Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, December 12, 2009

A cold and windy morning with a couple of hardy participants. Good ducks, Am. Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Ruddy, Ring-necked, N. Shoveler, as well as 4 Eurasian Wigeon including 3 males finally molting into near final breeding plumage. Only one Common Eider was found at St Mary's Jetty. Later in the state park we had a glimpse of an Orange -crowned warbler as we entered the open back area, and an Immature Bald Eagle flew overhead.
- Karl Lukens (other leaders: Kathy and Roger Horn, Tom Parsons)

Location: Cape May Point
Observation date: 12/12/09
Notes: CMBO Trip-K,K&RH,T,+2.Clr,33,WNW16.
Number of species: 51

Snow Goose 12 fly over
Cackling Goose 2 after walk at Shun Pike Pond. 1 definite, 1 probable
Canada Goose 100
Mute Swan 6
Tundra Swan 8 fly over
Gadwall 40
Eurasian Wigeon 4 3 male, 1 female-males getting good head color
American Wigeon 75
Mallard 50
Northern Shoveler 15
Green-winged Teal 25
Ring-necked Duck 2
Common Eider 1
Surf Scoter 1
Hooded Merganser 8
Ruddy Duck 1
Pied-billed Grebe 6
Northern Gannet 4
Great Blue Heron 5
Black Vulture 3
Turkey Vulture 10
Bald Eagle 1 imm.
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 3
American Coot 110
Killdeer 7
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 15
Great Black-backed Gull 3
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 6
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 5
Carolina Chickadee 2
Carolina Wren 4
American Robin 40
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 3
European Starling 150
Orange-crowned Warbler 1 a brief glimpse
Yellow-rumped Warbler 20
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 8
Northern Cardinal 6
Red-winged Blackbird 50
Common Grackle 100
Brown-headed Cowbird 15
House Finch 6
American Goldfinch 15
House Sparrow 10

Barnegat Light Saturday, December 5 2009

Location: Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
Observation date: 12/5/09
Notes: CMBO Annual Barnegat Trip. North-northeaster, rain, wind 15-30 mph, temp 37-42 F. 15 intrepid participants + Don Freiday, Chuck and MJ Slugg, Janet Crawford and Dave Lord as leaders. We later visited Harvey Cedars Sunset Park, where 2 Peregrines dueled for sheltered position on the water tower.

Number of species: 29
Brant 30
Common Eider 200
Harlequin Duck 8
Surf Scoter 5
Black Scoter 20
Long-tailed Duck 50
Bufflehead 5
Red-breasted Merganser 20
Red-throated Loon 20
Common Loon 10
Northern Gannet 300
Great Cormorant 5
Peregrine Falcon 1
Black-bellied Plover 1
Ruddy Turnstone 20
Sanderling 50
Purple Sandpiper 40
Dunlin 100
Ring-billed Gull 50
Herring Gull 100
Great Black-backed Gull 40
Rock Pigeon 20
Horned Lark 3
European Starling 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler 5
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal 2
House Sparrow 50

Hawks, Trails and Beach - Saturday, November 21, 2009

Location: Cape May Point State Park
Observation date: 11/21/09
Notes: Cave Swallows and one Eurasian Wigeon were highlights of the walk. American Robins came in to roost in State Park and a nice variety of ducks remain on the ponds. Last Hawks, Trails and Beach field trip of the fall! Leaders: Chuck and Mary Jane Slugg.

Number of species: 40
Birds/counts of special interest are bolded.

Canada Goose 40
Mute Swan 45
Gadwall 30
Eurasian Wigeon 1
American Wigeon 50
American Black Duck 2
Mallard 10
Blue-winged Teal 4
Northern Shoveler 20
Green-winged Teal 10
Ring-necked Duck 6
dark-winged scoter sp. 10
Ruddy Duck 10
Pied-billed Grebe 6
Great Egret 1
Turkey Vulture 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2
Cooper's Hawk 1
Common Moorhen 1
American Coot 35
Wilson's Snipe 1
Herring Gull 4
Great Black-backed Gull 10
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 2
Blue Jay 1
Tree Swallow 24
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Cave Swallow 3
Carolina Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 1
Carolina Wren 6
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin 150
Gray Catbird 1
European Starling 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Song Sparrow 3
Swamp Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 2
Red-winged Blackbird 30

Two Mile Beach - Tuesday, Novebmer 17 2009

Location: Two Mile Beach
Observation date: 11/17/09
Notes: Wind kept the small birds hidden at Two Mile this morning. Good looks at sanderlings, dunlin, and ruddy turnstones on beach; large flocks of killdeer and brant on restaurant side of Ocean Dr.
Leaders: Chuck and Mary Jane Slugg.
Number of species: 44

Brant 125
Canada Goose 8
American Black Duck 35
Mallard 4
dark-winged scoter sp. 40
Bufflehead 20
Hooded Merganser 1
Red-throated Loon 2
Common Loon 2
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Northern Gannet 2
Double-crested Cormorant 70
Great Egret 10
Snowy Egret 1
Turkey Vulture 6
Northern Harrier 2
Cooper's Hawk 1
Killdeer 15
Ruddy Turnstone 25
Sanderling 125
Dunlin 75
Ring-billed Gull 10
Herring Gull 5
Great Black-backed Gull 40
Forster's Tern 8
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
American Crow 10
Fish Crow 2
Tree Swallow 1
Carolina Wren 4
American Robin 35
Gray Catbird 3
European Starling 10
Cedar Waxwing 12
Yellow-rumped Warbler 30
Eastern Towhee 2
Song Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 1
Red-winged Blackbird 35
Boat-tailed Grackle 5
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch 20