View from the Field Cape May Bird Observatory
Hawk Watch, Morning Flight, Sea Watch & the Monarch Monitoring Project

Click on the link above for more information about each research project.

These data are preliminary and should be viewed as such. 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.

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Saturday, October 6, 2007
Sea Watch Count 10/6/07
posted by Cape Publishing, Inc. | 11:50 PM

Counter: Ken Behrens


Northern Gannet - 28
Double-crested Cormorant - 59
Canada Goose - 3
Wood Duck - 1
American Black Duck - 1
Green-winged Teal - 5
Black Scoter - 4
Surf Scoter - 20
Bufflehead - 3
Parasitic Jaeger - 1
Forster's Tern - 390
Monarch - 19
Brown Pelican - 12
Marbled Godwit - 6
Belted Kingfisher - 1

TOTAL - 534
Hawk Watch Count 10/6/07
posted by Cape Publishing, Inc. | 10:33 PM
Counter: Jessie Barry

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture               0              0              0
Osprey                      31            176            842
Bald Eagle                   2              8             91
Northern Harrier            11             47            365

Sharp-shinned Hawk         127            445           5430
Cooper's Hawk               32            113            896
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              0              1

Broad-winged Hawk            2             10            161
Red-tailed Hawk              2              4             77
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              1

American Kestrel            15             63           3395
Merlin                       6             52            613
Peregrine Falcon            48            219            412
Unknown                      0              0              1

Total:                     276           1137          12285
------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Flight Count 10/6/07
posted by Cape Publishing, Inc. | 2:06 PM
Morning Flight: 0 wind, foggy conditions
Counter: Sam Galick


Total Birds: 0
Monarch Monitoring Project 10/05/07
posted by Bradley Smith | 2:00 AM
A cold front on the 29th brought huge numbers of Monarchs to Cape May. Gardens on Cape May Point were flooded with Monarchs. Warm conditions did not promote much large roosting, however. The phenomenon was short lived, though. Winds shifted and Monarchs left our shores, we assume to go south to their ultimate destination.
Unusually warm conditions have created a boon for insects of all kinds. Monarchs are breeding much more than usual, it seems, with caterpillars still feasting upon milkweed patches. Fall butterflies are still abundant and huge numbers of migrating dragonflies have been seen near the hawk watch.

Census Totals: Monarchs per hour
9-29: 196.72
9-30: 77.00
10-1: 57.89
10-2: 28.00
10-3: 10.34
10-4: 54.55
10-5: 30.53
Monarchs per hour for Week 5: 66.03
Mean Monarchs per hour cumulative: 64.70

The 29th of September was the annual Harbor Fair and Monarch Festival at the Nature Center of Cape May. It went splendidly and our thanks goes out to everyone who helped it be so. Visit the Cape May Bird Observatory and the Nature Center of Cape May for information on other programs and events.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Sea Watch Count 10/5/07
posted by Cape Publishing, Inc. | 11:41 PM

Counter: Ken Behrens


Common Loon - 1
Northern Gannet - 51
Double-crested Cormorant - 93
Great Blue Heron - 5
American Black Duck - 9
Northern Pintail - 1
Green-winged Teal - 28
Black Scoter - 6
Surf Scoter - 15
Parasitic Jaeger - 1
Laughing Gull - 70
Great Black-backed Gull - 4
Forster's Tern - 365
Royal Tern - 3
Brown Pelican - 9
American Oystercatcher - 6
Common Tern - 11
Black-crowned Night-Heron - 2

TOTAL - 680
Hawk Watch Count 10/5/07
posted by Cape Publishing, Inc. | 9:29 PM
Counter: Jessie Barry

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0

Turkey Vulture               0              0              0
Osprey                      60            145            811
Bald Eagle                   3              6             89
Northern Harrier            12             36            354

Sharp-shinned Hawk         118            318           5303
Cooper's Hawk               28             81            864
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              0              1

Broad-winged Hawk            3              8            159
Red-tailed Hawk              2              2             75
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              1

American Kestrel            13             48           3380
Merlin                      16             46            607
Peregrine Falcon            53            171            364
Unknown                      0              0              1

Total:                     308            861          12009
------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Flight Count 10/5/07
posted by Cape Publishing, Inc. | 2:05 PM
Morning Flight: 0-5 NE wind, patchy fog conditions
Counter: Chris Brown

Northern Flicker- 6
American Robin- 2
Northern Parula- 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 8
Palm Warbler- 1
Bay-breasted Warbler- 1
Blackpoll Warbler- 6
"Baypoll" Warbler- 11
Black and White Warbler- 1
American Redstart- 1
Northern Waterthrush- 16
Warbler sp.- 76
Indigo Bunting- 3
Downy Woodpecker- 1

Total Birds: 134
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Sea Watch Count 10/4/07
posted by Cape Publishing, Inc. | 11:55 PM

Counter: Ken Behrens


Northern Gannet - 18
Double-crested Cormorant - 9
Green-winged Teal - 1
Black Scoter - 3
Surf Scoter - 1
Parasitic Jaeger - 1
Laughing Gull - 41
Forster's Tern - 87
Monarch - 2
Brown Pelican - 34

TOTAL - 195
Hawk Watch Count 10/4/07
posted by Cape Publishing, Inc. | 10:26 PM
Counter: Chris Brown

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0

Turkey Vulture               0              0              0
Osprey                       4             85            751
Bald Eagle                   1              3             86
Northern Harrier             2             24            342

Sharp-shinned Hawk          20            200           5185
Cooper's Hawk                6             53            836
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              0              1

Broad-winged Hawk            1              5            156
Red-tailed Hawk              0              0             73
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              1

American Kestrel             6             35           3367
Merlin                       4             30            591
Peregrine Falcon             9            118            311
Unknown                      0              0              1

Total:                      53            553          11701
------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Flight Count 10/4/07
posted by Cape Publishing, Inc. | 2:27 PM
Morning Flight: 0 wind, foggy conditions
Counter: Sam Galick

Total Birds: 0

Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Sea Watch Count 10/3/07
posted by Cape Publishing, Inc. | 11:51 PM

Counter: Ken Behrens


Northern Gannet - 8
Double-crested Cormorant - 33
Parasitic Jaeger - 4
Forster's Tern - 236
Brown Pelican - 6

TOTAL - 287
Hawk Watch Count 10/3/07
posted by Cape Publishing, Inc. | 9:59 PM
Counter: Chris Brown

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0

Turkey Vulture               0              0              0
Osprey                      29             81            747
Bald Eagle                   1              2             85
Northern Harrier             7             22            340

Sharp-shinned Hawk         107            180           5165
Cooper's Hawk               27             47            830
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              0              1

Broad-winged Hawk            4              4            155
Red-tailed Hawk              0              0             73
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              1

American Kestrel            17             29           3361
Merlin                      13             26            587
Peregrine Falcon            45            109            302
Unknown                      0              0              1

Total:                     250            500          11648
------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Flight Count 10/3/07
posted by Cape Publishing, Inc. | 2:13 PM
Morning Flight: 0-5 SSE wind, overcast conditions
Counter: Sam Galick

Northern Flicker- 1
Palm Warbler- 1
Blackpoll Warbler- 1

Total Birds: 3
Sea Watch Count 10/2/07
posted by Cape Publishing, Inc. | 12:42 AM

Counter: Ken Behrens


Common Loon - 9
Northern Gannet - 39
Great Cormorant - 2
Double-crested Cormorant - 662
Great Blue Heron - 4
Black Scoter - 75
Surf Scoter - 67
Parasitic Jaeger - 14
Laughing Gull - 60
Herring Gull - 14
Forster's Tern - 181
Royal Tern - 9
Brown Pelican - 74
Common Tern - 8

TOTAL - 1218
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Hawk Watch Count 10/2/07
posted by Cape Publishing, Inc. | 9:19 PM
Counter: Jessie Barry

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0

Turkey Vulture               0              0              0
Osprey                      28             52            718
Bald Eagle                   1              1             84
Northern Harrier             9             15            333

Sharp-shinned Hawk          29             73           5058
Cooper's Hawk                9             20            803
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              0              1

Broad-winged Hawk            0              0            151
Red-tailed Hawk              0              0             73
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              1

American Kestrel             7             12           3344
Merlin                       9             13            574
Peregrine Falcon            53             64            257
Unknown                      0              0              1

Total:                     145            250          11398
------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Flight Count 10/2/07
posted by Cape Publishing, Inc. | 2:11 PM
Morning Flight: 0-5 E wind, clear conditions
Counter: Sam Galick

Northern Flicker- 3
Red-breasted Nuthatch- 2
American Robin- 3
Palm Warbler- 4
Northern Waterthrush- 1
Warbler sp.- 12
Savannah Sparrow- 1

Total Birds: 27
Monday, October 1, 2007
Sea Watch Count 10/1/07
posted by Cape Publishing, Inc. | 11:34 PM

Counter: Ken Behrens


Common Loon - 2
Northern Gannet - 57
Double-crested Cormorant - 914
Great Blue Heron - 6
Green-winged Teal - 34
Black Scoter - 709
Surf Scoter - 333
Parasitic Jaeger - 5
Laughing Gull - 83
Herring Gull - 27
Glossy Ibis - 3
Spotted Sandpiper - 1

TOTAL - 2174
Hawk Watch Count 10/1/07
posted by Cape Publishing, Inc. | 9:13 PM
Counter: Jessie Barry

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0

Turkey Vulture               0              0              0
Osprey                      24             24            690
Bald Eagle                   0              0             83
Northern Harrier             6              6            324

Sharp-shinned Hawk          44             44           5029
Cooper's Hawk               11             11            794
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              0              1

Broad-winged Hawk            0              0            151
Red-tailed Hawk              0              0             73
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 0              0              1

American Kestrel             5              5           3337
Merlin                       4              4            565
Peregrine Falcon            11             11            204
Unknown                      0              0              1

Total:                     105            105          11253
------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Flight Count 10/1/07
posted by Cape Publishing, Inc. | 2:04 PM
Morning Flight: 5-10 SE wind, foggy conditions
Counter: Sam Galick

Red-bellied Woodpecker- 1
Northern Flicker- 62
Eastern Wood-Pewee- 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch- 22
American Robin- 4
Northern Parula- 21
Yellow Warbler- 1
Magnolia Warbler- 3
Cape May Warbler- 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler- 8
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 3
Black-throated Green Warbler- 4
Palm Warbler- 31
Blackpoll Warbler- 25
"Baypoll" Warbler- 2
Black and White Warbler- 5
American Redstart- 13
Northern Waterthrush- 4
Warbler sp.- 107
Scarlet Tanager- 1
Indigo Bunting- 3
Bobolink- 10

Total Birds: 333
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Sea Watch Count 9/30/07
posted by Cape Publishing, Inc. | 11:45 PM

Counter: Ken Behrens


Common Loon - 4
Northern Gannet - 8
Double-crested Cormorant - 4966
Great Blue Heron - 6
Brant - 5
Wood Duck - 8
American Wigeon - 6
American Black Duck - 23
Mallard - 1
Northern Pintail - 54
Green-winged Teal - 432
Greater Scaup - 5
Black Scoter - 324
Surf Scoter - 198
White-winged Scoter - 1
dark-winged scoter - 40
unidentified scoter - 60
Parasitic Jaeger - 2
Laughing Gull - 617
Ring-billed Gull - 9
Herring Gull - 17
Great Black-backed Gull - 18
Forster's Tern - 53
Monarch - 51
Brown Pelican - 2
Common Tern - 10
Black Skimmer - 64
Belted Kingfisher - 1

TOTAL - 6934
Hawk Watch Count 9/30/07
posted by Cape Publishing, Inc. | 10:17 PM
Counter: Jessie Barry

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0

Turkey Vulture               0              0              0
Osprey                     164            666            666
Bald Eagle                   3             83             83
Northern Harrier            25            318            318

Sharp-shinned Hawk         102           4985           4985
Cooper's Hawk               47            783            783
Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              1              1

Broad-winged Hawk            0            151            151
Red-tailed Hawk              1             73             73
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                 1              1              1

American Kestrel            18           3332           3332
Merlin                      17            561            561
Peregrine Falcon            62            193            193
Unknown                      0              1              1

Total:                     440          11148          11148
------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Flight Count 9/30/07
posted by Cape Publishing, Inc. | 2:15 PM
Morning Flight: 0-5 NNE wind, clear conditions
Counter: Sam Galick

Red-bellied Woodpecker- 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker- 16
Northern Flicker- 777
Eastern Wood-Pewee- 17
Eastern Phoebe- 8
Red-eyed Vireo- 10
Red-breasted Nuthatch- 116
Golden-crowned Kinglet- 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet- 6
Kinglet sp.- 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher- 1
American Robin- 1
American Pipit- 2
Cedar Waxwing- 56
Tennessee Warbler- 1
Northern Parula- 40
Yellow Warbler- 2
Cape May Warbler- 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler- 12
Yellow-rumped Warbler- 599
Black-throated Green Warbler- 9
Blackburnian Warbler- 1
Prairie Warbler- 1
Palm Warbler- 393
Bay-breasted Warbler- 8
Blackpoll Warbler- 61
"Baypoll" Warbler- 39
Black and white Warbler- 20
American Redstart- 15
Ovenbird- 1
Northern Waterthrush- 5
Connecticut Warbler- 1
Warbler sp.- 483
Scarlet Tanager- 12
Savannah Sparrow- 11
Indigo Bunting- 18
Bobolink- 10
Baltimore Oriole- 18
Purple Finch- 2

Total birds: 2,780
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