CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - July 9, 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 9th, 2009.

Highlights this week include reports of GRAY KINGBIRD, BRANT, GREATER SHEARWATER, WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, BROWN PELICAN, LEAST BITTERN, CATTLE EGRET, YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, BLACK RAIL, 'WESTERN' WILLET, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, GULL-BILLED TERN, BLACK TERN, ROSEATE TERN, SANDWICH TERN, PARASITIC JAEGER, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, NORTHERN PARULA, and BOBOLINK. 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 GRAY KINGBIRD was found along the beach at the South Cape May Meadows/CMMBR on 7/4, and has not been seen since.

The BLACK RAIL at the Meadows was last reported on 7/3.

A ROSEATE TERN was again seen from Cape May Point on 7/3, and a PARASITIC JAEGER was seen from the Meadows on 7/2. A WILSON'S STORM-PETREL was spotted from the same spot on 7/6. Also on 7/6 was an adult BLACK TERN, seen from St. Mary's. GREATER SHEARWATER was seen sporadically from Cape May Point through at least 7/7.

78 ROYAL TERNS, 2 GULL-BILLED TERNS, a SANDWICH TERN and 5 'WESTERN' WILLETS were noted at Stone Harbor Point on 7/6.

A BRANT was seen again this week, this time at Two Mile Landing on 7/6.

2 NORTHERN PARULAS were noted at Higbee Beach WMA on 7/8, and a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was seen at the Meadows on 7/3.

The first southbound BOBOLINKS of the season were recorded at Norbury's Landing on 7/5.

3-4 CATTLE EGRETS have been seen in West Cape May during the past week. A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON visited the Meadows on 7/6, and LEAST BITTERN continues to be reported daily from the same location.

BROWN PELICANS and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were noted at Cape May Point and Stone Harbor Point this week.

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!