Monday, April 6, 2009

Thunder, Lightning, Scoters, Gannets

Faced with a fast-approaching t-storm, we moved the Monday meadows walk to the concrete ship, where 5-10 Northern Gannets passed per minute with lightning in the background, while 40 or more Red-throated Loons fed near the Concrete Ship. Scoters streamed by regularly, including two White-winged Scoters. A few Bonaparte's Gulls and Forster's Terns fed near the ship as well.

Later we moved over to Lily Lake, which was pretty quiet, although 3 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were along East Lake Drive and a pair of Ring-necked Ducks remains on the pond.

Both site lists are below, at the request of walk participants.

Location: Cape May - Concrete Ship
Observation date: 4/6/09
Number of species: 20
Mallard 3
Surf Scoter 500
White-winged Scoter 2
Black Scoter 100
Long-tailed Duck 25
Red-breasted Merganser 2
Red-throated Loon 50
Common Loon 1
Northern Gannet 500
Double-crested Cormorant 25
Sanderling 5
Bonaparte's Gull 5
Laughing Gull 40
Herring Gull 10
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Forster's Tern 20
Fish Crow 5
European Starling 5
Boat-tailed Grackle 1

Location: Cape May - Lily Lake
Observation date: 4/6/09
Number of species: 32
Canada Goose 2
Mute Swan 2
Mallard 2
Ring-necked Duck 2
Double-crested Cormorant 3
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 1
American Coot 6
Laughing Gull 5
Herring Gull X
Mourning Dove 5
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 3
Fish Crow 5
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 1
Carolina Wren 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
American Robin 10
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 10
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 10
Northern Cardinal 3
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 25
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
House Finch 3
House Sparrow 5

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