CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 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 Friday, September 3 2010. Highlights this week include sightings of LARK SPARROW, BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK, KING EIDER, BAIRD’S SANDPIPER, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, UPLAND SANDPIPER, MARBLED GODWIT, SANDWICH TERN, BLACK TERN, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, WILSON’S PHALAROPE, DICKCISSEL, BRANT, and a few announcements.

-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, seasonal arrivals, and spectacles on www.twitter.com/CMBObirds -

So far, no “hurricane birds” of note have been reported through Friday, September 03, 2010 5:30 p.m. However, weather conditions seem to indicate an excellent weekend ahead for early season raptor migration, with good possibilities for passerine migration as well.

A LARK SPARROW was sighted in the Meadows on August 30th, 2010. It was last seen on the east path on Wednesday, September 1, 2010, near the dune crossover.

4 BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS were seen flying from Cape May Point State Park into the Meadows/The Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge on Friday, September 3rd, 2010.

The sub-adult male KING EIDER continues on and around the Concrete Ship at Sunset Beach through Friday, September 3, 2010.

BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS have been reported in several different areas including one in the South Cape May Meadows/The Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge on Monday, August 30, 2010 and 2 Thursday September 2, 2010; and one on the Higbee dike on August 30th and 31st.

BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS have been frequenting the beach in front of the South Cape May Meadows/The Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge . Four seen on Monday, August 30th, 2010 grew to 6 later in the week, with 4 there again Friday, September 3.

3 UPLAND SANDPIPERS were at the Cape May County Airport on Friday, September 03, 2010.

At least 1 MARBLED GODWIT has been seen at the plover pond at The Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge Monday through Friday this week, occasionally seen flying elsewhere in Cape May, and and others have been seen at Nummy Island.

2 SANDWICH TERNS were seen at Coral Avenue in Cape May Point on Friday, September 3rd, 2010. A BLACK TERN was in Cape May Point the same day.

Several OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS have been noted throughout the area, including two at the Villas WMA on Sunday, August 29th, 2010, and one at the Cape May NWR Headquarters at Kimble’s Beach Road on Monday, August 30th, 2010.

A fly-by WILSON’S PHALAROPE was seen at the Cape May Point State Park on Saturday, August 28, 2010.

A DICKCISSEL was seen in the second field at Higbee’s Beach on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010.

A BRANT was observed by boat in the back bays of Cape May County on Monday, August 30th, 2010.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Space remains on a few CMBO fall birding workshops, including FALL MIGRATION SAMPLER September 10-12 with Louise Zemaitis; and BIRD AND TREE I.D. September 20-21 with Don Freiday. Learn more at http://www.birdcapemay.org/school.php or by calling 609.961.0700.

******CMBO FALL HOURS are as follows: Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open daily, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 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. ******

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!