CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - THURSDAY, APRIL 15 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’s Cape May Bird Observatory. This week's message was prepared on Thursday, April 15 2010. Highlights this week include sightings of BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH, SWALLOW-TAILED KITES, GLAUCOUS GULL, BLACK-HEADED GULL, and CATTLE EGRET plus apparent Cape May County arrivals since the last hotline (April 1) of WILLET, CHIMNEY SWIFT, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, BLACK SKIMMER, GREEN HERON, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, WHITE-EYED VIREO, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, OVENBIRD, PRAIRIE WARBLER, NORTHERN PARULA, AND BLUE GROSBEAK; 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 -

The BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH was last seen on Sunday, April 11, 2010, at the junction of Cape and Lincoln Avenue in Cape May Point. www.twitter.com/CMBObirds will Tweet about this bird immediately if it is relocated.

Two SWALLOW-TAILED KITES were seen over Cape May Point on Thursday, April 8, 2010 by birders searching for the Brown-headed Nuthatch.

An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen at the end of Miami Avenue in the Villas on Sunday, April 11, 2010. A GLAUCOUS GULL was seen over Route 47 north of Goshen, flying inland, on Thursday, April 15, 2010.

Three CATTLE EGRETS have been seen in a puddle on the Willow Creek Vineyard (private property) near the intersection of Steven’s Street and Bayshore Road in Cape May, last reported on Sunday April 11, 2010.

Apparent Cape May County spring arrivals (since the last hotline 2 weeks ago on April 1) follow: A WILLET was at Reed’s Beach April 2, 2010. 4 PALM WARBLERS were at Higbee Beach April 2. CHIMNEY SWIFT arrived at the beanery April 2. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher arrived at Belleplain April 3. 2 BLACK SKIMMERS were at Cape May City April 5. GREEN HERON was at Ocean City April 6. BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER arrived at Belleplain April 6. WHITE-EYED VIREO arrived at Higbee April 7. PECTORAL SANDPIPER arrived near Eldora and at the Cape May Meadows April 7. A SOLITARY SANPIPER was seen along Stevens Street in West Cape May on Friday, April 9, 2010; A BROAD-WINGED HAWK was seen heading North over the West Cape May Impoundments on Saturday, April 10, 2010. An OVENBIRD was found at the triangle in Belleplain S.P. on Sunday, April 11, 2010, while a PRAIRIE WARBLER was heard there on Saturday, April 10, 2010. A NORTHERN PARULA was at Jake’s Landing April 11, 2010. A BLUE GROSBEAK was seen at the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge (aka Meadows) on Monday, April 13, 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!