CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - July 16, 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, July 16th, 2009.

Highlights this week include reports of BRANT, BLACK SCOTER, CORY'S SHEARWATER, GREATER SHEARWATER, WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, AMERICAN BITTERN, LEAST BITTERN, LITTLE BLUE HERON, TRICOLORED HERON, YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, AMERICAN AVOCET, WESTERN SANDPIPER, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, BLACK TERN, ROSEATE TERN, SANDWICH TERN, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, WHIP-POOR-WILL, and SUMMER TANAGER. 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 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was observed circling a boat in the "rips" off Cape May Point on 7/13.

CORY'S SHEARWATER and GREATER SHEARWATER were noted from Cape May Pt. on 7/12, as well as a ROSEATE TERN on 7/10. WILSON'S STORM-PETREL has also been seen from the Point during the past week.

BLACK TERN and SANDWICH TERN were seen offshore of Cape May Pt. State Park on 7/16.

An AMERICAN BITTERN was noted flying into the South Cape May Meadows/CMMBR on 7/16, and LEAST BITTERN continues there daily. A BLACK SCOTER was on the beach adjacent to the Meadows on 7/13, and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS continue along the beachfront.

4 AMERICAN AVOCETS were found at Brig/Forsythe NWR on 7/12, as well as BRANT and WESTERN SANDPIPER.

A CMBO boat trip to Great Egg Harbor Bay on 7/14 produced 40 YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, 20 TRICOLORED HERONS and 19 LITTLE BLUE HERONS.

A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO has been seen throughout the week at the South Cape May Meadows/CMMBR. WHIP-POOR-WILL and SUMMER TANAGER were heard in Bear Swamp near Dividing Creek, Cumberland County on 7/12.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

**CMBO’s Center for Research and Education in Goshen re-opened on Tuesday, June 30th, 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.**

*CMBO’s Northwood Center will be closed for inventory on July 28th and 29th. CMBO-CRE will be closed for inventory August 27th and 28th.*

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!