Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, December 20th, 2014

It’s not every day, even in Cape May, that you can see Tree Swallows and Purple Sandpipers in the same morning. While most of the Tree Swallows have left already, there are still quite a few flying over open ponds and resting occasionally on the beach. It’s always good to sort through them and look for wandering western swallow species, though we couldn’t find any this morning. Purple Sandpipers are one of our winter-only sandpipers, seen occasionally on rock jetties and distinctive in their purplish-hued plumage and yellow-orange legs. Leaders: Kathy & Roger Horn, and Steve Weis.
60 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  28
Mute Swan  4
Gadwall  65
American Wigeon  65
American Black Duck  12
Mallard  132
Northern Shoveler  18
Northern Pintail  22
Green-winged Teal (American)  18
Ring-necked Duck  12
Surf Scoter  30
Black Scoter  45
Surf/Black Scoter  50
Bufflehead  10
Hooded Merganser  10
Ruddy Duck  23
Double-crested Cormorant  8
Great Blue Heron  6
Black Vulture  4
Turkey Vulture  5
Osprey  1     Continues near Lighthouse Pond
Cooper's Hawk  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
American Coot  26
Purple Sandpiper  7
Ring-billed Gull  4
Herring Gull (American)  14
Great Black-backed Gull  4
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  12
Mourning Dove  14
Belted Kingfisher  2
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Downy Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  2
Blue Jay  6
American Crow  5
Tree Swallow  23     Resting on beach  and flying low over partially ice - covered Bunker Pond
Carolina Chickadee  8
Tufted Titmouse  2
White-breasted Nuthatch  3
Carolina Wren  3
Eastern Bluebird  8
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  14
Gray Catbird  1
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  180
Cedar Waxwing  3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  6
Fox Sparrow (Red)  2
Song Sparrow  5
White-throated Sparrow  12
Dark-eyed Junco  11
Northern Cardinal  6
Red-winged Blackbird  25
Brown-headed Cowbird  75
House Finch  8
Purple Finch  7
American Goldfinch  5
House Sparrow  30

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Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, December 13th, 2014

The Osprey that showed up about a week ago is still hanging around Lighthouse Pond. It’s been several weeks since most of our Osprey left, heading for points much further south - like México and South America, for instance. But all the ponds are still open so there’s still easy access to Osprey food.  The real highlight of the morning though was the four Red-shouldered Hawks that wheeled overhead, showing off their bright chests, pale primary crescents and broad white tailbands.   Leaders: Kathy & Roger Horn, and Steve Weis.
51 species

Snow Goose  23
Mute Swan  3
Gadwall  8
Mallard  12
Ring-necked Duck  1
Common Eider  1
Surf Scoter  8
Black Scoter  25
Bufflehead  4
Ruddy Duck  10
Pied-billed Grebe  1
Northern Gannet  2
Double-crested Cormorant  1
Black Vulture  4
Turkey Vulture  14
Osprey  1
Cooper's Hawk  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  4
American Coot  15
Killdeer  1
Ring-billed Gull  4
Herring Gull (American)  5
Mourning Dove  6
Belted Kingfisher  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Downy Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  4
Blue Jay  2
American Crow  6
Tree Swallow  3
Carolina Chickadee  2
Tufted Titmouse  1
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Carolina Wren  4
Golden-crowned Kinglet  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
American Robin  40
Northern Mockingbird  4
European Starling  50
Cedar Waxwing  6
Fox Sparrow (Red)  4
Song Sparrow  4
White-throated Sparrow  16
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  15
Northern Cardinal  4
Red-winged Blackbird  200
Common Grackle  100
Brown-headed Cowbird  60
House Finch  6
Purple Finch  1
American Goldfinch  120
House Sparrow  25

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Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, December 6th, 2014

Feeders, dunes, the bay and Lily Lake provide great potential variety for winter birding. Today's walk at the Point was the first of the season and the first to start (and end) at CMBO’s Northwood Center, having always launched previously from the State Park. A very late Osprey, first seen earlier in the week, was still present over Bunker Pond and there is a good variety of ducks on the pond. Two of this year’s irruptive species, Red-breasted Nuthatch and Purple Finch, were hanging out around feeders. We also had three Yellow-bellied Sapsucker one of which kept giving it's soft, nasal call. Leaders: Kathy and Roger Horn.
52 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  15
Gadwall  20
American Wigeon  28
Mallard  36
Northern Shoveler  11
Ring-necked Duck  6
Surf Scoter  5
Black Scoter  10
Surf/Black Scoter  10
Bufflehead  6
Hooded Merganser  4
Ruddy Duck  20
Pied-billed Grebe  1
Turkey Vulture  3
Osprey 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Cooper's Hawk  1
Bald Eagle  1
Ring-billed Gull  2
Herring Gull (American)  6
Great Black-backed Gull  4
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  7
Mourning Dove  7
Belted Kingfisher  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  3
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  2
Blue Jay  4
American Crow  3
Tree Swallow  3
Carolina Chickadee  4
Tufted Titmouse  2
Red-breasted Nuthatch  2
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Carolina Wren  4
Golden-crowned Kinglet  4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2
American Robin  28
Brown Thrasher  1
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  20
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  1
Fox Sparrow (Red)  2
Song Sparrow  2
White-throated Sparrow  7
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  6
Northern Cardinal  6
Red-winged Blackbird  23
House Finch  2
Purple Finch  4
American Goldfinch  11
House Sparrow  1

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Walking off the Turkey - Friday, November 28th, 2014

A chilly wind blew us around the South Cape May Meadows, but a warm glow provided by some good birding won out on the day. Ducks dominated the ponds, amongst their number we found busy Hooded Mergansers, an eventually showy male Redhead and a rather funky-looking Black Duck x Mallard hybrid. At least two Bald Eagles were intent of having duck for breakfast and kept the birds on the move. American Goldfinches, Eastern Bluebirds and American Pipits were moving west along the dune line, while we had exceptionally good views of one of the pipits as it wandered through the dune vegetation and fed within just a few yards of us at times.  Leaders: Mike Crewe, Kathy & Roger Horn, Mary Watkins, and Chris Marks.
54 species (+1 other taxa)

Snow Goose  20
Canada Goose  185
Mute Swan  6
Gadwall  120
American Wigeon  20
American Black Duck  5
Mallard  100
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid)  1
Northern Shoveler  12
Northern Pintail  6
Green-winged Teal  30
Redhead  3
Surf Scoter  6
Black Scoter  200
Bufflehead  8
Hooded Merganser  6
Ruddy Duck  10
Pied-billed Grebe  2
Double-crested Cormorant  2
Great Blue Heron  3
Great Egret  1
Black Vulture  14
Turkey Vulture  33
Northern Harrier  3
Cooper's Hawk  1
Bald Eagle  2
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  3
American Coot  22
Wilson's Snipe  1
Ring-billed Gull  10
Herring Gull  10
Great Black-backed Gull  2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  4
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  1
American Crow  2
Tree Swallow  2
Carolina Wren  1
Eastern Bluebird  25
American Robin  100
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  2
American Pipit  6
Palm Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  2
Savannah Sparrow  2
Song Sparrow  2
Swamp Sparrow  1
Dark-eyed Junco  1
Red-winged Blackbird  150
Eastern Meadowlark  2
Common Grackle  2400
American Goldfinch  80
House Sparrow  1

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American Pipit [Photo by Mary Watkins]

Birding the Meadows with Pete Dunne - Monday, November 24th, 2014

A mild, foggy morning for our last walk of the year. Visibility was limited from the beach but we did have Surf and Black Scoters and a variety of gulls. Ducks were abundant including Mallard, Black, Red-headed, Bufflehead, Ruddy, Hooded Merganser, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, and Green-winged Teal. Some walkers had a brief glimpse of an American Bittern and we all had a good look at a Wilson's Snipe. Raptors included Northern Harrier, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks. Leaders: Pete Dunne, Chuck Slugg, Janet Crawford, Steve Weis, Catherine Busch, and Mary Watkins.
46 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  40
Mute Swan  4
Gadwall  125
American Wigeon  2
American Black Duck  2
Mallard  56
Blue-winged Teal  2
Northern Shoveler  9
Northern Pintail  8
Green-winged Teal  25
Redhead  4
Ring-necked Duck  6
Surf Scoter  3
Black Scoter  2
scoter sp.  75
Bufflehead  6
Hooded Merganser  4
Ruddy Duck  20
Pied-billed Grebe  3
Double-crested Cormorant  3
American Bittern  1
Great Blue Heron  4
Northern Harrier  3
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Cooper's Hawk  2
Virginia Rail  1     heard
American Coot  2
Lesser Yellowlegs  1
Wilson's Snipe  1
Bonaparte's Gull  1
Ring-billed Gull  8
Herring Gull  14
Great Black-backed Gull  80
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  2
Mourning Dove  3
Blue Jay  1
Tree Swallow  45
American Robin  8
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  4
Savannah Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  4
Northern Cardinal  1
Common Grackle  1
American Goldfinch  15     heard
House Sparrow  4

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

Fall Migrants at the Rea Farm - Saturday, November 22nd, 2014

No question, the bird-of-the-day was the Western Tanager, a real beauty in the clear morning sun. No less handsome, though, were the Baltimore Orioles it was keeping company with, all feeding on porcelain berries. Local expert birder, Sam Galick, had found the tanager yesterday and it could easily have been overlooked among all the orioles. But the thicker bill, orange and less pointed, was distinctive as was the clearly yellow, not orange, of the undertail coverts. Leaders: Kathy & Roger Horn.
44 species

Snow Goose  20
Canada Goose  60
Mallard  18
Black Vulture  2
Turkey Vulture  3
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Killdeer  12
Herring Gull (American)  6
Mourning Dove  10
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  2
Merlin  1
Blue Jay  6
American Crow  14
Carolina Chickadee  1
Tufted Titmouse  1
Carolina Wren  2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Eastern Bluebird  6
Hermit Thrush  2
American Robin  95
Gray Catbird  1
Brown Thrasher  2
Northern Mockingbird  3
European Starling  150
Cedar Waxwing  450
Eastern Towhee  2
Field Sparrow  5
Vesper Sparrow  1
Fox Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  6
Swamp Sparrow  6
White-throated Sparrow  6
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  75
Western Tanager  1    
Northern Cardinal  4
Red-winged Blackbird  60
Common Grackle  150
Baltimore Oriole  6    
House Finch  2
American Goldfinch  15
House Sparrow  1

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

Birding the Meadows with Pete Dunne - Monday, November 17th, 2014

The birds did not mind the chilly, dark, drizzly morning in The Meadows. Highlights of the walk include the usual ducks plus Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead, Ring-necked Duck and a large number of scoter moving offshore. Other birds of interest were Northern Gannets, both adult and juvenile, American Oystercatchers, Dunlin, Greater Yellowlegs, American Bittern, and Tundra Swan. Raptors included good looks at a perched Northern Harrier and a perched Red-tail and hunting Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks. Leaders: Chuck Slugg, Catherine Busch, and Deb Payson.
56 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  35
Mute Swan  8
Tundra Swan  1
Gadwall  110
American Wigeon  10
American Black Duck  2
Mallard  12
Blue-winged Teal  2
Northern Shoveler  8
Northern Pintail  10
Green-winged Teal  15
Ring-necked Duck  4
scoter sp.  105
Bufflehead  4
Hooded Merganser  4
Ruddy Duck  6
Red-throated Loon  3
Pied-billed Grebe  4
Northern Gannet  9
Double-crested Cormorant  5
American Bittern  1
Great Blue Heron  5
Snowy Egret  1
Northern Harrier  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Cooper's Hawk  2
Red-tailed Hawk  1
American Coot  20
American Oystercatcher  2
Killdeer  1
Greater Yellowlegs  3     heard
Sanderling  12
Dunlin  5
Ring-billed Gull  7
Herring Gull  10
Great Black-backed Gull  35
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  2
Mourning Dove  5
Northern Flicker  4
Blue Jay  3
American Crow  4
Tree Swallow  10
Carolina Wren  2     heard only
American Robin  40
Northern Mockingbird  3
European Starling  4
Yellow-rumped Warbler  8
Eastern Towhee  1     heard only
Savannah Sparrow  2
Song Sparrow  3
Swamp Sparrow  2
White-throated Sparrow  4
Northern Cardinal  2
Red-winged Blackbird  8
House Finch  5
American Goldfinch  10
House Sparrow  3

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

Hawks, Trails, and Beach - Saturday, November 15th, 2014

Cold weather and darkness ended the Saturday afternoon walks for this season. Birds are still around including many species of ducks such as Eurasian and American Wigeon, Hooded Merganser, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Ducks, Northern Pintails, Mallards, Northern Shovelers, Gadwall, Bufflehead, and Blue- and Green-winged Teal. We also saw an American Bittern, Tundra Swan, and Pied-billed Grebes. Other birds of interest were Northern Gannet, Parasitic Jaeger, Double-crested Cormorants, and several large groups of Scoter. Leaders: Chuck Slugg, Cindy Bamford, and Deb Payson.
49 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  40
Mute Swan  16
Tundra Swan  1
Gadwall  15
Eurasian Wigeon  2     on Bunker Pond
American Wigeon  18
American Black Duck  1
Mallard  10
Blue-winged Teal  2
Northern Shoveler  16
Northern Pintail  14
Green-winged Teal  26
Ring-necked Duck  2
scoter sp.  65
Bufflehead  2
Hooded Merganser  7
Ruddy Duck  10
Pied-billed Grebe  2
Northern Gannet  8
Double-crested Cormorant  7
American Bittern  1
Great Blue Heron  6
Turkey Vulture  2
Northern Harrier  1
Cooper's Hawk  2
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
American Coot  22
Parasitic Jaeger  2
Ring-billed Gull  2
Herring Gull  3
Great Black-backed Gull  12
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  2
Mourning Dove  4
Downy Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker  3
Tree Swallow  35
Carolina Chickadee  2
Carolina Wren  3     heard only
Golden-crowned Kinglet  7
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2
American Robin  16
Northern Mockingbird  1
Song Sparrow  2
Swamp Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  3
Northern Cardinal  1     heard only
Red-winged Blackbird  15
American Goldfinch  2     heard only
House Sparrow  2

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Fall Migrants at the Rea Farm - Saturday, November 15th, 2014

It takes but a moment for the birder's brain to go "large, lanky, slow-flapping grayish bird....Great Blue?...wait...no,...Sandhill Crane!" And that was the sequence for all of us looking skyward on this morning's walk at the Beanery as three cranes flew overhead. Soon the red crown became apparent, then the birds disappeared toward the State Park and reportedly continued out over the bay. Though sandhill cranes may live 35 years in the wild, they take two to eight years to sexually mature and then have low rates of reproductive success. Following a precipitous decline in the first half of the 20th century, crane populations have stabilized in most areas with appropriate management. Six of the nine subspecies are known to migrate, with birds from breeding areas in the northeastern US, Canada and the Great Lakes region using the Atlantic Flyway. Leaders: Kathy & Roger Horn, and Deb Payson.
57 species (+1 other taxa)

Snow Goose  15
Canada Goose  9
Gadwall  9
Mallard  13
Double-crested Cormorant  1
Great Blue Heron  1
Black Vulture  5
Turkey Vulture  30
Sharp-shinned Hawk  3
Cooper's Hawk  1
Bald Eagle  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  2
Red-tailed Hawk  5
Sandhill Crane  3    
American Woodcock  1
Herring Gull (American)  2
Mourning Dove  6
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Downy Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  3
American Kestrel  1
Eastern Phoebe  1
Blue Jay  6
American Crow  4
Fish Crow  6
Carolina Chickadee  1
Tufted Titmouse  3
Brown Creeper  1
Winter Wren  1
Carolina Wren  5
Golden-crowned Kinglet  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Eastern Bluebird  28
Hermit Thrush  2
American Robin  150
Gray Catbird  1
Brown Thrasher  2
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  300
Cedar Waxwing  4
Palm Warbler (Western)  1
Palm Warbler (Yellow)  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  1
Eastern Towhee  2
Chipping Sparrow  2
Field Sparrow  2
Vesper Sparrow  2
Savannah Sparrow  3
Song Sparrow  16
Swamp Sparrow  4
White-throated Sparrow  12
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  14
Northern Cardinal  3
Red-winged Blackbird  80
Common Grackle  18
Brown-headed Cowbird  5
House Finch  2
American Goldfinch  9

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Birding the Meadows with Pete Dunne - Monday, November 10th, 2014

It was a nice morning with lots of ducks to look at. They included numerous Gadwalls, Mallards, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Northern Shovelers, a female type Redhead, Ruddy Ducks, and scoters off shore. Two birds of interest were a constantly calling Virginia Rail (as another flew briefly by) and a fly-by American Bittern. Leaders: Pete Dunne, Karl Lukens, Chuck Slugg, Steve Weis, Janet Crawford, and Deb Payson.
64 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  75
Mute Swan  8
Gadwall  50
American Wigeon  3
American Black Duck  5
Mallard  25
Blue-winged Teal  1
Northern Shoveler  6
Northern Pintail  8
Green-winged Teal  50
Redhead  1
Surf Scoter  50
scoter sp.  100
Bufflehead  8
Ruddy Duck  15
Red-throated Loon  2
Pied-billed Grebe  1
Northern Gannet  3
Double-crested Cormorant  8
American Bittern  1
Great Blue Heron  2
Great Egret  1
Snowy Egret  1
Black Vulture  1
Turkey Vulture  2
Northern Harrier  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Cooper's Hawk  2
Virginia Rail  2     saw  1 briefly, heard 1 loud and continuous
American Coot  25
Killdeer  2
Greater Yellowlegs  1
Lesser Yellowlegs  1
Bonaparte's Gull  1
Laughing Gull  1
Ring-billed Gull  6
Herring Gull  15
Great Black-backed Gull  30
Mourning Dove  40
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  8
Blue Jay  10
American Crow  1
Fish Crow  2
Tree Swallow  10
Carolina Chickadee  2
Carolina Wren  4
Golden-crowned Kinglet  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2
Eastern Bluebird  1
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  50
Northern Mockingbird  3
European Starling  10
Cedar Waxwing  17     seen by leader
Yellow-rumped Warbler  25
Eastern Towhee  1     heard
Song Sparrow  4
Swamp Sparrow  6
Dark-eyed Junco  1
Northern Cardinal  2
Red-winged Blackbird  30
Common Grackle  50
American Goldfinch  8
House Sparrow  5

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

Great Egret [Photo by Karl Lukens]

Cox Hall Creek WMA - Sunday, November 9th, 2014

If you were out birding anytime this weekend, you probably saw evidence of thrush migration - robins, hermit thrushes, bluebirds. Thousands of these migrated overhead with many putting down to feed. While not as plentiful at CHC as sparrows and goldfinches, there are a lot of Eastern Bluebirds there, calling overhead and decorating the saplings at eye level in various shades of blue. Like robins, bluebirds lose their speckled breasts, which remind us that they're thrushes, with the first molt. Bluebirds can generally be seen at CHC year-round, but they're really easy to find there right now because there are so many of them. Leaders: Kathy & Roger Horn, Shaun & Cindy Bamford, Steve Weis, and Deb Payson.
47 species

Mute Swan  2
Mallard  4
Common Loon  1
Turkey Vulture  2
Sharp-shinned Hawk  2
Cooper's Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Herring Gull (American)  3
Mourning Dove  15
Red-bellied Woodpecker  3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  2
Downy Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  8
Merlin  1
Blue Jay  20
American Crow  6
Tree Swallow  4
Carolina Chickadee  3
Tufted Titmouse  11
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
Brown Creeper  1
Carolina Wren  6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  3
Eastern Bluebird  25
American Robin  30
Gray Catbird  2
Brown Thrasher  3
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  30
Orange-crowned Warbler  2
Palm Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  9
Eastern Towhee  4
Chipping Sparrow  10
Field Sparrow  3
Vesper Sparrow  1
Savannah Sparrow  5
Song Sparrow  17
Swamp Sparrow  23
White-throated Sparrow  20
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  25
Northern Cardinal  7
Red-winged Blackbird  12
Common Grackle  6
House Finch  6
Purple Finch  14
American Goldfinch  32

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Fall Migrants at the Rea Farm - Saturday, November 8th, 2014

We saw all the likely warblers for a November morning at the Rea Farm today - Yellow-rumped (of course), Palm, Common Yellowthroat, and the much less common Orange-crowned Warbler. The Orange-crowned was a 'lifer' for a few members of the group and it's a bird that, if you're unfamiliar with it, is easily overlooked. At a glance, you might mistake it for Tennessee or a Yellow Warbler. But Orange-crowned Warblers always show yellowish undertail coverts and have a thin dark tail, a pale supercilium, faint eyeline and a split eyering, and often show a pale area at the bend in the wing. Late fall migrants, they are here in peak numbers now and some may overwinter in the area.  Leaders: Kathy & Roger Horn, and Deb Payson.
51 species

Canada Goose  22
Gadwall  8
Mallard  14
Double-crested Cormorant  26
Black Vulture  2
Turkey Vulture  9
Cooper's Hawk  1
Bald Eagle  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Killdeer  1
Herring Gull (American)  1
Mourning Dove  6
Belted Kingfisher  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Downy Woodpecker  3
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  2
Eastern Phoebe  2
Blue Jay  15
American Crow  5
Fish Crow  16
Tree Swallow  3
Carolina Chickadee  2
Tufted Titmouse  1
Brown Creeper  1
Carolina Wren  5
Golden-crowned Kinglet  2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2
Eastern Bluebird  18
Hermit Thrush  4
American Robin  150
Gray Catbird  3
Brown Thrasher  3
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  70
Cedar Waxwing  11
Orange-crowned Warbler  1
Common Yellowthroat  1
Palm Warbler  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  3
Field Sparrow  1
Vesper Sparrow  3
Savannah Sparrow  4
Song Sparrow  8
Swamp Sparrow  13
White-throated Sparrow  7
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  5
Northern Cardinal  4
Red-winged Blackbird  75
Common Grackle  9
Purple Finch  2
American Goldfinch  21

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

Birding Cape May Point - Wednesday, November 5th, 2014

As we head into November, there is no sign that fall migration is easing off. The species variety may be declining, but total numbers of birds remain impressive and this morning's walk was accompanied throughout by flocks of American Robins and Eastern Bluebirds overhead, Tree Swallows, American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins hot-tailing it along the dune line and a wonderful American Bittern that continues to perform in full view at Bunker Pond. Walking the back trail through the woods provided several Hermit Thrushes, both species of nuthatch (briefly) and a dayglow male Pine Warbler. A single Hooded Merganser was a nice surprise on one of the back ponds. Leaders: Mike Crewe, Steve Weis, Chris Marks, and Catherine Busch.
69 species

Canada Goose  45
Mute Swan  20
Gadwall  30
American Wigeon  25
Mallard  10
Blue-winged Teal  2
Northern Shoveler  12
Northern Pintail  25
Green-winged Teal  15
Ring-necked Duck  2
Surf Scoter  15
Black Scoter  120
Hooded Merganser  1
Ruddy Duck  15
Pied-billed Grebe  3
Northern Gannet  2
Double-crested Cormorant  15
American Bittern  1
Great Blue Heron  2
Turkey Vulture  12
Osprey  1
Northern Harrier  3
Sharp-shinned Hawk  2
Cooper's Hawk  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
American Coot  22
Ring-billed Gull  1
Herring Gull  4
Great Black-backed Gull  9
Forster's Tern  2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  4
Mourning Dove  6
Belted Kingfisher  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Northern Flicker  2
Blue Jay  4
American Crow  5
Tree Swallow  75
Carolina Chickadee  2
Tufted Titmouse  2
Red-breasted Nuthatch  2
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Brown Creeper  1
Carolina Wren  2
Golden-crowned Kinglet  12
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  5
Eastern Bluebird  35
Hermit Thrush  6
American Robin  1000
Northern Mockingbird  3
European Starling  35
American Pipit  4
Cedar Waxwing  20
Palm Warbler  1
Pine Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  50
Song Sparrow  4
Swamp Sparrow  6
White-throated Sparrow  12
Northern Cardinal  1
Red-winged Blackbird  150
Eastern Meadowlark  1
Brown-headed Cowbird  45
House Finch  30
Purple Finch  10
Pine Siskin  75     Moving south
American Goldfinch  120
House Sparrow  4

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

Immature Great Blue Heron [Photo by Catherine Busch]

EZ Birding at Two-mile Beach - Tuesday, November 4th, 2014

Highlights on our penultimate walk of the season included the large numbers of scoter and Northern Gannet migrating south along the coast, our first loons of the season, three immature Black Skimmer which roosted in front of us on the beach, and increasing numbers of shorebirds. We also had good looks at perched Purple Finch and a single Red-shouldered Hawk overhead. Leaders: Catherine Busch, Chris Marks, Janet Crawford, Lynne Breslow, and Mary Watkins.
47 species

American Black Duck  30
Mallard  2
Surf Scoter  150
White-winged Scoter  3
Black Scoter  1500
Red-throated Loon  4
Northern Gannet  150
Double-crested Cormorant  80
Great Egret  2
Turkey Vulture  6
Northern Harrier  2
Cooper's Hawk  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
American Oystercatcher  4
Black-bellied Plover  80
Ruddy Turnstone  30
Sanderling  100
Dunlin  750
Western Sandpiper  3
Ring-billed Gull  X
Herring Gull  X
Lesser Black-backed Gull  2
Great Black-backed Gull  X
Forster's Tern  15
Royal Tern  3
Black Skimmer  3
Belted Kingfisher  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  1
Tree Swallow  X
Golden-crowned Kinglet  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Hermit Thrush  1
Gray Catbird  1
Brown Thrasher  2
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  X
Snow Bunting  2   seen by leader
Palm Warbler  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  X
Song Sparrow  X
Swamp Sparrow  X
White-throated Sparrow  X
Northern Cardinal  1
Purple Finch  4
American Goldfinch  X

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

Immature Black Skimmer [Photo by Catherine Busch]

Birding the Meadows with Pete Dunne - Monday, November 3rd, 2014

Highlights were lots of ducks, including Wood Ducks, Redhead, Ring-necked Ducks, Bufflehead and Ruddy Ducks. We also saw three Osprey, a Stilt Sandpiper, two Bonaparte's Gulls and three Purple Finches. Leaders: Pete Dunne, Chuck Slugg, Catherine Busch, Mary Watkins and Janet Crawford.
60 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  85
Mute Swan  7
Wood Duck  3
Gadwall  30
American Wigeon  5
American Black Duck  3
Mallard  12
Blue-winged Teal  2
Northern Pintail  10
Green-winged Teal  150
Redhead  1
Ring-necked Duck  4
Lesser Scaup  1
Black Scoter  4
scoter sp.  X
Bufflehead  6
Ruddy Duck  6
Pied-billed Grebe  2
Northern Gannet  4
Double-crested Cormorant  30
Great Blue Heron  3
Black Vulture  2
Turkey Vulture  10
Osprey  3
Northern Harrier  2
Sharp-shinned Hawk  6
Broad-winged Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Killdeer  3
Greater Yellowlegs  5
Lesser Yellowlegs  1
Stilt Sandpiper  1
Dunlin  6
Bonaparte's Gull  2
Ring-billed Gull  12
Herring Gull  30
Great Black-backed Gull  40
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  3
Mourning Dove  18
Northern Flicker  1
American Kestrel  3
Blue Jay  12
American Crow  18
Tree Swallow  80
Carolina Chickadee  1
Carolina Wren  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2
Eastern Bluebird  6
American Robin  70
Northern Mockingbird  3
European Starling  2
Palm Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  50
Savannah Sparrow  4
Song Sparrow  10
Swamp Sparrow  6
White-throated Sparrow  1
Northern Cardinal  1
Red-winged Blackbird  120
Purple Finch  3
American Goldfinch  30

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

Cox Hall Creek WMA - Sunday, November 2nd, 2014

Cox Hall Creek WMA is not a bad place to bird when the wind is whipping around at 30 mph, as it was today. The Wood Ducks didn't hear us coming, and birds that found a place out of the wind and in the sun sat still to be viewed. So it was for a GORGEOUS male Purple Finch and an equally gorgeous adult White-crowned Sparrow. Purple Finches, one of the irruptive species that appear here in years of poor food supplies further north, have been coming through in good numbers of late; the unique raspberry color of the male on the back, wings and flanks and the bold dark brown and white head pattern on the female separate them from our resident house finches. Leaders: Kathy & Roger Horn, Joe Demko, and Deb Payson.
43 species

Wood Duck  8
Mallard  1
Common Loon  1
Double-crested Cormorant  9
Great Blue Heron  2
Turkey Vulture  4
Osprey  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  3
Cooper's Hawk  1
Bald Eagle  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
American Woodcock  1
Herring Gull (American)  1
Great Black-backed Gull  1
Mourning Dove  12
Red-bellied Woodpecker  3
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  6
Eastern Phoebe  2
Blue Jay  9
American Crow  5
Carolina Chickadee  4
Tufted Titmouse  14
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
White-breasted Nuthatch  3
Carolina Wren  3
Golden-crowned Kinglet  3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2
Eastern Bluebird  22
American Robin  25
Palm Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  9
Eastern Towhee  2
Field Sparrow  2
Song Sparrow  4
Swamp Sparrow  14
White-throated Sparrow  12
White-crowned Sparrow  1
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  11
Northern Cardinal  5
Red-winged Blackbird  30
House Finch  5
Purple Finch  2
American Goldfinch  20

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

Hawks, Trails, and Beach - Saturday, November 1st, 2014

Cold, drizzly, and blustery weather greeted us at the State Park. In spite of this, we saw Northern Gannets, and Black and Surf Scoters from the dune along with Forster's and Royal Terns, one Lesser Black-backed Gull and several Greater Black-backed Gulls. Most of the usual ducks were on Bunker Pond with a large flock of American Coot. We also saw a Belted Kingfisher and swept the falcons with a Merlin, American Kestrel, and Peregrine. There were large numbers of Tree Swallows and an abundance of Yellow-rumped Warblers. Leaders: Chuck Slugg and Deb Payson.
45 species

Canada Goose  50
Mute Swan  16
Gadwall  20
Eurasian Wigeon  1
American Wigeon  45
American Black Duck  2
Mallard  12
Northern Shoveler  16
Northern Pintail  20
Green-winged Teal  28
Ring-necked Duck  4
Surf Scoter  4
Black Scoter  20
Ruddy Duck  10
Northern Gannet  3
Double-crested Cormorant  1
Great Blue Heron  2
Great Egret  3
Snowy Egret  1
Osprey  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  4
American Coot  48
Herring Gull  6
Lesser Black-backed Gull  1
Great Black-backed Gull  14
Forster's Tern  10
Royal Tern  3
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  2
Mourning Dove  1
American Kestrel  1
Merlin  1
American Crow  2
Tree Swallow  200
Carolina Chickadee  2     heard
Tufted Titmouse  2
Carolina Wren  2     heard
Golden-crowned Kinglet  3
American Robin  8
Cedar Waxwing  2     heard
Palm Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  25
Savannah Sparrow  2     heard
Swamp Sparrow  1
American Goldfinch  3     heard
House Sparrow  2

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

Fall Migrants at the Rea Farm - Saturday, November 1st, 2014

There are so many birds around at the Beanery that, despite the wind and drizzle, it was a good morning. Using our usual strategy of sneaking around the corner to view the willow pond, we were able to see the Wood Ducks before they saw us, then watch them as they flew off down the waterway. More obliging was the American Kestrel, a handsome male in blue-gray and rufous, that perched atop the pole to be scoped. This is the time of year that Palm Warblers flit through the weedy fields there and sparrows move down the hedgerows - a good time to stop and sort them all out. Leaders: Kathy Horn, Roger Horn, and Deb Payson.
47 species (+1 other taxa)

American Black Duck  1
Mallard  15
Common Loon  1
Double-crested Cormorant  3
Great Egret  1
Black Vulture  4
Turkey Vulture  5
Osprey  1
Northern Harrier  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  2
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Killdeer  6
Greater Yellowlegs  3
Wilson's Snipe  1
Herring Gull (American)  3
Mourning Dove  12
Red-bellied Woodpecker  3
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  3
American Kestrel  1
Peregrine Falcon  1
American Crow  6
Fish Crow  2
Tree Swallow  4
Carolina Chickadee  1
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
Carolina Wren  3
Golden-crowned Kinglet  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2
American Robin  8
Brown Thrasher  1
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  85
Palm Warbler (Western)  8
Palm Warbler (Yellow)  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  12
Field Sparrow  3
Song Sparrow  5
Swamp Sparrow  5
White-throated Sparrow  5
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  3
Northern Cardinal  4
Red-winged Blackbird  25
Common Grackle  4
House Finch  4
Purple Finch  2
American Goldfinch  2

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

Birding Cape May Point - Wednesday, October 29th, 2014

After the exuberance of Autumn Weekend, it was a small but select group that enjoyed a wonderful red sunrise, followed by some great birds at the state park. After a rush of early morning Yellow-rumped Warblers and Pine Siskins, we were treated to Parasitic Jaegers pursuing just about anything in the rips, a great flight of Northern Gannets, and an American Bittern that flew gracefully over Bunker Pond. Cooper's Hawks lurked along the dune line and put on a great show too. Leaders: Mike Crewe, Chris Marks, and Steve Weis.
56 species

Canada Goose  25
Mute Swan  20
Gadwall  10
Eurasian Wigeon  2     continuing males
American Wigeon  35
Mallard  10
Blue-winged Teal  2
Northern Shoveler  12
Northern Pintail  15
Green-winged Teal  20
Ring-necked Duck  6
Greater Scaup  2
Surf Scoter  200
Black Scoter  25
Ruddy Duck  15
Common Loon  1
Double-crested Cormorant  6
American Bittern  1
Great Blue Heron  2
Turkey Vulture  5
Osprey  1
Northern Harrier  1
Cooper's Hawk  10
American Coot  16
Killdeer  1
Parasitic Jaeger  6
Bonaparte's Gull  2
Laughing Gull  15
Ring-billed Gull  10
Herring Gull  20
Lesser Black-backed Gull  1
Great Black-backed Gull  45
Forster's Tern  200
Royal Tern  20
Black Skimmer  1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  9
Mourning Dove  2
Belted Kingfisher  1
Northern Flicker  2
American Kestrel  1
Merlin  1
Blue Jay  22
American Crow  2
Fish Crow  6
Tree Swallow  120
American Robin  3
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  35
American Pipit  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler  50
Field Sparrow  1
Swamp Sparrow  6
White-throated Sparrow  2
House Finch  10
Pine Siskin  45
American Goldfinch  20

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

EZ Birding at Two-Mile Beach - Tuesday, October 28th, 2014

This week's walk saw an increase in shorebirds on the beach at the Two-Mile Unit of the Cape May NWR including Sanderling, Dunlin, American Oystercatcher, Black-bellied Plover, and Western Sandpiper. We had distant scope views of five Great Cormorant at the tower at the end of the jetty as well as close views of migrating Double-crested Cormorants and Black and Surf Scoters. On the way back from the beach, we had a good look at two immature White-crowned Sparrows. Leaders: Catherine Busch, Chris Marks, Lynne & Marc Breslow, and Janet Crawford.
49 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  X
American Black Duck  X
Mallard  2
Northern Pintail  1
Greater/Lesser Scaup  6
Surf Scoter  X
Black Scoter  X
Hooded Merganser  2
Northern Gannet  8
Double-crested Cormorant  X
Great Cormorant  5
Great Egret  6
Osprey  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
American Oystercatcher  16
Black-bellied Plover  X
Greater Yellowlegs  4
Sanderling  X
Dunlin  X
Western Sandpiper  4
Laughing Gull  X
Ring-billed Gull  X
Herring Gull (American)  X
Lesser Black-backed Gull  3
Great Black-backed Gull  X
Forster's Tern  X
Royal Tern  8
Belted Kingfisher  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  3
Eastern Phoebe  1
Blue Jay  1
American Crow  3
Fish Crow  4
Tree Swallow  300
American Robin  X
Gray Catbird  4
Brown Thrasher  1
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  X
Common Yellowthroat  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  X
Savannah Sparrow  X
Song Sparrow  4
Swamp Sparrow  3
White-crowned Sparrow  2
Northern Cardinal  2
Brown-headed Cowbird  X
American Goldfinch  X

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

Immature White-crowned Sparrow [Photo by Catherine Busch]

Birding the Meadows with Pete Dunne - Monday, October 27th, 2014

The usual ducks were present as well as three fly-over Wood Ducks, several Green-winged Teal, and one Ruddy Duck. Off-shore, there were Black and Surf Scoters and two White-winged Scoters. At least three Parasitic Jaegers were chasing terns and gulls in the rips. A few shore birds were seen including one each Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs and two Wilson's Snipe. There were always Yellow-rumped Warblers in the air and bushes around us. But the best bird(s) of the day were three Short-eared Owls that flew all around putting on a great show. Leaders: Pete Dunne, Karl Lukens, Chuck Slugg, Steve Weis, Janet Crawford, and Carrie Bell.
65 species

Canada Goose  40
Mute Swan  8
Wood Duck  3
Gadwall  10
Mallard  10
Northern Shoveler  5
Northern Pintail  6
Green-winged Teal  6
Surf Scoter  10
White-winged Scoter  2
Black Scoter  30
Ruddy Duck  1
Common Loon  2
Pied-billed Grebe  2
Northern Gannet  1
Double-crested Cormorant  100
Great Egret  1
Turkey Vulture  20
Osprey  2
Northern Harrier  3
Sharp-shinned Hawk  5
Cooper's Hawk  2
Broad-winged Hawk  3
Red-tailed Hawk  1
American Coot  11
Killdeer  3
Greater Yellowlegs  1
Lesser Yellowlegs  1
Wilson's Snipe  2
Parasitic Jaeger  3
Laughing Gull  2
Ring-billed Gull  1
Herring Gull  10
Lesser Black-backed Gull  1
Great Black-backed Gull  10
Forster's Tern  30
Royal Tern  1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  1
Mourning Dove  8
Short-eared Owl  3     /p
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1
Belted Kingfisher  1
Northern Flicker  4
American Kestrel  1
Blue Jay  35
American Crow  10
Tree Swallow  50
Golden-crowned Kinglet  1     heard
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  3
American Robin  75
Northern Mockingbird  3
Palm Warbler  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler  75
Savannah Sparrow  3
Song Sparrow  5
Swamp Sparrow  3
White-throated Sparrow  1
White-crowned Sparrow  1
Northern Cardinal  1
Dickcissel  1     fly-over heard
Red-winged Blackbird  15
House Finch  1
Purple Finch  1
American Goldfinch  6
House Sparrow  5

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

Short-eared Owl [Photo by Karl Lukens]

Yellow-rumped Warbler [Photo by Karl Lukens]

Bird Walk for All People - Thursday, October 23rd, 2014

CMBO’s Bird Walk for All People was a lot of fun despite the howling wind which was gusting to 15-20 mph at times. We were treated to Northern Gannets, a single Parasitic Jaeger and some close-up looks at American Kestrels directly above us along with a good variety of ducks on Bunker Pond including an Eurasian Wigeon. Leader: Warren Cairo.
45 species

Canada Goose  20
Mute Swan  18
Wood Duck  1
Gadwall  6
Eurasian Wigeon  1
American Wigeon  10
Mallard  8
Northern Shoveler  6
Northern Pintail  10
Green-winged Teal  12
Ring-necked Duck  4
Surf Scoter  300
Black Scoter  800
Ruddy Duck  16
Common Loon  2
Pied-billed Grebe  1
Northern Gannet  6
Double-crested Cormorant  40
Great Blue Heron  24
Turkey Vulture  5
Osprey  1
Northern Harrier  2
Sharp-shinned Hawk  2
Cooper's Hawk  1
American Coot  20
Parasitic Jaeger  1
Laughing Gull  30
Herring Gull  10
Great Black-backed Gull  30
Caspian Tern  3
Forster's Tern  12
Royal Tern  8
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  5
Mourning Dove  4
Belted Kingfisher  1
American Kestrel  10
Merlin  1
Tree Swallow  80
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Northern Mockingbird  2
Palm Warbler  3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  22
Song Sparrow  3
White-crowned Sparrow  2
Dark-eyed Junco  2

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

Twilight Watch at The Meadows - Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014

Seems like each Wednesday is a bit of British weather!  Another rainy, cloudy, and windy evening at the Meadows.  Eight hardy souls joined us as we searched for birds, and despite the weather we had a great time and enjoyed some nice birds. The highlight was a great comparison look at Laughing, Great Black-backed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Oh yes, there was that Merlin darting around chasing dinner.  Leaders: Warren Cairo and Bill Smythe.
27 species (+2 other taxa)

Canada Goose  30
Mute Swan  4
Gadwall  10
American Wigeon  6
Mallard  4
Blue-winged Teal  2
Northern Shoveler  6
Northern Pintail  10
Green-winged Teal  16
Double-crested Cormorant  1
Snowy Egret  1
Osprey  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  5
Cooper's Hawk  1
Laughing Gull  20
Herring Gull  10
Lesser Black-backed Gull  1
Great Black-backed Gull  30
Mourning Dove  5
Merlin  2
Tree Swallow  40
Palm Warbler (Western)  3
Palm Warbler (Yellow)  5
Yellow-rumped Warbler  20
Savannah Sparrow  2
Song Sparrow  3
Swamp Sparrow  2
White-throated Sparrow  4
sparrow sp.  15

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

Birding Cape May Point - Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014

As always with a CMBO walk, attention to our participants is paramount and, with a head-spinning number of birds zapping all around us throughout the walk, there really wasn’t time to break off and count them all. So, there’s no full list here, but the morning was, nevertheless, magical. Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers were often feeding almost at arm’s length – as was a Field Sparrow at one point too. The sparrow flock at the Hawkwatch held White-throated, White-crowned, Song and Swamp Sparrows and at least one Dark-eyed Junco. Golden-crowned Kinglets were busy in the bayberries, and great scads of Black and Surf Scoters ferried in and out of the bay. Forster’s Terns were trickling out of the bay almost throughout the walk, small parties of Great Blue Herons rose from the reeds and, at one point, some 400 Blue Jays scattered themselves around the lighthouse. American Pipits, House Finches and Pine Siskins could be heard overhead, before we got enveloped in a blanket of swirling Tree Sparrows. Then there were the ducks! A great variety of ducks. Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, three male Eurasian Wigeon among the American Wigeons, graceful Northern Pintail, a group of four Ring-necked Ducks… and the Ruddy Ducks snoozed through it all.

Raptors swirled everywhere we looked; Peregrine, American Kestrel, Osprey, Red-tailed, Broad-winged, Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, three Bald Eagles – with two youngsters tussling right over Bunker Pond. There was so much more, I am sure, but one thing is for sure, it’s building up to be a fabulous weekend!!

Leaders: Mike Crewe, Megan Crewe, Mary Watkins, Chris Marks, and Steve Weis.

Sunset Birding at Stone Harbor Point - Tuesday, October 21st, 2014

Another beautiful evening at Stone Harbor Point! The highlight of the walk were the hundreds of scoters both Black and Surf--at times they filled the sky from north to south. Along with great birds, we had a spectacular sunset!  Leaders: Warren Cairo, Gail Dwyer, Shaun Bamford, Kathy Horn and Nancy Watson.
32 species (+2 other taxa)

Brant  500
Wood Duck  1
Green-winged Teal  1
Surf Scoter  4000
Black Scoter  2000
Surf/Black Scoter  1200
Red-throated Loon  1
Common Loon  1
Double-crested Cormorant  30
Brown Pelican  6
American Oystercatcher  14
Black-bellied Plover  20
Sanderling  250
peep sp.  4
Parasitic Jaeger  1
Laughing Gull  30
Ring-billed Gull  4
Herring Gull  30
Lesser Black-backed Gull  8
Great Black-backed Gull  50
Caspian Tern  4
Forster's Tern  10
Royal Tern  3
Black Skimmer  25
Peregrine Falcon  1
Eastern Phoebe  1
Gray Catbird  1
Northern Mockingbird  2
Palm Warbler  8
Yellow-rumped Warbler  20
Savannah Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  4
White-throated Sparrow  2
Dark-eyed Junco  1

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

EZ Birding at Two-Mile Beach - Tuesday, October 21st, 2014

A large, swirling flock of Tree Swallows greeted us at the parking lot as they landed briefly to eat bayberries. Yellow-rumped Warblers were everywhere. Offshore, coastal migration was exciting as we had multiple close flocks of mixed Black and Surf Scoter, and Double-crested Cormorants. Shorebirds have increased with good looks at Black-bellied Plover, Dunlin, and a lone American Oystercatcher. The salt ponds had a variety of ducks, herons and egrets, and a single Pied-billed Grebe. Leaders: Catherine Busch, Chris Marks, Nancy Watson, Marc & Lynne Breslow, Lee Smythe, and Mary Watkins.
40 species

American Black Duck  40
Mallard  10
Green-winged Teal  6
Surf Scoter  X
Black Scoter  X
Pied-billed Grebe  1
Double-crested Cormorant  X
Great Blue Heron  2
Great Egret  8
Turkey Vulture  10
Osprey  1
Northern Harrier  3
Sharp-shinned Hawk  4
Cooper's Hawk  2
American Oystercatcher  1
Black-bellied Plover  25
Ruddy Turnstone  1
Sanderling  X
Dunlin  X
Western Sandpiper  10
Ring-billed Gull  X
Herring Gull  X
Great Black-backed Gull  X
Forster's Tern  1
Royal Tern  4
Belted Kingfisher  1
Northern Flicker  4
Merlin  2
American Crow  5
Tree Swallow  1000
Carolina Wren  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Gray Catbird  4
Brown Thrasher  2     heard
Common Yellowthroat  1
Palm Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  X
Eastern Towhee  2
Savannah Sparrow  2
Swamp Sparrow  3
Dark-eyed Junco  6

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

Tree Swallows [Photo by Catherine Busch]

Tree Swallows [Photo by Catherine Busch]

Birding the Meadows with Pete Dunne - Monday, October 20th, 2014

Migrants were in evidence today with many Yellow-rumped Warblers, and flyover Eastern Meadowlark, Blue Jay, Northern Flicker, and Common Loon. A perched Yellow-billed Cuckoo was spotted close to the west path. Offshore, streams of Double-crested Cormorants were flying south along with a few flocks of Black Scoter. A nice surprise was a small flotilla of Horned Grebe. A single Eurasian Wigeon was seen on the plover pond, perhaps, one of those who have been present for some time on Bunker Pond at the state park. Several immature Bald Eagle put on a show including landing on the beach for scope views. Leaders: Pete Dunne, Steve Weis, Janet Crawford, Catherine Busch, Mary Watkins, Marc & Lynne Breslow, Nancy Watson, and Carrie Bell.
61 species

Canada Goose  X
Mute Swan  13
Gadwall  3
Eurasian Wigeon  1
American Wigeon  20
American Black Duck  1
Mallard  X
Blue-winged Teal  X
Northern Shoveler  X
Northern Pintail  2
Green-winged Teal (American)  X
Black Scoter  85
Common Loon  2
Pied-billed Grebe  2
Horned Grebe  6
Double-crested Cormorant  500
Great Blue Heron  14
Turkey Vulture  1
Osprey  1     seen by leader
Northern Harrier  5
Sharp-shinned Hawk  X
Cooper's Hawk  3
Bald Eagle  5
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Sora  1     heard
American Coot  6
Killdeer  4
Greater Yellowlegs  4
Short-billed Dowitcher  1
Wilson's Snipe  3
Ring-billed Gull  10
Herring Gull (American)  X
Lesser Black-backed Gull  1
Great Black-backed Gull  X
Forster's Tern  X
Royal Tern  1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  X
Mourning Dove  2
Yellow-billed Cuckoo  1
Belted Kingfisher  2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  10
Merlin  1
Eastern Phoebe  1
Blue Jay  18
American Crow  X
Fish Crow  X
Tree Swallow  X
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
Golden-crowned Kinglet  2
Northern Mockingbird  2
Palm Warbler (Western)  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  X
Savannah Sparrow  X
Song Sparrow  2
Swamp Sparrow  X
Northern Cardinal  1
Red-winged Blackbird  X
Eastern Meadowlark  13
House Finch  X
American Goldfinch  1
House Sparrow  X

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

Cox Hall Creek WMA - Sunday, October 19th, 2014

Twenty-five mph winds following a night of northwest winds means there were a lot of fast-moving birds at CHC WMA this morning. Though perched birds were scarce, what awed the group was the sheer number of birds zooming by, especially Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers. One find among the many sparrows was a first-year White-crowned Sparrow showing the brown-striped head of a young bird instead of the black-and-white striped head of an adult. White-crowned Sparrows are uncommon to fairly common fall migrants through Cape May; a small number of birds often winter along the NJ coast, with most birds traveling farther south. Leaders: Kathy & Roger Horn, Deb Payson, Shaun & Cindy Bamford, and Joe Demko.
43 species (+2 other taxa)

Turkey Vulture  2
Osprey  3
Sharp-shinned Hawk  7
Cooper's Hawk  1
Bald Eagle  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Herring Gull (American)  2
Mourning Dove  25
Red-bellied Woodpecker  3
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  30
Merlin  1
Eastern Phoebe  7
Blue Jay  25
American Crow  24
Carolina Chickadee  2
Tufted Titmouse  4
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Brown Creeper  1
Carolina Wren  4
Golden-crowned Kinglet  4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  12
Eastern Bluebird  2
American Robin  15
Gray Catbird  3
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  40
Cedar Waxwing  4
Palm Warbler  20
Palm Warbler (Western)  30
Palm Warbler (Yellow)  10
Pine Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  200
Eastern Towhee  2
Chipping Sparrow  4
Field Sparrow  3
Savannah Sparrow  2
Song Sparrow  4
Swamp Sparrow  15
White-throated Sparrow  10
White-crowned Sparrow  1
Northern Cardinal  2
Indigo Bunting  2
Red-winged Blackbird  20
American Goldfinch  11

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

Hawks, Trails, and Beach - Saturday, October 18th, 2014

It was a beautiful fall afternoon! From the top of the dune, we watched Parasitic Jaegers "doing their thing" among terns and gulls too far out to identify in the rips. Bunker Pond was filled with swans, geese, and ducks including American and Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Pintails, Mallards, Ruddy Ducks, Northern Shovelers, Greater Scaup, and Blue- and Green-winged Teal. Other birds were Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, and Great Egret. In the wooded area, we had a small mixed flock including Tufted Titmouse, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and, of course, Yellow-rumped Warblers. Throughout the walk, we were treated to a raptor show overhead including an incredible flight of American Kestrels. Leaders: Chuck Slugg, Mary Jane Slugg, Cindy Bamford, and Deb Payson.
45 species

Canada Goose  40
Mute Swan  36
Gadwall  4
Eurasian Wigeon  1
American Wigeon  36
Mallard  24
Blue-winged Teal  18
Northern Shoveler  12
Northern Pintail  7
Green-winged Teal  22
Greater Scaup  1
Pied-billed Grebe  2
Double-crested Cormorant  4
Great Blue Heron  1
Great Egret  3
Black Vulture  1
Turkey Vulture  5
Osprey  3
Northern Harrier  4
Sharp-shinned Hawk  5
Cooper's Hawk  3
American Coot  8
Parasitic Jaeger  2
Herring Gull  10
Great Black-backed Gull  20
Caspian Tern  1
Royal Tern  6
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  2
Mourning Dove  7
Northern Flicker  2
American Kestrel  35
Merlin  7
Peregrine Falcon  4
Blue Jay  4     heard only
American Crow  11
Fish Crow  3
Tree Swallow  20
Carolina Chickadee  1     heard only
Tufted Titmouse  3
Carolina Wren  1     heard only
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  3
Yellow-rumped Warbler  25
Northern Cardinal  1     heard only
House Sparrow  4

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

Fall Migrants at the Rea Farm - Saturday, October 18th, 2014

While many of the birds on this mornings walk only provided brief glimpses before diving for cover, perhaps the favorite species was the Eastern Meadowlark, found perched in a shrub by one of the participants. Half hidden in the leaves, four birds were eventually viewed in the scopes, with one still in breeding plumage. Meadowlarks can be seen any time of year in the Cape May area, but seldom are. Common fall migrants, with some birds overwintering, they often feed on the ground in tall grasses and dry marshes. Meadowlarks are one of the most widely distributed songbirds with a range from southern Canada to northern South America.  Group 1 Leaders: Kathy Horn and Deb Payson.
44 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  35
Mallard  6
Double-crested Cormorant  1
Great Egret  1
Turkey Vulture  1
Osprey  2
Sharp-shinned Hawk  3
Cooper's Hawk  1
Bald Eagle  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Herring Gull (American)  2
Mourning Dove  22
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  9
Eastern Phoebe  4
Red-eyed Vireo  2
Blue Jay  16
American Crow  15
Fish Crow  13
Carolina Chickadee  2
Carolina Wren  9
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2
Eastern Bluebird  1
American Robin  5
Gray Catbird  7
Brown Thrasher  2
Northern Mockingbird  8
European Starling  45
Cedar Waxwing  2
Palm Warbler (Western)  9
Palm Warbler (Yellow)  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  13
Field Sparrow  4
Savannah Sparrow  2
Song Sparrow  2
Swamp Sparrow  3
White-throated Sparrow  2
Scarlet Tanager  1
Northern Cardinal  4
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  1
Indigo Bunting  2
Red-winged Blackbird  22
Eastern Meadowlark  4

Group 2 Leaders: Karl Lukens and Roger Horn.
35 species

Canada Goose  36
Mallard  3
Great Egret  1
Osprey  2
Cooper's Hawk  1
Bald Eagle  1
Herring Gull (American)  2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  2
Mourning Dove  55
Red-bellied Woodpecker  3
Downy Woodpecker  3
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  4
Eastern Phoebe  1
Blue Jay  15
American Crow  3
Fish Crow  42
Carolina Chickadee  1
Carolina Wren  5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2
Eastern Bluebird  1
American Robin  8
Gray Catbird  7
Brown Thrasher  1
Northern Mockingbird  4
European Starling  6
Palm Warbler (Western)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  9
Song Sparrow  1
Swamp Sparrow  2
White-throated Sparrow  3
Scarlet Tanager  1
Northern Cardinal  1
Red-winged Blackbird  11
Eastern Meadowlark  3
Common Grackle  2

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

Scarlet Tanager [Photo by Karl Lukens]

Sunset Birding at The Meadows - Friday, October 17th, 2014

We had a record number of Friday night walkers on this beautiful fall evening so we split the group in two with Kathy taking the Eastern Trail and Chuck and Deb taking the Western Trail. Chuck's group saw a Common Gallinule, Stilt Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs, Short-billed Dowitcher, and a variety of ducks. We had several Merlins zoom over our heads and a Peregrine Falcon sitting on the beach. Leaders: Chuck Slugg, Kathy Horn, and Deb Payson.
38 species

Canada Goose  40
Mute Swan  13
Gadwall  14
Mallard  16
Blue-winged Teal  10
Northern Shoveler  18
Northern Pintail  9
Green-winged Teal  30
Pied-billed Grebe  1
Double-crested Cormorant  2
Great Egret  1
Cooper's Hawk  1
Common Gallinule  1
American Coot  12
Killdeer  1     heard only
Lesser Yellowlegs  4
Stilt Sandpiper  2
Short-billed Dowitcher  1
Wilson's Snipe  1
Laughing Gull  1
Herring Gull  15
Great Black-backed Gull  30
Royal Tern  5
Black Skimmer  275
Mourning Dove  6
Merlin  3
Peregrine Falcon  1
Blue Jay  1     heard only
American Crow  2     heard only
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  14
Cedar Waxwing  2
Palm Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  10
Savannah Sparrow  1
Swamp Sparrow  2
Red-winged Blackbird  10
House Sparrow  4

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

Higbee Beach Birding - Friday, October 17th, 2014

Though a 'classic' Higbee Beach big flight was not under way, Higbee showed that it had many strings to its bow by providing us with some wonderful birding opportunities. Cedar Waxwings, European Starlings, Red-winged Blackbirds and a mass of Blue Jays gave us ample opportunity to study the structure and behavior of flying flocks of birds. Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Brown Thrashers moved along the hedgelines and Indigo Buntings and Swamp Sparrows were in the fields. Though views were brief, a Blue-headed Vireo was a nice highlight. Group 1 Leaders: Mike Crewe, Catherine Busch, and Megan Crewe.
47 species

Double-crested Cormorant  10
Great Egret  1
Osprey  4
Sharp-shinned Hawk  5
Cooper's Hawk  2
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Herring Gull  3
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  2
Mourning Dove  3
Red-bellied Woodpecker  4
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  10
Merlin  3
Eastern Phoebe  5
Blue-headed Vireo  1
Blue Jay  200
American Crow  22
Fish Crow  1
Carolina Chickadee  2
Tufted Titmouse  6
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
Carolina Wren  2
Golden-crowned Kinglet  2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  10
American Robin  10
Gray Catbird  6
Brown Thrasher  3
European Starling  120
Cedar Waxwing  12
Common Yellowthroat  3
American Redstart  1
Palm Warbler  40
Yellow-rumped Warbler  50
Black-throated Green Warbler  1
Eastern Towhee  2
Chipping Sparrow  10
Song Sparrow  2
Swamp Sparrow  15
White-throated Sparrow  10
Northern Cardinal  6
Blue Grosbeak  2
Indigo Bunting  6
Red-winged Blackbird  80
House Finch  15
Purple Finch  2
Pine Siskin  1
American Goldfinch  1

Group 2 Leaders: Kathy Horn, Chris Marks, and Mary Watkins.
47 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  12
Double-crested Cormorant  4
Great Egret  1
Osprey  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  6
Herring Gull (American)  2
Mourning Dove  3
Red-bellied Woodpecker  3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  3
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  24
Eastern Phoebe  5
Blue-headed Vireo  1
Red-eyed Vireo  2
Blue Jay  35
American Crow  22
Tree Swallow  7
Carolina Chickadee  2
Tufted Titmouse  1
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Brown Creeper  1
Carolina Wren  6
Golden-crowned Kinglet  5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  10
American Robin  12
Gray Catbird  14
Brown Thrasher  9
European Starling  3
Cedar Waxwing  28
Common Yellowthroat  2
Northern Parula  2
Palm Warbler (Western)  16
Palm Warbler (Yellow)  5
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  35
Black-throated Green Warbler  1
Eastern Towhee  4
Chipping Sparrow  2
Field Sparrow  6
Song Sparrow  3
Swamp Sparrow  11
White-throated Sparrow  7
Dark-eyed Junco  1
Scarlet Tanager  1
Northern Cardinal  8
Indigo Bunting  2
Bobolink  2
Red-winged Blackbird  5
American Goldfinch  4

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

Bird Walk for All People - Thursday, October 16th, 2014

It was a balmy morning with a light cloud cover and a good breeze. From the beach, we watched Parasitic Jaegers harassing the gulls and many Forster's Terns still visible in the rips. We also had Royal Terns. Moving to Bunker Pond, we spotted the Eurasian Wigeon along with American Wigeon, Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shovelers, Northern Pintails, Mallards, and a Greater Scaup. A flock of Eastern Meadowlarks flew over us and a Belted Kingfisher was working the pond. Moving through the wooded areas, and surveying Lighthouse Pond, there was a good movement of raptors including Peregrines, Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks, Osprey, and both Black and Turkey Vultures. Along with Yellow-rumped Warblers, we saw a large movement of Blue Jays and Tree Swallows. Leaders: Chuck Slugg, Warren Cairo, and Cindy Bamford.
45 species

Canada Goose  45
Mute Swan  32
Gadwall  2
Eurasian Wigeon  3     The same Eurasian Wigeon drakes that have been on Bunker Pond for the last few weeks; very vocal; distinctive call
American Wigeon  45
Mallard  16
Blue-winged Teal  10
Northern Shoveler  12
Northern Pintail  7
Green-winged Teal  18
Greater Scaup  1
Pied-billed Grebe  1
Double-crested Cormorant  4
Great Blue Heron  2
Great Egret  3
Green Heron  1
Black Vulture  1
Turkey Vulture  3
Osprey  5
Northern Harrier  2
Sharp-shinned Hawk  8
Cooper's Hawk  4
Killdeer  1     heard only
Parasitic Jaeger  2
Great Black-backed Gull  2
Forster's Tern  20
Royal Tern  8
Black Skimmer  60
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  2
Mourning Dove  4
Northern Flicker  5
Peregrine Falcon  2
Blue Jay  65
American Crow  2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  2
Tree Swallow  110
Carolina Wren  5
Gray Catbird  4
Northern Mockingbird  4
European Starling  18
Yellow-rumped Warbler  20
Northern Cardinal  1     heard only
Red-winged Blackbird  18
Eastern Meadowlark  12
House Sparrow  3

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

Twilight Watch at the Meadows - Wednesday, October 15th, 21014

Tonight's walk began with a downpour, but as usual with Cape May weather, it turned out to be a pleasant evening with a nice mix of birds. Leaders: Warren Cairo and Bill Smythe.
29 species

Canada Goose  50
Mute Swan  6
Gadwall  8
Mallard  25
Blue-winged Teal  5
Northern Shoveler  10
Northern Pintail  8
Green-winged Teal  20
Black Scoter  16
Ruddy Duck  1
Pied-billed Grebe  2
Double-crested Cormorant  2
Great Blue Heron  1
Great Egret  2
Snowy Egret  1
Osprey  1
Cooper's Hawk  1
American Coot  5
Greater Yellowlegs  2
Lesser Yellowlegs  1
Pectoral Sandpiper  3
Short-billed Dowitcher  1
Herring Gull  4
Lesser Black-backed Gull  1
Great Black-backed Gull  5
Caspian Tern  1
Forster's Tern  10
Royal Tern  1
Mourning Dove  5

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

Birding Cape May Point - Wednesday, October 15th, 2014

There were lots of ducks to observe and study with a few notable ones like three drake Eurasian Wigeon, and one Greater Scaup. Offshore, there were numerous scoters, mostly Black but with some Surf Scoters mixed in. Additionally, there was a nice jaeger show in the feeding flock of gulls and terns, with up to six Parasitic Jaegers seen chasing them. Other birds of interest were Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks, and a Peregrine sitting on the beach as well as one in a tree. Leaders: Mike Crewe, Karl Lukens, Chris Marks, Steve Weis, Mary Watkins, and Mike Hannisian.
46 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  25
Mute Swan  20
Gadwall  2
Eurasian Wigeon  3
American Wigeon  15
Mallard  10
Blue-winged Teal  12
Northern Shoveler  15
Northern Pintail  18
Green-winged Teal (American)  6
Greater Scaup  1
Surf Scoter  10
Black Scoter  50
scoter sp.  150
Ruddy Duck  11
Pied-billed Grebe  1
Double-crested Cormorant  400
Great Blue Heron  1
Great Egret  1
Snowy Egret  1
Turkey Vulture  3
Osprey  2
Northern Harrier  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  6
Cooper's Hawk  3
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Parasitic Jaeger  6
Laughing Gull  150
Ring-billed Gull  5
Herring Gull  20
Great Black-backed Gull  75
Forster's Tern  30
Royal Tern  20
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  5
Mourning Dove  4
Belted Kingfisher  1
Merlin  1
Peregrine Falcon  3
American Crow  5
Tree Swallow  20
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  10
Palm Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  25
Northern Cardinal  1
Red-winged Blackbird  5
House Sparrow  5

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

Eurasian Wigeon (top) and American Wigeon [Photo by Karl Lukens]

Peregrine Falcon [Photo by Karl Lukens]

Sunset Birding at Stone Harbor Point - Tuesday, October 14th, 2014

It was another fun evening at Stone Harbor Point.  We had great looks at Lesser-black Backed Gulls and the opportunity to compare them to Herring and Ring-billed Gulls.  Shore birds were scarce, but we had a good variety including Red Knots, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher and Black-bellied Plovers. Leaders: Warren Cairo, Gail Dwyer, Kathy Horn, Shaun Bamford and Nancy Watson.
24 species

Green-winged Teal (American)  3
Surf Scoter  30
Black Scoter  30
Double-crested Cormorant  46
Snowy Egret  1
Black-bellied Plover  20
Semipalmated Plover  4
Ruddy Turnstone  1
Red Knot  6
Sanderling  200
Dunlin  20
Western Sandpiper  1
peep sp.  30
Short-billed Dowitcher  2
Laughing Gull  30
Ring-billed Gull  1
Herring Gull (American)  20
Lesser Black-backed Gull  10
Great Black-backed Gull  60
Caspian Tern  20
Forster's Tern  8
Royal Tern  15
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Yellow Warbler  1
Dark-eyed Junco  1
sparrow sp.  1

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

EZ Birding at Two-Mile Beach - Tuesday, October 14th, 2014

A warm day with a light breeze made for a pleasant seawatch from the beach at the Two-Mile Unit of the Cape May Wildlife Refuge. Highlights included multiple large flocks of Black Scoter migrating south, some fairly close, and a Peregrine Falcon over the dunes and later perched on a dead tree at the salt ponds. Yellow-rump Warblers were numerous as is typical when there are bayberries to be had along the coast, and Grey Catbirds called and skulked throughout the scrub habitat. Leaders: Catherine Busch, Chris Marks, Marc & Lynne Breslow, Nancy Watson, and Mary Watkins.
39 species

American Black Duck  72
Mallard  5
Black Scoter  250
Common Loon  1
Double-crested Cormorant  15
Great Egret  5
Osprey  4
Northern Harrier  3
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Cooper's Hawk  3
Bald Eagle  1      seen by a few after walk ended
Black-bellied Plover  25
Greater Yellowlegs  6
Western Sandpiper  10
Laughing Gull  X
Ring-billed Gull  4
Herring Gull (American)  X
Great Black-backed Gull  X
Caspian Tern  5
Royal Tern  6
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  4
Mourning Dove  2
Belted Kingfisher  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Peregrine Falcon  1
Blue Jay  35
American Crow  3
Fish Crow  2
Tree Swallow  X
Gray Catbird  X
Brown Thrasher  1
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  X
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  X
Eastern Towhee  3
Savannah Sparrow  X     heard
Swamp Sparrow  X     heard
Northern Cardinal  1
American Goldfinch  5

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

Birding the Meadows with Pete Dunne - Monday, October 13th, 2014

A cool, cloudy day with some rain. A nice variety of ducks were seen including Blue- and Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, an American and an Eurasian Wigeon, and a Ruddy Duck. It seemed like there was always a Sharp-shinned or Cooper's Hawk overhead along with numerous Yellow-rumped Warblers. A few shorebirds were also present. Fly-over Eastern Meadowlarks were seen several times. Leaders: Pete Dunne, Karl Lukens, Chuck Slugg, Steve Weis, and Catherine Busch.
50 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  120
Mute Swan  12
Eurasian Wigeon  1
American Wigeon  1
Mallard  15
Blue-winged Teal  2
Northern Shoveler  12
Northern Pintail  4
Green-winged Teal  5
scoter sp.  50
Ruddy Duck  1
Pied-billed Grebe  1
Double-crested Cormorant  50
Snowy Egret  6
Osprey  3
Northern Harrier  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  15
Cooper's Hawk  8
American Coot  4
Killdeer  1
Greater Yellowlegs  1
Lesser Yellowlegs  8
Stilt Sandpiper  1
Pectoral Sandpiper  3
Short-billed Dowitcher  3
Laughing Gull  12
Ring-billed Gull  6
Herring Gull  30
Lesser Black-backed Gull  1
Great Black-backed Gull  75
Royal Tern  1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  1
Mourning Dove  3
Northern Flicker  2
American Kestrel  1
American Crow  8
Fish Crow  2
Tree Swallow  35
Carolina Wren  1
American Robin  4
Gray Catbird  1
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  10
Common Yellowthroat  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  60
Swamp Sparrow  4
Northern Cardinal  1
Indigo Bunting  1
Red-winged Blackbird  10
Eastern Meadowlark  12
House Sparrow  5

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

Cox Hall Creek WMA - Sunday, October 12th, 2014

An Eagle chasing an Osprey, a Coop chasing a Sharpie, a Sharpie going for a Flicker - there was a lot of action at CHC WMA today. More sedate than those though were the many Eastern Phoebes with gently bobbing tails that could be seen throughout the WMA. Many were 'birds of the year' - this year's 'hatch birds' - denoted by the light wash of yellow on the chest and belly. An early migrant often seen as a herald of spring, the phoebe is also a late migrant in the fall. Unlike other flycatchers, the Eastern Phoebe is fairly easy to identify with the bobbing tail, dark head, lack of eye ring and faint or absent wing bars.

Group 1 Leaders: Kathy Horn, Shaun Bamford, and Deb Payson.
51 species

Canada Goose  22
Mallard  1
Great Blue Heron  1
Turkey Vulture  2
Osprey  3
Sharp-shinned Hawk  6
Cooper's Hawk  2
Bald Eagle  3
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Herring Gull (American)  1
Mourning Dove  20
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  2
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  22
Eastern Phoebe  15
Red-eyed Vireo  2
Blue Jay  25
American Crow  11
Tree Swallow  3
Carolina Chickadee  4
Tufted Titmouse  10
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Brown Creeper  1
Carolina Wren  6
Golden-crowned Kinglet  5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  4
Eastern Bluebird  3
American Robin  12
Gray Catbird  14
Brown Thrasher  2
Cedar Waxwing  4
Common Yellowthroat  13
Northern Parula  2
Palm Warbler  8
Pine Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  20
Prairie Warbler  1
Eastern Towhee  6
Chipping Sparrow  2
Field Sparrow  2
Savannah Sparrow  1
Swamp Sparrow  38
White-throated Sparrow  23
Northern Cardinal  3
Indigo Bunting  2
Red-winged Blackbird  5
Common Grackle  4
Purple Finch  4
American Goldfinch  18

Group 2 Leaders: Roger Horn, Steve Weis, and Cindy Bamford.
42 species (+1 other taxa)

Wood Duck  5
Mallard  27
Great Blue Heron  1
Osprey  6
Sharp-shinned Hawk  5
Cooper's Hawk  3
Bald Eagle  5
Herring Gull (American)  1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  3
Mourning Dove  7
Belted Kingfisher  1     heard only
Red-bellied Woodpecker  4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  35
Merlin  1
Eastern Phoebe  15
Blue Jay  47
American Crow  29
Carolina Chickadee  2
Tufted Titmouse  4
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Brown Creeper  1
Carolina Wren  4
Golden-crowned Kinglet  2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  3
American Robin  6
Gray Catbird  11
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  3
Cedar Waxwing  15
Common Yellowthroat  3
Palm Warbler (Western)  6
Palm Warbler (Yellow)  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  59
Eastern Towhee  12
Song Sparrow  4
Swamp Sparrow  40
White-throated Sparrow  30
Northern Cardinal  2
Indigo Bunting  1
Red-winged Blackbird  2
Common Grackle  5
American Goldfinch  14

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

Eastern Phoebe [Photo by Roger Horn]