CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - FRIDAY, APRIL 2 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 Friday, April 2nd, 2010. Highlights this week include sightings of BLACK-NECKED STILT, BLACK-HEADED GULL, KING EIDER, EURASIAN WIGEON, RED-NECKED GREBE, LESSER-BLACK BACKED GULL plus apparent arrivals of YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, LEAST SANDPIPER, WHIMBREL, WHIP-POOR-WILL, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, and an announcement about CMBO membership.

-For up-to-the-minute Cape May sightings information, photos and downloadable birding maps and checklist of Cape May, visit www.birdcapemay.org . Follow rarity sightings, many spring arrivals, and spectacles on www.twitter.com/CMBObirds -

A BLACK-NECKED STILT was found in the West Cape May impoundments, just east of Route 626 bridge and south of the canal bridge, on Saturday, March 27, 2010. It apparently was last reported Wednesday, March 31, 2010, and was NOT found there Friday, April 2, but could still be in the area.

Both adult BLACK-HEADED GULLS continue on the Lower Delaware Bay, with one being seen at the Concrete ship on Wednesday, March 31 2010, and another at Miami Avenue on Sunday, March 28, 2010. One bird may still display a partial hood, while the other has a nearly complete hood. 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.

The sub-adult KING EIDER was refound at Poverty Beach on Wednesday, March 31, 2010.

One drake EURASIAN WIGEON continues on Lighthouse Pond, last reported on Thursday, April 1, 2010.

A RED-NECKED GREBE continues in Great Channel between Stone Harbor and Nummy Island, last reported Thursday, April 1 2010.

An adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen from the Cape May - Lewes Ferry on Sunday, March 28, 2010.

Apparent Spring arrivals follow. A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was at 44th Ave in Avalon Sunday, March 28 2010. Two SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS were seen near the Coast Guard Base (private property) on Tuesday, March 30, 2010. LEAST SANDPIPERS were at the South Cape May Meadows Friday, March 26, 2010. WHIP-POOR-WILL was at Turkey Point Friday, April 2 2010. A WHIMBREL was on Nummy Island Thursday, April 1 2010.A LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was heard at the Bridge on Sunset Road in Belleplain State Forest on Wednesday, March 31, 2010. A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was on New Bridge Road in Belleplain April 1, 2010.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

If you appreciate this hotline service, and care about the birds of Cape May, please consider becoming a member of Cape May Bird Observatory. Join by May 21, 2010 to receive this year’s special edition of CMBO’S annual journal, the Peregrine Observer, featuring accounts and photos of the 2009 Ivory Gull from some of Cape May’s finest birders and photographers; Pete Dunne’s story about his return as Cape May Hawk Counter; 2009 Cape May Migration Count results; and much more! Current members will receive the Peregrine Observer automatically, but please invite your friends to join!

******CMBO SPRING HOURS are as follows: Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open daily, 9:30am to 4:30pm. The Center for Research and Education on Rt. 47 in Goshen is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30am to 4:30pm; closed Sundays and Mondays (but open Sunday March 28 for the Optics Sale). ******

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!