Gray Kingbird in South Cape May

A Gray Kingbird was found at the South Cape May Meadows/Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge this morning by Michael O'Brien. The bird was seen perched atop some of the roping used to close off portions of the beachfront for tern and plover nesting. The bird stayed for a brief period of time before taking off and flying northwest- it has not been relocated since.

Gray Kingbird is a vagrant from the south, most likely to be found during late-spring and early-fall. Cape May has only a handful of records, and today's sighting might represent the first July record for New Jersey.

[Gray Kingbird on the beachfront of the South Cape May Meadows/CMMBR this morning. Michael made note of the broad primary tips visible in the bottom photo, indicating a first-year bird.
Photos by Michael O'Brien; click to enlarge.]