BirdCapeMay.org

In the wee hours of Saturday morning the wind shifted from NE to NW; a welcome change that brought us a solid morning of birding. While not massive,the flight was perfect, manageable and diverse with a few goodies thrown in for added interest. 19 species of warblers were observed in morning flight while the presents of the morning flight adverse Common Yellowthroats around the dike added a twentieth species for the morning. Including 82 warbler sp, 532 warblers were counted. A handful of Scarlet Tanagers and a great flight of Baltimore Oriole added non-warbler spice. Highlights included 2! Olive-sided Flycatchers and 2! Prothonotary Warblers. These two species of early migrants along with an excellent late movement of Yellow Warblers gave the flight more of an August feel. Non bird highlights included a stunning Comet Darner and the naturalist on the morning flight platform spotted a Swamp Darner that had captured a Common Green Darner and was eating it alive!

Totals below are for all birds seen and include species or individuals not participating in morning flight.

Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/5/09
Number of species: 91

Mallard 6
Green-winged Teal 1
Brown Pelican 9
Double-crested Cormorant 12
Osprey 2
Bald Eagle 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2
Broad-winged Hawk 2
Merlin 1
Semipalmated Plover 3
Killdeer 2
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 8
Whimbrel 1
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Sanderling 65
Semipalmated Sandpiper 55
Western Sandpiper 2
Least Sandpiper 15
Laughing Gull 80
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 6
Great Black-backed Gull 45
Common Tern 90
Forster's Tern 15
Royal Tern 4
Rock Pigeon 30
Mourning Dove 18
Common Nighthawk 5
Chimney Swift 12
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 9
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Olive-sided Flycatcher 2 In and out for most of the first two hours. Incredibly dark vested.
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Alder Flycatcher 1
Least Flycatcher 1
Empidonax sp. 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Eastern Kingbird 75
White-eyed Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 5
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 18
Fish Crow 10
Purple Martin 15
Tree Swallow 20
Bank Swallow 1
Cliff Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 80
Carolina Chickadee 3
Carolina Wren 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5
Veery 7
American Robin 8
Gray Catbird 12
Northern Mockingbird 6
European Starling 180
Cedar Waxwing 45
Tennessee Warbler 4
Nashville Warbler 1
Northern Parula 47
Yellow Warbler 74
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Magnolia Warbler 4
Cape May Warbler 6
Black-throated Blue Warbler 20
Black-throated Green Warbler 2
Blackburnian Warbler 3
Pine Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 8
Bay-breasted Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 29
American Redstart 217
Prothonotary Warbler 2 Great looks!
Ovenbird 1
Northern Waterthrush 28
Common Yellowthroat 3
Scarlet Tanager 8
Northern Cardinal 6
Blue Grosbeak 3
Indigo Bunting 2
Bobolink 300
Red-winged Blackbird 120
Common Grackle 8
Baltimore Oriole 83
House Finch 7
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 12

A decent movement of birds early on despite the unfavorable conditions (at least the 4th day in a row of NE winds). It was highlighted by a couple of Cape May Warblers in the last hour and change, well after the flight had slowed to almost nothing.
eBird list:
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/4/09
Notes: NNE/NE Winds.
Number of species: 54

Mallard 3
Double-crested Cormorant X
Turkey Vulture 17
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 2
Broad-winged Hawk 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Semipalmated Plover 9
Killdeer 1
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 11
Semipalmated Sandpiper 50
Least Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Caspian Tern 1
Common Tern X
Forster's Tern X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove 6
Chimney Swift X
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 12
Belted Kingfisher 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Eastern Kingbird 75
American Crow X
Fish Crow X
Purple Martin 2
Tree Swallow X
Barn Swallow X
Carolina Chickadee X
Carolina Wren 4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Northern Parula 7
Yellow Warbler 3
Magnolia Warbler 1
Cape May Warbler 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler 5
Prairie Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 10
American Redstart 117
Northern Waterthrush 4
Common Yellowthroat 1
Northern Cardinal X
Blue Grosbeak 1
Bobolink 3
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
American Goldfinch X

Definitely a bit on the slow side today, but it highlights how important weather is to the birding here in Cape May. If we don't get the weather we don't get the birds, if we do then there are few better placed to be.

Totals below are for all birds seen and include species or individuals not participating in morning flight.

Canada Goose 2
Mallard 8
Northern Shoveler 1
Double-crested Cormorant 6
Black Vulture 6
Turkey Vulture 4
Osprey 3
Bald Eagle 1
Semipalmated Plover 1
Spotted Sandpiper 3
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 8
Semipalmated Sandpiper 35
Least Sandpiper 3
Laughing Gull 60
Herring Gull 3
Great Black-backed Gull 12
Common Tern 2
Forster's Tern 6
Royal Tern 9
Rock Pigeon 4
Mourning Dove 6
Chimney Swift 18
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 18
White-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 8
Fish Crow 2
Purple Martin 25
Tree Swallow 15
Bank Swallow 1
Cliff Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 55
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 1
Carolina Wren 8
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
Veery 3
American Robin 12
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 4
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 150
Cedar Waxwing 15
Nashville Warbler 1
Northern Parula 8
Yellow Warbler 4
Cape May Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 6
American Redstart 34
Northern Waterthrush 2
Common Yellowthroat 3
Northern Cardinal 6
Bobolink 4
Red-winged Blackbird 85
Common Grackle 6
House Finch 6
American Goldfinch 3
House Sparrow 1

Today saw a rather slow raptor flght, as expected with the NE winds through the day and a smattering of drizzle later on. Aside from the 43 migrant raptors, there were also 2-3 Cliff Swallows in the afternoon once again, and another immature Northern Gannet offshore early in the morning.
Full eBird list below:
Location: Cape Island--CMBO Hawk Watch Site
Observation date: 9/3/09
Notes: NNE wind early on, shifting to NE after a couple of hours and staying
that way for the duration. A few droplets of rain came a couple of times in the later afternoon. Mostly cloudy all day.
Number of species: 73

Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 8
Mallard X
Blue-winged Teal 1
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Northern Gannet 1
Double-crested Cormorant X
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 7
Snowy Egret 2
Green Heron 2
Glossy Ibis 5
Black Vulture 10
Turkey Vulture 20
Osprey 10 (8 migrants)
Bald Eagle 3 (2 migrants)
Northern Harrier 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 5
Cooper's Hawk 9 (8 migrants)
Broad-winged Hawk 7
Red-tailed Hawk 5
American Kestrel 3
Merlin 1
Peregrine Falcon 4
Killdeer 1
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 2
Semipalmated Sandpiper 2
Least Sandpiper 4
peep sp. 5
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Common Tern X
Forster's Tern X
Royal Tern 16
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Chimney Swift 41
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 4
Belted Kingfisher 1
Eastern Kingbird 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow X
Fish Crow X
Purple Martin 40
Tree Swallow 250
Bank Swallow 2
Cliff Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 100
Carolina Chickadee X
Carolina Wren 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Gray Catbird X
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 2
Yellow Warbler 3
Black-and-white Warbler 1
American Redstart 1
Northern Waterthrush 1
Common Yellowthroat 3
Song Sparrow X
Northern Cardinal X
Indigo Bunting 1
Bobolink 99
Red-winged Blackbird 240
Common Grackle 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X

Steady northeast winds throughout contributed to a rather slow day raptor-wise, with 63 migrant raptors counted. There were some non-raptor highlights however, including 2 Cliff Swallows (6 species of swallow seen from the platform today), 8 Brown Pelicans (flock of 7 south of the watch plus a single bird soaring over towards the Meadows), an early morning Northern Gannet, and a juvenile Black Tern that showed up at Bunker Pond early in the AM and then again after 3 PM. My complete eBird list is below:

Canada Goose X
Mallard 6
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Northern Gannet 1
Brown Pelican 8
Double-crested Cormorant 55
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 18
Green Heron 2
Glossy Ibis 3
Black Vulture 16
Turkey Vulture 10
Osprey 14 (10 migrants)
Bald Eagle 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4
Cooper's Hawk 19
Broad-winged Hawk 10
Red-tailed Hawk 8 (4 migrants)
American Kestrel 5
Merlin 1
Peregrine Falcon 5
Killdeer 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 8
Semipalmated Sandpiper 12
Least Sandpiper 15
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Caspian Tern 1
Black Tern 1
Common Tern X
Forster's Tern X
Royal Tern 8
Black Skimmer 70
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove 10
Chimney Swift 20
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Kingbird 4
American Crow X
Fish Crow 10
Purple Martin 40
Tree Swallow 100
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3
Bank Swallow 2
Cliff Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 100
Carolina Chickadee X
Carolina Wren 8
Marsh Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 2
Yellow Warbler 5
Prairie Warbler 1
American Redstart 6
Northern Waterthrush 2
Common Yellowthroat 2
Song Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 4
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 1
Bobolink 135
Red-winged Blackbird X
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X

Labels: hawkwatch

The game of the day was low volume but high diversity. 16 species of warblers were observed participating in morning flight in the first two hours after sunrise. An additional 2 species, Worm-eating and Common Yellowthroat, were also observed bring the total for the day up to 18. Good warbler diversity combined with an excellent sunrise, and another visit from the infamous Peregrine from yesterday made for a quality morning.

Totals below are for all birds seen and include species or individuals not participating in morning flight.


Canada Goose 2
Mallard 8
Northern Shoveler 1
Double-crested Cormorant 6
Great Egret 2
Snowy Egret 3
Black Vulture 3
Turkey Vulture 5
Osprey 5
Bald Eagle 2
Peregrine Falcon 1
Semipalmated Plover 2
Killdeer 1
Spotted Sandpiper 4
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 12
Sanderling 18
Semipalmated Sandpiper 55
Western Sandpiper 1
Least Sandpiper 8
Laughing Gull 200
Herring Gull 8
Great Black-backed Gull 18
Caspian Tern 1
Common Tern 45
Forster's Tern 15
Royal Tern 12
Rock Pigeon 8
Mourning Dove 12
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 3
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Least Flycatcher 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Eastern Kingbird 35
White-eyed Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 12
Fish Crow 1
Purple Martin 15
Tree Swallow 12
Barn Swallow 85
Carolina Chickadee 4
Carolina Wren 6
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 19
American Robin 12
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 6
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 120
Cedar Waxwing 28
Tennessee Warbler 1
Nashville Warbler 1
Northern Parula 8
Yellow Warbler 6
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Magnolia Warbler 1
Cape May Warbler 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Blackburnian Warbler 2
Pine Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 8
American Redstart 49
Worm-eating Warbler 1
Northern Waterthrush 18
Common Yellowthroat 4
Chipping Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 3
Blue Grosbeak 1
Bobolink 6
Red-winged Blackbird 125
Common Grackle 8
Baltimore Oriole 3
House Finch 14
American Goldfinch 2

The birds I was expecting yesterday decided that they would rather come today instead. The first hour was busy bordering on crazy but things slowed down fairly quickly. Including 180 warbler sp. there were 557 warblers counted representing 16 species. The warbler highlights were a Cerulean and a Canada. The highlight of the morning, however, was the full blown shootout between a hefty juvenile female Peregrine Falcon and a Lesser Yellowlegs! The thrilling duel lasted several minutes during which I was certain that the yellowlegs would meet its end at least 6 or 7 times. The Peregrine finally broke off the pursuit, visibly winded and without dinner, and left to take a nap. The Yellowlegs went the opposite direction likely in search of a therapist and a fresh pair of shorts.

Totals below are for all birds seen and include species or individuals not participating in morning flight.

Mallard 8
Double-crested Cormorant 85
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 3
Snowy Egret 2
Green Heron 2
Black Vulture 3
Turkey Vulture 3
Osprey 8
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3
Cooper's Hawk 2
Broad-winged Hawk 2
Merlin 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Semipalmated Plover 6
Spotted Sandpiper 3
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 12
Sanderling 35
Semipalmated Sandpiper 40
Least Sandpiper 6
Stilt Sandpiper 1
Short-billed Dowitcher 2
Laughing Gull 215
Herring Gull 35
Great Black-backed Gull 25
Least Tern 2
Caspian Tern 1
Common Tern 115
Forster's Tern 90
Royal Tern 4
Rock Pigeon 40
Mourning Dove 18
Common Nighthawk 2
Chimney Swift 6
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 4
Belted Kingfisher 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Empidonax sp. 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Eastern Kingbird 140
Red-eyed Vireo 6
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 12
Fish Crow 14
Purple Martin 45
Tree Swallow 80
Barn Swallow 40
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 12
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 50
American Robin 47
Gray Catbird 8
Northern Mockingbird 5
European Starling 350
Cedar Waxwing 139
Blue-winged Warbler 2
Tennessee Warbler 2
Nashville Warbler 1
Northern Parula 21
Yellow Warbler 7
Chestnut-sided Warbler 4
Magnolia Warbler 18
Cape May Warbler 5
Black-throated Blue Warbler 16
Blackburnian Warbler 3
Prairie Warbler 4
Cerulean Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 16
American Redstart 266
Northern Waterthrush 10
Common Yellowthroat 5
Canada Warbler 1
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 6
Indigo Bunting 2
Dickcissel 1
Bobolink 125
Red-winged Blackbird 135
Common Grackle 6
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Baltimore Oriole 71
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 8

A minor internet snafu delayed the posting of yesterdays totals.

The winds shifted east too soon severely limiting what I expected would be a great flight. While the volume of birds was far less than expected the diversity was excellent in the first hour then dropped off. Small morning flight tip: the first two hours after sunrise are when the bulk of the flight occurs. Particularly early in the season virtually all the birds move early and visitors arriving at 9:30 get a tiny taste of what a flight is like at best. The highlights were a Whimbrel that flew directly over our heads and a Louisiana Waterthrush that nearly slipped by as a Northern.

Totals below are for all birds seen and include species or individuals not participating in morning flight.

Mallard 6
Northern Shoveler 1
Double-crested Cormorant 28
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 1
Osprey 8
Bald Eagle 2
Semipalmated Plover 8
Spotted Sandpiper 3
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 14
Whimbrel 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 30
Least Sandpiper 12
White-rumped Sandpiper 1
Short-billed Dowitcher 2
Laughing Gull 65
Herring Gull 3
Great Black-backed Gull 15
Least Tern 1
Common Tern 3
Forster's Tern 8
Royal Tern 3
Rock Pigeon 8
Mourning Dove 12
Chimney Swift 9
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 5
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Alder Flycatcher 2
Eastern Kingbird 300
White-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 6
American Crow 4
Fish Crow 6
Purple Martin 8
Tree Swallow 15
Barn Swallow 35
Carolina Chickadee 3
Carolina Wren 8
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
American Robin 14
Gray Catbird 12
Northern Mockingbird 8
European Starling 400
Cedar Waxwing 90
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 12
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Cape May Warbler 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler 8
Black-throated Green Warbler 3
Blackburnian Warbler 2
Prairie Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 5
American Redstart 49
Northern Waterthrush 13
Louisiana Waterthrush 1
Common Yellowthroat 12
Northern Cardinal 15
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 2
Bobolink 450
Red-winged Blackbird 600
Common Grackle 5
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Baltimore Oriole 15
House Finch 6
American Goldfinch 8

This morning featured a small movement of migrants. Highlights included some striking adult male Redstarts, a brief glimpse at an adult male Black-throated Green, and an Orchard Oriole, the first in over a week. Shorebird highlights were three Stilt Sandpipers including a juvenile sporting the fresh from the arctic tundra buffy wash typical of fresh juvenile sandpipers.

Not all birds listed were participating in morning flight.

Mallard 4
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 1
Green Heron 1
Osprey 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Black-bellied Plover 1
Semipalmated Plover 6
Spotted Sandpiper 3
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 18
Whimbrel 1 Very short billed. Flying up the bay.
Semipalmated Sandpiper 35
Western Sandpiper 1
Least Sandpiper 8
White-rumped Sandpiper 1
Stilt Sandpiper 3 Juv was very long billed. Still with faint peach wash but far less obvious than the juvs 2 weeks ago.
Short-billed Dowitcher 2
Laughing Gull 55
Herring Gull 15
Great Black-backed Gull 45
Common Tern 5
Forster's Tern 8
Royal Tern 7
Rock Pigeon 35
Mourning Dove 18
Chimney Swift 9
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 3
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Least Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 145
White-eyed Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 8
Fish Crow 1
Purple Martin 18
Tree Swallow 20
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 35
Carolina Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 9
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 7
American Robin 25
Gray Catbird 9
Northern Mockingbird 6
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 350
Cedar Waxwing 65
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 12
Cape May Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 3
Black-and-white Warbler 1
American Redstart 98
Northern Waterthrush 4
Common Yellowthroat 3
Chipping Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 6
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 2
Dickcissel 1
Bobolink 45
Red-winged Blackbird 160
Common Grackle 20
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Orchard Oriole 1
Baltimore Oriole 10
House Finch 6
American Goldfinch 4