Cruising for Loons - Saturday, April 24 2010

Dave Lord Reports:

"A beautiful day greeted those who took part in CMBO's Cruising for Loons trip aboard the Osprey. We found six Common Loons in their breeding finery, one even popping up right next to the boat, and loons without their breeding plumage, but impressive none-the-less. More impressive was the adult male Harlequin Duck that showed up, yet again, at Two Mile, a life bird for some, admired by all. Also admired were the two Tri-Colored Herons, the spotchy black coats of the Dunlin and the Black-bellied Plovers, and the many Egrets hanging around the rookery."

Location: Cape May County Back Bay
Observation date: 4/24/10
Notes: CMBO'S Crusing for Loons on the Osprey. Dave Githens, Janet Crawford, Tom Parsons, Judy Lukens, Dave Lord.
Number of species: 23
Brant 345
American Black Duck 2
Mallard 2
Harlequin Duck 1
Common Loon 8 6 Breeding plumes, 2 non-breeding plumes
Double-crested Cormorant 45
Great Egret 42
Snowy Egret 23
Tricolored Heron 2
Osprey 6
Black-bellied Plover 11
American Oystercatcher 8
Willet 16
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Dunlin 225
Short-billed Dowitcher 1 One in the midst of the dunlin
Laughing Gull 315
Herring Gull 14
Forster's Tern 32
Mourning Dove 1
Fish Crow 14
Red-winged Blackbird 16
Boat-tailed Grackle 10