CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - July 2, 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 2nd, 2009.

Highlights this week include reports of ANHINGA, WHITE IBIS, BRANT, SURF SCOTER, CORY'S SHEARWATER, GREATER SHEARWATER, WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, BROWN PELICAN, LEAST BITTERN, YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, MISSISSIPPI KITE, BLACK RAIL, KING RAIL, 'WESTERN' WILLET, BLACK-HEADED GULL, BONAPARTE'S GULL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, GULL-BILLED TERN, BLACK TERN, ROSEATE TERN, SANDWICH TERN, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, and SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROW. 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) -

An ANHINGA was found soaring over the Beanery/Rea Farm on 6/27, and was seen the next day over the South Cape May Meadows/CMMBR. Presumably the same bird was also noted soaring over Sea Grove Avenue in Cape May Point on 7/2.

An adult WHITE IBIS was found along the west path of the South Cape May Meadows/CMMBR on 6/28. The same or another was seen near Sunset Lake in Wildwood Crest on 6/29.

An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was discovered in the 2nd Plover Pond at Cape May Pt. State Park on 6/27, and was re-found at the South Cape May Meadows/CMMBR on 6/30. A BONAPARTE'S GULL was seen again at Pond Creek Marsh on 6/26.

The BLACK RAIL continued along the beginning of the west path of the South Cape May Meadows/CMMBR through at least 7/1. Other birds at the Meadows this week included 3-4 MISSISSIPPI KITES and a KING RAIL on 6/28, as well as 17 BROWN PELICANS, 2 GULL-BILLED TERNS and a 'WESTERN' WILLET on 6/29.

A CORY'S SHEARWATER was seen from Cape May Point on 6/30, and a GREATER SHEARWATER was noted on 7/2. WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS have been reported in the "rips" off Cape May Point throughout the week. A BRANT was seen flying past Cape May Point on 6/27.

At least 8 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen on the beachfront between Cape May Pt. State Park and the Meadows on 6/30. 2 BLACK TERNS were seen between Cape May Pt. State Park and the Meadows on 6/29 and 6/30. 2 SANDWICH TERNS and 1-2 ROSEATE TERNS have also been seen in this area during the past week.

A boat trip to Great Egg Harbor Bay on 6/30 tallied 25 YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, a SURF SCOTER and several SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS.

Breeding birds at Cape May Pt. State Park include WILLOW FLYCATCHER and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

***Both CMBO Centers will be closed for Independence Day on Saturday, July 4th.***

**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!