Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, March 19th, 2016

Very chilly, cloudy morning with a light breeze. An Osprey overhead greeted us as we started the walk. Northern Gannets were flying over the dune. We saw Horned Grebes in the ocean and American Oystercatchers flying along the beach. Ducks have started to leave although we had numerous Gadwall. Leaders: Chuck Slugg & Karl Lukens.
42 species

Canada Goose 15
Mute Swan 12
Gadwall 50
Mallard 8
Northern Shoveler 13
Green-winged Teal 4
Surf Scoter 1
Black Scoter 7
Horned Grebe 2
Northern Gannet 14
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Egret 1
Black Vulture 3
Turkey Vulture 16
Osprey 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
American Coot 1
American Oystercatcher 8
Herring Gull 5
Great Black-backed Gull 3
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 11
Mourning Dove 6
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 3
Tree Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 1 Flying over parking lot at State Park with Tree Swallow; seen and identified by both leaders.
Carolina Chickadee 6
Carolina Wren 5
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
American Robin 23
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 35
Yellow-rumped Warbler 15
Dark-eyed Junco 4
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 12
Common Grackle 40
Brown-headed Cowbird 11
House Finch 5
House Sparrow 9

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (/content/nj)

Nightfall at Jakes Landing - Sunday, March 13th, 2016

Intermittent light rain did not deter this intrepid group from enjoying Northern Harriers hunting and American Woodcocks displaying.  The Bald Eagle show continues as we watched the eagle on the nest.  A Wilson’s Snipe surprised and delighted us all with a close fly-by. Leaders: Chris Marks, Bert Hixon, BJ Pinnock, and Mary Watkins.
20 species

Canada Goose  8
American Black Duck  24
Mallard  4
Green-winged Teal  8
Common Merganser  2     In flight
Great Blue Heron  2
Northern Harrier  7     Actively hunting over marsh
Bald Eagle  5
Red-tailed Hawk  3
Dunlin  34
Wilson's Snipe  1
American Woodcock  5
Ring-billed Gull  8
Herring Gull  12
Carolina Wren  2
American Robin  5
White-throated Sparrow  6
Song Sparrow  1
Northern Cardinal  2
Red-winged Blackbird  18

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, March 12th, 2016

There was quite a cacophony in the State Park this morning, though not at all an unpleasant one. Following two days in the mid-70s, it was 46 degrees when we started out and felt much more like a March morning. But the birds 'know' the days are getting longer and they're busy singing, chasing and displaying. Ducks are on the move with 13 species seen today, including a lingering female Canvasback and some Blue-winged Teal. Red-winged Blackbirds are everywhere throughout the park, most visibly males sitting atop grasses, calling and displaying their brilliant wing patches, or epaulets. Leaders: Kathy Horn, Roger Horn, and Karl Lukens
46 species

Canada Goose  8
Mute Swan  16
Tundra Swan  1
Gadwall  16
American Wigeon  9
American Black Duck  4
Mallard  17
Blue-winged Teal  3
Northern Shoveler  13
Northern Pintail  1
Green-winged Teal (American)  13
Canvasback  1
Ring-necked Duck  5
Black Scoter  8
Bufflehead  8
Red-throated Loon  1
Northern Gannet  9
Double-crested Cormorant  1
Black Vulture  20
Turkey Vulture  15
Red-tailed Hawk  1
American Coot  2
Killdeer  4
Ring-billed Gull  3
Herring Gull (American)  6
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  2
Mourning Dove  8
Belted Kingfisher  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  1
American Crow  5
Fish Crow  2
Tree Swallow  12
Carolina Chickadee  2
Winter Wren  1
Carolina Wren  2
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  5
Gray Catbird  1
Northern Mockingbird  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  12
Song Sparrow  2
Swamp Sparrow  1
Northern Cardinal  3
Red-winged Blackbird  60
Common Grackle  4

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Red-winged Blackbird [Photo by Karl Lukens]

Tundra Swan [Photo by Karl Lukens]

Nightfall at Jakes Landing - Sunday, March 6th, 2016

The mild weather made for perfect conditions for bird viewing.  Eagles and Harriers were everywhere providing everyone with great looks.  Two Short-eared Owls excited everyone as they hunted close to the creek.  We ended the evening with Woodcocks displaying. Leaders: Chris Marks, Bert Hixon, BJ Pinnock, & Mary Watkins.
22 species

Snow Goose  850
Canada Goose  18
Gadwall  8
American Black Duck  28
Northern Shoveler  4
Northern Pintail  8
Green-winged Teal  35
Bufflehead  4
Hooded Merganser  2
Great Blue Heron  2
Northern Harrier  6     Hunting over marshes
Bald Eagle  7     4 adults including one on nest 3 immature
Red-tailed Hawk  3
Dunlin  450
American Woodcock  3
Ring-billed Gull  14
Herring Gull (American)  26
Short-eared Owl  2
Peregrine Falcon  1
White-throated Sparrow  8
Song Sparrow  2
Red-winged Blackbird  18

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, March 5th, 2016

Cold with some wind; partly sunny. There was a good mix of ducks on Bunker Pond. As we walked through the Point, we found many House Finches, a Hermit Thrush, some White-throated Sparrows, and the usual mix of House Sparrows and Starlings. One Red-tailed Hawk flew over Lighthouse Pond where we found a Belted Kingfisher. Leaders: Chuck Slugg & Karl Lukens.
41 species

Canada Goose 20
Mute Swan 8
Gadwall 40
American Wigeon 30
Mallard 16
Northern Shoveler 14
Green-winged Teal 2
Ring-necked Duck 2
Hooded Merganser 8
Red-breasted Merganser 6
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Turkey Vulture 20
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot 1
Killdeer 2
Ruddy Turnstone 3
Ring-billed Gull 8
Herring Gull 14
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 9
Mourning Dove 4
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 4
Fish Crow 3
Carolina Chickadee 10
Carolina Wren 4 heard
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 30
Northern Mockingbird 7
European Starling 35
Yellow-rumped Warbler 20
White-throated Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 10
Red-winged Blackbird 8
Common Grackle 25
House Finch 8
House Sparrow 6

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (/content/nj)

Nightfall at Jakes Landing - Sunday, February 28th, 2016

Almost spring-like weather blessed us for tonight’s walk. We were thrilled to see two Short-eared Owls as well as a number of Northern Harriers. Our evening ended with a Great Horned Owl perched against the pink tinged sky and Woodcocks displaying in the upland portion. Leaders: Chris Marks, Bert Hixon, BJ Pinnock, Mark Watkins, & Carrie Bell.
26 species

Snow Goose  55
Canada Goose  16
Gadwall  4
American Black Duck  185
Mallard  12
Northern Shoveler  8
Green-winged Teal  250  
Hooded Merganser  4
Common Merganser  2     Pair in creek
Pied-billed Grebe  1
Great Blue Heron  10  
Turkey Vulture  1
Northern Harrier  7
Bald Eagle  6     2 immature 3 adult one on nest
Red-tailed Hawk  3
Black-bellied Plover  3
Dunlin  1200
American Woodcock  2
Ring-billed Gull  5
Herring Gull (American)  22
Great Horned Owl  1
Short-eared Owl  2
Marsh Wren  1
Song Sparrow  1
Red-winged Blackbird  50
Common Grackle  25

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, February 27th, 2016

There was a good variety of ducks on Bunker Pond including Northern Shovelers, Greater Scaup, Red-breasted and Hooded Mergansers, Green-winged Teal, Gadwall, American Wigeons, and Mallards. In the dunes, we had Savannah Sparrows and an Ipswich Sparrow. Over the ocean, we saw Surf and Black Scoters. As we walked through the Point, we saw Fox and White-throated Sparrows. Leaders: Chuck Slugg, Karl Lukens, & Steve Rodan.
52 species

Canada Goose 12
Mute Swan 6
Gadwall 26
Eurasian Wigeon 1
American Wigeon 30
Mallard 14
Northern Shoveler 20
Green-winged Teal 9
Ring-necked Duck 2
Greater Scaup 1
Surf Scoter 7
Black Scoter 8
Hooded Merganser 10
Red-breasted Merganser 10
Double-crested Cormorant 6
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 7
Turkey Vulture 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Killdeer 4
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Purple Sandpiper 4
Bonaparte's Gull 8
Ring-billed Gull 7
Herring Gull 3
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 7
Mourning Dove 5
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 6
American Crow 4
Fish Crow 2 heard only
Carolina Chickadee 7
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1 heard
Carolina Wren 5 heard
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 heard
American Robin 20
Northern Mockingbird 7
European Starling 25
Yellow-rumped Warbler 23
Fox Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 1
White-throated Sparrow 6
Savannah Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 15
Common Grackle 20
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
House Finch 5
House Sparrow 5

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (/content/nj)