Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, February 23rd, 2019

Woodpiles can be magical if you're a birdwatcher. Birds hide in them, perch on them, feed near them, sing from them.Take the one in back of Northwood, for instance. Most weeks in winter we make a stop there during the Saturday morning walk. Today two Carolina Wrens, often such skulkers, were perched on top if it, heads thrown back and throats visibly vibrating, singing loudly as only Carolina Wrens can. Seven White-throated Sparrows arranged themselves on the limbs below, looking for all the world like an appreciative audience.

Leaders: Kathy Horn Roger Horn
46 species

Canada Goose  12
Mute Swan  7
Tundra Swan  11     Continuing
Northern Shoveler  8
Gadwall  50
American Wigeon  15
Mallard  14
Green-winged Teal (American)  2
Ring-necked Duck  4
Surf Scoter  6
Bufflehead  10
Hooded Merganser  2
Red-breasted Merganser  1
Ruddy Duck  3
Mourning Dove  8
American Coot (Red-shielded)  1
Ring-billed Gull  5
Herring Gull (American)  2
Northern Gannet  11
Black Vulture  6
Turkey Vulture  1
Bald Eagle  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Downy Woodpecker (Eastern)  3
Blue Jay  6
American Crow  3
Carolina Chickadee  4
Tufted Titmouse  3
White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern)  1
Carolina Wren (Northern)  6
American Robin  16
Brown Thrasher  1
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  9
House Finch  2
American Goldfinch  2
Fox Sparrow (Red)  1
White-throated Sparrow  9
Song Sparrow  3
Red-winged Blackbird  8
Common Grackle (Purple)  4
Northern Cardinal  5
House Sparrow  9

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

Bird Walk for Beginners - Monday, February 18, 2019

29 species

Canada Goose  14
Mute Swan  6
Tundra Swan  2
Northern Shoveler  8
Gadwall  36
American Wigeon  38
Mallard  9
Green-winged Teal  1
Canvasback  1
Ring-necked Duck  16
Black Scoter  12
Bufflehead  11
Hooded Merganser  4
Ruddy Duck  6
Mourning Dove  8
American Coot  1
Ring-billed Gull  2
Red-throated Loon  2
Great Blue Heron  3
Black Vulture  6
Turkey Vulture  4
Carolina Chickadee  2
Carolina Wren  3
American Robin  1
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  15
Common Grackle  26
Northern Cardinal  1
House Sparrow  5

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

Sunday Morning at Turkey Point – Sunday, February 17, 2019

Glades Wildlife Refuge--Turkey Pt., Cumberland, New Jersey, US

Feb 17, 2019 7:53 AM - 9:01 AM
13 species

Canada Goose  2
Mute Swan  3
Mallard  2
American Black Duck  3
Lesser Scaup  3
Bufflehead  30
Common Merganser  2
Red-breasted Merganser  4
Ring-billed Gull  5
Herring Gull  12
Northern Harrier  4
Bald Eagle  11
American Robin  5

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

Glades Wildlife Refuge--Turkey Pt., Cumberland, New Jersey, US
Feb 17, 2019 9:43 AM - 9:58 AM
10 species

Canada Goose  22
Mallard  14
Bufflehead  2
Ruddy Duck  9
Wild Turkey  1
Turkey Vulture  2
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Blue Jay  2
American Robin  1
White-throated Sparrow  1

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

Newport Landing, Cumberland, New Jersey, US
Feb 17, 2019 10:14 AM - 10:29 AM

6 species

American Black Duck  1
Turkey Vulture  2
Northern Harrier  1
Bald Eagle  6
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Red-winged Blackbird  20

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

Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, February 16th, 2019

Northern Gannets have really started to move this last week, some of them travelling close to shore as they head north. Gannets are very large seabirds that only come to land to breed on rocky cliffs and islands. Most of those we saw today were adults, with long black-tipped white wings, flying in long, arced glides over the water. Lighthouse Pond still holds many overwintering ducks, including a single canvasback today. Berries aren't as plentiful as they were earlier in the season, but a flock of Cedar Waxwings landed directly overhead, in search of fruit remaining on the holly and cedars.

Leaders: Kathy Horn, Roger Horn, Kyle Chelius, Michael McCabe
48 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  18
Mute Swan  2
Northern Shoveler  8
Gadwall  35
American Wigeon  10
Mallard  24
Green-winged Teal (American)  2
Canvasback  1
Ring-necked Duck  15
Surf Scoter  20
Black Scoter  5
Long-tailed Duck  9
Bufflehead  4
Hooded Merganser  5
Ruddy Duck  4
Mourning Dove  18
Killdeer  1
Sanderling  5
Ring-billed Gull  8
Herring Gull (American)  2
Northern Gannet  17
Black Vulture  11
Turkey Vulture  1
Bald Eagle  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Downy Woodpecker (Eastern)  1
Blue Jay  4
American Crow  2
Carolina Chickadee  3
Tufted Titmouse  1
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern)  2
Carolina Wren (Northern)  8
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  75
Northern Mockingbird  3
European Starling  25
Cedar Waxwing  15
House Finch  4
American Goldfinch  12
White-throated Sparrow  4
Song Sparrow  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged)  40
Common Grackle  20
Common Grackle (Purple)  20
Northern Cardinal  6
House Sparrow  14

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

Cedar Waxwings photo by Kathy Horn

Sunday Morning at Turkey Point - Sunday, February 10, 2019

Glades Wildlife Refuge--Turkey Pt., Cumberland, New Jersey, US
14 species

Mute Swan  3
Gadwall  20
American Black Duck  60
Northern Pintail  7
Green-winged Teal  200
Bufflehead  76
Hooded Merganser  1
Common Merganser  7
Ring-billed Gull  5
Herring Gull  75
Great Blue Heron  1
Bald Eagle  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Red-winged Blackbird  102

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

Bivalve--High St, Cumberland, New Jersey, US
12 species

Mute Swan  3
Greater Scaup  250     Careful estinate
Lesser Scaup  10
Long-tailed Duck  24     Actual count
Bufflehead  50
Common Goldeneye  2
Ring-billed Gull  X
Herring Gull  X
Great Black-backed Gull  X
Northern Harrier  1
Belted Kingfisher  1
European Starling  50

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

Blue Hole, Cumberland, New Jersey, US
2 species

Merlin  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  2

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

Lontails in Love - Saturday, February 9, 2019

Avalon--8th St. Jetty (Avalon Seawatch 2015-present), Cape May, New Jersey, US
9 species

Brant  63
Harlequin Duck  1
Black Scoter  20
Long-tailed Duck  30
Dunlin  500
Purple Sandpiper  5
Herring Gull  7
Red-throated Loon  1
Common Loon  3

US-New Jersey-Avalon-704 7th St - 39.116x-74.721, Cape May, New Jersey, US
7 species

Brant  400
Long-tailed Duck  10
Bufflehead  10
Hooded Merganser  6
Herring Gull  X
Great Black-backed Gull  19
Boat-tailed Grackle  20

Ocean Dr at 53RD St No. , 285 54th Street, Cape May, New Jersey, US
8 species

Brant  100
Lesser Scaup  24
Bufflehead  35
Common Goldeneye  1
Red-breasted Merganser  1
Herring Gull  24
Turkey Vulture  1
European Starling  1

Stone Harbor--Municipal Marina (80th-81st streets), Cape May, New Jersey, US
5 species

Brant  500
Long-tailed Duck  24
Bufflehead  16
Red-breasted Merganser  20
Herring Gull  5

Stone Harbor, 1 95th Street, Cape May, New Jersey, US
6 species

Surf Scoter  1
Black Scoter  5
Long-tailed Duck  3
Horned Grebe  1
Sanderling  50
Dunlin  45

Hereford Inlet, Cape May, New Jersey, US
10 species

Brant  300
Surf Scoter  8
Black Scoter  6
Long-tailed Duck  4
Red-breasted Merganser  1
Sanderling  1
Herring Gull  X
Great Black-backed Gull  X
Red-throated Loon  3
Peregrine Falcon  1

Sunset Lake, Cape May, New Jersey, US
4 species (+1 other taxa)

Greater/Lesser Scaup  4
Black Scoter  1
Bufflehead  2
Ruddy Duck  6
Horned Grebe  3

Cape Island--CMPSP (Cape May Point SP), Cape May, New Jersey, US
16 species

Canada Goose  5
Mute Swan  2
Northern Shoveler  36
Gadwall  40
American Wigeon  18
Mallard  20
Green-winged Teal  2
Canvasback  1
Ring-necked Duck  20
Bufflehead  1
Hooded Merganser  3
Mourning Dove  2
Killdeer  3
Brown-headed Cowbird  4
Common Grackle  1
Northern Cardinal  1

Birding Cape May Point - Saturday, February 9th, 2019

I was sorry not to have my camera with me on this morning's walk because the Fox Sparrows were really posing in the Brian DeWitt Garden behind CMBO's Northwood Center today. The feeders are full, the native plants still hold berries and seeds, and the habitat was bustling with birds. The intrepid birders who showed up this cold, blustery day were also rewarded with two handsome Canvasbacks and a beautiful though half-hidden male Wood Duck on Lighthouse Pond.

Leaders: Kathy Horn, Roger Horn, Kyle Chelius
39 species

Canada Goose  8
Mute Swan  4
Wood Duck  1
Northern Shoveler  8
Gadwall  45
American Wigeon  4
Mallard  18
Green-winged Teal (American)  4
Canvasback  2     Large white body; long, smoothly sloped black bill
Ring-necked Duck  8
Bufflehead  6
Hooded Merganser  7
Red-breasted Merganser  2
Ruddy Duck  9
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  15
Mourning Dove  7
Killdeer  2
Ring-billed Gull  6
Black Vulture  2
Turkey Vulture  3
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Blue Jay  2
Carolina Chickadee  2
Tufted Titmouse  1
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern)  1
Carolina Wren  4
American Robin  20
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  4
House Finch  3
American Goldfinch  6
Fox Sparrow (Red)  2
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  18
White-throated Sparrow  10
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged)  20
Common Grackle (Purple)  12
Northern Cardinal  3
House Sparrow  4

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