Thursday, September 20, 2012

Cape May Birding Hotline -- September 20th, 2012

Hotline: Cape May Birding Hotline
To Report: call: (609) 884-2736 or email: coturnicops AT gmail DOT com
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic Counties, NJ
Compiler: Tom Reed

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, September 20, 2012. Included this week are sightings of WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, GULL-BILLED TERN, BLACK TERN, PARASITIC JAEGER, EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, BROWN CREEPER, TENNESSEE WARBLER, CONNECTICUT WARBLER, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, SUMMER TANAGER and PURPLE FINCH.


A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW spent time near the brush pile along the dune path at Cape May Point State Park from 9/16-17. Another CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen at Armacost Park in Avalon on 9/14.

At least one BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was seen at Cape May Point State Park and the South Cape May Meadows on 9/15 and 9/16. An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER flew past the Cape May Hawk Watch on 9/15.

A GULL-BILLED TERN lingered around Cape May Point through at least 9/19. A BLACK TERN was seen on Bunker Pond (Cape May Point State Park) on 9/18. At least 2-3 PARASITIC JAEGERS have been present in "the rips" off Cape May Point since 9/18. 

An unseasonal WHITE-WINGED SCOTER continued in Cape May Harbor this week.

COMMON NIGHTHAWKS have been noted on most recent evenings at Cape May Point, with as many as 30 present over the South Cape May Meadows on 9/15.

Highlights from the Higbee Dike this week included RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS on multiple days, 23 TENNESSEE WARBLERS and 2 BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS on 9/17, 3 SUMMER TANAGERS on 9/16, and CONNECTICUT WARBLERS on multiple days. CONNECTICUT WARBLERS were also noted from the Higbee fields and at Cape May Point State Park this week.

PURPLE FINCHES and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES continue on a daily basis around Cape Island, with 85 nuthatches counted from the Higbee Dike on 9/20. The season's first BROWN CREEPER was found in West Cape May on 9/19.

Finally, Cape May Point's resident EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES continue to show regularly in the area of Lincoln, Whildin and Harvard Avenues.

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!