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!