Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, February 18th, 2017

It felt more like spring than winter this morning and it seemed the birds thought so, too; flocks were moving around the Point in pleasantly noisy groups. The Point has many native trees and shrubs, and Cedar Waxwings and American Robins were taking full advantage, busily traveling from tree to tree, stripping the branches of berries. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, regular winter visitors here, were busy making the rounds at their sap wells. Sapsuckers are "famous", among birders and birds alike, for these sap wells which provide food in the form of both sap and attracted insects. Many species, including warblers and hummingbirds, come to these sap rings to feed. Look for them in the large trees in the circle at the Point. Leaders: Kathy Horn, Roger Horn, Karl Lukens, Kyle Chelius, & Michael McCabe.

41 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  12
Mute Swan  4
Gadwall  3
American Wigeon  6
Mallard (Northern)  14
Northern Shoveler  2
Green-winged Teal (American)  2
Ring-necked Duck  6
Surf/Black Scoter  15
Bufflehead  4
Hooded Merganser  2
Red-breasted Merganser  2
Ruddy Duck  1
Northern Gannet  1
Double-crested Cormorant  1
Turkey Vulture  3
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Northern)  1
Killdeer  5
Herring Gull (American)  12
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  1
Mourning Dove  12
Belted Kingfisher  1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  2
Blue Jay  4
Tree Swallow  5
Carolina Chickadee  3
Tufted Titmouse  3
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
Carolina Wren  1
American Robin  28
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  6
Cedar Waxwing  8
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  8
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  7
White-throated Sparrow  6
Northern Cardinal  4
Red-winged Blackbird  2
Common Grackle  6
Brown-headed Cowbird  13
House Finch  5
House Sparrow  6

Common Grackle [Photo by Roger Horn]

Cedar Waxwing [Photo by Roger Horn]

Red-bellied Woodpecker [Photo by Roger Horn]

Killdeer [Photo by Roger Horn]