Nightfall at Corbin City - Sunday, February 23rd, 2014

Due to the closure of the dikes, the walk was held at Jake's Landing. We enjoyed several Short-eared Owls, including one dive bombing a Bald Eagle, and displaying American Woodcock. Leaders: Karen Johnson, Janet Crawford, and Chris Marks.
18 species

Snow Goose  100
American Wigeon  1
American Black Duck  12
Northern Pintail  2
Green-winged Teal  20
Great Blue Heron  1
Turkey Vulture  2
Northern Harrier  4
Bald Eagle  1
Red-tailed Hawk  2
Clapper Rail  1
American Woodcock  2
Great Horned Owl  1
Short-eared Owl  2
Marsh Wren  1
Brown Thrasher  2
Northern Cardinal  1
Red-winged Blackbird  20

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

Sunday Morning at Turkey Point - Sunday, February 23rd, 2014

Highlight include a dozen Bald Eagles, hundreds of Green-winged Teal, Common Mergansers and great looks at Eastern Meadowlarks. Leaders: Karen Johnson, Janet Crawford, and Dave Lord.
28 species

Snow Goose  300
Canada Goose  30
Mute Swan  20
American Black Duck  6
Green-winged Teal  600
Ring-necked Duck  6
Bufflehead  50
Hooded Merganser  2
Common Merganser  6
Ruddy Duck  12
Great Blue Heron  5
Turkey Vulture  2
Northern Harrier  7
Bald Eagle  12
Red-tailed Hawk  4
Herring Gull  25
Great Black-backed Gull  1
Great Horned Owl  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  1
Peregrine Falcon  1
Blue Jay  1
Marsh Wren  2
American Robin  7
Yellow-rumped Warbler  6
Song Sparrow  1
Red-winged Blackbird  20
Eastern Meadowlark  3

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

Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, February 22nd, 2014

Early texts led us to head for the third dune crossover for a Snowy Owl, and to CMBO Northwood for a Painted Bunting. Two places in opposite directions, but we tried and were successful! In between we had some nice ducks and passerines including a Horned Lark. Leaders: Karl Lukens, Kathy Horn, and Steve Weis.
45 species

Canada Goose  15
Mute Swan  6
Tundra Swan  2
Gadwall  2
American Wigeon  10
Mallard  20
Northern Shoveler  8
Green-winged Teal  4
Redhead  2
Ring-necked Duck  8
Lesser Scaup  2
Surf Scoter  1
White-winged Scoter  1
Black Scoter  15
Long-tailed Duck  1
Bufflehead  6
Hooded Merganser  3
Red-breasted Merganser  2
Turkey Vulture  1
American Coot  4
Killdeer  8
Ring-billed Gull  2
Herring Gull  2
Great Black-backed Gull  4
Mourning Dove  8
Snowy Owl  1     on Meadows beach and flying to the Cove beach
Belted Kingfisher  1
Northern Flicker  2
Blue Jay  1
American Crow  4     one chasing Snowy owl
Horned Lark  1
Tree Swallow  2
Carolina Chickadee  3
American Robin  30
Northern Mockingbird  3
European Starling  8
Yellow-rumped Warbler  10
White-throated Sparrow  8
Northern Cardinal  6
Painted Bunting  1     Northwood CMBO feeder - imm. male
Red-winged Blackbird  10
Common Grackle  1
House Finch  1
American Goldfinch  1
House Sparrow  5

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

Snowy Owl [Photo by Karl Lukens]

Painted Bunting [Photo by Karl Lukens]

Winter Evening at the Meadows - Friday, February 21st, 2014

A rainy, breezy, evening with the threat of thunder storms but we did manage to find a nice variety of ducks. Also six peenting American Woodcocks and saw one. The surprise however, was when Shaun said there is something across the way that looks like that Murre at Wildwood. We immediately got on it an with the scope said "that's a Dovekie"!! And it was, giving us good looks as sunset and the dark cloudy sky took away our light. Leaders: Karl Lukens, Kathy Horn, Shaun and Cindy Bamford.
16 species

Canada Goose  10
Mute Swan  4
Tundra Swan  2
Gadwall  2
American Wigeon  6
American Black Duck  2
Mallard  20
Northern Shoveler  8
Ring-necked Duck  8
Black Scoter  6
Bufflehead  3
Hooded Merganser  8
Dovekie  1     east of east path on pond!
Mourning Dove  15
American Crow  1
Red-winged Blackbird  9

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

Bird Walk for Beginners - Monday, February 17th, 2014

A very cold day, with a breeze bringing the chill factor down. Started off before the walk with a dozen Snow Buntings landing in the Parking lot and a fly-by Merlin. Other birds of interest were a white belly Bald Eagle, and a Northern Goshawk perched on the Osprey platform on Lighthouse pond. Leaders: Karl Lukens, Warren Cairo, Kathy Horn, Catherine Busch, and Chris Marks.
40 species

Canada Goose  50
Mute Swan  4
Gadwall  8
Mallard  15
Northern Shoveler  10
Lesser Scaup  1
Black Scoter  5
Long-tailed Duck  1
Hooded Merganser  2
Black Vulture  2
Turkey Vulture  3
Northern Goshawk  1
Bald Eagle  1
American Coot  2
Ring-billed Gull  4
Herring Gull  1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  4
Mourning Dove  4
Downy Woodpecker  1
Merlin  1     before start
American Crow  3
Carolina Chickadee  2
American Robin  40
Northern Mockingbird  3
European Starling  25
Cedar Waxwing  2
Snow Bunting  12     before start birds in parking lot!
Yellow-rumped Warbler  10
Chipping Sparrow  1
Fox Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  4
White-throated Sparrow  8
Dark-eyed Junco  10
Northern Cardinal  5
Red-winged Blackbird  5
Common Grackle  3
Brown-headed Cowbird  1
House Finch  8
American Goldfinch  3
House Sparrow  10

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

Sunday Morning at Turkey Point - Sunday, February 16th, 2014

Despite a bitterly cold, windy day, we enjoyed a nice assortment of passerines, including two American Tree Sparrows, eight Bald Eagles, two Red-shouldered Hawks, courting Red-tailed Hawks and eight Northern Harriers. Leaders: Karen Johnson, Janet Crawford, Dave Lord, and Chris Marks.
30 species

Snow Goose  20
Mute Swan  20
American Black Duck  10
Bufflehead  5
Hooded Merganser  2
Common Merganser  8
Ruddy Duck  1
Great Blue Heron  11
Turkey Vulture  2
Northern Harrier  8
Bald Eagle  8
Red-shouldered Hawk  2
Red-tailed Hawk  2
Herring Gull  30
Great Black-backed Gull  2
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  2
Blue Jay  1
American Crow  3
Hermit Thrush  5
American Robin  3
Brown Thrasher  1
American Pipit  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler  12
American Tree Sparrow  2
Song Sparrow  2
Swamp Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  7
Red-winged Blackbird  2
Eastern Meadowlark  2

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

Longtails in Love - Saturday, Februrary 15th, 2014

Despite the foul weather, we had a great day. We enjoyed the haunting calls of hundreds of Black Scoter, and saw Longtail Ducks in several locations. Other highlights include Harlequin Duck, Snowy Owl (distant), Common Murre, Red-necked Grebes, Common Goldeneyes, Purple Sandpipers, and White-winged Scoters. We had 44 total species, with 18 species of ducks. Leaders: Shaun Bamford, Cindy Bamford, and Janet Crawford.

Avalon--8th St. Jetty

Surf Scoter  50
White-winged Scoter  5
Black Scoter  500
Long-tailed Duck  100
Red-throated Loon  1
Semipalmated Plover  2
Dunlin  60
Purple Sandpiper  60
Herring Gull  2
House Finch  40

Avalon, 444 21st Street

Brant  80
American Black Duck  2
Harlequin Duck  1
Bufflehead  3
Hooded Merganser  2
Double-crested Cormorant  1
Herring Gull (American)  12
Great Black-backed Gull  1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  4
American Robin  5
Yellow-rumped Warbler  1
House Sparrow  1

Avalon, 313 80th Street

Brant  200
Mallard  3
Lesser Scaup  6
White-winged Scoter  1
Long-tailed Duck  1
Bufflehead  40
Red-breasted Merganser  20
Red-throated Loon  1
Common Loon  6
Horned Grebe  2
Red-necked Grebe  3     continuing birds
Mourning Dove  1
European Starling  6
Boat-tailed Grackle  13

Stone Harbor, 1 95th Street

Surf Scoter  15
Black Scoter  40
Long-tailed Duck  18
Sanderling  4
Dunlin  100
Herring Gull  10

Stone Harbor, 351 96th Street  No. 311

Mallard  4
Ring-necked Duck  2
Greater Scaup  20
Lesser Scaup  6
Long-tailed Duck  7
Bufflehead  12
Common Goldeneye  2
Red-breasted Merganser  25
Ruddy Duck  25
Common Loon  1
Red-necked Grebe  3     continuing birds
Great Blue Heron  2

Stone Harbor Point

Brant  2
Common Loon  5
Dunlin  5
Herring Gull  10
Snowy Owl  1     continuing  bird
Yellow-rumped Warbler  1
Song Sparrow  1
Dark-eyed Junco  1

Nummy Island

Brant  40
Red-breasted Merganser  2
Common Loon  2
Horned Grebe  1
Herring Gull  20
Great Black-backed Gull  1

Sunset Lake

Brant  20
Bufflehead  12
Horned Grebe  1
Common Murre  1     continuing bird.
Herring Gull  4

Cape May NWR--Two Mile Tract--Coast Guard Ponds

Canada Goose  4
Gadwall  50
American Black Duck  5
Northern Pintail  50
Bufflehead  10

Ocean Drive--BreezeeLee Marina

Bufflehead  8
Common Goldeneye  3
Red-breasted Merganser  6
Horned Grebe  2
Herring Gull  8

Cape Island--CMPSP--Lighthouse Pond

Mute Swan  2
American Wigeon  2
Northern Shoveler  3

Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, February 15th, 2014

Weather not too bad. Even though a few rain drops were falling, there was no wind and the temperature was around 40. Birds were relatively scarce even around the regular feeders. More open water allowed for more ducks including Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Duck, and Hooded Mergansers. Leaders: Karl Lukens, Kathy & Roger Horn.
42 species

Canada Goose  8
Mute Swan  4
Gadwall  2
American Wigeon  9
Mallard  15
Lesser Scaup  4
Surf Scoter  1
Black Scoter  8
Long-tailed Duck  1
Bufflehead  1
Hooded Merganser  3
Ruddy Duck  1
Red-throated Loon  4
Horned Grebe  2
Great Blue Heron  1
Turkey Vulture  1
Cooper's Hawk  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
American Coot  2
Bonaparte's Gull  8
Ring-billed Gull  4
Herring Gull  2
Mourning Dove  4
American Crow  3
Carolina Chickadee  1
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
Carolina Wren  1
American Robin  30
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  15
Cedar Waxwing  7
Yellow-rumped Warbler  6
Eastern Towhee  1
Fox Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  8
Dark-eyed Junco  13
Northern Cardinal  4
Red-winged Blackbird  1
Common Grackle  3
House Finch  15
House Sparrow  1

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

Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, February 8th, 2014

A chilly, cloudy morning with a light breeze and most ponds frozen. Some ducks on Lily Lake including one American Wigeon, one Hooded Merganser, and one Ring-necked. Lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers, American Robins, and European Starlings, with a few White-throated Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, and Juncos. Off-shore was rather quiet but a few Red-throated Loons were close. The continuing Black-capped Chickadee was present at the Lincoln Avenue feeder. Leaders: Karl Lukens, Kathy & Roger Horn, and Steve Weis.
37 species

Mute Swan  3
Gadwall  15
American Wigeon  1
American Black Duck  1
Mallard  15
Black Scoter  2
Hooded Merganser  1
Red-throated Loon  6
Great Blue Heron  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Bald Eagle  1
Ring-billed Gull  5
Herring Gull  3
Great Black-backed Gull  1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  4
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  1
Blue Jay  4
American Crow  2
Carolina Chickadee  4
Black-capped Chickadee  1     feeder Lincoln ave.
Carolina Wren  1
American Robin  50
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  75
Yellow-rumped Warbler  15
Fox Sparrow  2
Song Sparrow  5
White-throated Sparrow  8
Dark-eyed Junco  4
Northern Cardinal  6
Red-winged Blackbird  5
Common Grackle  3
Brown-headed Cowbird  5
House Finch  10
American Goldfinch  2
House Sparrow  15

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

Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, February 1st, 2014

A "mild" 25 degrees to start and with no wind. With frozen ponds water fowl are scarce, but some open water on Lily Lake produced Gadwall, Mallard, Northern Shovelers, Ring-necked Ducks, a couple of American Coots and a bright drake Eurasian Wigeon. Close by the Coral Ave. jetty were a Black and Surf Scoter and two White-winged Scoters. Other birds of interest were a "strutting" American Woodcock, and an Eastern Towhee. We finished at the parking lot with a good look at an adult male Northern Harrier (Gray Ghost). Leaders: Karl Lukens, Steve Weis, Warren Cairo, Catherine Busch, and Chris Marks.
44 species

Canada Goose  25
Mute Swan  2
Gadwall  30
Eurasian Wigeon  1     drake
Mallard  10
Northern Shoveler  15
Ring-necked Duck  3
Surf Scoter  1
White-winged Scoter  2
Black Scoter  1
Long-tailed Duck  1
Red-throated Loon  3
Great Blue Heron  1
Turkey Vulture  1
Northern Harrier  1     Gray Ghost
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
American Coot  2
American Woodcock  1
Ring-billed Gull  5
Herring Gull  1
Great Black-backed Gull  2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  5
Mourning Dove  5
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Blue Jay  7
American Crow  2
Carolina Chickadee  5
Golden-crowned Kinglet  1
American Robin  40
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  50
Yellow-rumped Warbler  15
Eastern Towhee  1
Fox Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  3
White-throated Sparrow  8
Dark-eyed Junco  1
Northern Cardinal  4
Red-winged Blackbird  50
Common Grackle  2
Brown-headed Cowbird  2
House Finch  15
American Goldfinch  5
House Sparrow  5

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

American Woodcock [Photo by Karl Lukens]

Eurasian Wigeon [Photo by Karl Lukens]

Surf Scoter and Black Scoter [Photo by Karl Lukens]

White-winged Scoter [Photo by Karl Lukens]