Sea Watch Wednesday September 22, 2010

Opening Day! The first day of autumn brings with it the start of the Avalon Seawatch here in Cape May. As usual this early in the season the flight wasn't overwhelming, but it was rather interesting. A few flocks of Northern Pintail (the first species counted this season at Avalon) and a handful of Black Scoter spiced up a flight otherwise dominated by Gulls and Terns, while a Merlin grabbing a Butterfly about half a mile offshore provided some midday excitement.

The Seawatch only gets better from here, and by late October it will be really awesome. If you're planning a visit to the Seawatch (and you should be), keep in mind that the first couple of hours of the day are usually the best, although sometimes the last couple can rival them.

This juvenile Brown Pelican was one of five counted today. Last fall saw a record number of BRPEs go by Avalon. Can this year beat the new high? Come on down to Avalon and find out, you could be a part of history! (photo copyright Doug Gochfeld)

Seawatch totals below:

Mallard- 4
Northern Pintail- 28
Black Scoter- 17
Common Loon- 1
Northern Gannet- 18
Brown Pelican- 5
Double-crested Cormorant- 12
Laughing Gull- 25
Ring-billed Gull- 2
Herring Gull- 3
Great Black-backed Gull- 51
Caspian Tern- 34
Common Tern- 38
Forster's Tern- 92
Royal Tern- 23
Black Skimmer- 2

Total Individuals: 355