CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - FRIDAY, APRIL 30 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 30, 2010. Highlights this week include sightings of YELLOW-RAIL, WILSON’S PHALAROPE, WHITE-FACED IBIS, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, SANDHILL CRANE plus apparent arrivals of WOOD THRUSH, INDIGO BUNTING, EASTERN KINGBIRD, HOODED WARBLER, RED KNOT, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, ORCHARD ORIOLE, SCARLET TANAGER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, RED-EYED VIREO, NASHVILLE WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, SUMMER TANAGER, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, BLUE GROSBEAK, BOBOLINK, AMERICAN REDSTART. A number of other arrivals occurred with a flight today, Friday April 30, and are not compiled here, but will be for next week’s hotline.

-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 YELLOW RAIL was reported from Turkey Point on Friday, April 23, 2010, and has not been reported since.

A female WILSON’S PHALAROPE was found at a flooded field just east of the town of Villas, on Tuesday April 27, 2010, and has not been reported since.

A WHITE-FACED IBIS was located in the back impoundment of Heislerville WMA on Sunday, April 25, 2010, as was an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER. The plover has not been found since, but the ibis has not only been refound but multiplied to up to 3 birds, though seeing any of them is hit or miss depending on tide and where the bird (s) are feeding.

A SANDHILL CRANE was seen flying over the Beanery on Friday, April 30 2010.

Apparent Spring 2010 arrivals through Thursday April 29 2010 follow: A WOOD THRUSH was heard on 4/22 at Belleplain S.F, and a breeding plumage RED KNOT was found at Nummy Island on the same date.; INDIGO BUTING, HOODED WARBLER, and WHIMBREL were noted at Higbee Beach on 4/23, while an EASTERN KINGBIRD was found at Villas WMA on the same date; a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was found at Cape May Point S.P. on 4/24; an ORCHARD ORIOLE was found along New England road on 4/25, and a SCARLET TANAGER was seen in Ocean City on the same date; SPOTTED SANDPIPER, RED-EYED VIREO, NASHVILLE WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, BLACK THROATED-GREEN WARBLER, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, SUMMER TANAGER, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, BLUE GROSBEAK AND BOBOLINK were all found in the vicinity of Higbee Beach on 4/26, while a BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER was found at Villas WMA on the same date; AMERICAN REDSTARTS returned to Peaslee’s WMA on 4/28.

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!