Tuesday, September 21, 2010

More Quick Updates

Among the more interesting observations this morning (Tuesday) was the small flock of American Kestrels, very high over the lighthouse right at dawn, suggestive of nocturnal migration. Harriers, Merlins and of course Sharpies were everywhere around the point the first part of the morning. Our Birds and Trees Workshop found a Philadelphia Vireo along Lincoln in Cape May Point, and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet was among a mixed flock of warblers in front of the Northwood Center. Michael O'Brien had Clay-colored Sparrow, Dickcissel and Golden-crowned Kinglet near the old magnesite plant site. There was a decent morning flight of passerines et. al, and it continued up the Bay - Tony Leukering counted 1035 Northern Flickers flying past Miami Beach in the Villas. Megan Crewe detected a Connecticut Warbler near the porta-johns at Higbee Beach.

Signs of the advancing season, besides the two kinglet species, were Black Scoters moving - Tony had a couple flying down the bay and we had a string round Cape May Point. That, and the most common warbler in front of Northwood was. . .Yellow-rumped.

Excellent shorebird diversity in the Meadows included an adult Long-billed Dowitcher, 2 Stilt Sandpipers, several each of Pectoral Sandpipers and Wilson's Snipe, plus the usual common species.

Dave La Puma texted me that he had the King Eider at the concrete ship yesterday afternoon at 2:30 - matching the tide at that time would make sense if you go looking, rather the time of day, e.g. go about 3:20 today. The Hudsonian Godwit was back on Bunker Pond today, according to Karl Lukens.

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