CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - August 27, 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, August 27th, 2009.

Highlights this week include sightings of ROSEATE SPOONBILL, RED-NECKED STINT, BRANT, GREAT CORMORANT, LEAST BITTERN, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, VIRGINIA RAIL, SORA, COMMON MOORHEN, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, AMERICAN AVOCET, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, MARBLED GODWIT, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, WILSON'S PHALAROPE, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, BLACK TERN, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, ALDER FLYCATCHER, CERULEAN WARBLER, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, LARK SPARROW, and SAVANNAH SPARROW.

-- 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). --

The ROSEATE SPOONBILL continues to be seen at Brig/Forsythe NWR this week, with sightings through 8/26. Most sightings are from the north dike, between the northwest corner of the Danzenbaker (East) Pool and the "dog leg." A RED-NECKED STINT was found from the north dike, just past the "dog leg," on 8/23. It was not seen again.

Other birds noted at Brig this week included HUDSONIAN and MARBLED GODWIT along the south dike on 8/25, 2 WILSON'S PHALAROPES along the north dike on 8/24, and 2 AMERICAN AVOCETS, most frequently reported from the north dike. 50+ LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS have been present at Brig this week.

A BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was seen in the 3rd Plover Pond between the Meadows and the State Park on 8/27. An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER flew over the State Park on 8/24.

As many as 3 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS were seen at Higbee Beach WMA on 8/23. Highlights from the Higbee Dike this week included a large flight of over 3,000 passerines on 8/25, highlighted by 2 CERULEAN WARBLERS, 2 LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES and a LARK SPARROW. A GREAT CORMORANT was noted from the dike on 8/23, and 2 AMERICAN AVOCETS visited the dike dredge spoils multiple times throughout the week. The first SAVANNAH SPARROWS of the fall were tallied this week.

ALDER and YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS were noted from Higbee and Cape May Pt. State Park this week. A LARK SPARROW was noted at Ponderlodge/Villas WMA on 8/25. 9 species of raptors were noted around Cape Island this week, including a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK on 8/24

A BRANT continues to take up residence in the back bays between Cape May and Wildwood Crest, seen as recently as 8/24.

Multiple BLACK TERNS have been reported at the Meadows and the State Park this week. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS continue to be seen along the beachfront between the Meadows and the State Park, and LEAST BITTERN continues to be noted with regularity from the Meadows. COMMON MOORHEN, SORA and VIRGINIA RAIL were also noted at the Meadows this week.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

**CMBO's Center for Research & Education in Goshen will be closed for inventory on August 27th and 28th.**

*FALL HOURS: Starting September 1st, CMBO's Center for Research and Education on Route 47 in Goshen will be open Tuesday-Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CMBO's Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point will be open 7 days a week, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. These hours will remain in place through the end of November.*

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!