CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - THURSDAY, MARCH 11 2010

Hotline: Cape May Birding Hotline
To Report: call (609) 884-2736, or email sightingsATbirdcapemay.org
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic Counties , NJ
Compiler: David Lord, Cape May Bird Observatory with additions by Don Freiday
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, March 11, 2010. Highlights this week include sightings of BLACK-HEADED GULL, GOLDEN EAGLE, KING EIDER, COMMON EIDER, REDHEAD, EURASIAN WIGEON; apparent arrivals of FORSTER’S TERN, LAUGHING GULL, OSPREY; and an announcement about the CMBO Annual Optics Sale March 13-14, 2010.

The BLACK-HEADED GULLS continue. At least three are present, one first cycle, an adult with currently just a spot behind the eye, and an adult with the beginnings of a hood. See photos below. Recent reports include an adult seen at Fern and Shore Streets in the Villas on Thursday, March 11, 2010, and the first cycle bird with an adult at Miami Avenue, also in the Villas, on Wednesday, March 10, 2010. Look for these birds from Cape May Point north along the bay at places like Sunset Beach, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal, the mouth of Cox Hall Creek, and the end of Miami Ave. in the Villas.

A sub-adult GOLDEN EAGLE was seen at Beaver Dam Boat Rentals in Cumberland County on Sunday, March 7, 2010, a different bird than the adult GOLDEN EAGLE that has been wintering in the area.

The immature KING EIDER was seen on Saturday, March 6, 2010 at Poverty Beach. This bird is usually noted around the Coast Guard Jetty, and the Coast Guard Jetty is viewable only by looking north from Poverty Beach. This bird may be at a great distance. An adult male COMMON EIDER has been at Cape May Point; this species is still easily found along the south coast as it has been all winter.

The drake REDHEAD and two drake EURASIAN WIGEONS continue on Lighthouse Pond as of Thursday, March 11, 2010.

12 FORSTER’S TERNS were noted at the end of Hudson Avenue in the Villas on Monday, March 8th, 2010, with more noted the rest of the week.

A LAUGHING GULL was seen from the Cape May Lewes Ferry, heading toward the Villas on Monday, March 8th, 2010, with adults seen subsequently this week along the Delaware Bayshore from Norbury’s Landing south.

A pair of OSPREYS returned to the Maurice River on Thursday, March 4th, 2010.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

CMBO’s Fifteenth Annual Optics Sale will be Saturday and Sunday, March 13 and 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the CMBO Center for Research and Education in Goshen. A large selection of closeout, demo, factory-refurbished, new and used optics will be priced to move. Binoculars and spotting scopes from all major brands will be available. There are no advance or phone orders: first come, first served. You must be a member of NJAS or CMBO to take advantage of these great deals, so join today if you’re not already a member.

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!

******CMBO Bookstore WINTER HOURS are as follows: Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open Wednesday through Monday, 9:30am to 4:30pm; closed Tuesdays. The Center for Research and Education on Rt. 47 in Goshen is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30am to 4:30pm (but open Sunday March 14 for the Optics Sale); closed Mondays and Tuesdays. ******

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!