Sunday Morning at Turkey Point - Sunday, February 26th, 2012

Ten Bald Eagles showed to spice up a chilly morning, and the migrant duck show at the Maple Ave. Impoundments was fantastic. Leaders: Karen Johnson, Janet Crawford, and Dave Lord.
36 species

Snow Goose  378
Canada Goose  9
Mute Swan  7
Gadwall  4
American Wigeon  2
American Black Duck  12
Mallard  3
Northern Shoveler  2
Northern Pintail  28
Green-winged Teal  389
Bufflehead  35
Common Merganser  10
Great Blue Heron  3
Bald Eagle  10
Northern Harrier  8
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Black-bellied Plover  1
Killdeer  1
Greater Yellowlegs  6
Lesser Yellowlegs  14
Dunlin  9
Herring Gull  26
Great Black-backed Gull  3
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Fish Crow  8
Carolina Chickadee  4
Tufted Titmouse  2
Carolina Wren  3
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  4
Swamp Sparrow  4
White-throated Sparrow  7
Northern Cardinal  4
Red-winged Blackbird  13
House Finch  6

Brigantine and Mott's Creek - Saturday, February 25th, 2012

Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive

Brutal winds didn't bother the ducks in the impoundments at Brigantine. Lot's of Green-winged Teal and Northern Pintail ducks; Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons played around in the 40mph+ gusts. Leaders; Karen Johnson, Janet Crawford, Chuck and Mary Jane Slugg, Kathy and Roger Horn, and Dave Lord.
44 species

Snow Goose 3200
Brant 300
Canada Goose 120
Mute Swan 10
Tundra Swan 22
Gadwall 11
American Wigeon 175
American Black Duck 70
Mallard 12
Northern Shoveler 30
Northern Pintail 125
Green-winged Teal 140
Ring-necked Duck 16
Lesser Scaup 17
Bufflehead 13
Hooded Merganser 8
Common Merganser 2
Red-breasted Merganser 10
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Great Blue Heron 10
Great Egret 2
Bald Eagle 6
Northern Harrier 16
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Peregrine Falcon 2
Killdeer 2
Dunlin 15
Ring-billed Gull 12
Herring Gull 18
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Mourning Dove 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 2
Eastern Bluebird 9
Hermit Thrush 4
American Robin 28
Yellow-rumped Warbler 6
Savannah Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 6
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 20
House Finch 9 

Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Motts Creek (on the deck of Mott's Creek Bar)
11 species

Canada Goose 8
American Black Duck 12
Common Merganser 1
Red-breasted Merganser 2
Great Blue Heron 2
Bald Eagle 3
Northern Harrier 13
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Herring Gull 9
Red-winged Blackbird 9

Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, February 25th, 2012

Cold and very windy! Birds "honkered in". Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallards, with Coots on Lily Lake and Green-winged Teal on Bunker Pond. A couple of fly-by Hawks - Cooper's and Sharp-shinned. The three Eurasian Collared-Doves were at Yale and Coral Aves., and 3 Tree Swallows over south end of Lily Lake. Leaders: Karl Lukens, Kathy and Roger Horn, and Steve Weis.
37 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  15
Mute Swan  6
Gadwall  15
American Wigeon  15
Mallard  20
Green-winged Teal  40
Black Scoter  10
scoter sp.  25
Red-throated Loon  1
Northern Gannet  2
Double-crested Cormorant  1
Great Blue Heron  1
Turkey Vulture  8
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Cooper's Hawk  1
American Coot  25
Ring-billed Gull  1
Herring Gull  25
Great Black-backed Gull  3
Eurasian Collared-Dove  3     Coral & Yale Aves.
Mourning Dove  15
Blue Jay  2
American Crow  5
Tree Swallow  3
Carolina Chickadee  4
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
Carolina Wren  2
American Robin  15
Northern Mockingbird  4
European Starling  10
Yellow-rumped Warbler  8
White-throated Sparrow  8
Northern Cardinal  5
Red-winged Blackbird  5
Common Grackle  15
House Finch  8
American Goldfinch  1
House Sparrow  25

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
 

Bird Walk for Beginners - February 20th, 2012

The President's Day Walk for Beginners enjoyed a variety of birds and nice, but chilly, weather. Highlights of the walk include a Nashville Warbler, ducks such as Gadwall, American Wigeon, Hooded Mergansers, and Ring-necks, Coot, Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks, Killdeer, and Eurasian Collared Doves. Leaders were Chuck & Mary Jane Slugg, Karl Lukens, Catherine Busch, and Warren Cairo. 44 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  20
Mute Swan  14
Gadwall  26
American Wigeon  24
Mallard  10
Ring-necked Duck  8
Lesser Scaup  4
Black Scoter  30
Hooded Merganser  4
Red-throated Loon  1
Double-crested Cormorant  2
Great Blue Heron  3
Black Vulture  2
Turkey Vulture  6
Accipiter sp.  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  3
American Coot  40
Killdeer  2
Ring-billed Gull  50
Herring Gull  25
Great Black-backed Gull  2
Rock Pigeon  12
Eurasian Collared-Dove  3     Whilldin & Lincoln Ave in Cape May Point
Mourning Dove  10
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Blue Jay  4
American Crow  15
Carolina Chickadee  8
Tufted Titmouse  2     heard only
Carolina Wren  4     heard only
American Robin  10
Gray Catbird  1
Northern Mockingbird  3
European Starling  40
Nashville Warbler  1     Cape May Point State Park on Red Trail before duck blind
Yellow-rumped Warbler  10
Song Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  3
Dark-eyed Junco  9
Northern Cardinal  3
Red-winged Blackbird  5
Common Grackle  15
House Finch  4
House Sparrow  8

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org/content/nj)



Sunday Morning at Turkey Point - February 19th, 2012

CMBO's inaugural Sunday Morning at Turkey Point walk. Lot's of Northern Harriers up and about, along with the token eagles hunting the various ducks filling the Glades Wildlife Refuge Area. Leaders: Janet Crawford, Tony Klock, and Dave Lord.
34 species

Snow Goose  600
Canada Goose  11
Mute Swan  18
American Black Duck  8
Mallard  4
Green-winged Teal  70
Bufflehead  12
Great Blue Heron  3
Great Egret  1
Turkey Vulture  8
Bald Eagle  5
Northern Harrier  23
Red-tailed Hawk  2
Peregrine Falcon  1
Herring Gull  18
Great Black-backed Gull  3
Mourning Dove  1
Great Horned Owl  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker  1
Blue Jay  2
American Crow  6
Carolina Chickadee  2
Tufted Titmouse  6
Carolina Wren  4
Northern Mockingbird  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler  8
Eastern Towhee  1
Song Sparrow  3
Swamp Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  10
Northern Cardinal  2
Red-winged Blackbird  18
Common Grackle  2

Longtails in Love - Saturday, February 18th, 2012

The Longtails in Love program started in Avalon, continued south along the ocean and bay, and ended at Lake Lily in Cape May Point. Although we looked at all things feathered, we concentrated on ducks and water birds. Highlights of the species sighted included Long-tailed Ducks, Black and Surf Scoters, many Red-throated and Common Loons, Great Cormorants, Horned Grebes, and assorted shorebirds. The weather was mild and sunny with a light wind that increased toward the end of the day. Leaders: Chuck & Mary Jane Slugg, Patty Rourke, Catherine Busch, Janet Crawford, Marc & Lynne Breslow.
58 species

Brant  1500
Cackling Goose  1     Lake Lily in Cape May Point
Canada Goose  150
Mute Swan  8
Gadwall  6
American Wigeon  85
American Black Duck  40
Mallard  18
Blue-winged Teal  2     Cape May Point State Park Bunker Pond
Northern Shoveler  8
Northern Pintail  16
Green-winged Teal  4
Ring-necked Duck  12
Lesser Scaup  25
Surf Scoter  10
Black Scoter  20
Long-tailed Duck  10
Bufflehead  100
Common Goldeneye  1
Hooded Merganser  20
Red-breasted Merganser  24
Ruddy Duck  6
Red-throated Loon  40
Common Loon  40     They were everywhere!
Pied-billed Grebe  3
Horned Grebe  10
Northern Gannet  10
Double-crested Cormorant  3
Great Cormorant  3
Great Blue Heron  3
Great Egret  2
Snowy Egret  1     Avalon at 5th Ave. and the back bay
Turkey Vulture  24
Bald Eagle  1
Northern Harrier  3
Peregrine Falcon  1
American Coot  40
Black-bellied Plover  6
American Oystercatcher  25
Ruddy Turnstone  1
Red Knot  6
Sanderling  12
Purple Sandpiper  12
Dunlin  200
Long-billed Dowitcher  2     Stone Harbor 95th St. beach
Ring-billed Gull  X
Herring Gull  X
Great Black-backed Gull  X
Rock Pigeon  25
Mourning Dove  12
American Crow  12
Carolina Chickadee  1
American Robin  10
European Starling  50
Yellow-rumped Warbler  5
Common Grackle  4
Boat-tailed Grackle  12
House Sparrow  8

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org/content/nj)

Photo Walk - Saturday, February 18th, 2012

Today's Photo Walk was greeted with clear blue skies and unseasonably mild temperatures. Although there were not a lot of birds around today, it is after all still mid-February, there were enough to keep us busy. American Coots were present in good numbers and often come close if you stand quiet and still for a while. The same is true for the numerous but nonetheless striking Mallards and always present Mute Swans. And nothing says a bad hair day as well as a female merganser. However, to top off the day was a sighting of that once so much more common rara aves Don Freiday. All in all, it was another very nice day to be afield with a camera in Cape May. Leader: Mike Hannisian








Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, February 18th, 2012

Good weather and nice variety of ducks on Lake Lily, Lighthouse Pond and off the jetties. Ducks included Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, and Ring-necked. Hooded and Red-breasted Mergansers were seen as well. Among the "rareties" were the 3 lingering Eurasian Collared-Doves, and a continuing Glossy Ibis. Raptors included Red-shouldered, Red-tailed, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, and a Northern Harrier. Leaders: Karl Lukens, Kathy & Roger Horn, Steve Weis.
52 species

Brant (Atlantic)  4
Canada Goose  15
Mute Swan  4
Gadwall  15
American Wigeon  15
Mallard  10
Green-winged Teal  1
Ring-necked Duck  6
Surf Scoter  4
Black Scoter  20
Hooded Merganser  4
Red-breasted Merganser  1
Red-throated Loon  8
Northern Gannet  3
Great Cormorant  1
Great Blue Heron  1
Glossy Ibis  1
Black Vulture  10
Turkey Vulture  25
Northern Harrier  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Cooper's Hawk  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
American Coot  30
Ruddy Turnstone  1
Dunlin   12
Herring Gull  75
Great Black-backed Gull  1
Rock Pigeon  4
Eurasian Collared-Dove  3
Mourning Dove  12
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  2
Blue Jay  8
American Crow  2
Carolina Chickadee  5
Tufted Titmouse  1
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
Carolina Wren  3
American Robin  10
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  15
Yellow-rumped Warbler  5
Song Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  8
Northern Cardinal  5
Red-winged Blackbird  15
Common Grackle  10
House Finch  6
American Goldfinch  8
House Sparrow  20


This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Photo Walk - Saturday, February 11th 2012

The weather was hardly what many nature photographers wish for as it was a combination of light rain, light snow, and heavy clouds. However, the small number of participants present were able to see that such seemingly undesirable weather conditions did not preclude some interesting photographic opportunities. While I normally carry a long lens on our Saturday Photo Walks, this week I carried only a 28-105mm zoom, which is much closer to the lens sizes of most participants. This meant that we had to look more closely as well as keeping an eye out for new ways to shoot that ever-present Cape May subject, the lighthouse. All in all, it was a rather satisfying day.

Mike Hannisian
 




 

Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, February 11th, 2012

Light Rain, later with some snow and cold. Lots of House Sparrows at the usual feeder on Harvard Avenue, but no Dickcissel this morning. Found two Eurasian Collared Doves together at Lincoln & Whilldin Avenues and the third a little ways away from the two. Usual ducks on Lily and Lighthouse. The latter did have a Glossy Ibis feeding across from the blind as seen from the road. Probably the same bird seen earlier in the week at the Meadows.
35 species

Canada Goose 20
Mute Swan 5
Gadwall 30
American Wigeon 20
Mallard 25
Ring-necked Duck 6
Black Scoter 10
Long-tailed Duck 8
Hooded Merganser 4
Red-throated Loon 4
Northern Gannet 2
Great Egret 1
Glossy Ibis 1
American Coot 20
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 30
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Rock Pigeon 3
Eurasian Collared-Dove 3
Mourning Dove 10
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 5
Carolina Wren 1
American Robin 50
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 30
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
White-throated Sparrow 20
Dark-eyed Junco 20
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Common Grackle 30
House Finch 5
American Goldfinch 6
House Sparrow 30

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (
http://ebird.org)

Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, February 4th, 2012

Found the three Eurasian Collared Doves but the Dickcissel was not with the House Sparrows this morning. Usual ducks on Lily Lake as well as the female Common Goldeneye. A very close adult Bald Eagle flew over our heads and put all the ducks in the air. One American Oystercatcher and several Ruddy Turnstones were on the jetty at the end of Whilldin Avenue.
46 species

Canada Goose 30
Mute Swan 6
Gadwall 20
American Wigeon 20
Mallard 20
Green-winged Teal 10
Ring-necked Duck 2
Black Scoter 20
Common Goldeneye 1
Hooded Merganser 4
Northern Gannet 1
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Turkey Vulture 3
Bald Eagle 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot 100
American Oystercatcher 1
Ruddy Turnstone 4
Ring-billed Gull 3
Herring Gull 35
Great Black-backed Gull 3
Rock Pigeon 2
Eurasian Collared-Dove 3
Mourning Dove 10
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 5
Tree Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
Carolina Wren 5
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
American Robin 200
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 15
Yellow-rumped Warbler 15
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 10
Dark-eyed Junco 5
Northern Cardinal 6
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 5
Brown-headed Cowbird 15
House Finch 10
House Sparrow 20

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (
http://ebird.org)

Photo Walk - Saturday, February 4th 2012

Although the sun was elusive, the five of us on this week's CMBO Saturday Photo Walk at Cape May Point had a good time with some cooperative subjects. Specifically, An adult Bald Eagle proved to be a very cooperative subject as it perched at the east end of Bunker Pond. At this time of year, diversity is still low, but there are almost always certain things that can be found. (It is, after all, Cape May.) This week these included Mute Swan, Mallard, and Northern Mockingbird.
 



 

Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, January 28th, 2012

Good variety of ducks on Lily Lake and Lighthouse pond, including Redhead, Common Goldeneye and both Scaups. A flock of seven Snow Buntings circled the State Park parking lot several times threatening to land at one of the puddles for water.
45 species

Canada Goose 30
Mute Swan 6
Gadwall 15
American Wigeon 25
Mallard 15
Redhead 1
Greater Scaup 2
Lesser Scaup 2
Surf Scoter 2
Black Scoter 30
Common Goldeneye 1
Hooded Merganser 1
Red-breasted Merganser 2
Red-throated Loon 8
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 8
Turkey Vulture 5
Cooper's Hawk 1
American Coot 50
Ruddy Turnstone 3
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 25
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Rock Pigeon 6
Eurasian Collared-Dove 3
Mourning Dove 10
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 8
American Crow 5
Carolina Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 1
Carolina Wren 3
American Robin 15
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 25
Snow Bunting 7
Yellow-rumped Warbler 10
White-throated Sparrow 10
Dark-eyed Junco 15
Northern Cardinal 5
Red-winged Blackbird 15
Common Grackle 1
House Finch 10
House Sparrow 25

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (
http://ebird.org)