CMBO is pleased to provide weekly
summaries of the Cape's birding highlights. Coverage is limited to sightings in
Cape May County. Readers should keep in mind that some reports may not be
confirmed. The vast majority of information utilized in these reports comes
from eBird data and "Keekeekerr" text alerts. Observers are
encouraged to send reports and photos to compiler Tom Reed (coturnicops at
gmail dot com).
Location Abbreviations/Explanations: CMP (town of Cape May Point); CMPSP
(Cape May Pt. State Park); SHPt (Stone Harbor Point); WMA (Wildlife Management
Area).
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WATERFOWL THROUGH HERONS
Cold
weather during the second half of the period adversely affected waterfowl
numbers, with significant ice cover on most fresh and brackish water, along
with nearshore waters of the Delaware Bay by 9 Jan. A Ross’s Goose was gleaned
from a flock of 2500 Snow Goose at Reed’s Beach 7 Jan (TR), though numbers of
geese have decreased there since. A Cackling Goose continued at Champlain
Drive, Villas through 5 Jan (m. ob.). There were several reports of Tundra
Swan, including a flock of 12 fleeing southward over CMP 8 Jan (MS, DW). Also
at CMP, at least 1 Eurasian Wigeon hung on through 9 Jan (m. ob.). Other
notable ducks included a Canvasback and 3 Redheads at Cape May Court House 4
Jan (TB, TG), and a flock of 22 Common Eiders at the north end of Ocean City 3 Jan
(JC). A Red-necked Grebe was also viewed in the same area 3 Jan (JC). Lingering
waders included 2 American Bitterns at SHPt 3 Jan (HT) and a Little Blue Heron
along Ocean Drive through at least 6 Jan (m. ob.).
RAPTORS THROUGH OWLS
An
Osprey survived at CMP until 6 Jan, but has not been encountered since (m.
ob.). A dark-type Rough-legged Hawk was relatively cooperative at Tuckahoe WMA
through much of the week (m. ob.). At least 52 American Oystercatchers
continued to tough it out at Hereford Inlet 5 Jan (WC), while 52 Red Knots made
for a nice January tally at Two Mile Beach 6 Jan (KH). Two Dovekies whizzed
past the north end of Ocean City 3 Jan (JC), representing the latest in a
series of land-based reports during the past two weeks. Particularly surprising
was a Razorbill reported in Delaware Bay from High’s Beach 5 Jan (WK). A
White-winged Dove, first noted at CMP 2 Jan, was last reported there 4 Jan
(FL); a long-staying Eurasian Collared-Dove was most recently glimpsed at CMP 3
Jan (VE). At least 4 Short-eared Owls entertained observers at Jake’s Landing
throughout the period; 2 were once again seen from SHPt 3 Jan (HT). A Northern
Saw-whet Owl flashed in front of a vehicle traveling past mile 2 of the Garden
State Parkway 7 Jan (GD).
PHOEBE THROUGH FINCHES
Most local winters feature a hardy Eastern Phoebe or two, such as the one that
persisted at CMP through at least 4 Jan (m. ob.). Impressive was the 80 or so
Tree Swallows that survived at CMP through the week (m. ob.). Additional
noteworthy lingerers included 5 Palm Warblers and a Baltimore Oriole at the Rea
Farm/Beanery 5 Jan (SG), single Orange-crowned Warblers at Cape May City 6 Jan
(WC) and CMPSP 8 Jan (TB), and a Yellow-breasted Chat at High’s Beach 6 Jan
(WK). A couple American Tree Sparrows were reported from Tuckahoe WMA, the
county’s most reliable site for the species, 7 Jan (SG). Following strong
movements during Fall 2014, both Purple Finch and Pine Siskin have once again
become scarce. The period’s only Pine Siskin report entailed a single bird at
West Cape May 4 Jan (MO). There have been widely scattered reports of Common
Redpolls in the Mid-Atlantic recently, including a flock of 5 that flew over
CMP 7 Jan (GD).
--===============--
Contributors:
Tom Baxter (TB), Warren Cairo (WC),
Jacob Cuomo (JC), Glen Davis (GD), Vince Elia (VE), Sam Galick (SG), Tom
Gleason (TG), Kathy Horn (KH), Will Kerling (WK), Frank Lenik (FL), Michael
O'Brien (MO), Tom Reed (TR), Maria Smith (MS), Harvey Tomlinson (HT), David Weber
(DW).
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References:
eBird.
2012. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance [web
application]. eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New
York. Available: http://www.ebird.org. (Accessed: 9 January 2015).
Fogg, B. 2013. Keekeekerr: Recent Text Alerts.
Available: http://keekeekerr.com/textalerts/keekeekerr.
(Accessed: 9 January 2015).
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