Dave Lord reports:
"Both of CMBO's inaugural "Chuck's, Whips and Rails" field trips went very well. Highlights of both days include the Virginia Rail displaying, a first for many, the Whip-poor-wills calling in stereo, and the amazing number of Clapper Rails and Seaside Sparrows that were seen. On Sunday, we had two adult Bald Eagles in a tree, which on our second walk by the spot, said tree was occupied by two Great Horned Owls, with another across the way. An American Bittern flew past, and plenty of the songbird breeders of the bayshore kept all entranced for these neat trips."
Location: Glades Wildlife Refuge--Turkey Pt.
Observation date: 5/1/10
Notes: CMBO's Saturday "Chucks Whips and Rails" Kathy and Roger Horn, Warren Cairo, Dave Lord
Number of species: 37
Canada Goose 8
American Black Duck 7
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Egret 2
Black-crowned Night-Heron 8
Glossy Ibis 10
Northern Harrier 1
Clapper Rail 19 5 were seen.
Virginia Rail 1 Doing display call
Greater Yellowlegs 4
Willet (Eastern) 24
Dunlin 1
Laughing Gull 30
Herring Gull 16
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Mourning Dove 2
Great Horned Owl 3
Whip-poor-will 3
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Eastern Kingbird 6
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 3
Purple Martin 1
Barn Swallow 55
Carolina Wren 2
Marsh Wren 5
Wood Thrush 1
American Robin X
Gray Catbird 5
Yellow Warbler 3
Common Yellowthroat 4
Seaside Sparrow 38 Many were seen
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 21
Common Grackle 6
Boat-tailed Grackle 34
Orchard Oriole 4
Location: Glades Wildlife Refuge--Turkey Pt.
Observation date: 5/2/10
Notes: CMBO's "Chucks, Whips, and Rails." Kathy Horn, Warren Cairo, Chuck Slugg, Shaun and Cindy Bamford, Dave Lord.
Number of species: 34
Canada Goose 7
American Black Duck 8
American Bittern 1 FOS
Great Egret 4
Snowy Egret 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 6
Bald Eagle 2
Northern Harrier 2
Clapper Rail 42
Virginia Rail 1 Doing display call
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs 4
Willet (Eastern) 52
Laughing Gull 14
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Forster's Tern 10
Great Horned Owl 3 All seen
Chuck-will's-widow 1 Heard at Bald Eagle Trail
Whip-poor-will 2
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Kingbird 4
American Crow 3
Tree Swallow 3
Barn Swallow 25
Marsh Wren 6
Gray Catbird 5
Yellow Warbler 4
Common Yellowthroat 4
Seaside Sparrow 36
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 45
Eastern Meadowlark 1
Boat-tailed Grackle 22
Orchard Oriole 5
"The Sunday morning "Back Bay Birding by Boat" tour aboard the Osprey was a wonderful time, as shorebirds are starting to increase in number and beauty. Hundreds of Dunlin lined the Salt Marsh, while many Black-Bellied Plovers, Short-Billed Dowitchers and other sandpipers stood out. A good number of Whimbrel were had, there were more breeding plumage Common Loons to gawk at, and the male Harlequin Duck is still to be found in the inapropriate habitat near Two-Mile Resturaunt. The highlight of the trip would have to be the three very co-operative Yellow-Crowned Night Herons at the heron island, with a Tri-Colored Heron circling overhead."
Location: Cape May County Back Bay
Observation date: 5/2/10
Notes: CMBO Sponsored Back Bay Birding by Boat.
Number of species: 28
Canada Goose 2
American Black Duck 3
Harlequin Duck 1
Common Loon 1 Breeding plumes
Double-crested Cormorant 34
Great Egret 23
Snowy Egret 42 Most in plumage with rosy behind the eye
Tricolored Heron 1
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 3
Glossy Ibis 22
Osprey 26
Clapper Rail 9
Black-bellied Plover 20
American Oystercatcher 9
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs 15
Willet (Eastern) 20
Whimbrel 17
Dunlin 255
Short-billed Dowitcher 7
Laughing Gull 375
Herring Gull 65
Common Tern 1 FOS
Forster's Tern 45
Tree Swallow 5
Barn Swallow 9
Red-winged Blackbird 16
Boat-tailed Grackle 24
