6.
Number of species: 55

Canada Goose 5
Gadwall 1
Mallard 8
Northern Gannet 1
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 4
Snowy Egret 1
Turkey Vulture 4
Osprey 1
Piping Plover 2
Killdeer 1
American Oystercatcher 2
Semipalmated Sandpiper 4
Least Sandpiper 3
White-rumped Sandpiper 1 /p
Laughing Gull 10
Herring Gull 6
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Least Tern 25
Common Tern 2
Forster's Tern 10
Rock Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 5
Chimney Swift 10
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Kingbird 3
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 3
Purple Martin 20
Barn Swallow 5
Carolina Chickadee 2
Carolina Wren 6
House Wren 1
American Robin 10
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 10
Cedar Waxwing 6
Yellow Warbler 3
Blackpoll Warbler 18
American Redstart 10
Common Yellowthroat 6
Yellow-breasted Chat 2
Scarlet Tanager 1
Song Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 6
Indigo Bunting 2
Red-winged Blackbird 12
Common Grackle 15
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
American Goldfinch 1
House Sparrow 3

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Jake's Landing: Salt-marsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows, nice mix of landbirds

Yesterday afternoon the rain broke for a little bit and we took the CMBO field trip out to Jake's Landing. Although it was windy and 1:00 in the afternoon, landbirds were surprisingly active. Pairs of Blue Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, and Prairie Warblers were readily seen in the brushy field on the left side of the road (going in) between the two white pine groves. We heard at least two Yellow-billed Cuckoos, and Yellow-throated Warblers were giving alarm chips in response to Blue Jays in the second groves - Blue Jays were busy trying to maraud the nests not only of the Yellow-throated Warblers, but apparently of American Robins and possibly even Great-crested Flycatcher, given how upset the flycatcher was with them. How a Blue Jay gets at a Great-crested Flycatchers cavity nest I don't know.

Out at the end of the road, Salt-marsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows were remarkably visible - we saw as many as three at once and I think there may have been 4 or more. Seaside Sparrows and Marsh Wrens were also out there, and Clapper Rails, Willets, and a female Northern Harrier filled out the salt marsh complement of birds.

Best Crab Spawn in Years

CMBO's Peak of the Red Knots field trip encountered Larry Niles, Mandy Dey, Clive Minton and the rest of the international shorebird team at Cook's Beach just as they were about to attempt a catch. Soon the cannon net boomed and birds were being processed and released.

Crab spawning has been excellent and egg densities are the highest they have been in years, though Larry and Clive caution that a lot of that has to do with the excellent, stable weather pattern that had been holding through the past several days, rather than an increase in crab numbers. Crab eggs were readily visible laying on the surface of the sand at Cook's Beach, and some of the Red Knots looked positively huge, an impression that was borne out by the weights of the knots caught this morning, some of which exceeded 200 grams.

Crab Spawn Aftermath and Other Delaware Bayshore Images

[Horseshoe crabs, 7:00 a.m. this morning on the flats at Villas, after a hard night's spawning. Photo by Don Freiday.]

You don't EVER want to be driving on Route 47 on Memorial Day anytime after about 9:00 a.m., so we got out early today to look for shorebirds. 800 Red Knot at Cook's Beach wasn't bad - but it wasn't good either, since I remember single location counts of 10X that number, and more, back in the 80's. Perhaps someday again. . .


[Shorebirds as seen from the end of Cook's Beach Road, 8:00 a.m. today. Among them are 800 Red Knots. Photo by Don Freiday.]



[Red Knots, Ruddy Turnstones, Sanderlings, and Semipalmated Sandpipers - the four main horseshoe crab egg eaters - flying past Cook's Beach. Photo by Don Freiday.]


[This Eastern Mud Turtle was on Cook's Beach Road. Photo by Don Freiday.]

[Marsh Wren at the end of Cook's Beach Road. Seaside Sparrows were also highly visible there today. Photo by Don Freiday.]

Meadows on Memorial Day: Least Bittern, Gull-billed Terns

"CMBO Morning Meadow walk with Pete Dunne. Numerous waders including Green, Little Blue, Tricolored Herons, and a fly across Least Bittern, which gave us a fairly good look before disappearing into the cattails. Several Lesser Black-backed Gulls were found as well as 2 Gull-billed Terns."

- Karl, (Pete, Judy, Tom, Steve, Cindy, Shaun)


Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 5/25/09
Notes: CMBO Trip-PD,K,J,T,SW,C&SB,+20.PtlyCldy,70,Calm.
Number of species: 56

Canada Goose 7
Mute Swan 7
Gadwall 4
Mallard 10
Surf Scoter 3
Northern Gannet 2
Double-crested Cormorant 25
Least Bittern 1
Great Egret 5
Snowy Egret 1
Little Blue Heron 1
Tricolored Heron 1
Green Heron 4
Glossy Ibis 3
Osprey 2
Black-bellied Plover 1
Piping Plover 6
Killdeer 2
American Oystercatcher 2
Willet 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 25
Least Sandpiper 1
Dunlin 5
Laughing Gull 15
Herring Gull 10
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
Great Black-backed Gull 15
Gull-billed Tern 2
Common Tern 4
Forster's Tern 15
Rock Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 5
Chimney Swift 4
Eastern Kingbird 2
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 4
Purple Martin 5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 5
Carolina Wren 1
Marsh Wren 3
American Robin 3
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 5
Cedar Waxwing 4
Common Yellowthroat 4
Yellow-breasted Chat 1 /p
Song Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 4
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 10
Brown-headed Cowbird 4
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 5

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Birds of Bear Swamp + Horseshoe Crab Spawn

[Fair lady: female Kentucky Warbler, Bear Swamp, Cumberland County, today. Photo by Don Freiday.]

We opened the Bear Swamp MAPS banding station today, and the quality breeders of Bear Swamp didn't disappoint - many of the same species as we have been reporting on from farther south in Belleplain State Forest. Like Belleplain, Bear Swamp contains extraordinary forest habitat, and the birds that depend on it.

Merely listening along Route 555 in the first couple miles outside Dividing Creek, we heard all the species depicted in the photos, plus Whip-poor-wills at dawn, and Yellow-breasted Chat and Summer Tanagers at the railroad tracks. Multiple Acadian Flycatchers, Scarlet Tanagers, Black-and-white Warblers, Prothonotary Warblers, Yellow-throated Warblers, and a pair of Bald Eagles over 555 were other highlights.

We also heard a couple Yellow-billed Cuckoos. Cuckoos have been scarce this spring. The only Black-billed I've encountered was the one we saw last week up at High Point, Sussex County, NJ during the CMBO annual volunteer naturalists' field trip. Yellow-billeds have been findable in Cape May and Cumberland, but only in small numbers.


[The female Kentucky gives a lesson as to why she is a female; the book is the bander's bible, Peter Pyle's Identification Guide to North American Birds, Part I. We stock Pyle at the CMBO bookstore for a reason - it is rife with useful information to supplement the popular field guides, though the density of the info and the heavy use of abbreviations sometimes require patient study. Photo by Don Freiday.]


[Worm-eating Warbler. We caught several, and heard more. Photo by Don Freiday.]

[This female Ruby-throated Hummingbird was released unbanded, but not before a photo opp. Photo by Don Freiday.]

Shorebirds along Delaware Bay are peaking - I'm hearing reports of Red Knots in the hundreds, anyway, at the traditional places like Reed's Beach. Tonight, given the new moon and accompanying exceptionally high tide, I wandered down to Norbury's Landing. Horseshoe crab spawning peaks on the extra high tides of the new and full moons. I found some fairly dense horseshoe crab spawning, at least by current standards. It's nothing like the old days, but maybe it will be again, thanks to the moratorium on crab harvest in NJ waters.

[Above and below, spawning Horseshoe Crabs at Norbury's Landing, taken about an hour ago. Photos by Don Freiday.]

Black Rail, Jake's Landing

A single Black Rail called briefly at Jake's Landing this evening, around 10:15pm. The bird was a fair distance away, directly across the creek from the parking area.

The moderate breeze tonight made listening for nocturnals a bit more difficult- the Black Rail was heard during a period of calm conditions. Other birds heard in the dark included two Virginia Rails, a Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow, one barking Black Skimmer and of course numerous Clapper Rails, Seaside Sparrows and Marsh Wrens.

There were a couple thousand shorebirds at Reed's Beach on a high tide this evening, with the majority consisting of Semipalmated Sandpipers. There were also about a dozen Black Skimmers there.

A brief visit to the Mt. Olive Cemetery in Swainton (located off of Goshen-Swainton Road) produced 3-4 Chuck-will's-widows at dusk.

Belleplain By Bicycle- Kentucky Warblers and Cicadas

Michael O'Brien just sent along the following note, detailing a highly productive bike ride through Belleplain State Forest this morning:

"Louise and I had a nice bike ride in Belleplain today and found it to be quite birdy, despite getting a latish start. A highlight was 4 singing Kentucky Warblers (we saw one of them), all on Sunset Road. As far as I could tell, the only migrant was a single American Redstart. We were a little surprised to hear the widespread drone of periodical cicadas. I finally gave up on counting them but heard over 50 individuals. This is obviously a different brood than the major emergence of 2004."

They also recorded an impressive number of other breeding birds, including 62 Ovenbirds, 16 Acadian Flycatchers, 34 Eastern Wood-Pewees, 23 Yellow-throated Warblers and 16 Worm-eating Warblers.

Michael and Louise's complete list included below-

Location: Belleplain State Forest
Observation date: 5/23/09
Number of species: 54

Canada Goose 2
Black Vulture 6
Turkey Vulture 3
Broad-winged Hawk 3
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Laughing Gull 230
Mourning Dove 5
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 34
Acadian Flycatcher 16
Eastern Phoebe 5
Great Crested Flycatcher 19
Eastern Kingbird 5
White-eyed Vireo 13
Red-eyed Vireo 17
Blue Jay 4
Fish Crow 3
Purple Martin 1
Carolina Chickadee 9
Tufted Titmouse 40
White-breasted Nuthatch 4
Carolina Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 33
Wood Thrush 12
American Robin 4
Brown Thrasher 1
Cedar Waxwing 7
Blue-winged Warbler 6
Yellow-throated Warbler 23
Pine Warbler 36
Prairie Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 14
American Redstart 1
Prothonotary Warbler 2
Worm-eating Warbler 16
Ovenbird 62
Louisiana Waterthrush 5
Kentucky Warbler 4
Hooded Warbler 7
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Summer Tanager 6
Scarlet Tanager 3
Eastern Towhee 15
Chipping Sparrow 9
Northern Cardinal 10
Common Grackle 12
Brown-headed Cowbird 33
Orchard Oriole 2
American Goldfinch 3

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Saturday Notes: Grasshopper Sparrow, Sandwich Tern, etc.

The following in from the Rea Farm/Beanery this morning-

"Rather slow birding but we did manage to get good looks at several Indigo Buntings and a Blue Grosbeak and heard 1-2 Chats. A Grasshopper Sparrow sang 4-5 times at the back of the grape field before becoming quiet."

- Karl, (Chuck, Warren)

In other news, the female Curlew Sandpiper was seen again at Heislerville WMA during this morning's high tide. A Sandwich Tern was noted at the South Cape May Meadows at 2:30pm, along with a single Gull-billed Tern. Both of these birds were seen on the "gull island," visible from the back end of the east path.

In extralimital news, a Swainson's Warbler was heard at Sandy Hook this morning.

Beanery list included below-

Location: The Beanery
Observation date: 5/23/09
Notes: CMBO Trip-K,C,W,+12.Clr,65,W5.
/h=heard only
Number of species: 44

Canada Goose 18
Mallard 4
Great Egret 5
Green Heron 5
Glossy Ibis 6
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 1
Killdeer 2
Laughing Gull 5
Herring Gull 1
Forster's Tern 1
Rock Pigeon 3
Mourning Dove 6
Chimney Swift 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Downy Woodpecker 1 /h
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2 /h
Great Crested Flycatcher 1 /h
Eastern Kingbird 2
White-eyed Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 3
Barn Swallow 5
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 6
American Robin 5
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 10
Blackpoll Warbler 2 /h
Prothonotary Warbler 1 /h
Common Yellowthroat 1
Eastern Towhee 1 /h
Grasshopper Sparrow 1 /h
Northern Cardinal 8
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 4
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 15
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 2

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - May 21, 2009

Hotline: Cape May Birding Hotline
To Report: (609) 884-2736, sightings@birdcapemay.org
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic Counties, NJ
Compiler: Tom Reed, 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, May 21, 2009.

Highlights this week include reports of WHITE-FACED IBIS, CURLEW SANDPIPER, EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, SOOTY SHEARWATER, LEAST BITTERN, BLACK-NECKED STILT, RED KNOT, AMERICAN AVOCET, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, STILT SANDPIPER, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, PARASITIC JAEGER, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, LEAST FLYCATCHER, WILSON'S WARBLER, CANADA WARBLER, VESPER SPARROW, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, and DICKCISSEL.

-For more up-to-the-minute Cape May sightings information and a download-able birding map of Cape May, visit www.BirdCapeMay.org. Also follow us on Twitter at CMBObirds (www.twitter.com/cmbobirds - review list/rarities or spectacles only) -


2 CURLEW SANDPIPERS continued at Heislerville WMA through 5/20. The AMERICAN AVOCET was last reported on 5/16. Multiple WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS have been present there throughout the week.

Another male CURLEW SANDPIPER was found at Nummy Island on 5/20. No reports since.

A WHITE-FACED IBIS was discovered at Brig/Forsythe NWR on 5/15 and continued through at least 5/17, last reported along the beginning of the south dike. 2 BLACK-NECKED STILTS were noted in the southwest pool at Brig on 5/20, and a STILT SANDPIPER was seen the same day.

A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was noted flying past the South Cape May Meadows/CMMBR on 5/15. No reports since. Also at the Meadows this week were LEAST BITTERN, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and a fly-by WHITE-WINGED SCOTER on 5/15, as well as a WILLOW FLYCATCHER singing along the west path on 5/20.

A SOOTY SHEARWATER and 4-5 PARASITIC JAEGERS were noted from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry on 5/16.

A very late YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was noted at Higbee Beach WMA on 5/16. Migrants noted at Higbee on 5/15 included WILSON'S WARBLER, CANADA WARBLER and a DICKCISSEL in the "tower" field. An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was seen near the Higbee spillover lot on 5/20, and a LEAST FLYCATCHER was also noted the same day.

Multiple GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS and a VESPER SPARROW were again noted on 5/16 from the fields at Buckshutem WMA in Cumberland County (located off Buckshutem Road, west of the Millville Airport).

Shorebird numbers increased along the Delaware Bay beaches this week. 800-1000 RED KNOTS have been seen during the incoming high tide at Reed's Beach during the past few days.


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 through the end of May, 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!

Nummy Curlew Sandpiper Pics

Michael O'Brien just sent along these two pictures of the Curlew Sandpiper found at Nummy Island this afternoon (click to enlarge):

Curlew Sandpiper, Olive-sided Flycatcher, etc.

A Curlew Sandpiper was discovered at Nummy Island this afternoon by Michael O'Brien and Louise Zemaitas. A search of the area this evening failed to reveal the bird again.

In other news, there were also a few songbird migrants around Cape May today-
A Blackburnian Warbler was singing across the street from the Beanery early this morning, and another was noted near the Northwood Center, where a Wilson's Warbler was also reported. Mark Garland and I caught a brief look at an Olive-sided Flycatcher as it flew over New England Road, near the Higbee spillover lot. Right now is prime time to find this species in Cape May.

Steve Rodan reports that a Willow Flycatcher was singing along the west path of the South Cape May Meadows this morning, and that a Least Flycatcher was singing toward the back of the second tower field at Higbee later in the AM.

Several dozen Black Skimmers and close looks at Whimbrel were highlights on this evening's CMBO Nummy Island walk.

Belleplain: Kentucky, Summer T., More

Pine Swamp Road between Sunset Road and the first (right angle) bend was just dandy this morning, in a very quick run through around 8:00 a.m. From one spot, about 100 yards north of the bend on Pine Swamp Road, I heard Kentucky, Hooded, Yellow-throated, Worm-eating, and Pine Warblers, plus Acadian Flycatcher. However. . .I only actually saw one of these. Amazingly enough, it was the Kentucky, which flew its green and yellow self across the road and sang on the east side before retreating deep into the woods on the west side of the road again. I suppose if one spent an hour or two quietly birding this stretch, looks at most of these birds would be possible.

Three Summer Tanagers "picky-tucked" along Frank's Road, and all were easy to spot. The Acadian Flycatcher at the "four corners" was very cooperative, and one of the Summer Tanager's was not far south of this spot on Frank's Road. The "four corners" is where you turn west to head into the campground near Lake Nummy and where Frank's, Henkensifkin, and Kubiak Roads all meet (and maybe Dean's Branch Road, too, depending on who's map you're using). A Black-and-white Warbler is also territorial in this neighborhood.

The Northern Bobwhite at Beaver Swamp WMA was calling again this morning, and a Prothonotary sang along the road on the way in.

Knots Increasing Along Bayshore

A mid-afternoon visit to Reed's Beach on a rising tide produced nice numbers of Red Knots and Ruddy Turnstones, with many visible close to the jetty at the north end of the beach. There were easily over 500 knots present, with actual numbers likely between 700-800. Turnstones were covering the end of the jetty, and likely numbered somewhere in the 800-900 ballpark.

The two Curlew Sandpipers were not readily viewed from the dry western edge of the Heislerville impoundment this evening, but I heard that at least one was viewed along the unpaved dike. Shorebird numbers there are still extremely impressive- Vince Elia estimated about 40,000 birds this evening during high tide. Also present were 300+ Black Skimmers.

Word on the Street about Crabs + hummer photo

I've heard that a decent number of small female Horseshoe Crabs have been spawing of late - the speculation is that these could be progeny of survivors of the first crab harvest moratorium we secured, on hand harvest of females back in 1998. Handfuls of Red Knots have been seen at Reed's and Cook's Beach the past few days.

Kim Peters, NJAS Director of Research and Monitoring, borrowed my scope at lunchtime today and took a friend up to Beaver Swamp to see the eagles - successfully, as they found one "fledgling" on the nest. The Beaver Swamp chicks have been flying for some time, but still are frequently observed perched on or near the nest.

[Hummers at peace for once - at Karl Lukens' Cape May feeders.]

If only all birds sang like Blackpolls. . .

. . .we'd detect a lot more! On my bicycle commute to CMBO-CRE this morning I heard at least 11 Blackpoll Warblers, the only definite migrant species I detected.

Blackpolls are one of our most common migrant warblers, and as warblers go they are relatively unusual in that they migrate north in large numbers along the eastern seaboard (starting by coming through Florida for most of them). They also tend to keep coming through in numbers later in May than other species, a product of their huge breeding range which extends even above the Arctic Circle in Western Canada and Alaska. But even given those facts, their far-reaching and distinctive song and the frequency with which they sing makes them one of the most detectable spring migrants we have, whether on bike, on foot, or out the car window.

Meadows: 2 Funky Little Blues; Not Much Good for Shorebirds

Two immature Little Blue Herons and a Tri-colored were highlights on this morning's South Cape May Meadows walk. According to Pyle, juvenile Little Blues of North American populations undergo a partial preformative molt primarily on the wintering grounds followed by a complete pre-basic molt from the spring to fall following their birth year, in which virtually all their white feathers are finally lost; thus by sometime this coming fall, these birds, wherever they are, will be almost entirely blue, with some white feathers possibly retained on the underwing.

The meadows remain largely devoid of shorebirds save flyovers and beach-pipers, due to high water at least in part. It looks to me like there is enough shallow water and mud to attract shorebirds, if only there were something in the mud to eat. Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a 3rd cycle and 2nd cycle, were on the gull island. A few Least Terns were standing around on the beach inside the roped-off area, but nesting activities have not begun in earnest for this species yet.

The full list is below.

Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 5/18/09
Notes: CMBO Monday walk. Cloudy, 50's, wind north 10-15
Number of species: 64
Canada Goose 10
Mute Swan 20
Gadwall 5
Mallard 10
Surf Scoter 1
Common Loon 1
Northern Gannet 1
Double-crested Cormorant 10
Great Egret 6
Snowy Egret 5
Little Blue Heron 2
Tricolored Heron 1
Green Heron 1
Glossy Ibis 10
Turkey Vulture 10
Osprey 5
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Semipalmated Plover 10
Piping Plover 4
Killdeer 2
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Willet 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Sanderling 2
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1
Least Sandpiper 10
White-rumped Sandpiper 1
Short-billed Dowitcher 10
Laughing Gull 50
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 20
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Least Tern 25
Common Tern 10
Forster's Tern 50
Rock Pigeon 1
Mourning Dove 10
Chimney Swift 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
American Crow 5
Fish Crow 2
Horned Lark 2
Purple Martin 2
Tree Swallow 6
Bank Swallow 3
Barn Swallow 10
Marsh Wren 1
American Robin 10
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 10
Yellow Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Song Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Common Grackle 30
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 10

Heislerville Images

[The hordes at Heislerville - see Tom Reed's report below as to what was there today. As O'Brien, Crossley and Karlson ask about some of the photos in their The Shorebird Guide, how many species can you find? Somewhere in here are White-rumped and Curlew Sandpipers, though truthfully we can't find them, they may be obscured by all the Dunlin, Black-bellied Plovers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, and Short-billed Dowitchers (some lovely hendersoni dowitchers were present today). Photo by Don Freiday, click to enlarge.]

[This Semipalmated Plover shows what all the birds are there for - an explosion in invertebrate life, plus a place to be when the tide is high and all tidal mudflats are inundated. Oh, and there a couple other interesting birds in this photo. . .male and female Curlew Sandpipers, about 6 p.m. today. The falling-tide exodus was just beginning. Birds are in the impoundment all the time, but to catch the peak be sure to be there at high tide. Photo by Don Freiday, click to enlarge.]

Heislerville Shorebird Bonanza

Heislerville again produced a truly impressive number of shorebirds on this evening's high tide. The headliners continued to be two Curlew Sandpipers, which really couldn't have been more cooperative as they fed, at times less than 20 feet from the edge of the northwest corner of the main impoundment. Also of note were at least three or four White-rumped Sandpipers, more often heard than seen, but often very close to the clamshell pull-off area when they were in sight.

It was essentially impossible to put a number on the birds present... the western side of the impoundment was buried in birds- but here are some general estimations that I came up with: 9600 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 5800 Dunlin, 3400 Short-billed Dowitchers, 370 Semipalmated Plovers and 192 Black-bellied Plovers. Also around were about two dozen Red Knots and an impressive flock of over 100 Black Skimmers on the sandspit in the middle of the impoundment.

The American Avocet was reported earlier in the afternoon, but I did not see it during the four hours I was there.

Location: Heislerville WMA
Observation date: 5/17/09
Notes: Estimated numbers during high tide. Male and female Curlew Sandpiper.
Number of species: 44

Canada Goose 6
Mute Swan 2
Mallard 2
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 4
Snowy Egret 3
Green Heron 2
Black-crowned Night-Heron 40
Glossy Ibis 3
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 4
Clapper Rail 1
Black-bellied Plover 192
Semipalmated Plover 370
Killdeer 4
Greater Yellowlegs 3
Willet (Eastern) 2
Ruddy Turnstone 8
Red Knot 25
Semipalmated Sandpiper 9600
White-rumped Sandpiper 4
Dunlin 5800
Curlew Sandpiper 2
Short-billed Dowitcher 3400
Laughing Gull 45
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 12
Great Black-backed Gull 3
Least Tern 2
Forster's Tern 3
Black Skimmer 130
Mourning Dove 1
Eastern Kingbird 1
Fish Crow 1
Purple Martin 1
Barn Swallow 12
Marsh Wren 1
European Starling 6
Cedar Waxwing 2
Song Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 8
Boat-tailed Grackle 1
House Sparrow 2

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Soggy Morning at The Rea Farm

The two walks at the Rea Farm/Beanery this morning featured lots of raindrops, and perhaps even more mosquitoes. There were also (thankfully) quite a few birds to be found, including 2 Cattle Egrets sitting atop a tree at the "willow pond," several Blue Grosbeaks and Indigo Buntings, and a few fly-over shorebirds, including Solitary Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher and Black-bellied Plover.

Combined list from both walks included-

Location: The Beanery
Observation date: 5/17/09
Notes: NJAS Spring Weekend - Day 3. Steady light rain for duration;
winds becoming NW and increasing throughout.
Number of species: 52

Canada Goose 13
Wood Duck 1
Mallard 4
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Snowy Egret 5
Cattle Egret 2
Glossy Ibis 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 1
Black-bellied Plover 5
Semipalmated Plover 1
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Short-billed Dowitcher 3
Laughing Gull 20
Herring Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Common Tern 1
Rock Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 4
Chimney Swift 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Eastern Kingbird 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 1
Barn Swallow 4
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
American Robin 5
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 10
Cedar Waxwing 4
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 1
Prothonotary Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 3
Northern Cardinal 4
Blue Grosbeak 3
Indigo Bunting 4
Red-winged Blackbird 6
Common Grackle 8
Brown-headed Cowbird 8
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 3
House Sparrow 2

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Spring Weekend Day 2 Notes - Shearwater, Sapsucker and More

[Female Curlew Sandpiper at Heislerville WMA this afternoon.
Photo by Karl Lukens.]

Day 2 of the Spring Weekend did not produce a large number of migrants, but provided many highlights nonetheless-

The early walk at Higbee was highlighted by a late Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in the parking lot before things officially got started, as well as good looks at Indigo Bunting and Blue Grosbeak. Migrants included Magnolia, Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green Warblers. A Prothonotary Warbler was noted on the late-morning walk, in the wet woods at the back end of the "tower field."

A Summer Tanager and a Bobolink were noted at the Beanery/Rea Farm this morning, and the Tricolored Heron was again sighted at the South Cape May Meadows.

The "Poor Man's Pelagic" aboard the Cape May-Lewes Ferry tallied 4-6 Parasitic Jaegers, as well as a Sooty Shearwater.

Two Gull-billed Terns were seen flying past the south end of Nummy Island during high tide this afternoon, where there were also several Royal Terns and Whimbrel present. A foggy Stone Harbor Point played host to about two dozen Northern Gannets feeding offshore, and a single Piping Plover along the edge of the manmade pool visible from the end of the path leading south from the parking lot.

Word from Heislerville is that two Curlew Sandpipers were easily visible at high tide this afternoon, as was the continuing American Avocet.

Lists from Higbee and Nummy included below-


Location: Higbee Beach
Observation date: 5/16/09
Number of species: 67

Canada Goose 2
Gadwall 2
Mallard 2
Double-crested Cormorant 35
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 1
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 5
Osprey 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Black-bellied Plover 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Short-billed Dowitcher 10
Laughing Gull 50
Herring Gull 6
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Forster's Tern 2
Rock Pigeon 1
Mourning Dove 6
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Chimney Swift 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 4
Eastern Kingbird 6
Red-eyed Vireo 6
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 2
Purple Martin 10
Tree Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 6
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 4
Carolina Wren 12
House Wren 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
American Robin 8
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 2
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 12
Cedar Waxwing 7
Northern Parula 3
Yellow Warbler 1
Magnolia Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 5
Blackpoll Warbler 2
American Redstart 2
Prothonotary Warbler 1
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Field Sparrow 6
Northern Cardinal 10
Blue Grosbeak 5
Indigo Bunting 6
Red-winged Blackbird 8
Common Grackle 12
Brown-headed Cowbird 20
Orchard Oriole 1
House Finch 4
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 2

----------

Location: Nummy Island
Observation date: 5/16/09
Number of species: 33

Brant (Atlantic) 25
Double-crested Cormorant 45
Great Egret 4
Snowy Egret 5
Glossy Ibis 2
Osprey 4
Clapper Rail 15
Black-bellied Plover 20
Semipalmated Plover 18
American Oystercatcher 4
Willet (Eastern) 6
Whimbrel 5
Ruddy Turnstone 4
Red Knot 5
Semipalmated Sandpiper 45
Least Sandpiper 3
Dunlin 60
Short-billed Dowitcher 40
Laughing Gull 150
Herring Gull 60
Great Black-backed Gull 25
Least Tern 5
Gull-billed Tern 2
Common Tern 6
Forster's Tern 12
Royal Tern 5
Fish Crow 3
Purple Martin 1
Bank Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 6
European Starling 1
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Boat-tailed Grackle 6

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Curlew Sandpiper at Heislerville

[How to torture your friends. . . Kevin P. Inman photographed this Curlew Sandpiper at Heislerville yesterday.]

Good Diversity, Small Numbers at Higbee - including Dickcissel

Back-to-back Higbee Beach walks during CMBO's spring weekend today yielded a female Dickcissel in the tower field, plus Wilson's, Blackpoll, Black-throated Green and Black-throated Blue among the 13 warbler species, and a lovely male Scarlet Tanager near the parking lot. Blue Grosbeaks seemed evident everywhere, and Indigo Buntings, too. A fun highlight at the start of the walk was a Mourning Dove carrying an egg shell and dropping it on the edge of the parking area. The full list - a composite of both walks - is below.

Location: Higbee Beach
Observation date: 5/15/09
Notes: CMBO Spring Weekend - composite of the two morning walks
Number of species: 58
Canada Goose 2
Wood Duck 1
Common Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant 5
Great Egret 1
Green Heron 1
Osprey 2
Black-bellied Plover 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Laughing Gull 50
Herring Gull 5
Forster's Tern 10
Mourning Dove 10
Great Horned Owl 1
Chimney Swift 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 4
Eastern Kingbird 10
White-eyed Vireo 5
Red-eyed Vireo 5
Blue Jay 10
Purple Martin 5
Carolina Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 5
Carolina Wren 10
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
Gray Catbird 3
Northern Mockingbird 1
Brown Thrasher 3
European Starling 1
Nashville Warbler 1
Northern Parula 5
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Magnolia Warbler 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 3
Prairie Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 2
Black-and-white Warbler 2
American Redstart 1
Common Yellowthroat 2
Wilson's Warbler 1
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Scarlet Tanager 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Field Sparrow 4
Northern Cardinal 5
Blue Grosbeak 5
Indigo Bunting 6
Red-winged Blackbird 5
Common Grackle 10
Brown-headed Cowbird 15
Orchard Oriole 2
Baltimore Oriole 3
American Goldfinch 2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Fly-by Eurasian Collared-Dove, SCMM

A Eurasian Collared-Dove flew past the South Cape May Meadows at 2:45pm. The bird was headed east, toward "downtown" Cape May.

Additionally, a Gull-billed Tern was reported on the "gull island" along the east path of the Meadows at 1:30pm.

Friday AM - Meadows Notes

The 32nd Annual Spring Weekend starts today, and I had the opportunity to spend the morning at the South Cape May Meadows. Highlights included a Least Bittern that flew across the beach-end of the east path around 11:30am, two Royal Terns on the "gull island" on the east path, at least two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a brief fly-by White-winged Scoter, and a pair of Horned Larks hanging around (and singing) from the dunes.

The walks at Cape May Point State Park produced a Blackburnian Warbler toward the back end of the park, as well as a Black-throated Blue Warbler.

Cumulative list from the Meadows included below-

Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 5/15/09
Number of species: 77

Canada Goose 15
Mute Swan 9
Gadwall 4
Mallard 6
Surf Scoter 6
White-winged Scoter 1
Common Loon 1
Northern Gannet 10
Double-crested Cormorant 50
Least Bittern 1
Great Egret 3
Snowy Egret 5
Tricolored Heron 1
Green Heron 2
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Glossy Ibis 20
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 4
American Coot 1
Black-bellied Plover 20
Semipalmated Plover 2
Piping Plover 6
Killdeer 2
American Oystercatcher 2
Solitary Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Willet (Eastern) 5
Red Knot 7
Sanderling 6
Semipalmated Sandpiper 4
Least Sandpiper 5
Dunlin 15
Short-billed Dowitcher 35
Laughing Gull 90
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 30
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
Great Black-backed Gull 15
Least Tern 30
Common Tern 8
Forster's Tern 30
Royal Tern 2
Black Skimmer 3
Rock Pigeon 1
Mourning Dove 6
Chimney Swift 6
Belted Kingfisher 1
Eastern Kingbird 2
Blue Jay 1
Fish Crow 2
Horned Lark 2
Purple Martin 6
Tree Swallow 12
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Bank Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 15
Carolina Chickadee 1
Carolina Wren 2
Marsh Wren 2
American Robin 6
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 10
Cedar Waxwing 3
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 2
Song Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 4
Indigo Bunting 1
Bobolink 1
Red-winged Blackbird 12
Common Grackle 6
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 12

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Fallout in the north?

I do not envy Dave LaPuma for having to forecast not only the weather but the birds.

Nonetheless, I'm looking at a number of weather sites and it sure looks like fallout conditions in northern NJ for Friday morning are emerging as a cold front approaches and winds are forecast to go from south to north in the late night/early morning hours. It will be interesting to see what develops at Garret Mountain, Scherman-Hoffman, Culver's Lake and other north Jersey hotspots tomorrow. Right now it looks like the front will not reach Cape May by daybreak and maybe not at all, we'll see. Birding in Cape May is always good, and we are anticipating some great things for the CMBO spring weekend, which starts tomorrow. . .but if I had a personal day, I'd take it and go to Garret Mountain tomorrow. . .

CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - May 14, 2009

Hotline: Cape May Birding Hotline
To Report: (609) 884-2736, sightings@birdcapemay.org
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic Counties, NJ
Compiler: Tom Reed, 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, May 14, 2009.

Highlights this week include reports of WHITE-FACED IBIS, SWALLOW-TAILED KITE, CURLEW SANDPIPER, ARCTIC TERN, NORTHERN PINTAIL, LONG-TAILED DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, BROWN PELICAN, LEAST BITTERN, MISSISSIPPI KITE, SORA, COMMON MOORHEN, BLACK-NECKED STILT, AMERICAN AVOCET, MARBLED GODWIT, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL, GULL-BILLED TERN, ROSEATE TERN, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, LEAST FLYCATCHER, CAPE MAY WARBLER, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, CERULEAN WARBLER, VESPER SPARROW, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, and DICKCISSEL.

-For more up-to-the-minute Cape May sightings information and a download-able birding map of Cape May, visit www.BirdCapeMay.org. Also follow us on Twitter at CMBObirds (www.twitter.com/cmbobirds - review list or very rare birds or spectacles only) -


3 SWALLOW-TAILED KITES were noted at the South Cape May Meadows on 5/11, a new high count for New Jersey.

2 CURLEW SANDPIPERS were found at Heislerville WMA in Cumberland County on 5/10. At least one continued through 5/14.

At least 1 WHITE-FACED IBIS was seen at Beaver Swamp WMA in South Dennis on 5/7 and 5/9. 4 GULL-BILLED TERNS were there on 5/14.

An ARCTIC TERN was noted during a passing storm at the South Cape May Meadows on 5/9.

Other sightings from the Meadows this week included ROSEATE TERN, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and GLAUCOUS GULL at the "gull island" along the east path on 5/9, COMMON MOORHEN along the west path on 5/11, and a LEAST BITTERN along the east path on 5/12. The BLACK-NECKED STILT was last noted on 5/10.

An AMERICAN AVOCET was discovered at Heislerville WMA on 5/12, and continued through 5/14. 3 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were also noted here on 5/14.

At least 2 MISSISSIPPI KITES were noted over the Beanery/Rea Farm between 5/9 and 5/10. Others were noted at Beaver Swamp WMA and Brig/Forsythe NWR on 5/9.

An excellent passerine flight on 5/8 was highlighted by CERULEAN, CAPE MAY and BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS plus a WILLOW FLYCATCHER at Higbee Beach WMA. A LEAST FLYCATCHER was noted at Cape May Pt. State Park the same day. At least 6 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were seen on 5/10 around Cape Island, including 4 on a single tree at Higbee Beach WMA.

A VESPER SPARROW was found at Buckshutem WMA, located on Buckshutem Road west of the Millville Airport, on 5/13. A DICKCISSEL and a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW were heard singing from the field next to the new development on Bayshore Road on 5/12.

2 BROWN PELICANS were seen flying past Cape May Pt. State Park on 5/13. A SORA was noted near Lighthouse Pond on 5/13.

A MARBLED GODWIT has been seen sporadically on Thorofare Island, visible from Two Mile Landing.

Lingering ducks in the past week included NORTHERN PINTAIL at the Coast Guard Ponds, LONG-TAILED DUCK near St. Peter's in Cape May Pt., and 2 BUFFLEHEADS at Shell Bay Landing.


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!

Sora and More

[American Avocet at Heislerville. It was there through Tuesday at least, and may still be. Photo by Karl Lukens.]

I met a group of Hawk Mountain interns at Cape May Point State Park yesterday, and while we were birding at Lighthouse Pond a Sora started calling. Vince Elia tells me he heard one further along the red trail there on Saturday. This morning's CMBO walk there added 2 Brown Pelicans, which has been absent of late.

Speaking of marsh birds, John Wasse of the U.K. had a Least Bittern in the meadows on Tuesday, along the east path close to Sunset Blvd. Karl Lukens and Bob Fogg had a Common Moorhen in the meadows on Monday night, from the west path looking west. This bird (or these birds, more than one have been reported) can be tough to find.

Stu and Wendy Malmid sent me a note asking why northwest winds would bring Swallow-tailed Kites to Cape May, a fair question since intuitively they are coming from the south. It's the fall hawk watch weather pattern working more or less the same way, on birds that likely were many miles to the north of us before the cold front passed. In other words, they overshot not only their breeding range, but Cape May, too (maybe they were over the Great Swamp or other north Jersey spots at some point!), and were pushed or just decided to head back south after the cold front passed.

Northwest winds often bring some of the best birding here in Cape May at any time of year, although in spring for passerines the ideal is south winds overnight going west or northwest (best) later in the night.

[Here's proof of multiple kites on Monday, although no one could quite get a photo with all three together. Photo by Karl Lukens]


[Note the wing molt in this Swallow-tailed Kite from Monday. Photo by Karl Lukens.]

[Michael O'Brien photographed the Yellow-throated Warbler above, apparently of the white-lored "Sycamore" race, at Higbee Beach on Tuesday. This race is apparently rare in Cape May, although it may just be overlooked, and may in fact not be a race at all, there is disagreement on that matter.]

[The funky looking Little Blue Heron, next to a Tri-colored Heron, in the South Cape May Meadows on Monday. Photo by Karl Lukens.]

Janet Crawford sent the following report from CMBO's Exploring Cumberland Walk, which will be held just one more time, next Wednesday May 20 from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. It meets at the base of the bridge over the Maurice River near Mauricetown. Quite a long list of birds, and some good ones, a great way to spend a Wednesday morning!

Location: Dividing Creek, Cumberland County, NJ, US
Observation date: 5/13/09
Notes: CMBO Exploring Cumberland walk

The bird of the day was a Vesper Sparrow on the dirt road with a couple of Horned Larks at Buckshutem WMA. We also had Grasshopper Sparrow and Bobolinks there. We had a 16 Warbler day, with good looks at Yellow Warbler (including one on nest), Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and Yellow-breated Chat. We heard both Tanagers, but only saw Summer. We had good looks at both Baltimore and Orchard Orioles.

Number of species: 66
American Black Duck 3
Wild Turkey 7
Great Egret 4
Snowy Egret 3
Green Heron 2
Osprey 6
Bald Eagle 2
Northern Harrier 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Willet 5
Least Sandpiper 6
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Dunlin 1
Common Tern 2
Mourning Dove 24
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 4
Great Crested Flycatcher 9
Eastern Kingbird 3
White-eyed Vireo 12
Red-eyed Vireo 10
Purple Martin 14
Bank Swallow 35
Tufted Titmouse 5
Carolina Wren 6
House Wren 3
Marsh Wren 3
Wood Thrush 5
American Robin 7
Gray Catbird 11
European Starling 18
Blue-winged Warbler 1
Northern Parula 4
Yellow Warbler 7
Magnolia Warbler 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Yellow-throated Warbler 7
Pine Warbler 5
Prairie Warbler 3
Blackpoll Warbler 1
American Redstart 2
Prothonotary Warbler 2
Worm-eating Warbler 2
Ovenbird 30
Northern Waterthrush 1
Common Yellowthroat 6
Yellow-breasted Chat 2
Summer Tanager 3
Scarlet Tanager 5
Eastern Towhee 3
Chipping Sparrow 4
Field Sparrow 8
Seaside Sparrow 9
Northern Cardinal 9
Blue Grosbeak 2
Indigo Bunting 8
Bobolink 1
Red-winged Blackbird 16
Common Grackle 20
Boat-tailed Grackle 8
Brown-headed Cowbird 24
Orchard Oriole 6
Baltimore Oriole 2

Location: Buckshutem WMA fields
Number of species: 11
Turkey Vulture 2
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Horned Lark 3
Tree Swallow 12
Prairie Warbler 2
Field Sparrow 4
Vesper Sparrow 1
Grasshopper Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 5
Bobolink 3
Red-winged Blackbird 10

Avocet, Curlew Sandpiper, Kites, more + WSB results

Vince Elia just called to let me know there is an American Avocet at Heislerville right now, found by Paula Clark. There was a male Curlew Sandpiper there earlier amidst the bazillion shorebirds which are flushing repeatedly.

Glenn Davis picked a Swallow-tailed Kite over his house in Green Creek, headed south, a little after noon today.

At least 2 Mississippi Kites have been seen in various places in Cape May today, along with a collection of 50+ buteos, mostly Broad-winged hawks, that has been moving around Cape Island. A singing Grasshopper Sparrow and Dickcissel were along Bayshore Road, on the left hand side in the last field on the left (west) before the development, as you head towards New England Road, along with about a dozen Bobolinks in the distance, according to Michael and Louise.

Full results for the WSB have been posted on the WSB page.

About those kites. . .plus full meadows report

So what happened was I yelled out "Swallow-tailed Kite!" ( a great way to get a birding group's attention), realized that the bird was showing wing molt that last week's Swallow-tailed in Cape May had not, and before we knew it we were looking at three Swallow-taileds in one field of view! Prior to the current spring there were 72 accepted records for this species in NJ; apparently none involved multiple birds.

Other highlights from this morning's meadows walk included a lovely Horned Lark that dropped onto the dunes while we were looking for the Black-necked Stilt, which we did not find. Three Little Blues, a Tri-colored and a Green Heron, plus the usual snowies and greats, were a nice mix. One of the Little Blues was a funkadelic molting second-year bird, mostly white with patchy blue. One of the two adult Bald Eagles we saw pursued an Osprey, but for once the Osprey got away with the fish. A Yellow-breasted Chat did a brief display for some of the group, and at least 3 Marsh Wrens are now singing along the east path. Three Bonaparte's lingered on the island, but there was sign of neither Roseate nor Arctic Terns, both of which were seen during the WSB on Saturday. The full list from today's walk is below.

Two subadult Mississippi Kites were seen together over the Beanery/Stevens Street yesterday, one browner than the other. With yesterday's strong northwest winds (which undoubtedly contributed to the presence of today's swallow-taileds), there were plenty of other raptors afloat - I saw 2 Cooper's, one Sharp-shinned, several Bald Eagles and Red-taileds, and a few Broad-wingeds in a half-hour scanning.

Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 5/11/09
Notes: CMBO Monday walk, spectacular!!!
Number of species: 71
Brant 3
Canada Goose 10
Mute Swan 20
Gadwall 5
Mallard 5
Common Loon 3
Northern Gannet 10
Double-crested Cormorant 50
Great Egret 5
Snowy Egret 5
Little Blue Heron 3
Tricolored Heron 1
Green Heron 1
Glossy Ibis 15
Turkey Vulture 5
Osprey 10
Swallow-tailed Kite 3 Together!! NJ high count
Bald Eagle 2
Black-bellied Plover 5
Semipalmated Plover 15
Piping Plover 8
Killdeer 2
American Oystercatcher 2
Spotted Sandpiper 3
Greater Yellowlegs 15
Willet 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 5
Sanderling 15
Semipalmated Sandpiper 4
Least Sandpiper 25
Dunlin 1
Short-billed Dowitcher 30
Bonaparte's Gull 3
Laughing Gull 90
Ring-billed Gull 4
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Least Tern 50
Common Tern 15
Forster's Tern 225 clicked this species, so this is an actual count or close to it.
Rock Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 5
Chimney Swift 20
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 5
Fish Crow 10
Horned Lark 1
Purple Martin 20
Tree Swallow 5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 25
Carolina Wren 1
Marsh Wren 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 1
Yellow Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 3
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Common Grackle 10
Boat-tailed Grackle 5
Brown-headed Cowbird 10
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 10

THREE Swallow-tailed Kites, South Cape May!

CMBO's Monday morning walk at the South Cape May Meadows is currently being wow'd by not one, not two, but THREE Swallow-tailed Kites! I'm not entirely sure if there has ever been a New Jersey record of multiple Swallow-taileds, and I highly doubt that there's ever been a record of three!

More details, as they emerge, throughout the day.

On another note, a second Curlew Sandpiper was found at Heiserville yesterday morning. One bird is a brick-red male, the other likely a female. The best time to see the birds is during high tide, which is during the early afternoon today.

Curlew Sandpiper, Heislerville WMA

A Curlew Sandpiper was found by Harvey Tomlinson at Heislerville WMA this morning. H-ville has been packed with shorebirds lately, so a trip there is definitely worth it, even if you can't dig up the Curlew.

I'm sure Don or Bob will have more WSB highlights to report later...a couple highlights of the NJAS Trail Birds' day included a low Mississippi Kite over the fields at the north end of Bayshore Road, a Marbled Godwit on Thorofare Island (viewed from Two Mile Landing), and the continuing Black-necked Stilt at the South Cape May Meadows.

We also came across 3 Red-headed Woodpeckers on Cape Island during the morning hours, and were tipped off to a continuing Long-tailed Duck at St. Peter's. Also in the lingering duck department were 2 Buffleheads at Shell Bay Landing, and a female Black Scoter at Heislerville during high tide.

WSB Winners; Possible Little Egret at Brigantine

World Series of Birding 2009 results are here:
2009 Award Winners.pdf

A possible Little Egret was reported on Saturday, May 9 at Edwin B. Forsythe NWR, Briganitne Division, along the south dike about 50-150 yards east of the road to the Gull Tower. Further details will be posted and Twittered at CMBObirds when they are known.

Swallow-tailed Kite, Black-necked Stilt Continue

The Swallow-tailed Kite was again soaring over the Beanery and nearby environs at 12:30pm. A nice hawk flight (by spring standards) had developed as well, with as many as 8 Red-tailed Hawks visible at one time, as well as 3 Broad-winged Hawks, a few Cooper's and a single Sharp-shinned Hawk, and a Merlin. The Black-necked Stilt was reported from the Meadows "plover pond" this morning.

A little time spent at Beaver Swamp WMA this afternoon produced multiple Prothonotary and Yellow-throated Warblers, as well as two juvenile Bald Eagles.

Higbee Awesome; Other Birds around Cape May

Not surprisingly given the south winds last night, MANY migrants came into Cape May today. I'm just going to let the Higbee eBird list at the very bottom of this post speak for itself, bolding the highlights.

Other birds in the Cape May area included a calling Northern Bobwhite audible from New England Road west of the Hidden Valley parking area, and Dickcissels at the Beanery and Higbee, apparently flyovers. Three Cattle Egrets were roosted behind the willow/oxbow pond at the Beanery. Both Tri-colored Heron and American Coot were at the Cape May Meadows this morning. For south-of-the-canal teams, a Yellow-throated Warbler was reported singing from the Beanery this morning.

Location: Higbee Beach
Observation date: 5/8/09
Notes: CMBO walk, 25 participants treated to one of the best days at Higbee I've had.
Number of species: 73

Mallard 2
Double-crested Cormorant 40
Great Cormorant 1
Great Egret 2
Snowy Egret 5
Osprey 1
Laughing Gull 25
Herring Gull 10
Forster's Tern 5
Mourning Dove 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 3
Willow Flycatcher 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Eastern Kingbird 10
White-eyed Vireo 5
Blue-headed Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 10
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 5
Tree Swallow 5
Barn Swallow 5
Carolina Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 10
Carolina Wren 8
House Wren 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5
Veery 1
Wood Thrush 1
Gray Catbird 10
Brown Thrasher 3
European Starling 3
Nashville Warbler 3
Northern Parula 20
Yellow Warbler 5
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Magnolia Warbler 3
Cape May Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 50
Black-throated Green Warbler 4
Prairie Warbler 4
Palm Warbler 2
Bay-breasted Warbler 1
Cerulean Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 5
American Redstart 1
Worm-eating Warbler 1
Ovenbird 1
Common Yellowthroat 3
Hooded Warbler 1
Canada Warbler 1
Yellow-breasted Chat 5
Summer Tanager 1
Scarlet Tanager 1
Eastern Towhee 2
Field Sparrow 5
White-throated Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal 8
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 5
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 10
Red-winged Blackbird 5
Common Grackle 10
Brown-headed Cowbird 10
Orchard Oriole 1
Baltimore Oriole 10
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 5