CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - June 25, 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, June 25th, 2009.

Highlights this week include reports of BRANT, LESSER SCAUP, COMMON EIDER, BLACK SCOTER, CORY'S SHEARWATER, GREATER SHEARWATER, WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, NORTHERN GANNET, BROWN PELICAN, LEAST BITTERN, BLACK RAIL, KING RAIL, COMMON MOORHEN, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, WHIMBREL, LEAST SANDPIPER, GULL-BILLED TERN, ROSEATE TERN, PARASITIC JAEGER, BONAPARTE'S GULL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, WILLOW FLYCATCHER and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. Also, an announcement regarding the re-opening of CMBO's Center for Research and Education in Goshen.

- 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) -


A BLACK RAIL was discovered in the South Cape May Meadows/CMMBR on 6/23, and continued through 6/25. The bird has been calling at regular intervals toward the beginning of the west path. Black Rail is an endangered species in New Jersey: please do not leave the path in search of the bird, and do not play tapes or iPod recordings.

Other birds in the Meadows this week included a KING RAIL along the west path on 6/23, COMMON MOORHEN and LEAST BITTERN along the east path throughout the week, ROSEATE TERN and GULL-BILLED TERN on the east path's "gull island" on 6/21, and at least 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS throughout the week. 2 PARASITIC JAEGERS and a NORTHERN GANNET were seen offshore of the Meadows on 6/24. The first migrant shorebirds of the season included 2 LEAST SANDPIPERS and a LESSER YELLOWLEGS on 6/21, along with an early WHIMBREL on 6/22.

Seawatching from St. Peter's in Cape May Point on 6/20 produced 12 WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS, a ROSEATE TERN, a BLACK SCOTER and a NORTHERN GANNET. A BRANT was noted from Cape May Point on 6/22, and a BONAPARTE'S GULL was seen at Davie's Lake on 6/25.

15 GREATER SHEARWATERS and several CORY'S SHEARWATERS were noted from St. Mary's in Cape May Point on 6/18.

A back-bay boat trip on 6/20 yielded a COMMON EIDER in Richardson's Sound, as well as a LESSER SCAUP near the toll bridge at Nummy Island.

17 BROWN PELICANS were tallied from Cape May Point State Park on 6/25. WILLOW FLYCATCHER and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT were noted there on 6/24.


ANNOUNCEMENTS:
**CMBO’s Center for Research and Education in Goshen will re-open Tuesday, June 30, 2009. CRE hours will be Tuesday-Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CMBO's Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open Wednesday - Monday, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.**

*Both CMBO centers will be closed for the July 4th holiday. CMBO’s Northwood Center will be closed for inventory July 28 and 29. CMBO-CRE will be closed for inventory August 27 and 28.*

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!