Click on the link above for more information about each research project.
These data are preliminary and should be viewed as such. Final verified totals will be posted at the end of the season. These data are the property of New Jersey Audubon Society and may only be reproduced or used with specific written permission from NJAS. Contact New Jersey Audubon Society's Center for Research and Education regarding data requests.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Sea Watch Count 10/6/08
posted by Sean Fitzgerald | 9:29 PM
Counter: Sean Fitzgerald
Brant - 111
Wood Duck - 3
American Wigeon - 4
American Black Duck - 6
Blue-winged Teal - 1
Northern Pintail - 171
Green-winged Teal - 215
Greater Scaup - 1
Surf Scoter - 347
White-winged Scoter - 1
Black Scoter - 1,597
dark-winged scoter - 43
Red-throated Loon - 2
Common Loon - 17
Northern Gannet - 13
Double-crested Cormorant - 2,383
Great Blue Heron - 114
Great Egret - 9
Laughing Gull - 685
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1
Forster's Tern - 273
Black Skimmer - 50
Parasitic Jaeger - 1
American Oystercatcher - 53
Total: 6,101
Monarch: 13
Hawk Watch Count 10-6-2008
posted by Seth Cutright | 6:39 PM
Official Observer: Dan Berard
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 12
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 185 388 789
Bald Eagle 17 43 190
Northern Harrier 85 134 291
Sharp-shinned Hawk 995 2722 6646
Cooper's Hawk 389 1225 2626
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 5 7 16
Broad-winged Hawk 159 313 452
Red-tailed Hawk 10 22 113
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 94 524 2531
Merlin 77 298 1002
Peregrine Falcon 105 537 1001
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 1
Mississippi Kite 0 1 2
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 2
Total: 2121 6215 15675
Monarch Monitoring Project - 10/6/08
posted by Erin Cord | 5:12 PM
Greetings all! Well, the monarchs are finally arriving in Cape May. This past weeks census had the highest numbers to date with 77.33 monarchs/hour. North west winds at the beginning of the week funneled large numbers of monarchs through Cape May! Although the numbers are not as spectacular as previous years, we at the MMP still hope that more monarchs are coming! Aside from the monarchs, Cape May had some other interesting visitors this week...
***RARE BUTTERFLY ALERT***
Yesterday, October 5, 2008, a Queen butterfly (Danaus glippus) was seen by many on West Lake Drive in Cape May Point. This was a female queen (see picture above) determined by markings and the fact that the butterfly was laying eggs. This butterfly is an extremely rare visitor to Cape May! The range of the queen butterfly is the southern united states into Central and South America. To find one up here is a strange but wonderful occurrence.
The queen hasn't been sited today, but it still may very well be hanging around Cape May Point. Keep your eyes open and your cameras ready!
*DISCLAIMER: Some naturalists suspect that this particular butterfly did not arrive in Cape May naturally. They are often available in butterfly kits and it is possible that it was let go at a recent wedding on the point. True or not, it was still very exciting to see a queen butterfly*
Northern Short-tailed Shrew!
The MMP had another interesting visitor today, thought this one was in the phylum Mammalia! Behold (above) the northern short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda). This little critter was running amok on the streets of Cape May point today when Dick Walton bravely captured it in his net! When I say bravely, I mean bravely! This little guy looks cute but he is actually poisonous! The Norhtern short-tailed shrew is one of the few poisonous mammals that exist. It uses it's toxic saliva to kill prey much larger than itself. Not a mammal that you want to mess with!
This shrew is common in our area but they nest underground and is usually difficult to find. We at the Monarch Monitoring Project consider ourselves lucky that we got to spend some time with this exciting mammal. After a tiny meal of worms (provided by Dick Walton), this little guy was sent back into the world. We all wish him luck!
Photo by Michael O'Brien
Tomorrow I will be posting a new "Insect of the Week" segment. This week will feature the Praying Mantis!
***RARE BUTTERFLY ALERT***
Yesterday, October 5, 2008, a Queen butterfly (Danaus glippus) was seen by many on West Lake Drive in Cape May Point. This was a female queen (see picture above) determined by markings and the fact that the butterfly was laying eggs. This butterfly is an extremely rare visitor to Cape May! The range of the queen butterfly is the southern united states into Central and South America. To find one up here is a strange but wonderful occurrence.
The queen hasn't been sited today, but it still may very well be hanging around Cape May Point. Keep your eyes open and your cameras ready!
*DISCLAIMER: Some naturalists suspect that this particular butterfly did not arrive in Cape May naturally. They are often available in butterfly kits and it is possible that it was let go at a recent wedding on the point. True or not, it was still very exciting to see a queen butterfly*
Northern Short-tailed Shrew!
The MMP had another interesting visitor today, thought this one was in the phylum Mammalia! Behold (above) the northern short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda). This little critter was running amok on the streets of Cape May point today when Dick Walton bravely captured it in his net! When I say bravely, I mean bravely! This little guy looks cute but he is actually poisonous! The Norhtern short-tailed shrew is one of the few poisonous mammals that exist. It uses it's toxic saliva to kill prey much larger than itself. Not a mammal that you want to mess with!
This shrew is common in our area but they nest underground and is usually difficult to find. We at the Monarch Monitoring Project consider ourselves lucky that we got to spend some time with this exciting mammal. After a tiny meal of worms (provided by Dick Walton), this little guy was sent back into the world. We all wish him luck!
Photo by Michael O'BrienTomorrow I will be posting a new "Insect of the Week" segment. This week will feature the Praying Mantis!
Morning Flight 10-6-2008
posted by Sam Galick | 10:00 AM
Morning Flight: 5-10 E wind, clear conditions
Counter: Sam Galick
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker- 3
Northern Flicker- 33
Eastern Phoebe- 1
Red-eyed Vireo- 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet- 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet- 4
American Robin- 42
American Pipit- 3
Cedar Waxwing- 29
Tennessee Warbler- 1
Northern Parula- 13
Magnolia Warbler- 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler- 9
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 1115
Black-throated Green Warbler- 2
Palm Warbler- 74
Blackpoll Warbler- 19
Black and White Warbler- 3
American Redstart- 2
Warbler sp.- 310
Scarlet Tanager- 1
Chipping Sparrow- 2
Savannah Sparrow- 4
Dark-eyed Junco- 1
Indigo Bunting- 9
Bobolink- 1
Purple Finch- 1
Total Birds: 1685
Non Morning Flight birds: 9 Brant, 11 Green-winged Teals, 5 Black Scoters, 3 Common Loons
Counter: Sam Galick
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker- 3
Northern Flicker- 33
Eastern Phoebe- 1
Red-eyed Vireo- 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet- 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet- 4
American Robin- 42
American Pipit- 3
Cedar Waxwing- 29
Tennessee Warbler- 1
Northern Parula- 13
Magnolia Warbler- 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler- 9
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 1115
Black-throated Green Warbler- 2
Palm Warbler- 74
Blackpoll Warbler- 19
Black and White Warbler- 3
American Redstart- 2
Warbler sp.- 310
Scarlet Tanager- 1
Chipping Sparrow- 2
Savannah Sparrow- 4
Dark-eyed Junco- 1
Indigo Bunting- 9
Bobolink- 1
Purple Finch- 1
Total Birds: 1685
Non Morning Flight birds: 9 Brant, 11 Green-winged Teals, 5 Black Scoters, 3 Common Loons
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Hawk Watch Count 10-5-2008
posted by Seth Cutright | 9:55 PM
Official Observer: Seth Cutright
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 12
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 77 203 604
Bald Eagle 2 26 173
Northern Harrier 15 49 206
Sharp-shinned Hawk 365 1727 5651
Cooper's Hawk 228 836 2237
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 2 11
Broad-winged Hawk 10 154 293
Red-tailed Hawk 2 12 103
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 46 430 2437
Merlin 65 221 925
Peregrine Falcon 178 432 896
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 1
Mississippi Kite 0 1 2
Swallow-tailed Kite 0 1 1
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 2
Total: 988 4094 13554
Sea Watch Count 10/5/08
posted by Sean Fitzgerald | 7:48 PM
Counter: Sean Fitzgerald
Brant - 95
Canada Goose - 1
Blue-winged Teal - 14
Northern Shoveler - 8
Northern Pintail - 207
Green-winged Teal - 75
dabbler sp. - 1
Surf Scoter - 176
Black Scoter - 68
dark-winged scoter - 22
Red-breasted Merganser - 1
Red-throated Loon - 2
Common Loon - 4
Northern Gannet - 4
Brown Pelican - 40
Double-crested Cormorant - 3,939
Great Blue Heron - 21
Great Egret - 8
Laughing Gull - 231
Parasitic Jaeger - 1
American Oystercatcher - 73
Total: 4,991
Monarch: 164
Morning Flight 10-5-2008
posted by Sam Galick | 10:00 AM
Morning Flight: 0-5 S wind, clear conditions
Counter: Sam Galick
Red-bellied Woodpecker- 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker- 2
Northern Flicker- 12
Ruby-crowned Kinglet- 1
American Robin- 164
Northern Parula- 2
Cape May Warbler- 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 26
Palm Warbler- 23
Blackpoll Warbler- 2
Warbler sp.- 27
Bobolink- 8
Eastern Meadowlark- 3
Total Birds: 272
Non Morning Flight birds: 1 Brant, 1 Parasitic Jaeger
Counter: Sam Galick
Red-bellied Woodpecker- 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker- 2
Northern Flicker- 12
Ruby-crowned Kinglet- 1
American Robin- 164
Northern Parula- 2
Cape May Warbler- 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 26
Palm Warbler- 23
Blackpoll Warbler- 2
Warbler sp.- 27
Bobolink- 8
Eastern Meadowlark- 3
Total Birds: 272
Non Morning Flight birds: 1 Brant, 1 Parasitic Jaeger
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Hawk Watch Count 10-4-2008
posted by Seth Cutright | 9:04 PM
Official Observer: Seth Cutright
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 12
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 67 126 527
Bald Eagle 3 24 171
Northern Harrier 16 34 191
Sharp-shinned Hawk 463 1362 5286
Cooper's Hawk 261 608 2009
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 2 11
Broad-winged Hawk 43 144 283
Red-tailed Hawk 7 10 101
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 33 384 2391
Merlin 51 156 860
Peregrine Falcon 119 254 718
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 1
Mississippi Kite 0 1 2
Swallow-tailed Kite 1 1 1
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 2
Total: 1066 3106 12566
Sea Watch Count 10/4/08
posted by Sean Fitzgerald | 8:56 PM
Counter: Sean Fitzgerald
Brant - 39
Canada Goose - 40
goose sp. - 11
Wood Duck - 1
American Black Duck - 2
Northern Pintail - 88
Green-winged Teal - 20
dabbler sp. - 1
Surf Scoter - 13
Black Scoter - 13
Red-throated Loon - 1
Common Loon - 11
Northern Gannet - 6
Brown Pelican - 12
Double-crested Cormorant - 3,799
Great Blue Heron - 118
Laughing Gull - 1,355
Black Skimmer - 19
American Oystercatcher - 16
Total: 5,565
Monarch: 131
Morning Flight 10-4-2008
posted by Sam Galick | 10:00 AM
Morning Flight: 0-5 NE wind, clear conditions
Counter: Sam Galick
Red-bellied Woodpecker- 5
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker- 3
Northern Flicker- 30
Eastern Phoebe- 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch- 4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher- 2
American Robin- 775
American Pipit- 1
Cedar Waxwing- 42
Northern Parula- 24
Yellow Warbler- 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler- 1
Magnolia Warbler- 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler- 18
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 136
Black-throated Green Warbler- 15
Blackburnian Warbler- 1
Palm Warbler- 66
Blackpoll Warbler- 38
Black and White Warbler- 1
American Redstart- 2
Warbler sp.- 230
Chipping Sparrow- 2
Savannah Sparrow- 9
Rose-breasted Grosbeak- 1
Indigo Bunting- 3
Dickcissel- 1
Bobolink- 3
Baltimore Oriole- 1
Blue Jay- 29
Total Birds: 1448
Non Morning Flight birds: 3 Wood Ducks, 1 Green-winged Teal
Counter: Sam Galick
Red-bellied Woodpecker- 5
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker- 3
Northern Flicker- 30
Eastern Phoebe- 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch- 4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher- 2
American Robin- 775
American Pipit- 1
Cedar Waxwing- 42
Northern Parula- 24
Yellow Warbler- 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler- 1
Magnolia Warbler- 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler- 18
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 136
Black-throated Green Warbler- 15
Blackburnian Warbler- 1
Palm Warbler- 66
Blackpoll Warbler- 38
Black and White Warbler- 1
American Redstart- 2
Warbler sp.- 230
Chipping Sparrow- 2
Savannah Sparrow- 9
Rose-breasted Grosbeak- 1
Indigo Bunting- 3
Dickcissel- 1
Bobolink- 3
Baltimore Oriole- 1
Blue Jay- 29
Total Birds: 1448
Non Morning Flight birds: 3 Wood Ducks, 1 Green-winged Teal
Friday, October 3, 2008
Sea Watch Count 10/3/08
posted by Sean Fitzgerald | 9:12 PM
Counter: Sean Fitzgerald
Brant - 11
Wood Duck - 3
American Black Duck - 14
Northern Pintail - 13
Green-winged Teal - 86
dabbler sp. - 9
Surf Scoter - 7
Black Scoter - 2
Common Loon - 4
Northern Gannet - 14
Double-crested Cormorant - 557
Great Blue Heron - 47
Great Egret - 7
Little Blue Heron - 1
Glossy Ibis - 1
Laughing Gull - 18
Common Tern - 8
Forster's Tern - 108
American Golden Plover - 1
Total: 912
Monarch: 67
Hawk Watch Count 10-3-2008
posted by Seth Cutright | 7:59 PM
Official Observer: Seth Cutright
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 12
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 14 59 460
Bald Eagle 6 21 168
Northern Harrier 5 18 175
Sharp-shinned Hawk 327 899 4823
Cooper's Hawk 107 347 1748
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 9
Broad-winged Hawk 44 101 240
Red-tailed Hawk 1 3 94
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 87 351 2358
Merlin 22 105 809
Peregrine Falcon 33 135 599
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 1
Mississippi Kite 1 1 2
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 2
Total: 647 2040 11500
Morning Flight 10-3-2008
posted by Sam Galick | 10:00 AM
Morning Flight: 5-10 NW wind, clear conditions
Counter: Dan Berard
Red-bellied Woodpecker- 10
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker- 2
Northern Flicker- 46
Eastern Wood-Pewee- 2
Eastern Phoebe- 1
Red-eyed Vireo- 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch- 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet- 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet- 6
American Robin- 1
Cedar Waxwing- 22
Nashville Warbler- 1
Northern Parula- 27
Yellow Warbler- 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler- 3
Magnolia Warbler- 7
Cape May Warbler- 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler- 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 12
Black-throated Green Warbler- 37
Prairie Warbler- 1
Palm Warbler- 25
Blackpoll Warbler- 24
Black and White Warbler- 5
American Redstart- 8
Connecticut Warbler- 1
Warbler sp.- 24
Scarlet Tanager- 1
Savannah Sparrow- 1
Blue Grosbeak- 2
Dickcissel- 1
Rusty Blackbird- 1
Western Kingbird- 1
Common Yellowthroat- 1
Total Birds: 303
Counter: Dan Berard
Red-bellied Woodpecker- 10
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker- 2
Northern Flicker- 46
Eastern Wood-Pewee- 2
Eastern Phoebe- 1
Red-eyed Vireo- 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch- 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet- 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet- 6
American Robin- 1
Cedar Waxwing- 22
Nashville Warbler- 1
Northern Parula- 27
Yellow Warbler- 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler- 3
Magnolia Warbler- 7
Cape May Warbler- 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler- 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 12
Black-throated Green Warbler- 37
Prairie Warbler- 1
Palm Warbler- 25
Blackpoll Warbler- 24
Black and White Warbler- 5
American Redstart- 8
Connecticut Warbler- 1
Warbler sp.- 24
Scarlet Tanager- 1
Savannah Sparrow- 1
Blue Grosbeak- 2
Dickcissel- 1
Rusty Blackbird- 1
Western Kingbird- 1
Common Yellowthroat- 1
Total Birds: 303
Recent Posts
- Sea Watch Count 10/6/08
- Hawk Watch Count 10-6-2008
- Monarch Monitoring Project - 10/6/08
- Morning Flight 10-6-2008
- Hawk Watch Count 10-5-2008
- Sea Watch Count 10/5/08
- Morning Flight 10-5-2008
- Hawk Watch Count 10-4-2008
- Sea Watch Count 10/4/08
- Morning Flight 10-4-2008
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