BirdCapeMay.org

A slew of rarities were reported on View from the Cape over the autumn season. Now images of these birds, along with past rarities, can be found in the BirdCapeMay.org Photo Gallery. I just added 7 new species today so be sure to check out the 2006 - Present Rarities album!

Special thanks to those who sent in their images including Bob Fogg, Karl Lukens, and Michael O'Brien!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

CMBO Volunteer and keeper of the Cape May Coast Guard Base birds, Chris Hajduk, just called to say that he had found an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER at the back of the Cape May Point State Park. This bird is being viewed near the stand of mature pines (where the Cooper's hawk nest was) on the beach side.

The last few days have produced a good number of birds in the Cape May area. Below are my lists for a walk around Cape May Point this morning and also from various locations on Monday 11/24.

There were a good numbers of birds moving about Cape May Point this morning with the most numerous species being blackbirds, cowbirds and grackles. American Goldfinches were also very well represented along with American Robins. There was a couple folks of Easter Bluebirds one totaling about 32 birds and the odd hawk or two hunting the dunes. Not much seemed to be moving over the bay.

Michael O'Brien pointed out a late Black-throated Green Warbler which we refound feeding on the ground in the grass with a Yellow-rumped Warbler, near the intersection of Yale Ave and Coral Ave.

One should note that my counts below are all estimations and probably well on the low side of the true numbers of birds that were seen this morning.

Other interesting bird sightings from the last couple of days are as follows. The SEDGE WREN continues to be seen as of yesterday at Higbee Beach in the same area that the bird had relocated to after the first field had been mow. For a map of the location and images of the bird you might visit Bob Fogg's web site.

The Selasphorus Hummingbird, which with the excellent images (see image below) that Bob Fogg was able to obtain seem to indicate that this bird may actually be a Rufous Hummingbird, is still coming to the feeders on New England Ave. Again, if you go to look for this bird please be respectful of the home owners property and privacy. Ms. Young has been wonderfully generous in opening up her yard to birders.


Michael O'Brien found a "Black" Brant at Cape May Harbor on Monday but the bird has yet to resurface. Below are a couple images which he shared with me. The CACKLING GOOSE is still hanging around with Lilly Lake being the most reliable place to locate this bird.


Yesterday, CMBO swing counter Dan Berard, had a Saw-whet Owl in the vicinity of the Hawkwatch. The bird flew a couple of times to unfortunately never be seen again. Though, in the process of looking for the Saw-whet a Long-eared Owl was found off the Red trail at the Cape May Point State Park.

The Harlequin Duck, which was hanging around the pilings at the Coast Guard Base (seen from Poverty Beach) has not been reported again. Also in the line of birds gone missing are the flocks of Snow Buntings and the Lapland Longspur that had been frequenting the Cape May Point State Park beaches. The last I have heard of these species being observed was on Sunday 11/23.

In the sightings sheets here at the Northwood Center, a Northern Parula was reported from the "lighthouse" which I am guessing means the Cape May point State Park. While there have been a few fly-bys noted as of late there was one immature male Common Eider at Poverty Beach. And something I've neglected to mention are the numbers of Baltimore Orioles that have been seen at various locations around Cape Island lately. Upwards of 20+ were seen over the past weekend.

Lastly, again on 11/23 were a Lincoln's Sparrow at Higbee, a Grasshopper Sparrow at the Magnesite Plant and a Black-throated Green Warbler at the Cape May Point State Park.

Good luck and have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving from BirdCapeMay.org

Location: Cape May Point
Observation date: 11/26/08
Notes: 2715 steps = approx. 1.8 miles
Number of species: 46

Canada Goose 35
Mute Swan X
Gadwall 45
American Wigeon 40
Mallard X
Surf Scoter 10
Black Scoter 15
dark-winged scoter sp. 35
Long-tailed Duck 1
Bufflehead 1
Ruddy Duck 15
Red-throated Loon 1
Northern Gannet 20
Double-crested Cormorant X
Great Blue Heron X
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2
Merlin 1
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Mourning Dove X
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Carolina Chickadee X
Carolina Wren X
Golden-crowned Kinglet X
Eastern Bluebird 47
American Robin 1000
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling 450
American Pipit 45
Cedar Waxwing 50
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) X
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Song Sparrow X
White-throated Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 12
Northern Cardinal X
Red-winged Blackbird 3000
Common Grackle 600
Brown-headed Cowbird 1200
Purple Finch 10
House Finch 15
Pine Siskin 30
American Goldfinch 2500
House Sparrow X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2

Location: Cape Island
Observation date: 11/24/08
Notes: 10748 steps = approx. 7 miles
Number of species: 77

Snow Goose 1
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Wood Duck 2
Gadwall 135
American Wigeon 120
American Black Duck 130
Mallard 250
Northern Shoveler 3
Northern Pintail 35
Green-winged Teal 630
Ring-necked Duck 35
Lesser Scaup 1
Surf Scoter 25
Black Scoter 75
dark-winged scoter sp. 400
Long-tailed Duck 3
Hooded Merganser 20
Red-breasted Merganser 3
Ruddy Duck 35
Red-throated Loon 175
Common Loon 1
Northern Gannet 2500
Double-crested Cormorant 10
Great Blue Heron 4
Black Vulture 4
Turkey Vulture X
Northern Harrier 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Merlin 1
American Coot 25
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Sanderling 12
Purple Sandpiper 6
Bonaparte's Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) X
Blue Jay X
American Crow 12
Fish Crow 1
Tree Swallow 25
Carolina Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse X
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren X
Marsh Wren 1
Eastern Bluebird X
American Robin X
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling X
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) X
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Vesper Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 20
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow 1
Fox Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 35
Swamp Sparrow 12
White-throated Sparrow 150
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) X
Northern Cardinal X
Red-winged Blackbird X
Eastern Meadowlark 5
Purple Finch 10
House Finch 65
Pine Siskin 1
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2

According to the eBird records review I work on, I see that Karl Lukens still has a Ruby-throated Hummingbird visiting his home feeder as of 11/18 &19.  This feeder can be viewed at 627 Sea Grove Ave.

Also a hummer, probably the Selasphorus that was visiting CMBO volunteer Bev Linn's home on Foster Ave., has been visiting a feeder at 711 New England Rd. which is virtually just around the corner.

The homeowner, Patricia Young, has been gracious enough to invite birders to look for this hummingbird at her feeders.  Below is a portion of an email from Ms. Young.  Note:  There is a dog present in the back yard at this location and you must keep the back gate latched.

As always, if you venture to look for these birds, please be respectful of the home owners property.


From Patricia;

On the plane from Florida to Atlantic City there was talk of snow and freezing temps. I personally love snow and was accustomed to not seeing the bare ground for months on end when I lived in Maine so, it has been a true delight that the past two mornings have brought snow showers. After a mild fall, winter has indeed arrived.

On the bird front, owls have been a topic of discussion lately and sightings of Barn Owl, Short-eared Owl and numerous Long-Eared Owls have occurred since Thursday on Cape Island. For the hearty (and warmly dressed) I recommend choosing a spot near the dunes at dusk to sit and wait for owls that are lifting off and heading across the open water. Patience is the key here as it is usually when the light has faded and it is almost too dark to see that their shadowy silhouettes grace the skies.

A Cackling Goose and Tundra Swan have been seen on Lily Lake over the past few days and this morning the Tundra Swan could still be found but I was unable to re-locate the goose. Large groups of Snow Geese are on the move and a smaller, possible Ross', was seen flying over the point.

Last evening after work, in the last few minutes of daylight, I met Bob and Karl in the State Park just in time to see a Lapland Longspur (pictured above) who was hanging out with a group of 8 Snow Buntings. A report came in that this bird was again seen this morning between the first and second dune crossings.

Hotline: Cape May Birding Hotline
To Report: call (609) 884-2736, or email sightings@birdcapemay.org
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic Counties ,
NJ Compiler: David Lord, Cape May Bird Observatory, with additions by Don Freiday
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, November 20, 2008. Highlights this week include sightings of SEDGE WREN, CAVE SWALLOWS, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, MARBLED GODWIT, BLACK-HEADED GULL, CACKLING GOOSE, RED-THROATED LOON, SNOW BUNTING, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, VESPER SPARROW, BROAD WINGED HAWK, ALDER FLYCATCHER, BALTIMORE ORIOLES, BLACKPOLL WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, CATTLE EGRET, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, TUNDRA SWAN, BARN OWL, NORTHEN SHRIKE.

The SEDGE WREN could still be found at Higbee’s Beach as of Monday November 11, 2008. Check the west path of the first field. CAVE SWALLOWS continue at multiple locales around the Cape.

A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was over the Cape May Hawk Watch November 20. Other birds from the hawk watch included over 10 species of waterfowl at Bunker Pond.

Townsend's Inlet had MARBLED GODWITS (8), and BLACK-HEADED GULL (1) on November 18.

The Avalon Seawatch had 7,882 RED-THROATED LOONS November 20. Other Sea Watch highlights this week include SNOW BUNTING (5), LAPLAND LONGSPUR (1), and RAZORBILL (1), all on the 18th.

Another LAPLAND LONGSPUR was at Cape May Point State Park on November 20. A TENNESSEE WARBLER was at the Beanery Thursday, November 20. A CACKLING GOOSE was on Lily Lake Wednesday, November 19.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES, BLACKPOLL WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, and a VESPER SPARROW were reported from Cape Island as of Monday 11-17-08.A CATTLE EGRET was seen at the intersections of Stevens St. and Bayshore Rd. on Monday November 17, 2008.

A BLUE WINGED TEAL can still be seen lingering around Cape Island, and so can a BROAD-WINGED HAWK, both seen Monday November 17, 2008.Cape Island Preserve held an ALDER FLYCATCHER through November 20, 2008.

A BARN OWL was seen flying over the meadows on Monday November 17, 2008.

On Sunday November 16 2008, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen near Dix WMA in Cumberland County.

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!

******CMBO Bookstore FALL HOURS are as follows: Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open 7 days a week, 9:30am to 4:30pm The Center for Research and Education on Rt. 47 in Goshen is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9:30am to 4:30pm; closed Mondays. [Both centers are CLOSED Thanksgiving Day]. ******

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 discount in the stores). Good Luck and Good Birding!