Midweek at The Meadows - Wednesday, May 6th, 2015

It was a lovely, warm morning at the Nature Conservancy's South Cape May Meadows for our mid-week walk. We were treated to multiple looks at a pair of Orchard Orioles, as well as fabulous views of a couple of the many singing Common Yellowthroats. A Red-eyed Vireo teased us with his song, but never came out to say 'hello'. Green Herons were seen (and heard) from perches atop Red Cedar trees at both the north and south ends of the property. Shorebirds had a stronger presence this week, with Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Eastern Willets, Least Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, a Solitary Sandpiper, nesting American Oystercatchers, and a large collection of Short-billed Dowitchers. Least Terns have officially arrived in force and we watched them feeding and cavorting alongside Forster's Terns and our usual smattering of gulls including Great Black-backed and Laughing Gulls. An added bonus this morning came in the form of a posing Northern Water Snake, who seemed to be checking out a recently-vacated Canada Goose nest along the east path! Leaders: Mike Crewe, Catherine Busch, Steve Weis, Pat Perkins, and Margeaux Maerz.