Countdown To Spring Weekend

Tony Leukering reported a Northern Bobwhite this afternoon - calling from right beside his modest yard in Villas. You never know what might turn up in spring, and a bobwhite in built-up Villas is pretty surprising. After an hour or so of silence, I was in the right place to see the little ball of feathers rocket vertically into the air and shoot off over the roof-tops to who knows where. While I was there, Tony and I spent our time - while waiting for the bobwhite to appear - on the bayshore beach and the good news is - the Horseshoe Crabs are coming! So it's time to start counting down to Spring Weekend and all the excitement of peak migration at Cape May. If you haven't booked in on any of our walks or programs yet, please do follow the link and see what's on offer - you won't be disappointed! Let the fun begin!

Horseshoe Crabs trundling across the sand at Miami Beach in Villas, Cape May. Note how much larger the female is than her three male suitors. [Photo by Mike Crewe]

In other news, a Gull-billed Tern was present at The Nature Conservancy's Migratory Bird Refuge early evening and a Swallow-tailed Kite was reported circling over Eldora in the north-west of Cape May County. According to the ever-vigilant Tom Reed, shorebird numbers continue to grow at Heislerville in Cumberland County, and a Curlew Sandpiper continues there.