CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - FRIDAY, MAY 8 2009

Hotline: Cape May Birding Hotline
To Report: call (609) 884-2736, or email sightings at birdcapemay.org
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland and southern Atlantic Counties , NJ
Compilers: Don Freiday and Marleen Murgitroyde, Cape May Bird Observatory
URL: http://www.njaudubon.org ; http://www.birdcapemay.org

This is the Cape May Birding Hotline, a service of New Jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird Observatory. This week's message was prepared on Friday, May 8, 2009.

Rather than a conventional hotline, this week we feature news on many birds relevant to the World Series of Birding on May 9. We remind all teams to respect private property, drive safely, and wish all the best of luck.

For more info, visit www.BirdCapeMay.org (Recent Sightings); Twitter - CMBOBirds; and http://dvoc.org/WSB/WSB2009/ScoutingNotes2009.htm

Legend: SCCM - The Nature Conservancy Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge (aka South Cape May Meadows); CGP (Coast Guard Ponds along Ocean Drive between Cape May & Wildwood Crest (WWC); 2 Mi (Two Mile Restaurant off Ocean Drive)

All sightings below without dates are from the past week.

SNOW GOOSE - 2 pond on Rte 9 at CM County Park/ Zoo entrance; 5 at Forsythe, 5 at Featherbed (Salem)
WOOD DUCK - scattered; Cove Pool (Mt. Vernon)
GADWALL - CGP, Heislerville, SCCM, Forsythe, Bunker Pond, Cove Pool (Mt Vernon),
BLUE-WINGED TEAL - SCMM, CGP
NORTHERN PINTAIL - dozen at Forsythe; 5 CGP closest to WWC
SCAUP - Forsythe (3 Greater; 5 Lesser)
SURF SCOTER - 20 Reeds on 5/7
BLACK SCOTER - off shore Cape May Point
BUFFLEHEAD - Stone Harbor; Forsythe, Shellbay, 2 Mi
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER - Shellbay; Sunset Lake WWC, Reeds, Heislerville
HOODED MERGANSER - Pond at 4065 Bayshore Rd (S of Canal)
RUDDY DUCK - Forsythe, Stimpson Island at end on 5/5
NORTHERN BOBWHITE - Hidden Valley first field back end 5:10 AM today 5/8; James Moore Rd (Cumberland), Beaver Swamp; Forsythe
RED-THROATED LOON - scattered
COMMON LOON- 2 Mi, Sunset Lake WWC
GREAT CORMORANT - Poverty Beach
GREAT BLUE HERON - Nummy, Jakes, Willow Pond (Beanery)
CATTLE EGRET - avg 7 around Stevens St, Bayshore Rd., Willow Pond (Beanery); Eastern Shore Nursing Home Rt 9 opposite Avalon Golf Course
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON - Bayside at the end of 37th St in Avalon; Nummy,; Beanery
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Adult) - Beaver Swamp Rd (7 PM 5/7)
MISSISSIPPI KITE - Cape May 5/7
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE - continues around Beanery, Seagrove Ave., Stevens St., Magnesite Plant, Hawkwatch
BALD EAGLE - Beaver Swamp with young on nest
NORTHERN HARRIER - Jakes, 2 Mi (Male), Sunset Lake WWC, Tuckahoe, Bunker Pond, Magnesite Plant
AMERICAN KESTREL - 5 James Moore (Cumberland), Robbinstown Rd, Cape May & Woodbine Airport
PEREGRINE FALCON - Forsythe, Thompson Beach - check snags around box, Stone Harbor Blvd/Nummy
BLACK RAIL - Jakes Landing, though not reported
KING RAIL - Tuckahoe Rd at NW end dikes (not heard in several days)
VIRGINIA RAIL - Cape May Point State Park dog leg at red trail; couple at Jakes
COMMON MOORHEN - 3 SCMM east path near beach; 1 west of west path
AMERICAN COOT - 1 SCMM, Heislerville
PIPING PLOVER - SCCM enclosure
BLACK-NECKED STILT - continues at SCCM west path on right of Plover Pond; may be hard to see
WHIMBREL - Stone Harbor, Nummy, 2 Mi
MARBLED GODWIT - 2 Mi - usual spot Thorofare Island (look diagonally left over railing)
RED KNOT - Reeds Beach (a few); Nummy, Stone Harbor, 2 Mi, Cook's Beach
PECTORAL SANDPIPER - 2 at 2 Mi, 3 Robbinstown Rd.
PURPLE SANDPIPER - Sea Isle; 6 at Concrete Ship (look from Alexander not Sunset Blvd.), Reeds Beach (late in day)
STILT SANDPIPE - 2 Mi near Marbled Godwit spot
WILSON'S SNIPE - Cove Pool (Mt. Vernon)
PARASITIC JAEGER - daily; scan off Cape May Point
LITTLE GULL - Florida Ave/Miami Ave (Villas)
BONAPARTE'S GULL - 3 Reeds Beach, CM Ferry terminal (Jetty end of Higbee), 19 Cooks Beach
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL - 3rd cycle around Cape May - SCMM Gull Pond (east path)
GULL-BILLED TERN - Beaver Swamp, Forsythe, 1 SCMM
CASPIAN TERN - Forsythe (5/4)
BLACK TERN - SCMM Gull Pond (east path) - not recently
BLACK SKIMMER - Forsythe, Heislerville, fly-by SCMM
COMMON NIGHTHAWK - Magnesite Plant, SCMM
CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOW - Hidden Valley, Jakes
WHIP-POOR-WILL - Jakes, Belleplain (near Field Office)
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD - feeders at CMBO Goshen, Alexander Ave (CM Point), 152 Stevens; Belleplain
BELTED KINGFISHER - Cove Pool (Mt Vernon), Lake Lily (CMBO Northwood), Heislerville
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER - 2 Cape May Point State Park (red trail); Villas WMA (Ponderlodge), Ackley Rd (Dividiing Creek), on fence post between 47 & 50th St along Dune Drive Avalon. Pair at Tamerlane Camp Ground, Rt 9/Walnut St.- Oceanville (You must stop at the campground office and get permission before entering this campground. Thank them for allowing access & obey posted speed limit - 5 mph)
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER - Villas WMA (near parking area)
HAIRY WOODPECKER - Sunset Bridge Belleplain, Villas WMA, Beanery
ACADIAN FLYCATCHER - Belleplain (Sunset Bridge area)
WILLOW FLYCATCHER - Higbee tower field 5/8/09
BLUE-THROATED VIREO - Cape May Point State Park Red Trail, Villas WMA
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO - Weatherby Rd (power line cut)
HORNED LARK - Cape May County & Millville & Woodbine Airports, Stevens St., SCMM
BANK SWALLOW Mauricetown to Dividing Creek Rd just past Haleyville Rd - late house (private property - do not trespass)
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH - CMBO Northwood, Cape May Point State Park Red Trail
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET - Cape May Point State Park
EASTERN BLUEBIRD - Villas WMA, Belleplain, James Moore, Millville Airport, Tyler Rd,
AMERICAN PIPIT - Rt 47 Sod Farm (Paper Mill Rd - Pg 72 B4 in DeLorme)
CEDAR WAXWING - Cape May Post Office, Avalon Campground
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER - Head of River Rd (near Peaslee WMA), Beanery (along train tracks)
KENTUCKY WARBLER - Mauricetown near US Silica sign (Noble St); Snow Hill Rd (Cumberland); Pine Swamp Rd (Belleplain)
SUMMER TANAGER - Belleplain: Sunset Rd (private property), Franks Rd (1/10th mi from Sunset, Pine Swamp Rd (near Sunset); Tracks at Rt 555; Weatherby Rd (RR tracks)
SAVANNAH SPARROW - SCMM
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW - Millville Airport (Buckshutem Rd past Motor Sport Complex; take left & STOP - retention basin - do not flush)
SALT -MARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROW - BreeZee Lee Marina (Ocean Drive); 2 Mi, Jakes, Turkey Point, Forsythe
SEASIDE SPARROW - Cooks & Reeds Beach, Goshen Landing Rd.,
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW - CMBO Northwood (at back feeder)
BLUE GROSBEAK - Higbee 1st field, Beanery, Hidden Valley
BOBOLINK - New England Rd; SCMM, Wilson Ave, Sumner Rd (Woodbine)
EASTERN MEADOWLARK - end of Jakes Landing - scan across channel; across the road from CMBO Goshen - listen from parking lot (do not go on property)

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TRESPASS OR IGNORE
PRIVATE PROPERTY SIGNS.

TIDES HIGH LOW
Cape May / Nummy 852 A 236 P
Reeds Beach 948 A 403 P
Heislerville 1109 A 458 P
Forsythe 1008 A 437 P

Simon Lane provided the following important information about Great Swamp NWR:
"Very High Water levels everywhere. After entering the Harding Gate and passing the 'Tower' ponds, the first spillway is 6ins deep in water. Coming out to Pleasant Plains in either direction is good. The track along the river on the L at the closed bridge on Pleasant Plains is very muddy and has water over-flowing 6ins+ deep. Don't even think about driving the track a little further back on the R before the bridge. The road between pools 3 and 3A down to the T at the river is fine, and you can turn at the T. The loop road around the river on the L is not passable to most vehicles. Water on the spillway is about a foot deep, and in my high 4WD, I almost regretted it! You cannot do a K turn at any point along this loop coming at it from ether direction, from either the T or the woods. Be warned, people get stuck every year, and I'm sure will do so tonight - no-one else wants to be trapped behind!! The overlook is pretty good this year. Good Luck - Simon Lane"
Chatham NJ

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:

******Due to a staffing shortfall, Cape May Bird Observatory’s Center for Research and Education on Route 47 north of Goshen will be closed to the public effective April 11, 2009. The grounds and gardens will remain open to the public. CMBO’s Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open daily, 9:30am to 4:30pm.******

CMBO is offering a special to new and upgraded membership renewals. Join CMBO for the first time or upgrade from Individual or Family to The Hundred and receive Charley Harper's Migration Mainline- Cape May lithograph poster, valued at $50. Call either CMBO center to ask an associate about joining today!

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!

WSB e-bird info

Below are updated .pdf's of NJ eBird data. The first is Cape May only, through May 6. The second is the whole state (about half the records are from Cape May.) Common species have been culled from the list.


Cape May Only Ebird through May 6 2009 for wsb.pdf

Ebird through May 6 2009 for wsb.pdf

Common Moorhen and Purple Sandpiper; Tom Reed's County sightings

I just got word there is a Common Moorhen in the Meadows (Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge), east path near the beach.

Pete Dunne and I had a single Purple Sandpiper on the Concrete Ship around 1:00 today, viewing from Alexander Avenue. I don't think it would be visible from Sunset Beach.

There is at least a rumor of a Hooded Merganser female at the pond on New England Road on the north side as you head towards Higbee Beach at the entrance to the former Cold Spring Campground. I checked around 2:00 p.m. and did not see it.

A significant thunderstorm has just broken out down here, glad to be indoors for a change.

Tom Reed sent me a bunch of sightings relevant to WSB:

Snow Goose- County Zoo
Brant- Nummy, Reed's Beach
Wood Duck- Beaver Swamp, Meadows, Cove Pool
Gadwall- Meadows, Cove Pool, Heislerville
Shoveler- male at the Meadows on Wednesday
Green-winged Teal- Reed's Beach, Goshen Landing
Scoters- fly-by's from the Point, Meadows
Surf Scoter- 20 at Reed's Beach today
Red-breasted Merganser- Heislerville, Meadows/Cove Pool, Nummy
Bobwhite- Beaver Swamp
Red-throated Loon- fly-by's at Sunset Beach, Meadows
Gannet- everywhere
Great Cormorant- Hereford Inlet
Little Blue Heron- Stevens Street (3)
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron- retention pool in median of parkway, mile 2.5
Mississippi Kite- Beanery (Tues/Wed)
Bald Eagle- Reed's Beach, Stevens Street
Harrier- Stevens Street (migrants), Jakes
Cooper's Hawk- Stevens Street
Broad-winged Hawk- Stevens Street
Merlin- Stevens Street
Peregrine- Stevens Street
Piping Plover- enclosure near dune crossover on west path of Meadows
Solitary/Spotted- practically any good-sized puddle...everywhere right now.
Red Knot- Reeds Beach, Cooks Beach
Parasitic Jaeger- Sunset Beach
Bonaparte's Gull- 19 @ Cooks Beach today, 5 @ Kimble's, 3 @ Reed's. Also Sunset Beach, Meadows.
LBB Gull- Meadows
Barn Owl- hunting marshes around Reed's Beach
Screech-Owl: Kimbles Beach Rd, Cooks Beach Rd
Nighthawk: Fogg had one on Cape Island yesterday
Chuck: Reed's/Cook's Beach Roads
Whip: Jakes
Horned Lark: singing @ Stevens Street
Bluebird: Beanery
Waxwing: Reeds Beach Road
Blue Grosbeak: beanery parking lot, Hidden Valley parking lot
Bobolink: Stevens Street
W-f Ibis: Beaver Swamp (fly-by), last Sunday
S-t Kite: Continued from Stevens Street as of 12pm

Swallow-tailed Kite, Pintails, Stilt Sandpiper

Tom Reed predicted correctly: I finally got a [crushing] look at the Swallow-tailed Kite about a half hour ago as it soared treetop level over Seagrove Avenue, essentially by finding a couple birders that were looking up, which may in fact be the best way for someone to see either kite without relying on luck and extended bouts of scanning. The two birders happened to be Mark Garland and Richard Crossley; Richard was complaining he had too much lens on his camera. The bird had been perched & visible from the hawk watch earlier.

This morning the Coast Guard ponds along Ocean Drive opposite Two Mile Landing had 5 Northern Pintails, Green-winged Teal, and a Belted Kingfisher, all potentially important WSB birds. There were 8 Whimbrel on the marsh opposite the ponds, and I just got a report of a Stilt Sandpiper with dowitchers there, which I did not see. Two Bufflehead hens and two Common Loons were in Jarvis Sound, viewed from Two Mile Landing, and a tiny distant island there (at high tide) held roosting shorebirds that included a few Red Knots.

Sunset Lake had 7 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Common Loon. It took some digging to find all the ducks I've mentioned, by the way, and the kingfisher, too. None were immediately visible with binoculars and most were much more findable by careful scoping. A WSB team with multiple scopes would find them faster than a lone birder.

Swallow-tailed Kite Photos

Here's a few somewhat grainy (and somewhat blurry) photos of the continuing Swallow-tailed Kite, taken this afternoon from Stevens Street and the parking area at the Rea Farm/Beanery. The kite was being pursued by a Cooper's Hawk in the picture on the bottom right. The bird was last seen around 2:35pm, from Stevens Street. It's quite possible that the bird will be in the area yet again tomorrow.

A Boatload of Bird Reports

World Series of Birding (WSB) teams are out in force, and a whole bunch of reports came in this morning.

Special note: wet ground and mosquitoes are the rule at most Cape May sites today. The mosquitoes were almost astonishing at Hidden Valley and Higbee.

The Swallow-tailed Kite reappeared variously over Higbee, the Beanery, the Meadows and Stevens Street this morning. A Mississippi Kite was seen over the Beanery as well. The Black-necked Stilt continues at the plover pond at the Meadows (Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge) - this is the pond on the right of the west path (closest to the lighthouse) immediately before you cross the dune. Some are calling it the Osprey pond, since Ospreys are occupying a platform there.

Higbee had about 14 species of warblers this morning including Hooded, Kentucky, and Black-throated Green. Mark Garland added a Worm-eating Warbler at the State Park. Mark also reported a Red-headed Woodpecker at the state park - the spate of recent reports of this species south of the canal is of interest. I don't think Red-headed Woodpecker has ever nested south of the canal, but the recent restoration work at the state park has created a small amount of suitable open mixed-woods habitat. It's probably not enough habitat to hold the birds, however. Red-headed Woodpeckers are still present at Villas WMA and, for WSB, at Tamerlane Campground off Route 9 (private property, enter only with permission.)

Mark also had 11 species of shorebirds at the state park, and noted a couple lingering Swamp Sparrows. A Stilt Sandpiper was reported at the Meadows. Parasitic Jaeger was seen at Sunset Beach.

Here at the CMBO Northwood Center, a Red-breasted Nuthatch and White-crowned Sparrow were both around the building this morning.

The link below loads a .pdf containing Cape May County E-bird reports of interest for the WSB through May 5, for Cape May County. Common species are not included.

Cape%20May%20Bird%20Reports%20from%20Ebird%20through%20May%205.pdf

For an Excel file containing all NJ reports, visit the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club WSB page.

Lessback and Bonies at 2nd Ave, Cape May

A check of Cove Pool, the east end of the South Cape May Meadows accessed at the end of Mount Vernon Avenue in Cape May, yielded a nice batch of gulls on the beach near the Second Avenue jetty this morning. Among the commoners was a 3rd cycle Lesser-black-backed Gull and three 1st cycle Bonaparte's Gulls. In Cove Pool itself was a drake Wood Duck, Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers, and Wilson's Snipe.

Large batches of Northern Gannets passed offshore. I saw at least 100 in only about 15 minutes of looking, nearly all of which were immatures.