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