The first juvenile shorebirds I've seen this "fall" (other than Spotted Sandpiper) were at the state park this morning, in the form of 2 Least Sandpipers and one Greater Yellowlegs. A Brown Pelican flew by, American Kestrel and Belted Kingfisher flew over, and there were more egrets around than there have been recently. A nearly grown juvenile Piping Plover was on the second plover pond. Another highlight was an early female Northern Pintail on Bunker Pond.
I hear that over at Hidden Valley the walk this morning had 4 American Kestrels and 5 Blue Grosbeaks, among other highlights.
I also learned today that the White Pelican reported on Tuesday was photographed from a boat later that day by a different observer as it was standing on a mud flat in Swain's Channel, behind Two Mile Beach. Photos hopefully will follow.
The full list from this morning's walk at the state park follows.
Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 8/13/09
Notes: CMBO Bird Walk for All People
Number of species: 58
Canada Goose 2
Mute Swan 8
Mallard 10
Northern Pintail 1
Brown Pelican 1
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 8
Snowy Egret 2
Green Heron 2
Glossy Ibis 12
Turkey Vulture 5
American Kestrel 1
Semipalmated Plover 8
Piping Plover 1 juv
Killdeer 2
American Oystercatcher 1
Spotted Sandpiper 2 juv
Greater Yellowlegs 2 1 juv
Lesser Yellowlegs 4
Ruddy Turnstone 2
Sanderling 20
Semipalmated Sandpiper 5
Least Sandpiper 15 2 juvs
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Short-billed Dowitcher 5 pre-walk
Laughing Gull 50
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 5
Great Black-backed Gull 15
Least Tern 35
Common Tern 50
Forster's Tern 10
Royal Tern 5
Rock Pigeon 10
Mourning Dove 10
Chimney Swift 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Eastern Kingbird 1
Fish Crow 35
Purple Martin 50
Tree Swallow 5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 5
Barn Swallow 20
Carolina Chickadee 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
American Robin 3
Northern Mockingbird 3
European Starling 10
Yellow Warbler 5
American Redstart 2 pre-walk
Northern Cardinal 2
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 1
Red-winged Blackbird 30
Common Grackle 5
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch 8
House Sparrow 10
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
State Park Golden-wing; Migration Notes; Boat Trip
Karl Lukens reports that Wednesday morning's walk around the State Park was highlighted by an increasingly-rare Golden-winged Warbler sighting in Cape May (see summary below). I heard that there was a decent flight of passerines around Cape May this morning, with Nashville Warbler and Prothonotary Warbler seen from the Higbee Dike, among others. The first Merlin of the season was spotted at the State Park. There was a bit of rain throughout the area earlier this evening, but much of that has since dissipated and there appears to be birds on the move again tonight, aided by north/northeast winds.
"CMBO Birding at Cape May Point. A good variety of waders, shorebirds, passerines,and gulls/terns, were observed on this morning's walk at the state park. A decrease in the number of Purple Martins was noticeable (all heading to Mauricetown for the Martin Festival this Friday/Saturday). Warblers are increasing in numbers, mostly Yellow, a few Redstarts, and Black-and-whites. The highlight was brief look at Golden-winged Warbler which are always difficult to find in Cape May and are becoming harder to find even on their breeding areas."
- Karl (Warren, Steve, Patty, Tom)
Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 8/12/09
Notes: CMBO Trip-K,SW,WC,PR,T,+19.Clr,80,W3.
Number of species: 60
Canada Goose 10
Mute Swan 5
Mallard 12
Great Blue Heron 4
Great Egret 4
Snowy Egret 1
Glossy Ibis 2
Turkey Vulture 2
Semipalmated Plover 3
Piping Plover 1
Killdeer 2
American Oystercatcher 1
Spotted Sandpiper 4
Solitary Sandpiper 1 fly over before walk
Lesser Yellowlegs 3
Sanderling 20
Least Sandpiper 8
Laughing Gull 30
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 20
Least Tern 50
Common Tern 45
Forster's Tern 5
Royal Tern 2
Rock Pigeon 4
Mourning Dove 6
Chimney Swift 8
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Eastern Kingbird 2
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 4
Purple Martin 15
Tree Swallow 3
Barn Swallow 10
Carolina Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 1 heard
Carolina Wren 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 12
American Robin 2
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 5
European Starling 15
Cedar Waxwing 8
Golden-winged Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 4
Black-and-white Warbler 3
American Redstart 2
Common Yellowthroat 1
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 5
Indigo Bunting 2
Red-winged Blackbird 50
Common Grackle 10
Brown-headed Cowbird 10
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 5
To end, Dave Lord has the following to say about Tuesday evening's trip through Great Egg Harbor Bay, which continues to impress:
"The Tuesday Night boat trip out of Somer's Point held its own as one of the better ways to experience the birds of the shore. We had one Royal Tern, the first seen for this trip, two Gull-billed Terns, most of the expected herons and excellent views of Opsreys. Fall migration is coming on fast; the Tuesday Night Boat trip is a great way to see it firsthand."
Location: Great Egg Harbor Bay
Observation date: 8/11/09
Notes: CMBO Tuesday Night Boat Trip on Duke O' Fluke
Number of species: 42
Mallard 7
Double-crested Cormorant 34
Great Blue Heron 5
Great Egret 20
Snowy Egret 16
Little Blue Heron 6
Tricolored Heron 2
Black-crowned Night-Heron 8
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 10
Glossy Ibis 65
Osprey 17
Peregrine Falcon 1
Clapper Rail 4
Black-bellied Plover 2
Semipalmated Plover 6
American Oystercatcher 14
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 12
Willet (Western) 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 9
Whimbrel 8
Ruddy Turnstone 7
Sanderling 8
Semipalmated Sandpiper 25
Least Sandpiper 24
Short-billed Dowitcher 15
Laughing Gull 225
Herring Gull 175
Great Black-backed Gull 130
Least Tern 45
Gull-billed Tern 2
Common Tern 215
Forster's Tern 1
Royal Tern 1
Black Skimmer 140
Rock Pigeon 7
Purple Martin 7
Seaside Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 4
Red-winged Blackbird 34
Common Grackle 16
Boat-tailed Grackle 44
These reports were generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
"CMBO Birding at Cape May Point. A good variety of waders, shorebirds, passerines,and gulls/terns, were observed on this morning's walk at the state park. A decrease in the number of Purple Martins was noticeable (all heading to Mauricetown for the Martin Festival this Friday/Saturday). Warblers are increasing in numbers, mostly Yellow, a few Redstarts, and Black-and-whites. The highlight was brief look at Golden-winged Warbler which are always difficult to find in Cape May and are becoming harder to find even on their breeding areas."
- Karl (Warren, Steve, Patty, Tom)
Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 8/12/09
Notes: CMBO Trip-K,SW,WC,PR,T,+19.Clr,80,W3.
Number of species: 60
Canada Goose 10
Mute Swan 5
Mallard 12
Great Blue Heron 4
Great Egret 4
Snowy Egret 1
Glossy Ibis 2
Turkey Vulture 2
Semipalmated Plover 3
Piping Plover 1
Killdeer 2
American Oystercatcher 1
Spotted Sandpiper 4
Solitary Sandpiper 1 fly over before walk
Lesser Yellowlegs 3
Sanderling 20
Least Sandpiper 8
Laughing Gull 30
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 20
Least Tern 50
Common Tern 45
Forster's Tern 5
Royal Tern 2
Rock Pigeon 4
Mourning Dove 6
Chimney Swift 8
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Eastern Kingbird 2
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 4
Purple Martin 15
Tree Swallow 3
Barn Swallow 10
Carolina Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 1 heard
Carolina Wren 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 12
American Robin 2
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 5
European Starling 15
Cedar Waxwing 8
Golden-winged Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 4
Black-and-white Warbler 3
American Redstart 2
Common Yellowthroat 1
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 5
Indigo Bunting 2
Red-winged Blackbird 50
Common Grackle 10
Brown-headed Cowbird 10
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 5
To end, Dave Lord has the following to say about Tuesday evening's trip through Great Egg Harbor Bay, which continues to impress:
"The Tuesday Night boat trip out of Somer's Point held its own as one of the better ways to experience the birds of the shore. We had one Royal Tern, the first seen for this trip, two Gull-billed Terns, most of the expected herons and excellent views of Opsreys. Fall migration is coming on fast; the Tuesday Night Boat trip is a great way to see it firsthand."
Location: Great Egg Harbor Bay
Observation date: 8/11/09
Notes: CMBO Tuesday Night Boat Trip on Duke O' Fluke
Number of species: 42
Mallard 7
Double-crested Cormorant 34
Great Blue Heron 5
Great Egret 20
Snowy Egret 16
Little Blue Heron 6
Tricolored Heron 2
Black-crowned Night-Heron 8
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 10
Glossy Ibis 65
Osprey 17
Peregrine Falcon 1
Clapper Rail 4
Black-bellied Plover 2
Semipalmated Plover 6
American Oystercatcher 14
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 12
Willet (Western) 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 9
Whimbrel 8
Ruddy Turnstone 7
Sanderling 8
Semipalmated Sandpiper 25
Least Sandpiper 24
Short-billed Dowitcher 15
Laughing Gull 225
Herring Gull 175
Great Black-backed Gull 130
Least Tern 45
Gull-billed Tern 2
Common Tern 215
Forster's Tern 1
Royal Tern 1
Black Skimmer 140
Rock Pigeon 7
Purple Martin 7
Seaside Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 4
Red-winged Blackbird 34
Common Grackle 16
Boat-tailed Grackle 44
These reports were generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
White Pelican, Hudsonian Godwit
I heard today Jimmy Dowdell had both White Pelican and Hudsonian Godwit at the Coast Guard Station, apparently as flyovers.
While botanizing at Higbee this morning I also noticed some birds, including singing Eastern Towhee, White-eyed Vireo, calling Yellow-billed Cuckoo, American Redstart, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, fledgling Cedar Waxwings, and quite a few Eastern Kingbirds.
While botanizing at Higbee this morning I also noticed some birds, including singing Eastern Towhee, White-eyed Vireo, calling Yellow-billed Cuckoo, American Redstart, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, fledgling Cedar Waxwings, and quite a few Eastern Kingbirds.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Red Knots, Lesser Black-backs, Pelicans - Stone Harbor Pt.
A visit to Stone Harbor Point at dawn today resulted in a number of seasonal sightings.
A few hundred shorebirds were feeding along the surf line, the majority being Sanderlings and Ruddy Turnstones, but also in the mix were a few Semipalmated and Western Sandpipers, half a dozen Black-bellied Plovers, 15 "Western" Willets and a couple of Red Knots. A flock of 12 Red Knots were feeding down at the end of the point.
As noted previously, the tern/skimmer colony has been abandoned at Stone Harbor, and amazingly enough, I did not see a single Black Skimmer the entire time I was out there. There was a pretty even split of Common and Royal Terns, with about 100 each between the point, nearshore waters and adjacent sandbars in the inlet. Two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew out of Hereford Inlet separately, and five Brown Pelicans passed by offshore. Some summers are better than others when it comes to seeing pelicans in Cape May, and I'd say that this one has been pretty good.
A few hundred shorebirds were feeding along the surf line, the majority being Sanderlings and Ruddy Turnstones, but also in the mix were a few Semipalmated and Western Sandpipers, half a dozen Black-bellied Plovers, 15 "Western" Willets and a couple of Red Knots. A flock of 12 Red Knots were feeding down at the end of the point.
As noted previously, the tern/skimmer colony has been abandoned at Stone Harbor, and amazingly enough, I did not see a single Black Skimmer the entire time I was out there. There was a pretty even split of Common and Royal Terns, with about 100 each between the point, nearshore waters and adjacent sandbars in the inlet. Two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew out of Hereford Inlet separately, and five Brown Pelicans passed by offshore. Some summers are better than others when it comes to seeing pelicans in Cape May, and I'd say that this one has been pretty good.
More Warblers, Caspian with Baby in Tow, Pied-billed Grebe
I'm just back from seeing a bunch of warblers in the Adirondacks, but picked up one species I missed there this morning, in the form of two Northern Waterthrushes which flew over and then into the scrub/shrub at the Cape May Meadows. Northern Waterthrushes quiet down and head south early, though I was still surprised to miss them in the boreal woods of the Adirondacks.
A Magnolia Warbler also dropped in, as did several Yellow Warblers, Bobolinks, and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. Pete Dunne heard a Dickcissel.
A Caspian Tern adult with a fledge following behind it was neat - wonder where they came from? The Pied-billed Grebe in the west pool was a surprise, and the Least Bittern, though no longer a surprise, still gave a few of us a start when it flew up, then flew down again.
Being in the boreal forest at this time of year, by the way, is especially neat - besides New York's Adirondacks, Maine is another great place to experience our migrants on their breeding grounds. By now, most of the warblers are flocked up, and if you hear some chips or some chickadees (Black-capped or Boreal), a little pishing can bring in 30 or 40 birds of 10 or more species. Many adult warblers were looking very "molty." While some hatch year birds still have that disheveled baby bird look, most are absolutely striking, with perfect formative plumage. I love knowing many of these same birds will be on their way down the Atlantic Coast soon, perhaps passing over or even pausing in Cape May.
This morning's Cape May Meadows/Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge list is below.
Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 8/10/09
Number of species: 76
Canada Goose 50
Mute Swan 20
Wood Duck 1
Gadwall 1
Mallard 45
Blue-winged Teal 1
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Least Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 5
Snowy Egret 2
Green Heron 1
Glossy Ibis 4
Osprey 5
American Kestrel 1
Semipalmated Plover 1
Killdeer 10
American Oystercatcher 5
Spotted Sandpiper 3
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 10
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Sanderling 75
Semipalmated Sandpiper 2
Least Sandpiper 40
Short-billed Dowitcher 50
Laughing Gull 150
Ring-billed Gull 20
Herring Gull 30
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
Great Black-backed Gull 50
Least Tern 50
Caspian Tern 3 1 adult with chick, later single adult
Common Tern 75
Forster's Tern 5
Royal Tern 50
Black Skimmer 30
Rock Pigeon 10
Mourning Dove 10
Chimney Swift 25
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's) 1
Eastern Kingbird 5
White-eyed Vireo 1
Fish Crow 20
Purple Martin 50
Tree Swallow 200
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 10
Barn Swallow 25
Carolina Chickadee 2
Carolina Wren 3
House Wren 1
Marsh Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
American Robin 10
Gray Catbird 3
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 50
Cedar Waxwing 50
Yellow Warbler 5
Magnolia Warbler 1
American Redstart 2
Northern Waterthrush 2
Common Yellowthroat 4
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 4
Blue Grosbeak 1
Bobolink 20
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Common Grackle 15
Orchard Oriole 1
House Finch 5
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 10
A Magnolia Warbler also dropped in, as did several Yellow Warblers, Bobolinks, and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. Pete Dunne heard a Dickcissel.
A Caspian Tern adult with a fledge following behind it was neat - wonder where they came from? The Pied-billed Grebe in the west pool was a surprise, and the Least Bittern, though no longer a surprise, still gave a few of us a start when it flew up, then flew down again.
Being in the boreal forest at this time of year, by the way, is especially neat - besides New York's Adirondacks, Maine is another great place to experience our migrants on their breeding grounds. By now, most of the warblers are flocked up, and if you hear some chips or some chickadees (Black-capped or Boreal), a little pishing can bring in 30 or 40 birds of 10 or more species. Many adult warblers were looking very "molty." While some hatch year birds still have that disheveled baby bird look, most are absolutely striking, with perfect formative plumage. I love knowing many of these same birds will be on their way down the Atlantic Coast soon, perhaps passing over or even pausing in Cape May.
This morning's Cape May Meadows/Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge list is below.
Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 8/10/09
Number of species: 76
Canada Goose 50
Mute Swan 20
Wood Duck 1
Gadwall 1
Mallard 45
Blue-winged Teal 1
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Least Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 5
Snowy Egret 2
Green Heron 1
Glossy Ibis 4
Osprey 5
American Kestrel 1
Semipalmated Plover 1
Killdeer 10
American Oystercatcher 5
Spotted Sandpiper 3
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 10
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Sanderling 75
Semipalmated Sandpiper 2
Least Sandpiper 40
Short-billed Dowitcher 50
Laughing Gull 150
Ring-billed Gull 20
Herring Gull 30
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
Great Black-backed Gull 50
Least Tern 50
Caspian Tern 3 1 adult with chick, later single adult
Common Tern 75
Forster's Tern 5
Royal Tern 50
Black Skimmer 30
Rock Pigeon 10
Mourning Dove 10
Chimney Swift 25
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's) 1
Eastern Kingbird 5
White-eyed Vireo 1
Fish Crow 20
Purple Martin 50
Tree Swallow 200
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 10
Barn Swallow 25
Carolina Chickadee 2
Carolina Wren 3
House Wren 1
Marsh Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
American Robin 10
Gray Catbird 3
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 50
Cedar Waxwing 50
Yellow Warbler 5
Magnolia Warbler 1
American Redstart 2
Northern Waterthrush 2
Common Yellowthroat 4
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 4
Blue Grosbeak 1
Bobolink 20
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Common Grackle 15
Orchard Oriole 1
House Finch 5
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 10
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Warbler Migration; Cape May Pt. and Meadows News
[Sandwich Tern on the beach near St. Mary's in Cape May Pt. this morning. Photo by Roger Horn, click to enlarge.]
The migration trickle in Cape May is starting to become more like a stream, particularly after small flights during the past two nights that brought in some passerines to the area. An early Yellow-rumped Warbler was found at the State Park yesterday, and Yellow Warblers have become easier to find throughout the peninsula during the past two days. Early this morning I heard and saw several Yellow Warblers over downtown Stone Harbor, and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher appeared in my front yard in Reed's Beach last evening. Over a dozen species of warblers have been recorded on Cape Island in the past 48 hours, including Blackburnian, Worm-eating, Hooded and Ovenbird.
Conditions were quite conducive for migration during the past two days, with winds having a westerly or northerly component for the most part. Winds will shift back to the south and bring with them some warm conditions for the start of the new week, which will possibly put a cap on the migration parade for a few days.
Here's two reports from CMBO walks at the Meadows and the State Park-
"CMBO Evening Walk at the 'Meadows'. A beautiful night for a walk at the meadows and any birds were a bonus! Scattered waders and shorebirds made it interesting. Highlights were a couple of juvenile Wood Ducks, a Pied-billed Grebe, a very brief glimpse of a Least Bittern, a Gadwall family, numerous Spotted Sandpipers and Black Skimmers, and scope views of a Cedar Waxwing."
- Karl, (Patty, Kathy, Roger, Judy)
- Karl (Kathy, Roger, Tom)
Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 8/8/09
Notes: CMBO Trip-K,K&RH,T,+6.PtlySun,72,W5.
Number of species: 67
Canada Goose 20
Mute Swan 8
Mallard 10
Double-crested Cormorant 3
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 3
Snowy Egret 1
Green Heron 3
Glossy Ibis 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Piping Plover 2
Killdeer 4
American Oystercatcher 2
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Solitary Sandpiper 2 fly over
Lesser Yellowlegs 2
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Sanderling 10
Least Sandpiper 10
Short-billed Dowitcher 12 fly over
Laughing Gull 100
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 15
Great Black-backed Gull 30
Least Tern 25
Common Tern 50
Forster's Tern 50
Royal Tern 25
Sandwich Tern 1 /p after walk - juv. at beach Whilden
Black Skimmer 25
Rock Pigeon 3
Mourning Dove 5
Chimney Swift 8
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 1 heard
Northern Flicker 2
Eastern Kingbird 3
Blue Jay 1 heard
American Crow 1 heard
Fish Crow 5
Purple Martin 50
Tree Swallow 12
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 10
Carolina Chickadee 2
Carolina Wren 4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
American Robin 5
Gray Catbird 8
Northern Mockingbird 4
European Starling 10
Cedar Waxwing 15
Yellow Warbler 10
Black-and-white Warbler 1
American Redstart 2
Common Yellowthroat 4
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 5
Indigo Bunting 4
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Common Grackle 8
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
Orchard Oriole 3
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 3
House Sparrow 8
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Thursday, August 6, 2009
CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - August 6, 2009
Hotline: Cape May Birding Hotline
To Report: (609) 884-2736, sightings@birdcapemay.org
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic Counties, NJ
Compiler: Tom Reed, 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 Thursday, August 6th, 2009.
Highlights this week include sightings of ROSEATE SPOONBILL, GREATER SHEARWATER, WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, LEAST BITTERN, CATTLE EGRET, AMERICAN AVOCET, MARBLED GODWIT, STILT SANDPIPER, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, BONAPARTE'S GULL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, BLACK TERN, SANDWICH TERN, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, WORM-EATING WARBLER, OVENBIRD, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, and LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH.
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!
To Report: (609) 884-2736, sightings@
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic Counties, NJ
Compiler: Tom Reed, Cape May Bird Observatory
URL: http://www.njaudubon.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 Thursday, August 6th, 2009.
Highlights this week include sightings of ROSEATE SPOONBILL, GREATER SHEARWATER, WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, LEAST BITTERN, CATTLE EGRET, AMERICAN AVOCET, MARBLED GODWIT, STILT SANDPIPER, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, BONAPARTE'S GULL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, BLACK TERN, SANDWICH TERN, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, WORM-EATING WARBLER, OVENBIRD, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, and LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH.
-- For more up-to-the-minute Cape May sightings information and a downloadable birding map of Cape May, visit www.BirdCapeMay.org. Also follow us on Twitter at CMBObirds (www.twitter.com/cmbobirds - review list/rarities or spectacles only). ---
The ROSEATE SPOONBILL continues at Brig/Forsythe NWR as of 8/6. The bird has been seen from multiple points along the wildlife drive, with many sightings coming from the area of the Danzenbaker (East) Pool.
An AMERICAN AVOCET was seen flying past Cape May Pt. State Park on 8/3. MARBLED GODWIT and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER were noted flying past the Coral Ave. dune crossover on 7/31. STILT SANDPIPER was noted from Pond Creek and the South Cape May Meadows/CMMBR this week.
A GREATER SHEARWATER was noted offshore of Cape May Pt. State Park on 8/4. WILSON'S STORM-PETREL has been seen sporadically throughout the week from various locations around Cape May Point.
Multiple SANDWICH TERNS were noted throughout the week between Cape May Point and the South Cape May Meadows/CMMBR. A BLACK TERN was sitting on the beach between Cape May Pt. State Park and the Meadows on 8/5.
A BONAPARTE'S GULL continued this week in the area of Higbee Beach WMA. Multiple LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS continued this week on the beachfront between Cape May Pt. State Park and the Meadows.
Migrant warblers found on Cape Island this week included BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, WORM-EATING WARBLER, OVENBIRD, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH and LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH.
CATTLE EGRETS continued to be seen in West Cape May this week, and LEAST BITTERN was last reported in the Meadows on 8/5.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
**CMBO's Center for Research & Education in Goshen will be closed for inventory on August 27th and 28th.**
*SUMMER HOURS: CMBO's Center for Research and Education on Route 47 in Goshen is open Tuesday-Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CMBO's Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open Wednesday - Monday, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. These hours will remain in place through the end of August.*
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!