CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - July 30, 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 30th, 2009.

Highlights this week include sightings of BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK, ROSEATE SPOONBILL, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, WILD TURKEY, COMMON LOON, CORY'S SHEARWATER, GREATER SHEARWATER, AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER, WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, AMERICAN BITTERN, CATTLE EGRET, COMMON MOORHEN, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, AMERICAN AVOCET, UPLAND SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, and BLACK TERN.

-- For more up-to-the-minute Cape May sightings information and a downloadable 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-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK was seen flying past the South Cape May Meadows/CMMBR on 7/25, and was later seen the same day at Lighthouse Pond in Cape May Pt. State Park. The bird was missing its hind claw on both feet, thus making its origin uncertain. There have been no reports since.

The ROSEATE SPOONBILL at Brig/Forsythe NWR continued to be seen this week, with reports from the south dike and the east pool. 2-3 AMERICAN AVOCETS and 2 BLACK TERNS were observed at Brig on 7/28.

A tuna fishing trip ranging 20-35 miles east of Avalon encountered 2 AUDUBON'S SHEARWATERS, 2 GREATER SHEARWATERS, 10 CORY'S SHEARWATERS, 2 COMMON LOONS and 25 WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS on 7/28.

2 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS and an UPLAND SANDPIPER were noted from Cape May Pt. State Park on 7/29. A pair of PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were seen there on 7/30. An AMERICAN BITTERN flew out of Lighthouse Pond on 7/25.

Reports from the South Cape May Meadows/CMMBR this week included 3 COMMON MOORHENS and BLUE-WINGED TEAL on 7/24; BLACK TERN and CATTLE EGRET on 7/27. 6 CATTLE EGRETS were seen in West Cape May on 7/27.

Multiple LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS continue to be seen along the beachfront between Cape May Pt. State Park and the Meadows.

5 WILD TURKEYS were spotted along New England Road, across from Hidden Valley WMA, on 7/25.


ANNOUNCEMENTS:

*CMBO's Center for Research & Education in Goshen will be closed for inventory on 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!