Photo Walks with Mike Hannisian - Saturday, January 26th, 2013

Our fourth Saturday Photo Walk was greeted by cold weather, frozen ponds, and a light coating of snow. There was a small turnout so we joined forces with the birding walk and went around the town of Cape May Point. We started in the Park looking over the ocean/bay which afforded an uncommon view of the Bunker on a snow covered beach. We also walked by St Peter's by the Sea church and then Lily Lake which, because of its bubblers, was the only open water around. Not Surprisingly, Lily Lake was full of waterfowl.

World War II Bunker [Photo by Mike Hannisian]

St. Peter's church World War II Bunker [Photo by Mike Hannisian]

Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, January 26th, 2013

Cold, breezy, snow cover, and frozen ponds! Lily Lake however has a bubbler system and thus open water and Waterfowl. Nothing unusual, but a few Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Ducks, Pied-billed Grebes, and American Coots with the usual suspects. Interestingly one American Pipit landed on the Lake Lily ice, maybe to get a bit of water? Raptors included a brief glimpse of two hawks sp., and 2 fly-over Bald eagles, probably the locals. Leaders: Karl Lukens, Kathy & Roger Horn, Steve Weis, Catherine Busch, Mike Hannisian, and Nancy Watson.
45 species

Snow Goose  950
Canada Goose  75
Mute Swan  4
Gadwall  50
American Wigeon  20
American Black Duck  1
Mallard  25
Ring-necked Duck  10
Lesser Scaup  4
Black Scoter  1
Long-tailed Duck  4
Hooded Merganser  1
Ruddy Duck  6
Red-throated Loon  2
Pied-billed Grebe  3
Double-crested Cormorant  6
Great Blue Heron  3
Great Egret  1
Turkey Vulture  8
Bald Eagle  2
American Coot  10
Bonaparte's Gull  6
Ring-billed Gull  5
Herring Gull  5
Great Black-backed Gull  1
Eurasian Collared-Dove  1
Mourning Dove  8
Downy Woodpecker  1
Blue Jay  2
American Crow  3
Carolina Chickadee  3
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Carolina Wren  2
American Robin  20
European Starling  15
American Pipit  3
White-throated Sparrow  1
Northern Cardinal  5
Red-winged Blackbird  50
Common Grackle  5
Purple Finch  2
House Finch  10
American Goldfinch  8
House Sparrow  10

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

Bird Walk for All People - Monday, January 21st, 2013

Cold, but pleasant, weather greeted the Walk for All People this morning at the State Park. From the beach we saw Red-throated Loons, Northern Gannets, and both the King and Common Eider. A nice assortment of waterfowl on Bunker and Lighthouse Ponds included Pied-billed Grebes, Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, American Coots, Gadwalls, Ruddy Ducks, American Wigeon, Northern Pintails, Green-winged Teal, and Hooded Mergansers. In the wooded areas Carolina Wrens were out in full force with Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Raptors included Red-shouldered Hawk and Peregrine Falcon. Leaders: Chuck & Mary Jane Slugg, Karl Lukens, Catherine Busch, and Steve Weis.
48 species

Canada Goose  18
Mute Swan  7
Gadwall  30
American Wigeon  40
Mallard  20
Northern Shoveler  20
Northern Pintail  6
Green-winged Teal  2
Ring-necked Duck  2
Lesser Scaup  4
King Eider  1     Off of St. Mary's at Cape May Point with 1st year male Common Eider
Common Eider  1
Long-tailed Duck  4
Hooded Merganser  4
Ruddy Duck  20
Red-throated Loon  3
Common Loon  2
Pied-billed Grebe  7     5 in Bunker Pond; 3 in Lighthouse Pond East/West
Northern Gannet  4
Double-crested Cormorant  5
Great Blue Heron  3
Great Egret  4     1 in Bunker Pond; 3 chasing each other in Lighthouse Pond
Turkey Vulture  12
Red-shouldered Hawk  2
American Coot  35
Ring-billed Gull  4
Herring Gull  6
Great Black-backed Gull  12
Rock Pigeon  3
Mourning Dove  2
Peregrine Falcon  1
Blue Jay  2     heard
American Crow  8
Fish Crow  1
Carolina Chickadee  8
Tufted Titmouse  5
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1     heard
Winter Wren  1
Carolina Wren  6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  3
Northern Mockingbird  3
European Starling  15
Yellow-rumped Warbler  4
Field Sparrow  2
Song Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  1

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

Great Blue Heron catches a big fish for lunch [Photo by Karl Lukens]

Down it goes in one gulp! [Photo by Karl Lukens]

Nothing left but a large lump in the throat! [Photo by Karl Lukens]

Photo Walks with Mike Hannisian - Saturday, January 19th, 2013

This week's Saturday Photo Walk greeted us with bright sun, mild temperatures, and a bit of a wind. The mild temps meant that the water was open and thus there were many water birds around, including American Coot, American Wigeon, and Lesser Scaup. The only other bird that posed for us this week was a second year Northern Mockingbird. Leader: Mike Hannisian.

American Coot [Photo by Mike Hannisian]

Lesser Scaup [Photo by Mike Hannisian]

Northern Mockingbird [Photo by Mike Hannisian]

American Wigeon [Photo by Mike Hannisian]

Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, January 19th, 2013

Cold and very windy. Lots of water fowl on the ponds including Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaup, Ruddy, and 1 female Eurasian Wigeon. Other birds included both White- and Red- breasted Nuthatches, and the continuing Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Leaders: Karl Lukens, Kathy & Roger Horn, Chuck & MJ Slugg, Warren Cairo, Steve Weis, Catherine Busch, and Chris Marks.
50 species

Canada Goose  8
Mute Swan  5
Gadwall  75
Eurasian Wigeon  1     female-bunker pond
American Wigeon  50
Mallard  30
Northern Shoveler  30
Northern Pintail  4
Ring-necked Duck  4
Lesser Scaup  6
Common Eider  1     1st winter
Black Scoter  4
Long-tailed Duck  5
Bufflehead  2
Hooded Merganser  5
Red-breasted Merganser  2
Ruddy Duck  15
Red-throated Loon  2
Common Loon  1
Pied-billed Grebe  4
Double-crested Cormorant  8
Great Blue Heron  3
Black Vulture  8
Turkey Vulture  2
Cooper's Hawk  1
American Coot  75
Ring-billed Gull  2
Herring Gull  3
Rock Pigeon  1
Mourning Dove  4
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  2
Blue Jay  1
American Crow  3
Carolina Chickadee  5
Tufted Titmouse  1
Red-breasted Nuthatch  4
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Carolina Wren  1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  1
American Robin  75
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  10
Cedar Waxwing  10
Song Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  5
Northern Cardinal  4
Red-winged Blackbird  5
Common Grackle  1
House Finch  10
American Goldfinch  2
House Sparrow  10

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

Cedar Waxwings [Photo by Karl Lukens]

Photo Walks with Mike Hannisian - Saturday, January 12th, 2013

As I drove to Cape May Point SP for our weekly Saturday Photo Walk, it started foggy and then cleared to reveal a lovely sunrise. However, as I crossed the canal, the fog reappeared and stayed with us through the walk. True, fog is not always conducive to wildlife photography, but can be nice for shooting other subjects such as last year's cattail seed heads and Phragmites plumes. Likewise, the soft light created by fog can make portrait images more appealing by eliminating shadows, as was the case with a Hermit Thrush this week. We will have to wait until next week to see what the weather will bring for our next Saturday Photo Walk, but I suspect it will present us with some nice photographic options. Leader: Mike Hannisian.

Cattail [Photo by Mike Hannisian]

Hermit Thrush [Photo by Mike Hannisian]

Phragmites [Photo by Mike Hannisian]

Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, January 12th, 2013

The fog and chill seemed to make the birds less active. There were still many ducks to observe including Lesser Scaup, Ruddy, Ring-necked, and Hooded Merganser. An adult Bald Eagle was perch on the Lighthouse Pond blind and when it circled overhead all the ducks got up. A common Eider was at the Coral jetty, and the pines close by had a small flock of Red Crossbills. Northern Mockingbird, Catbird and Brown Thrasher were along the Red Trail. Leaders: Karl Lukens, Kathy & Roger Horn, Warren Cairo, and Steve Weis.
50 species

Canada Goose  15
Mute Swan  8
Gadwall  50
American Wigeon  50
Mallard  40
Northern Pintail  2
Green-winged Teal  5
Ring-necked Duck  3
Lesser Scaup  5
Common Eider  1
Hooded Merganser  1
Ruddy Duck  10
Pied-billed Grebe  2
Double-crested Cormorant  4
Great Blue Heron  3
Bald Eagle  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
American Coot  50
Ring-billed Gull  4
Herring Gull  3
Great Black-backed Gull  2
Rock Pigeon  6
Mourning Dove  15
Great Horned Owl  1     heard
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  3
Blue Jay  5
American Crow  2
Carolina Chickadee  2
Red-breasted Nuthatch  4
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
Carolina Wren  4
American Robin  75
Gray Catbird  1
Northern Mockingbird  2
Brown Thrasher  1
European Starling  15
Cedar Waxwing  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  1
Fox Sparrow  2
Song Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  10
Northern Cardinal  4
Red-winged Blackbird  10
Purple Finch  5
House Finch  10
Red Crossbill  8
American Goldfinch  4
House Sparrow  15

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

Bald Eagle [Photo by Karl Lukens]

Brown Thrasher [Photo by Karl Lukens]

Photo Walk with Mike Hannisian - Saturday, January 5th, 2013

The year's first Saturday Photo Walk was greeted by a clear, cool, breezy day. Although a number of the small water areas were frozen, the larger ones were not. As such, a number of waterfowl were around including American Wigeon. But other photo subjects were also present such as White-tailed Deer and the berries of the Winged Sumac. All in all, I suspect that the rest of the season is likely to be even better. Leader:  Mike Hannisian.

American Widgeon [Photo by Mike Hannisian]

White-tailed Deer [Photo by Mike Hannisian]

Winged Sumac [Photo by Mike Hannisian]

Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, January 5th, 2013

Cold and breezy but some good birds to be found. Lots of ducks including Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked and Ruddy Duck, Green-winged Teal, Red-breasted and Hooded Merganser, and King Eider. At various feeders we found Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, and the 2 continuing Eurasian Collared-Doves. Raptors included Red-shouldered and Cooper's Hawks. Leaders: Karl Lukens, Kathy & Roger Horn, Catherine Busch, Steve Weis, and Chris Marks.
56 species

Brant  2
Canada Goose  20
Mute Swan  7
Gadwall  40
American Wigeon  40
American Black Duck  3
Mallard  30
Northern Shoveler  10
Northern Pintail  10
Green-winged Teal  15
Ring-necked Duck  6
Lesser Scaup  5
King Eider  1     S. Marys Jetty
Hooded Merganser  4
Red-breasted Merganser  3
Ruddy Duck  15
Pied-billed Grebe  7
Double-crested Cormorant  8
Great Blue Heron  5
Great Egret  1
Black Vulture  5
Turkey Vulture  10
Cooper's Hawk  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  2
Red-tailed Hawk  1
American Coot  25
Ring-billed Gull  2
Herring Gull  5
Eurasian Collared-Dove  2
Mourning Dove  12
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
American Crow  2
Carolina Chickadee  3
Tufted Titmouse  2
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
Carolina Wren  4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
American Robin  30
Northern Mockingbird  5
European Starling  15
Cedar Waxwing  10
Yellow-rumped Warbler  3
Field Sparrow  1
Fox Sparrow  3
Song Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  8
Northern Cardinal  6
Red-winged Blackbird  100
Common Grackle  2
Brown-headed Cowbird  10
Purple Finch  4
House Finch  4
Pine Siskin  9
American Goldfinch  5
House Sparrow  30

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

Kick Off Your Year List - January 1st, 2013

For a detailed account of the trip, see View from the Cape.
Leaders:  Mike Crewe, Chuck & Mary Jane Slugg, Catherine Busch, Chris Marks, Kathy & Roger Horn, Janet Crawford, Steve Weiss, Joe Demko, Shaun Bamford, Karl Lukens, and Dave Lord.
76 species

Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Gadwall
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback    Third plover pond
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
King Eider     Continuing off St. Mary's crossover
Surf Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Western Grebe     Continuing bird - near its float in Cape May Harbor
Northern Gannet
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Cormorant    On jetty at Two-Mile Beach
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Black Vulture
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
American Coot
Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Wilson's Snipe   Lighthouse pond near road
Bonaparte's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker    seen by a few
Northern Flicker
Merlin
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch    seen by a few
Winter Wren   seen by a few
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird   seen by a few
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Common Grackle
Boat-tailed Grackle
Purple Finch
House Finch
Red Crossbill (type 3)     Observed feeding on pines on Whildin dune
American Goldfinch    heard
House Sparrow

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