If you just logged on, be sure to scroll to read Jason's and Bob's excellent thoughts about the approaching storm.
It was of course a very slow day at both Morning Flight and the Hawk Watch, although a Blue Grosbeak performed beautifully at the Morning Flight platform at Higbee Beach WMA, and an Orchard Oriole flew past, a good bird for September, given that most move in August. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo put in an appearance, and a remarkable flock of 16 Black Terns flew south along Delaware Bay, all seen from Morning Flight.
At the hawk watch, both Buff-breasted (see photos below) and Baird's Sandpipers on Bunker Pond entertained, as did the four other peep, numerous Black Terns, and a Caspian Tern. There's a Western Sandpiper at Bunker Pond with a broken leg, probably soon to be Merlin food. There is no waste in nature. One of the White-rumpeds also has a limp - they are hurt on different legs, but I lost track of which species is hurt on which leg.
This shorebird discussion could become moot tomorrow - if we get enough rain, the shorebird habitat at Bunker Pond may be flooded out, at least for a while.
Friday, September 5, 2008
George's Walk (Higbee Beach WMA) & storm birdin'
As many of you know, some of our birding friends to the south all to well at this point, tropical storm Hanna will be moving through the area in the next 36 hours or so. While many home owners don't like the idea of hurricanes or tropical storms, we birders relish the ability to see generally pelagic species from shore. Let's face it, these days you have to spend anywhere from $125-$200 for a pelagic trip out to see many of the birds which a storm may bring ashore.
In this area, in general, the day of and the day after the storms passage are the best times to look for these wayward species as they are making their way back to the ocean. As is referenced below, good birding was had during the day the storm (Hurricane Floyd) was moving through the area. In fact one of the best places to watch for storm birds is atSunset Beach Second Ave.
One thing I wanted to share with everyone were the thoughts of Research Associate, Bob Fogg who has been following the track of this storm with much anticipation. While I have had my doubts, especially when they initially forecast the storm to make landfall inGeorgia
"keeping an eye on this storm track - and checking some previous storm tracks this seems to be most similar to Hurricane Floyd from 1999. (Almost identical and around the same time period - 9/16.)
Here's a quote from the RBA:
In this area, in general, the day of and the day after the storms passage are the best times to look for these wayward species as they are making their way back to the ocean. As is referenced below, good birding was had during the day the storm (Hurricane Floyd) was moving through the area. In fact one of the best places to watch for storm birds is at
One thing I wanted to share with everyone were the thoughts of Research Associate, Bob Fogg who has been following the track of this storm with much anticipation. While I have had my doubts, especially when they initially forecast the storm to make landfall in
"keeping an eye on this storm track - and checking some previous storm tracks this seems to be most similar to Hurricane Floyd from 1999. (Almost identical and around the same time period - 9/16.)
Here's a quote from the RBA:
'Observers during Hurricane Floyd, on September 16th, sea watched from Cape May Point and saw: 40-50 SOOTY TERNS, 8-10 BRIDLED TERNS, 1 ADULT ARCTIC TERN, 2 BLACK TERNS, 25 SANDWICH TERNS, 1 WILSONS STORM PETREL, 35 PARASITIC JAEGERS, 1 POMARINE JAEGER, 1 shearwater, 17 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, and 25 phalarope species.
The following day, Sept. 17, 2 ARCTIC TERNS, 4 SANDWICH TERNS, 1 BLACK TERN, and a GOLDEN PLOVER were enjoyed by seawatchers at Cape May Point.' "
Hurricane Floyd track 1999 (image from Wikipedia)
Forecast track of TS Hanna (image from www.weatherunderground.com)
Below is the list from today's George's walk at Higbee Beach WMA. The species list is a little lean given the southerly flow but completely expected. Though, I'd say that a good time was had by all. And, as usual, the parking lot proves to be a productive birding spot on a slower day! Heck, the parking lots is always one of the more productive spots at Higbee!!
Location:Higbee Beach
Observation date: 9/5/08
Notes: This is the weekly CMBO walk, led today by Steve Weis, Karl Lukens, Patty Rourke, and Chuck and MaryJane Slugg. We had participants fromNew Mexico , Ohio , Tennessee , and Virginia
Number of species: 36
Lesser Yellowlegs 2
Laughing Gull X
Herring Gull X
Mourning Dove X
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
White-eyed Vireo 3
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Carolina Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse X
Carolina Wren 10
House Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher X
American Robin X
Gray Catbird X
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 25
Magnolia Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 5
American Redstart 5
Northern Waterthrush 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Northern Cardinal X
Indigo Bunting X
Common Grackle X
Baltimore Oriole 10
House Finch X
American Goldfinch X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
Location:
Observation date: 9/5/08
Notes: This is the weekly CMBO walk, led today by Steve Weis, Karl Lukens, Patty Rourke, and Chuck and MaryJane Slugg. We had participants from
Number of species: 36
Lesser Yellowlegs 2
Laughing Gull X
Herring Gull X
Mourning Dove X
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
White-eyed Vireo 3
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Carolina Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse X
Carolina Wren 10
House Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher X
American Robin X
Gray Catbird X
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 25
Magnolia Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 5
American Redstart 5
Northern Waterthrush 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Northern Cardinal X
Indigo Bunting X
Common Grackle X
Baltimore Oriole 10
House Finch X
American Goldfinch X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER- Cape May Point State Park
(Photos courtesy of Bob Fogg, www.keekeekerr.com)The juv. Buff-breasted Sandpiper images above were taken this morning at the Cape May Point State Park. The bird was located about 8:50 a.m. on Bunker pond, on the sandbar.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Hidden Valley: scope views of YB Cuckoo, Blue Grosbeak
Chuck and MJ Slugg report that this morning's Hidden Valley walk detected 41 bird species, including scope views of Yellow-billed Cuckoos and Blue Grosbeaks. Other birds of note were 3 "Traill's" Flycatchers, and two Black-throated Blue Warblers.
Birding Forecast Map now with LIVE Radar
Just in time for autumn migration! Bird Cape May is pleased to announce the addition of a new live-streaming radar map to the Birding Forecast. Our weather guru, David La Puma, is posting migration predictions for the mid-Atlantic region and thanks to the expertise of Michael Mills, GIS Project Coordinator for the Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis at Rutgers, our once static map is now fully interactive!I invite and encourage you to browse to the Birding Forecast section or follow this link to view the latest in Birding Forecast technology, http://www.birdcapemay.org/bfma/
This new radar map is just one of our efforts to help birders plan an outing and maximize their time on the field. Plus, it is really cool! In the next few days we will be adding a "map help" link so that everyone can take full advantage of what the new radar map has to offer!
Enjoy,
Laura
Cape May Point: 5 peep species, 10 Black Terns
Bunker Pond at Cape May Point State Park remains chock full of birds. As many as 75 Great Egrets were there yesterday, with about 40 Snowies - American eels seem to be the main attraction for the long-legged waders. Shorebirding is excellent - today's Bird Walk for All People (for which the correct start time is 10:00 a.m., by the way, not 8:30 as indicated in the Kestrel Express) detected all 5 peep, including a lovely Baird's that's been hanging out near the hawk watch platform, as well as a Stilt Sandpiper and the usual other species. The Black Tern numbers have been excellent - I counted 10 today. The full list from this walk is below.
We had a funny little episode watching two Black-crowned Night-herons fly in this morning. First one, then the other, landed and fell completely over as it slipped in the mud!
Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 9/4/08
Number of species: 62
Canada Goose 10
Mute Swan 5
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 25
Blue-winged Teal 4
Northern Shoveler 4
Green-winged Teal 4
Double-crested Cormorant 20
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 25
Snowy Egret 10
Green Heron 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 2
Glossy Ibis 5
Turkey Vulture 5
Osprey 10
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Semipalmated Plover 5
Killdeer 5
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs 5
Lesser Yellowlegs 10
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Sanderling 2
Semipalmated Sandpiper 20
Western Sandpiper 1
Least Sandpiper 10
White-rumped Sandpiper 3
Baird's Sandpiper 1
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Stilt Sandpiper 1
Short-billed Dowitcher 1
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Least Tern 5
Black Tern 10
Common Tern 5
Forster's Tern 25
Royal Tern 20
Black Skimmer 50
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Eastern Kingbird 5
White-eyed Vireo 1
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 5
Purple Martin 5
Tree Swallow 10
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 5
Carolina Wren 1
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 25
Yellow Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 1
Indigo Bunting 5
Bobolink 25
Red-winged Blackbird 25
House Sparrow 5
We had a funny little episode watching two Black-crowned Night-herons fly in this morning. First one, then the other, landed and fell completely over as it slipped in the mud!
Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 9/4/08
Number of species: 62
Canada Goose 10
Mute Swan 5
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 25
Blue-winged Teal 4
Northern Shoveler 4
Green-winged Teal 4
Double-crested Cormorant 20
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 25
Snowy Egret 10
Green Heron 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 2
Glossy Ibis 5
Turkey Vulture 5
Osprey 10
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Semipalmated Plover 5
Killdeer 5
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs 5
Lesser Yellowlegs 10
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Sanderling 2
Semipalmated Sandpiper 20
Western Sandpiper 1
Least Sandpiper 10
White-rumped Sandpiper 3
Baird's Sandpiper 1
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Stilt Sandpiper 1
Short-billed Dowitcher 1
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Least Tern 5
Black Tern 10
Common Tern 5
Forster's Tern 25
Royal Tern 20
Black Skimmer 50
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Eastern Kingbird 5
White-eyed Vireo 1
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 5
Purple Martin 5
Tree Swallow 10
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 5
Carolina Wren 1
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 25
Yellow Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 1
Indigo Bunting 5
Bobolink 25
Red-winged Blackbird 25
House Sparrow 5
CMBO Hidden Valley walk- 9/4/08 and Baird's Sandpiper
Chuck and Mary Jane Slugg send word of this mornings CMBO Hidden Valley walk. While the land bird migration was rather slow this morning, it seems like the walk turned up a few good birds and had great views to boot!
Below is our list from a very quick jaunt at the Cape May point State Park this morning to look for the juv. Baird's Sandpiper. On the first pass by Bunker Pond we did not find the bird. After speaking with Michael O'Brien, he indicated that the bird had been hanging out closer to the hawkwatch platform end of the pond and could be easily over looked. On our walk back toward the parking lot Michael spotted the Baird's in the grass area along the eastern shore of the pond. Take a look at the map I've posted below. The yellow X is the area where the Baird's had been hanging out and could easily be missed. The red X indicates there are the bird was observed this morning.
Other interesting sighs from the mornings jaunt were three Black Terns, still a handful of Least Terns kicking about, and a number of Royal Terns flying around and sitting on the beach along the TNC property. A nice find was two Brown Pelicans which came ashore and circled Bunker Pond before continuing to head south. Not something I'd think that a pelican would do, check out the pond that is.
A good number of Snowy and Great Egrets on the pond but no Tri-colored Herons this morning. A few White-rumped Sandpipers on the sand bars in the pond were nice to see along with an unusual, for that specific location, Sanderling. though as memory serves, we tend to see at least a few Sanderling making use of the sandbar in the fall on the pond. And lastly, there were a few Purple Martins still flitting about the sky over the park.
For a great comparative photo of the Baird's and a Least Sandpiper see the image from my post last evening, below.
Location: Cape May - Hidden Valley Ranch
Observation date: 9/4/08
Notes: On the regular Hidden Valley walk we enjoyed good views of yellow-billed cuckoos and blue grosbeaks through the scopes.
Number of species: 41
Mallard 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 2
Green Heron 2
Osprey 1
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 2
Herring Gull 3
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 6
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Northern Flicker 2
Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's) 3
Eastern Kingbird 10
Red-eyed Vireo 6
Blue Jay 7
American Crow 20
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 30
American Robin 50
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 6
European Starling 60
Cedar Waxwing 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2
American Redstart 30
Common Yellowthroat 8
Field Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 5
Blue Grosbeak 2
Red-winged Blackbird 30
Common Grackle 15
Baltimore Oriole 25
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
(click image to enlarge)
Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 9/4/08
Notes: 1863 steps = approx. 1.25 miles
Number of species: 42
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Blue-winged Teal 12
Northern Shoveler 6
Brown Pelican 2
Double-crested Cormorant 35
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 35
Snowy Egret 55
Black-crowned Night-Heron 2
Glossy Ibis 3
Semipalmated Plover 12
Killdeer 5
Greater Yellowlegs X
Lesser Yellowlegs X
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Sanderling X
Semipalmated Sandpiper X
Least Sandpiper X
White-rumped Sandpiper 3
Baird's Sandpiper 1
Stilt Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull 75
Least Tern 9
Forster's Tern X
Royal Tern 45
Black Skimmer 65
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Belted Kingfisher 1
Purple Martin X
Tree Swallow X
Barn Swallow X
Northern Mockingbird 4
Yellow Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 1
Song Sparrow 1
Bobolink X
Red-winged Blackbird X
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
Below is our list from a very quick jaunt at the Cape May point State Park this morning to look for the juv. Baird's Sandpiper. On the first pass by Bunker Pond we did not find the bird. After speaking with Michael O'Brien, he indicated that the bird had been hanging out closer to the hawkwatch platform end of the pond and could be easily over looked. On our walk back toward the parking lot Michael spotted the Baird's in the grass area along the eastern shore of the pond. Take a look at the map I've posted below. The yellow X is the area where the Baird's had been hanging out and could easily be missed. The red X indicates there are the bird was observed this morning.
Other interesting sighs from the mornings jaunt were three Black Terns, still a handful of Least Terns kicking about, and a number of Royal Terns flying around and sitting on the beach along the TNC property. A nice find was two Brown Pelicans which came ashore and circled Bunker Pond before continuing to head south. Not something I'd think that a pelican would do, check out the pond that is.
A good number of Snowy and Great Egrets on the pond but no Tri-colored Herons this morning. A few White-rumped Sandpipers on the sand bars in the pond were nice to see along with an unusual, for that specific location, Sanderling. though as memory serves, we tend to see at least a few Sanderling making use of the sandbar in the fall on the pond. And lastly, there were a few Purple Martins still flitting about the sky over the park.
For a great comparative photo of the Baird's and a Least Sandpiper see the image from my post last evening, below.
Location: Cape May - Hidden Valley Ranch
Observation date: 9/4/08
Notes: On the regular Hidden Valley walk we enjoyed good views of yellow-billed cuckoos and blue grosbeaks through the scopes.
Number of species: 41
Mallard 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 2
Green Heron 2
Osprey 1
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 2
Herring Gull 3
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 6
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Northern Flicker 2
Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's) 3
Eastern Kingbird 10
Red-eyed Vireo 6
Blue Jay 7
American Crow 20
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 30
American Robin 50
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 6
European Starling 60
Cedar Waxwing 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2
American Redstart 30
Common Yellowthroat 8
Field Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 5
Blue Grosbeak 2
Red-winged Blackbird 30
Common Grackle 15
Baltimore Oriole 25
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2
(click image to enlarge)Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 9/4/08
Notes: 1863 steps = approx. 1.25 miles
Number of species: 42
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Blue-winged Teal 12
Northern Shoveler 6
Brown Pelican 2
Double-crested Cormorant 35
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 35
Snowy Egret 55
Black-crowned Night-Heron 2
Glossy Ibis 3
Semipalmated Plover 12
Killdeer 5
Greater Yellowlegs X
Lesser Yellowlegs X
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Sanderling X
Semipalmated Sandpiper X
Least Sandpiper X
White-rumped Sandpiper 3
Baird's Sandpiper 1
Stilt Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull 75
Least Tern 9
Forster's Tern X
Royal Tern 45
Black Skimmer 65
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Belted Kingfisher 1
Purple Martin X
Tree Swallow X
Barn Swallow X
Northern Mockingbird 4
Yellow Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 1
Song Sparrow 1
Bobolink X
Red-winged Blackbird X
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2