Saturday, June 13, 2009

Summer Birding in The Meadows

Mid-June has arrived in Cape May, more or less signifying the unofficial end of spring migration in these parts. However, in just a couple short weeks, the first weak cold front of the "fall" will undoubtedly sweep through, and in its wake the first southbound yellowlegs, dowitchers and Bobolinks will arrive on the Cape.

In the meantime, now is a superb time to check out Belleplain State Forest to monitor breeding bird activity. The salt marshes of the Delaware Bayshore and Atlantic Coast are brimming with bird life, and the pleasant hike out to the end of Stone Harbor Point is really a must during the months of June and July, particularly if beach-nesting birds have returned to the Point again this year.

Karl Lukens reports the following from Friday evening's Meadows walk:

"CMBO Evening Walk at the Meadows. Got most of the usual suspects and a bonus as the Least Bittern flew across the center pond and disappeared in the cattails."

- Karl (Chuck, Mary Jane, Kathy, Roger)


Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 6/12/09
Notes: CMBO Trip-K,C&MJ,R&KH,+6.Clr,72,SW3.
Number of species: 38

Canada Goose 25
Mute Swan 12
Mallard 8
Least Bittern 1 fly by
Great Egret 8
Snowy Egret 3
Glossy Ibis 2
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 2
Semipalmated Plover 1
Piping Plover 3
Killdeer 2
American Oystercatcher 2
Laughing Gull 35
Herring Gull 20
Great Black-backed Gull 20
Least Tern 30
Common Tern 2
Forster's Tern 10
Black Skimmer 7
Rock Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 5
Chimney Swift 2
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 1
Purple Martin 3
Barn Swallow 5
Carolina Wren 1
Marsh Wren 2
American Robin 2
European Starling 10
Common Yellowthroat 4
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 20
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 5

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

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