Two Mile Beach: Harlequins, Eiders, Gannets et. al.

George Myers reports: "Karl Lukens and I walked Two Mile Beach out to Cold Spring Inlet. Two Harlequin Ducks were in the surf at the tip of the far jetty. Also 220+ Northern Gannets headed south. Fifty Black-bellied Plovers, 3 American Oystercatchers, several Great Cormorants and a number of Ruddy Turnstones were on the jetty. From Poverty Beach we were able to see 9 Common Eiders but were unable to pick out a King."

Wed. 1/23: Short-ears and hardy lingerers at Jake's Landing

I made another visit to Jake's Landing this evening, thankfully with the temperature 15 degrees warmer than Sunday night, and with almost no wind. Remember that nights with little or no wind are best for seeing Short-ears...owls were up and flying when I arrived this evening, no doubt taking advantage of the perfect flying conditions. Here's a run-down of the highlights:

• 5 Short-eared Owls, visible in all directions from the parking lot at one time or another.
• 2 Bald Eagles, both adults- apparently one each from the Beaver Swamp and East Creek nesting pairs, as the two headed in those respective directions.
• 10+ Marsh Wrens and 2 Seaside Sparrows, a rather nice count for late-January, but not totally unexpected considering the lack of any extended cold snaps so far.
• 8+ calling Clapper Rails, another good tally at the end of January for a species that is characteristic of summer.
• 2 duetting Great Horned Owls- this is our earliest breeding species, and the female should be on eggs pretty soon.

As usual, a complete list is included-

Location: Jake's Landing Observation date: 1/23/08 Number of species: 25
Snow Goose 7000

Canada Goose 125

American Black Duck 60

Mallard 2

Hooded Merganser 3

Pied-billed Grebe 2

Bald Eagle 2

Northern Harrier 12

Red-tailed Hawk 1

Clapper Rail 6

Dunlin 40

Wilson's Snipe 1

Ring-billed Gull 1

Herring Gull 6

Great Black-backed Gull 1

Mourning Dove 1

Great Horned Owl 2

Short-eared Owl 5

Marsh Wren 10

American Robin 45

Seaside Sparrow 2

Song Sparrow 1

Swamp Sparrow 1

Red-winged Blackbird 25

Eastern Meadowlark 1

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Lows of -15 F, Highs of +13 F

No, I am not talking about Cape May temps. I've taken a bit of time off to head to the Northwoods of Minnesota to look for a few species that remain absent from my personal list. While the temps. seem beyond what many people think a normal persons should willingly enter in to, remember I'm a crazy birder. If there is the possibility of seeing new birds we'll venture into the most adverse conditions. You know what I am talking about. I was ready for these temps anyway, having gone to college not far away from our base camp of Duluth.

So we've met a good friend (another crazy birder of course) and headed out to Sax-Zim Bog to try and find owls, finches and woodpeckers specifically. Keeping tabs on the Minnesota Ornithological Union listserv since late December I figured that we had a good chance to see many of our sought after species. There had been a handful of routine sightings of Great-grey owls and Northern hawk owls, two species we've been wanting to see for some time. I have been lucky enough to see a Great grey owl back in college, but before I was keeping any type of bird list. Additionally, there have been frequent sightings of Black-backed and Three-toed woodpeckers. As a friend from college emailed of this winter, three-toes are practically easier than ever to see.

Our first day in the bog we were met with the lows of -15 ºF with highs that barely crept above zero. While the birding was great, taking photos was difficult. I have a attached a few decent attempts below. I don't think that the digi-scoping concept has really saturated my brain either as I am more used to using a standard lens. But for the most part, I blame the poor quality on the old temps.

Highlights for Monday's birding were a good number of Pine grosbeaks at a feeding station along with a couple Evening grosbeaks.


One thing about coming back to this area after almost ten years, many of these species are like seeing life birds all over again as I have only seen them once, maybe twice before. I also had forgotten just how beautiful this area of the country is and how much I loved my time up here. Kind of makes me wonder why I ever left in the first place.


Back to the birds, we did get a very distant Northern hawk owl, which counts, but I'd definitely love seeing one closer. S you can see this was a distant view, approximately 1/4 mile.


We were not able to get up here for the big owl invasion so were hoping that this trip would pan out as a substitute. Leading up to our trip, as I said, there had been a hand full of sightings. For some reason in the week or so just before we arrived the owls sightings dropped off. As a matter of fact we have completely dipped on Great grey owl much to my dismay. These owls breed in the area, where are they? Well, I guess you can't win them all.

We had a Black-backed woodpecker almost first thing but have yet to catch up with a Three-toed woodpecker. Yet another species we've dipped on. Hopefully tomorrow on our last morning for birding the area. The most numerous of species has been Snow buntings and Common raven. Also at the feeding station with the grosbeaks we had a good group of Common redpolls and one Hoary redpoll. It was very nice to see this species again in particular. My first I had to work hard for as a yard bird in Maine scrutinizing the identification, but this male was a good bit easier to identify showing many classic hoary field marks. A very ghostly looking bird.

We've all been lucky enough to have at least one life bird which is always nice. Two Gray jays popped up to the top of some spruce trees on McDavitt Rd. while looking for woodpeckers and owls. Also, this afternoon we had a couple of Black-billed magpies as another surprise species. I was glad to have actually gotten to see this species since I had jumped the gun yesterday seeing a flash of white in a wing and black tail through the trees yesterday, calling a Pileated woodpecker a magpie.

Also this afternoon we did have a second Ruffed grouse and a Barred owl at dusk. We had searcher for Spruce grouse this morning well to the north of Duluth and struck out completely. So at least we had a grouse for the day. I'd rather it have been a Sharp-tailed grouse but beggars can't be choosers. It's just nice to be birding a different location and seeing different birds.

Well given the late hour and that we are getting up early to bird I should leave you with just a couple more photos. The first is the Ruffed grouse we saw yesterday. The second was an attempt to take an artsy photo of the moon rise tonight over the bog. Given that I did not have my camera on a tripod it didn't come out as bad as I figured it would so I've put it in for you to view. This is truly a magical place and one I hope to visit again in the winter and possibly the early summer. They list Connecticut warbler a virtually common! Want to come a along?



Location: Sax-Zim Bog
Observation date: 1/21/08
Notes: Counts include birding all Sax-Zim Bog area
Number of species: 22

Ruffed Grouse 1
Bald Eagle 2
Rock Pigeon 3
Northern Hawk Owl 1
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Black-backed Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Shrike 3
Gray Jay 2
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 6
Common Raven 30
Black-capped Chickadee 35
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Snow Bunting 145
Pine Grosbeak 12
Common Redpoll 35
Hoary Redpoll 1
Evening Grosbeak 3
House Sparrow 15


ocation: Sax-Zim Bog
Observation date: 1/22/08
Number of species: 12

Ruffed Grouse 1
Barred Owl 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Northern Shrike 1
Black-billed Magpie 2
American Crow 1
Common Raven 15
Black-capped Chickadee 8
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
European Starling 1
Common Redpoll 2

Tues. 1/22: Ducks o' plenty at Brig, Salem County Ross's Goose report

I made a late-morning stop at Brig (Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge) between classes to find that most of the impoundments and other ponds were almost completely frozen. However, that didn't mean that there weren't any birds to be seen, as there were still a few open pockets remaining along the south and east dikes where ducks were concentrated. Highlights included a single Merlin toward the end of the driving loop, an estimated 2500+ American Black Ducks roosting on the ice in the middle of the west pool, 83 Northern Shovelers and a Mallard x Black Duck hybrid along the south dike, and roughly 900 distant scaup that could not be sorted to species, well out in the bay visible from the south dike as one looks toward Atlantic City.

In other news, Sandra Keller found a Ross's Goose among a flock of thousands of Snow Geese in Salem County this afternoon, near Mannington Marsh.

A full species list from Brig is included-

Location: E B Forsythe NWR--Autoloop
Observation date: 1/22/08
Number of species: 41
Snow Goose 1500
Brant 300
Canada Goose 75
Mute Swan 40
Gadwall 4
American Black Duck 2800
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 1
Mallard 125
Northern Shoveler 83
Northern Pintail 25
Scaup, sp. 900
Bufflehead 30
Hooded Merganser 45
Common Merganser 4
Red-breasted Merganser 2
Ruddy Duck 2
Great Blue Heron 1
Bald Eagle 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Merlin 1
Dunlin 125
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 60
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 6
Carolina Chickadee 2
Carolina Wren 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 3
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 40
European Starling 20
Cedar Waxwing 12
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 8
Savannah Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 6
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 12

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Mon. 1/21: New CMBO Eagle Trip

If you really want to see a Bald Eagle, then you should have been on today's CMBO program, Where The Eagles Are. This was a brand new program offered for the first time, centered around some of the best areas to see Bald Eagles (including several active nest sites) in Cumberland County. And it certainly lived up to its billing, with a total of 16 Bald Eagles seen between six different sites as well as a host of other great finds, including a dark-morph Rough-legged Hawk at Newport Landing, nearly 30 Northern Harriers hunting at the same time at Turkey Point, and an entertaining mid-air battle at Beaver Dam Boat Rental between two male Red-tailed Hawks over some sort of rodent. Lists from Newport Landing and Green Swamp/PSE&G Cohansey River Restoration Site are included. It might be cold, but there are certainly birds to be found, so get out there!

Location: Newport Landing
Observation date: 1/21/08
Notes: part of CMBO Eagle trip
Number of species: 22
American Black Duck 35
Mallard 2
Bufflehead 15
Hooded Merganser 6
Turkey Vulture 3
Bald Eagle 3
Northern Harrier 8
Red-tailed Hawk 6
Rough-legged Hawk 1
Black-bellied Plover 1
Killdeer 4
Dunlin 40
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 25
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin 45
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 75
Song Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Eastern Meadowlark 1

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)


Location: Green Swamp
Observation date: 1/21/08
Notes: part of CMBO Eagle trip
Number of species: 13
Snow Goose 10000
American Black Duck 30
Turkey Vulture 2
Bald Eagle 5
Northern Harrier 8
Red-tailed Hawk 4
Killdeer 1
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Song Sparrow 3
Swamp Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 20

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Good Birding in a Cold Wind: Cape May Point, Turkey Point, & Villas for Redhead, Red-headed, Raptors, and More

Having dipped on the Redhead in Cape May Point the other day, I took a very windy, very cold stroll at Villas WMA Sunday, and found two Redheads with the duck flock on the big pond (southwest corner of the property near the old clubhouse, if you haven't been) as well as a single Red-headed Woodpecker, now sporting a partially red head. The woodpecker was excavating a cavity, presumably for roosting.

CMBO's regular Cape May Point walk on Saturday, plus a walk we conducted for a visiting group, revealed what could be found at the State Park and around the point. My sense is that you are just as well off looking offshore at St. Peter's, checking Lily Lake & the area around the Northwood Center, and strolling about the streets of Cape May Point as you are walking the state park, at least for now - there has been substantial management activity at the park and Bunker and Lighthouse ponds at least have been somewhat devoid of life. Karl Lukens reports on what was collectively found by him, Chuck and MJ Slugg, Judy Lukens, Marc and Lynne Breslow, Will Kerling and the participants: "Best ducks were on Lily Lake where the Canvasback is still hanging out. No Redhead this morning. We did run into a perched immature Red-shoulder, and flying Sharpies, a Cooper's Hawk, a Peregrine, and Red-tail. Off shore, one of each Loons, several Gannets, and the usual gulls. Good looks at a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Red-bellied Woodpecker were enjoyed by many."

Location: Cape May Point - CMBO Walk
Observation date: 1/19/08
Number of species: 52
Canada Goose 5
Mute Swan 3
Gadwall 3
American Wigeon 5
Mallard 10
Canvasback 1
Ring-necked Duck 4
Common Eider 1
Surf Scoter 2
Black Scoter 8
Long-tailed Duck 2
Hooded Merganser 2
Red-breasted Merganser 1
Ruddy Duck 12
Red-throated Loon 1
Common Loon 1
Northern Gannet 4
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Turkey Vulture 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
American Coot 20
Ring-billed Gull 3
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 10
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 5
Carolina Chickadee 3
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin 5
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 20
Cedar Waxwing 10
Yellow-rumped Warbler 20
Fox Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 10
Dark-eyed Junco 3
Northern Cardinal 3
Red-winged Blackbird 20
House Finch 10
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 15

Speaking of wind, CMBO's Sunday field trips to Turkey Point and Jake's Landing managed to turn up a surprising array. It's often been said that birding is better in the rain than in the wind, and rightly so. But despite the conditions, check out what was found (Turkey Point list courtesy of Chuck and MJ Slugg, see Tom Reed's post below for the Jake's Landing report):

Location: Turkey Point
Observation date: 1/20/08
Notes: Very cold, temp. 25 degrees F.; winds 20 mph with gusts of 30 mph.
Number of species: 40
Snow Goose 2000
Canada Goose 4
Mute Swan 20
American Black Duck 40
Mallard 2
Bufflehead 40
Hooded Merganser 6
Wild Turkey 50
Great Blue Heron 3
Turkey Vulture 10
Bald Eagle x
Northern Harrier 33
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Dunlin 40
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Mourning Dove 10
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 5
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 9
Carolina Chickadee 5
Carolina Wren 3
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 45
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler 25
Eastern Towhee 3
Chipping Sparrow 1
Fox Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 20
Northern Cardinal 3
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Eastern Meadowlark 17
Common Grackle 40
American Goldfinch 2

Sun. 1/20: Barnacle Goose and Snow Buntings in Cape May Pt., Rough-leg and Short-ears at Jake's Landing, Kittiwake report

The continuing Barnacle Goose (pictured at left) was easy to find early this afternoon on Lily Lake, roosting with a flock of Canada Geese in the northwest corner of the lake. The bird was occasionally vocalizing as well- a call that could be likened to a nasal, lower-pitched Canada Goose. Both the Redhead and Canvasback were missing in action while I was there.

A stop at Cape May Point State Park produced a flock of 25 Snow Buntings on the beach, and the trails provided a vocal Winter Wren, a brief fly-by Red-shouldered Hawk, and a flyover Pine Siskin. Additionally, a Black-legged Kittiwake was seen from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry this morning by Tony Leukering.

Several hardy folks (pictured here behind a very effective two-car windblock) came out for this evening's Nightfall at Jake's Landing program, which ran from 4pm til dusk at the end of Jake's Landing Road. The temperature at the start of the walk was 26 degrees, with a wind chill hovering around 10 degrees. Mercifully, the winds dropped down for a little while around sunset and allowed 3 Short-eared Owls to give excellent views to those who remained. Other highlights included 3 Bald Eagles, and a distant but very distinctive Rough-legged Hawk, hover-hunting for a brief time southwest of the parking area.

A complete list from Jake's is included-

Location: Jake's Landing

Observation date: 1/20/08

Notes: CMBO Nightfall at Jake's Landing program, led by Karen Johnson, Janet Crawford and BJ Pinnock

Number of species: 23

Snow Goose 2500

Canada Goose 30

American Black Duck 25

Mallard 2

Green-winged Teal 75

Hooded Merganser 5

Pied-billed Grebe 2

Great Blue Heron 1

Bald Eagle 3

Northern Harrier 18

Red-tailed Hawk 2

Rough-legged Hawk 1

Peregrine Falcon 1

Clapper Rail 1

Dunlin 55

Wilson's Snipe 1

Ring-billed Gull 2

Herring Gull 25

Short-eared Owl 3

American Pipit 2

Song Sparrow 1

Red-winged Blackbird 115

Eastern Meadowlark 8

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)