"Birds! Birds! Birds! CMBO leaders and field trip participants spent a super day along the Atlantic Coast. We hit the ground running with a great view of a light morph Rough-legged Hawk at Brigantine, within 10 minutes of starting the trip. Brigantine had some great raptors, but the stars of the show were the ducks. The middle pool held close to 200 Canvasbacks (in great light no less), a dozen Redheads for comparison, and Northern Pintails seemed to be everywhere you turned. A Short-eared Owl was seen at a distance, but this short-coming was atoned for by the superlative show put on by the Short-eareds at Mott's Creek. Five owls were seen in all, with multiples often in the air dog-fighting. Two more Rough-leggeds, a light and a dark morph, were added to the list, making it the highlight of a truly wonderful day around the Atlantic Coastal Salt Marsh. Karen and Brian Johnson, Chuck and Mary Jane Slugg, Kathy and Roger Horn, Janet Crawford, David Lord."
Location: E. B. Forsythe NWR--Wildlife Drive
Observation date: 2/26/11
Number of species: 38
Snow Goose 1100
Brant 3000
Canada Goose 53
Mute Swan 12
Tundra Swan 45
Gadwall 57
American Wigeon 11
American Black Duck 90
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 52
Northern Pintail 220
Green-winged Teal 70
Canvasback 175
Redhead 12
Lesser Scaup 8
Bufflehead 23
Hooded Merganser 22
Common Merganser 6
Red-breasted Merganser 26
Horned Grebe 1
Great Blue Heron 5
Turkey Vulture 6
Bald Eagle 2
Northern Harrier 11
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 5
Rough-legged Hawk 1
Peregrine Falcon 2
American Oystercatcher 1
Ring-billed Gull 4
Herring Gull 45
Great Black-backed Gull 14
Short-eared Owl 1
Northern Flicker 1
American Crow 7
Carolina Wren 2
Red-winged Blackbird 74
Eastern Meadowlark 2
Location: E. B. Forsythe NWR--Motts Creek
Observation date: 2/26/11
Number of species: 15
Snow Goose 400
Canada Goose 6
Mute Swan 3
American Black Duck 8
Hooded Merganser 6
Great Blue Heron 4
Bald Eagle 1
Northern Harrier 4
Rough-legged Hawk 2
Herring Gull 3
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Short-eared Owl 5
Red-winged Blackbird 13
Boat-tailed Grackle 5
House Finch 1
Cape May Point- Saturday, February 26, 2010
Karl Lukens reports: The usual suspects for this time of year were seen and enjoyed. A nice variety of ducks present, while raptors included Red-tailed hawk, Cooper's Hawk at the end of walk, and Northern Harrier.
Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 2/26/11
Notes: /t CMBO Cape May Point Walk-KL,K&RH,+2.PtlySun,35°,W6.
Number of species: 39
Canada Goose 15
Mute Swan 10
Gadwall 15
American Wigeon 50
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 20
Northern Shoveler 8
Northern Pintail 8
Green-winged Teal 12
Long-tailed Duck 2
Hooded Merganser 4
Red-throated Loon 3
Great Blue Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 2
Northern Harrier 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 5
Rock Pigeon 6
Mourning Dove 6
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 3
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 1
Carolina Wren 3
American Robin 20
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 10
Fox Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 8
Dark-eyed Junco 1
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 12
Common Grackle 8
House Finch 1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)
Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 2/26/11
Notes: /t CMBO Cape May Point Walk-KL,K&RH,+2.PtlySun,35°,W6.
Number of species: 39
Canada Goose 15
Mute Swan 10
Gadwall 15
American Wigeon 50
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 20
Northern Shoveler 8
Northern Pintail 8
Green-winged Teal 12
Long-tailed Duck 2
Hooded Merganser 4
Red-throated Loon 3
Great Blue Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 2
Northern Harrier 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 5
Rock Pigeon 6
Mourning Dove 6
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 3
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 1
Carolina Wren 3
American Robin 20
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 10
Fox Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 8
Dark-eyed Junco 1
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 12
Common Grackle 8
House Finch 1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)
Evening at The Meadows - Saturday, Friday 25, 2010
From Karl Lukens: Clearing after rain and thunderstorms, very windy!!!. Lots of ducks, mostly Green-winged Teal. Small land birds all hunkered in!
Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 2/25/11
Notes: CMBO Evening Meadows Walk-KL,C&MJS,RH,+2.PtlySun,49°,W20.
Number of species: 17
Canada Goose 25
Mute Swan 3
Gadwall 15
American Wigeon 15
Mallard 20
Blue-winged Teal 1
Northern Shoveler 10
Northern Pintail 10
Green-winged Teal 150
Bufflehead 4
Hooded Merganser 2
Great Blue Heron 1
Northern Harrier 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Herring Gull 1
Mourning Dove 8
Red-winged Blackbird 8
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)
Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 2/25/11
Notes: CMBO Evening Meadows Walk-KL,C&MJS,RH,+2.PtlySun,49°,W20.
Number of species: 17
Canada Goose 25
Mute Swan 3
Gadwall 15
American Wigeon 15
Mallard 20
Blue-winged Teal 1
Northern Shoveler 10
Northern Pintail 10
Green-winged Teal 150
Bufflehead 4
Hooded Merganser 2
Great Blue Heron 1
Northern Harrier 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Herring Gull 1
Mourning Dove 8
Red-winged Blackbird 8
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)
Photo Walk - Saturday, February 19, 2010
Mike Hannisian reports: On a sunny but very windy day, seven participants joined us for our weekly photo walk at Cape May Point State Park. As can happen at this time of year, there were relatively few birds. However, we were able to shoot a few, some in flight, as well as discuss how to adjust exposure for shooting against a bright sky. Also, as always, the lighthouse provided photo ops for all of us.
Visions of birds in flight; these Mute Swan and Turkey Vulture shots are just two of the pictures achieved on Saturday's photo walk.
Turkey Point, Cumberland Co. - Sunday, February 20, 2011
Dave Lord tells us: "Eagles and ducks were the prominent birds on this rather breezy morning walk at Turkey Point. In all, nine Bald Eagles were observed, and many of these birds were having interactions. At one point, three mature eagles started to mix it up! Other raptors were low in number, but the ducks took the lion's share of the species accounted for. Great numbers of Gadwall and Green-winged Teal dominated the Maple Avenue Impoundments, along with lesser numbers of Northern Pintail, Ruddy Ducks and Hooded Mergansers."
Location: Glades Wildlife Refuge--Turkey Pt.
Observation date: 2/20/11
Number of species: 27
Snow Goose 800
Canada Goose 35
Mute Swan 18
Gadwall 43
American Black Duck 24
Mallard 12
Northern Pintail 1
Green-winged Teal 75
Lesser Scaup 3
Bufflehead 9
Hooded Merganser 2
Ruddy Duck 10
Great Blue Heron 3
Turkey Vulture 4
Bald Eagle 9
Northern Harrier 4
Red-tailed Hawk 4
Ring-billed Gull 25
Herring Gull 53
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 4
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 8
Northern Mockingbird 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 2
Song Sparrow 8
Dark-eyed Junco 2
Red-winged Blackbird 67
Location: Glades Wildlife Refuge--Turkey Pt.
Observation date: 2/20/11
Number of species: 27
Snow Goose 800
Canada Goose 35
Mute Swan 18
Gadwall 43
American Black Duck 24
Mallard 12
Northern Pintail 1
Green-winged Teal 75
Lesser Scaup 3
Bufflehead 9
Hooded Merganser 2
Ruddy Duck 10
Great Blue Heron 3
Turkey Vulture 4
Bald Eagle 9
Northern Harrier 4
Red-tailed Hawk 4
Ring-billed Gull 25
Herring Gull 53
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 4
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 8
Northern Mockingbird 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 2
Song Sparrow 8
Dark-eyed Junco 2
Red-winged Blackbird 67
Cape May Point State Park - Saturday, February 19, 2011
Karl Lukens writes: Very breezy, but some ducks were on the ponds, mostly American Wigeon and Gadwall, with Mallard and a few Northern Shoveler and Ring-necked Ducks. Passerines were hunkered down out of sight, but a couple of Fox Sparrows gave us a good look. A perched Red-tailed Hawk was nice.
Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 2/19/11
Notes: CMBO Cape May Point Walk-KL,K&RH,TP,+3.Clr,44°,NW15.Number of species: 41
Snow Goose 1 After Walk
Brant 8
Canada Goose 30
Mute Swan 10
Tundra Swan 3
Gadwall 15
American Wigeon 50
Mallard 15
Northern Shoveler 4
Ring-necked Duck 4
Long-tailed Duck 5
Hooded Merganser 5
Ruddy Duck 1 After walk
Pied-billed Grebe 1 after walk - Lily Lake
Northern Gannet 1
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 10
Northern Harrier 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 1 fly-over
Wilson's Snipe 1
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 5
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 2
American Crow 2
Carolina Chickadee 1
Tufted Titmouse 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 5
American Robin 4
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 5
Fox Sparrow 2
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal 4
Red-winged Blackbird 15
Common Grackle 1
House Sparrow 1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Location: Cape May Point SP
Observation date: 2/19/11
Notes: CMBO Cape May Point Walk-KL,K&RH,TP,+3.Clr,44°,NW15.Number of species: 41
Snow Goose 1 After Walk
Brant 8
Canada Goose 30
Mute Swan 10
Tundra Swan 3
Gadwall 15
American Wigeon 50
Mallard 15
Northern Shoveler 4
Ring-necked Duck 4
Long-tailed Duck 5
Hooded Merganser 5
Ruddy Duck 1 After walk
Pied-billed Grebe 1 after walk - Lily Lake
Northern Gannet 1
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 10
Northern Harrier 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 1 fly-over
Wilson's Snipe 1
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 5
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 2
American Crow 2
Carolina Chickadee 1
Tufted Titmouse 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 5
American Robin 4
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 5
Fox Sparrow 2
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal 4
Red-winged Blackbird 15
Common Grackle 1
House Sparrow 1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Sunday Morning at Turkey Point - Sunday, February 13, 2011
Dave Lord writes: "Turkey Point kicked off the 2011 walk season with great views of all the old stand-bys. After surveying the Glades Wildlife Refuge from Turkey Point, we moved on to the newly redesigned Tatt Starr Trail near Fortescue. There we enjoyed pairs of Red-tailed Hawks and Bald Eagles, as well as super looks at Northern Harriers. Some great ducks were to be seen as well, including Buffleheads and Green-winged Teals. Other highlights include seven Boat-tailed Grackles at Fortescue and hundreds of Snow Geese at the Glades and at Newport Landing."
Location: Glades Wildlife Refuge
Observation date: 2/13/11
Number of species: 25
Snow Goose 545
Canada Goose 26
American Black Duck 18
Green-winged Teal 14
Bufflehead 9
Common Merganser 10
Great Blue Heron 5
Bald Eagle 5
Northern Harrier 23
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Herring Gull 18
Downy Woodpecker 4
Carolina Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 2
Brown Creeper 1
Carolina Wren 3
American Robin 7
Northern Mockingbird 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 3
Eastern Towhee 1
Song Sparrow 5
Swamp Sparrow 2
Red-winged Blackbird 21
Boat-tailed Grackle 7
Location: Glades Wildlife Refuge
Observation date: 2/13/11
Number of species: 25
Snow Goose 545
Canada Goose 26
American Black Duck 18
Green-winged Teal 14
Bufflehead 9
Common Merganser 10
Great Blue Heron 5
Bald Eagle 5
Northern Harrier 23
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Herring Gull 18
Downy Woodpecker 4
Carolina Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 2
Brown Creeper 1
Carolina Wren 3
American Robin 7
Northern Mockingbird 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 3
Eastern Towhee 1
Song Sparrow 5
Swamp Sparrow 2
Red-winged Blackbird 21
Boat-tailed Grackle 7
Cape May Pt. State Park - Saturday, February 12, 2011
[3 Tundra Swans found during Saturday morning's CMBO walk at Cape May Pt. State Park (Mute Swan in background). Photo by Roger & Kathy Horn; click to enlarge.]"Despite a chilly breeze at the Cape May Point State Park this morning, Red-winged Blackbirds, Carolina Wrens and Cardinals were calling frequently. Three Tundra Swans in the 1st plover pond seemed to be holding their own, sharing a patch of open water with a few Mute Swans."
-Kathy & Roger Horn
Location: Cape Island--Cape May Point SP (CMPSP)
Observation date: 2/12/11Location: Cape Island--Cape May Point SP (CMPSP)
Number of species: 35
Canada Goose 24
Mute Swan 10
Tundra Swan 3
Gadwall 24
American Wigeon 15
Mallard 5
Surf/Black Scoter 15
Red-throated Loon 2
Great Blue Heron 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 7
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Rock Pigeon 15
Mourning Dove 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 12
Carolina Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 7
Winter Wren 1
American Robin 28
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Song Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed Junco 18
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 18
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Longtails In Love - Saturday, February 12, 2011
Chuck & Mary Jane Slugg report:
Location: Cape May County, NJ, US
Observation date: 2/12/11
Notes: The "Longtails in Love" field trip under the leadership of Chuck & MJ
Slugg, Patty Rourke, Carrie Bell, and Janet Crawford did find longtails as well
as a variety of other ducks as we made our way from Avalon to Cape May, checking
both ocean front and back bays. The weather was cooperative until we had wind
gusts that made it difficult to use either binoculars or scopes. At this point
we called it a day.
Number of species: 41
Brant X
Canada Goose X
Gadwall X
American Black Duck X
Mallard X
Northern Pintail X
Green-winged Teal X
Greater Scaup X
Surf Scoter X
Black Scoter X
Long-tailed Duck X
Bufflehead X
Hooded Merganser X
Red-breasted Merganser X
Ruddy Duck X
Red-throated Loon X
Common Loon X
Horned Grebe X
Great Blue Heron X
Black Vulture X
Turkey Vulture X
Northern Harrier X
Red-tailed Hawk X
Black-bellied Plover X
American Oystercatcher X
Ruddy Turnstone X
Sanderling X
Purple Sandpiper X
Dunlin X
Bonaparte's Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Northern Flicker X
American Crow X
American Robin X
European Starling X
Yellow-rumped Warbler X
Red-winged Blackbird X
Boat-tailed Grackle X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org
Cumberland County Eagle Festival (2/5/11) - Newport Landing
Location: Newport Landing
Observation date: 2/5/11
Notes: Part of Cumberland County Bald Eagle Festival; with J. Crawford, T. Klock, K. Johnson, D. Freiday, and ~40 participants. Overcast, mist/fog for duration. 35-40 deg. F. Light/moderate rain between 12-1pm.
Number of species: 20
Snow Goose 300
American Black Duck 35
Mallard 2
Bufflehead 1
Common Merganser 4
Great Blue Heron 2
Bald Eagle 4 (pair of adults + two second-year birds)
Northern Harrier 3 (one adult male)
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Rough-legged Hawk 1 (imm. light-morph; perched)
Dunlin 225 all fly-overs
Ring-billed Gull 12
Herring Gull 40
Great Black-backed Gull 6
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 10
Song Sparrow 2
Red-winged Blackbird 40
Eastern Meadowlark 3 (in marsh)
Boat-tailed Grackle 25
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Observation date: 2/5/11
Notes: Part of Cumberland County Bald Eagle Festival; with J. Crawford, T. Klock, K. Johnson, D. Freiday, and ~40 participants. Overcast, mist/fog for duration. 35-40 deg. F. Light/moderate rain between 12-1pm.
Number of species: 20
Snow Goose 300
American Black Duck 35
Mallard 2
Bufflehead 1
Common Merganser 4
Great Blue Heron 2
Bald Eagle 4 (pair of adults + two second-year birds)
Northern Harrier 3 (one adult male)
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Rough-legged Hawk 1 (imm. light-morph; perched)
Dunlin 225 all fly-overs
Ring-billed Gull 12
Herring Gull 40
Great Black-backed Gull 6
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 10
Song Sparrow 2
Red-winged Blackbird 40
Eastern Meadowlark 3 (in marsh)
Boat-tailed Grackle 25
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Cape May Point - Saturday, February 5, 2011
From Karl Lukens and company:
Location: Cape May Point
Observation date: 2/5/11
Notes: CMBO Cape May Point Walk-KL,SW,K&RH,+1.Drizzle,38°,NE8. A few more ducks now that the ice has gone from the ponds, including Am. Wigeon, Mallard, Ring-necked, and Hooded merganser. Good look at perched Red-shouldered Hawk and a fly over Peregrine Falcon before the walk at the parking lot.
Location: Cape May Point
Observation date: 2/5/11
Notes: CMBO Cape May Point Walk-KL,SW,K&RH,+1.Drizzle,38°,NE8. A few more ducks now that the ice has gone from the ponds, including Am. Wigeon, Mallard, Ring-necked, and Hooded merganser. Good look at perched Red-shouldered Hawk and a fly over Peregrine Falcon before the walk at the parking lot.
Number of species: 34
Canada Goose 15
Mute Swan 9
American Wigeon 40
Mallard 3
Ring-necked Duck 4
Hooded Merganser 2
Red-throated Loon 5
Great Blue Heron 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Peregrine Falcon 1 parking lot before walk
Herring Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon 6
Mourning Dove 15
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 5
Carolina Chickadee 8
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 heard
Brown Creeper 1
Carolina Wren 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 3
American Robin 10
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 10
Fox Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 10
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 5
House Finch 11
American Goldfinch 1
House Sparrow 5
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Canada Goose 15
Mute Swan 9
American Wigeon 40
Mallard 3
Ring-necked Duck 4
Hooded Merganser 2
Red-throated Loon 5
Great Blue Heron 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Peregrine Falcon 1 parking lot before walk
Herring Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon 6
Mourning Dove 15
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 5
Carolina Chickadee 8
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 heard
Brown Creeper 1
Carolina Wren 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 3
American Robin 10
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 10
Fox Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 10
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 5
House Finch 11
American Goldfinch 1
House Sparrow 5
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Cape May Point State Park - Saturday, January 29 2011
Location: Cape May Point
Observation date: 1/29/11
Notes: CMBO Cape May Point Walk-KL,SW,DL,MH,+1.Clr,30°,W8. Some open
water on the ponds provided good looks at Mallards and Am. Wigeon, with a
few others like Ring-necked, Ruddy, Pintail, Hooded Merganser, and Shoveler.
Saw a perched Red-shouldered Hawk while hearing another, but the highlight
was a young Merlin on a pole plucking a recently caught female Blackbird.
Number of species: 45
Canada Goose 35
Mute Swan 8
Gadwall 1
American Wigeon 40
Mallard 15
Northern Shoveler 15
Northern Pintail 2
Green-winged Teal 8
Ring-necked Duck 3
Hooded Merganser 10
Ruddy Duck 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 /p heard 1 & saw another
Merlin 1 eating female blackbird
Ruddy Turnstone 2
Purple Sandpiper 8
Bonaparte's Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 12
Rock Pigeon 6
Mourning Dove 35
Downy Woodpecker 1 heard
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 5
Carolina Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 1 heard
Carolina Wren 4
Eastern Bluebird 1 heard
American Robin 3
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 3
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 10
Fox Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 10
Dark-eyed Junco 26
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 50
Common Grackle 10
House Finch 2
House Sparrow 15