Thursday, July 14, 2011

Cape May Birding Hotline - Thursday, July 14, 2011

[note: Sam Galick is now compiler of the CMRBA, replacing Dave Lord. We'd like to take a moment to thank Dave for his diligent and thorough work on the hotline, and wish him the best as he takes his studies overseas in September. -tr]

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Hotline: Cape May Birding Hotline
To Report: call (609) 884-2736, or email sightingsATbirdcapemay.org
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic Counties , NJ
Compiler: Samuel Galick, Cape May Bird Observatory
URL: http://www.njaudubon.org ; http://www.birdcapemay.org

This is the Cape May Birding Hotline, a service of New Jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird Observatory. This week's message was prepared on Thursday, July 14, 2011. Highlights this week include sightings of SANDWICH TERN, ROSEATE TERN, COMMON TERN, MISSISSIPPI KITE, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, NORTHERN PARULA, LEAST FLYCATCHER, YELLOW WARBLER, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, GLOSSY IBIS, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, BOBOLINK, CASPIAN TERN, STILT SANDPIPER, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, SALTMARSH SPARROW, NORTHERN HARRIER, GULL-BILLED TERN, WHIMBREL, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, WHITE-FACED IBIS, LARK SPARROW, AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, RUDDY DUCK, YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, BROWN PELICAN, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER.

Two second-summer SANDWICH TERNS and an adult ROSEATE TERN were roosting on the beach at Coral Ave. the morning of 7/9. Another first summer ROSEATE TERN was seen there the same morning.

Another adult ROSEATE TERN was resting with COMMON TERNS on the beach at South Cape May the morning of 7/9. All three ROSEATE TERNS were found resting on the railings of Bunker Pond at the Cape May Point State Park later that day.

Birders were treated to a MISSISSIPPI KITE soaring over Steven’s Street on 7/9. On 7/10 two MISSISSIPPI KITES were seen from the Cape May Point State Park and the Cape May Meadows dune crossing.

Passerine migrants were found at Higbees WMA on 7/9 with a juvenile BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, juvenile NORTHERN PARULA and LEAST FLYCATCHER noted.

On 7/10, migrants noted from the Coral Ave dune crossover in Cape May Point included: two YELLOW WARBLERS, a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, 100+ GLOSSY IBIS, 7 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS and 10 BOBOLINKS.

The first big hits of BOBOLINKS were detected on 7/13 when 138 individuals were counted from the Cape May Point State Park. Flocks of around 20 birds passed by comprised of mostly adult males. Other birds noted were CASPIAN TERN, STILT SANDPIPER, and BALTIMORE ORIOLE.

Marsh bird surveys detected 37 SALTMARSH SPARROWS, two NORTHERN HARRIERS, 12 BOBOLINKS at Tuckahoe WMA on 7/13. Two GULL-BILLED TERNS, six WHIMBRELS, and seven SALTMARSH SPARROWS were found in the back bay marshes behind Stone Harbor the same day.

Moving to Atlantic County, Forsythe NWR/Brig is starting to heat up with HUDSONIAN GODWIT, WHITE-FACED IBIS, LARK SPARROW, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, and continuing RUDDY DUCKS. An adult HUDSONIAN GODWIT was discovered in the West Pool, on the north dike, about halfway between the dog-leg and the end of the marsh in mixed shorebird company on Tuesday, July 12th, 2011. An adult WHITE-FACED IBIS was also found the same day in the West Pool, near the South tower. Both birds continued the next day along the North dike. A LARK SPARROW was photographed near stop # 7 of the wildlife drive on Wednesday, July 13th, 2011. An adult AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was discovered near the HUDSONIAN GODWIT later on that day. The summering flock of RUDDY DUCKS continues- 11 birds reported all this week.

A CMBO-sponsored cruise through the Great Egg Harbor area produced 28 YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS and a BROWN PELICAN on 7/7.

Shorebirds continue to increase with reports of WHIMBRELS, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, WESTERN SANDPIPERS, LEAST SANDPIPERS, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS sighted this week.

-For up-to-the-minute Cape May sightings information, photos and downloadable birding maps and checklist of Cape May, visitwww.birdcapemay.org . Follow rarity sightings and spectacles at www.twitter.com/CMBObirds -



ANNOUNCEMENTS:

******CMBO SUMMER HOURS are as follows: Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is every day except Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Center for Research and Education on Rt. 47 in Goshen is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30am to 4:30pm; closed Sundays and Mondays. ******

The Cape May Birding Hotline is a service of the New Jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird Observatory and details sightings from Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic Counties. Updates are made weekly. Please report sightings of rare or unusual birds to CMBO at 609-884-2736. Sponsorship for this hotline comes from the support of CMBO members and business members, and should you not be a member, we cordially invite you to join. Individual membership is $39 per year; $49 for families. You can call either center to become a member or visit. Become a member in person and you'll receive a FREE gift (in addition to member discounts in the stores).

Good Luck and Good Birding!
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