Unfortunately, continued poor migration conditions has forced to keep passerine migrants at bay for the day, though it seems we have something to look forward to this coming week with a cold front forecasted to come Wednesday/Thursday.
72° F
S @ 5-10 MPH
Muggy conditions
Total: 0
Morning Flight - 30 August 2013
Tom Magarian counting.
66° F
Variable @ 0 MPH
Muggy conditions
Eastern Kingbird - 30
Great-crested Flycatcher - 1
Yellow Warbler - 5
Black-and-white Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 28
Northern Waterthrush - 8
warbler sp. - 45
Blue Grosbeak - 1
Indigo Bunting - 5
Bobolink - 29
Baltimore Oriole - 6
Total: 159
66° F
Variable @ 0 MPH
Muggy conditions
Eastern Kingbird - 30
Great-crested Flycatcher - 1
Yellow Warbler - 5
Black-and-white Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 28
Northern Waterthrush - 8
warbler sp. - 45
Blue Grosbeak - 1
Indigo Bunting - 5
Bobolink - 29
Baltimore Oriole - 6
Total: 159
Morning Flight - 29 August 2013
More unfavorable conditions are soon to follow, this is my second day of no countable Morning Flight birds. The next few days don't look conducive for migrants to show up either.
73° F
NE @ 5-10 MPH
Muggy conditions
Total: 0
73° F
NE @ 5-10 MPH
Muggy conditions
Total: 0
Morning Flight - 28 August 2013
This morning's muggy conditions created quite an interesting morning up on the dike- most of the birds seen in flight were going south! Bobolinks put in a great with with several flocks of over 25 birds, fink'ing and bink'ing their flight calls. The mostly monotone gray skies were actually a welcome backdrop- it made picking up on the high flocks possible.
I wasn't so excited initial when I got up but when I was walking the dog I had several Veeries flight calling overhead in Green Creek, along with Redstarts, Northern Waterthrushes, and Black-and-white Warblers, all of which put in a show at the dike.
70° F
E @ 0-5 MPH
Extremely muggy conditions
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4
Eastern Kingbird - 8
Cedar Waxwing - 9
Yellow Warbler - 3
Black-and-white Warbler - 3
American Redstart - 18
Northern Waterthrush - 26
warbler sp. - 23
Bobolink - 420
Total: 514
 |
| A close flyby, the bird of the day! |
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| An American Redstart with a retained tail rectrice from it's last molt |
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| Northern Waterthrush seen in the brief morning sunshine |
Morning Flight - 27 August 2013
Continued west winds shut down any sort of migration today, this time not even a small group of self-encouraging American Redstarts could muster up the courage to even try... no birds were counted :-/.
72° F
WSW @ 10-15 MPH
Clear conditions
Total: 0
72° F
WSW @ 10-15 MPH
Clear conditions
Total: 0
Morning Flight - 26 August 2013
Not much flying with the strong SW winds at 10-15 mph. I only counted three birds, all of which were American Redstarts that were wheeling around in a flock but encouraged one another enough to pass the canal and continue north.
64° F
SW @ 10-15 MPH
Clear conditions
American Redstart - 3
Total: 3
64° F
SW @ 10-15 MPH
Clear conditions
American Redstart - 3
Total: 3
Morning Flight - 25 August 2013
I was surprised by the lack of birds today. I thought we'd have a least a halfway decent flight, but nothing really surfaced other than left over drips of the open faucet from yesterday's flight. We did have the season's first Connecticut Warbler fly over, a few juvenile Northern Mockingbirds which are vey striking, so I can't complain too much!
In the constantly annoying department Juvenile Laughing Gulls are still begging insistently to their adult parents gleaning cicadas from cicada killer wasps without much success. Yet the babies still think it's worthwhile to drive their parents (and me) nuts. The only way to ease the sound of the never-ending begging is to imagine if you could talk Laughing Gull, what would they be saying? I tend to think it goes something like this:
http://youtu.be/cNkp4QF3we8
56° F
NNE @ 0-5 MPH
Clear conditions
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 6
Empidonax sp. - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 52
Red-eyed Vireo - 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 2
Northern Mockingbird - 6
Cedar Waxwing - 6
Northern Parula - 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Cape May Warbler - 2
Prairie Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 4
American Redstart - 15
Northern Waterthrush - 9
Connecticut Warbler - 1
Bobolink - 41
Baltimore Oriole - 1
Total: 152
In the constantly annoying department Juvenile Laughing Gulls are still begging insistently to their adult parents gleaning cicadas from cicada killer wasps without much success. Yet the babies still think it's worthwhile to drive their parents (and me) nuts. The only way to ease the sound of the never-ending begging is to imagine if you could talk Laughing Gull, what would they be saying? I tend to think it goes something like this:
http://youtu.be/cNkp4QF3we8
56° F
NNE @ 0-5 MPH
Clear conditions
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 6
Empidonax sp. - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 52
Red-eyed Vireo - 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 2
Northern Mockingbird - 6
Cedar Waxwing - 6
Northern Parula - 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Cape May Warbler - 2
Prairie Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 4
American Redstart - 15
Northern Waterthrush - 9
Connecticut Warbler - 1
Bobolink - 41
Baltimore Oriole - 1
Total: 152
 |
| Juvenile Northern Mockingbird |
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| Indigo Bunting |
 |
| Adult male Indigo Bunting |
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| Juvenile Laughing Gull |
Morning Flight - 24 August 2013
Today's flight was almost on par with the prediction- 964 American Redstarts flew by!! There was a good number of people up on the dike today, and it surely felt like fall was finally here. I was happy to be overwhelmed but at the same time sad to miss a couple birds that had me wonder, "what was that?..." In the third hour after everyone left I was able to photograph a Yellow-throated Warbler flying by. I'll let the birds speak for themselves!
61° F
NNE @ 5-10 MPH
Clear conditions
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 5
Empidonax sp. - 12
Eastern Kingbird - 775
Red-eyed Vireo - 12
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 15
American Robin - 9
Northern Mockingbird - 4
Cedar Waxwing - 62
Blue-winged Warbler - 1
Tennessee Warbler - 3
Northern Parula - 1
Yellow Warbler - 33
Magnolia Warbler - 3
Cape May Warbler - 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 5
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 2
Black-and-white Warbler - 51
American Redstart - 964
Worm-eating Warbler - 3
Ovenbird - 5
Northern Waterthrush - 42
Canada Warbler - 1
warbler sp. - 559
Dickcissel - 2
Bobolink - 57
Baltimore Oriole - 23
Yellow-throated Warbler - 1
Total: 2,651
61° F
NNE @ 5-10 MPH
Clear conditions
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 5
Empidonax sp. - 12
Eastern Kingbird - 775
Red-eyed Vireo - 12
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 15
American Robin - 9
Northern Mockingbird - 4
Cedar Waxwing - 62
Blue-winged Warbler - 1
Tennessee Warbler - 3
Northern Parula - 1
Yellow Warbler - 33
Magnolia Warbler - 3
Cape May Warbler - 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 5
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 2
Black-and-white Warbler - 51
American Redstart - 964
Worm-eating Warbler - 3
Ovenbird - 5
Northern Waterthrush - 42
Canada Warbler - 1
warbler sp. - 559
Dickcissel - 2
Bobolink - 57
Baltimore Oriole - 23
Yellow-throated Warbler - 1
Total: 2,651
 |
| Male American Redstart |
 |
| Baltimore Orioles |
 |
| Blackburnian Warbler |
 |
| Blue-winged Warbler |
 |
| Empidonax Flycatcher |
 |
| Yellow-throated Warbler |
Morning Flight - 23 August 2013
Today's flight was quite enjoyable and I commend the early risers that joined me predawn at the bottom of the dike with excitement (I usually enjoy the sunrise by myself early in the season!). American Redstarts again took top honors for best show- many small flocks getting up together and flying out making their flight calls sound like a bunch of sneakers on a gym floor at times. A Scarlet Tanager flew by giving it's chew-ee flight call, and Worm-eating Warblers continue to be in attendance. Single or double tallies of Tennessee, Magnolia, Cape May, Blackburnian and Prairie helped the diversity greatly, and kept our eyes keen for something a bit different.
The forecast for tomorrow is still the same from yesterday- tomorrow will be a great day I hope! Hope you have time to join me and witness everything fly by! With anticipation of a good morning tomorrow, I must get some rest. I've got all my clickers lined up and labeled with early season alpha codes.
Ready. Set. Go!
70° F
NNW @ 5-10 MPH
Clear conditions
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 12
Empidonax sp. - 3
Eastern Kingbird - 141
Red-eyed Vireo - 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 61
Cedar Waxwing - 44
Tennessee Warbler - 2
Yellow Warbler - 17
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Cape May Warbler - 1
Blackburnian Warbler - 2
Prairie Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 16
American Redstart - 192
Worm-eating Warbler - 3
Northern Waterthrush - 9
warbler sp. - 68
Scarlet Tanager - 1
Bobolink - 45
Baltimore Oriole - 3
Total: 627
The forecast for tomorrow is still the same from yesterday- tomorrow will be a great day I hope! Hope you have time to join me and witness everything fly by! With anticipation of a good morning tomorrow, I must get some rest. I've got all my clickers lined up and labeled with early season alpha codes.
Ready. Set. Go!
70° F
NNW @ 5-10 MPH
Clear conditions
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 12
Empidonax sp. - 3
Eastern Kingbird - 141
Red-eyed Vireo - 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 61
Cedar Waxwing - 44
Tennessee Warbler - 2
Yellow Warbler - 17
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Cape May Warbler - 1
Blackburnian Warbler - 2
Prairie Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 16
American Redstart - 192
Worm-eating Warbler - 3
Northern Waterthrush - 9
warbler sp. - 68
Scarlet Tanager - 1
Bobolink - 45
Baltimore Oriole - 3
Total: 627
 |
| Good Blue-gray Gnatcatcher days are known to peak late in the morning, and today was not an exception- 43 of the 61 Gnatcatchers engaged in Morning Flight in the third hour of the survey. |
 |
| Prairie Warblers continue to be show offs at the dike, slowly winging their way north close to the dike making easy photographic opportunities! |
 |
| Red-eyed Vireos are just starting in, later on in September and October we'll have good numbers of these. |
 |
| Blackburnian Warblers continue to be distant at the dike, though it doesn't hinder their beauty! |
Morning Flight - 22 August 2013
Today's flight was, well, non-existent. A light shower predawn with intermittent drizzle during the count did not produce any sort of passerine movement. While there wasn't a flight, I was able to appreciate and be entertained by the meteorological events in front of me that I cherished as a kid growing up watching John Bolaris on NBC 10 out of Philadelphia (I once wanted to be a meteorologist just like him before I really got into birding!). Through a brief break in the clouds the sun produced a magnificent rainbow with the first ferry in the foreground bound for Delaware. That quickly faded as the sun rose and hid behind the clouds, but it was very nice to live in the moment of the 3-4 minutes it was there. The clouds were fantastic and ever-changing throughout the morning.
I'm very excited for this coming weekend, particularly Saturday which if the forecast stays true, could produce and excellent flight at the dike. The current forecast are for the winds to go NW by 10AM tomorrow morning, switch to N then NNE by dawn which can produce a huge flight. Coupled with the fact that we haven't really had a good movement in several days, this could be a big one (dare I say/want 1k+ American Redstarts on Saturday?!).
But for now... here are the mega totals from today! ;-)
72° F
W @ 5-10 MPH
Muggy conditions with drizzle
Total: 0...zip. zlich. zoo da.
I'm very excited for this coming weekend, particularly Saturday which if the forecast stays true, could produce and excellent flight at the dike. The current forecast are for the winds to go NW by 10AM tomorrow morning, switch to N then NNE by dawn which can produce a huge flight. Coupled with the fact that we haven't really had a good movement in several days, this could be a big one (dare I say/want 1k+ American Redstarts on Saturday?!).
But for now... here are the mega totals from today! ;-)
72° F
W @ 5-10 MPH
Muggy conditions with drizzle
Total: 0...zip. zlich. zoo da.
 |
| Good structural characteristics of a Northern Waterthrush(left) and an American Redstart(right). The Northern Waterthrush is heavy chested, broad tailed, and generally stocky. While the American Redstart is more streamlined, with a proportionally longer tail, and a bit smaller in overall size. Of course, being the bigger bird the Waterthrush bullies and chases the Redstart back into the bush dashing any of my hopes in counting at least one bird in Morning Flight today. |
Morning Flight - 21 August 2013
To give our Morning Flight Counter, Sam, a day free from the constant effort of focusing on every possible bird that flies by the dike, I filled-in to count. Muggy and still conditions at dawn were atypical of the weather conditions since the count began on the 15th of August. The flight was very light but still discernible as migration behavior.
Within 10 minutes after a spectacularly hazy and red rising sun (sunspots nicely viewed through a scope) the highlights of Prothonotary Warbler and Dickcissel had passed by. Then a male Black-throated Blue Warbler came at waist-height, atop the dike, and attempted to fly between me and the other two chaps up there this morning, Matt Garvey and Sam Galick. Wait, isn't today your day off, Sam!?! Well, he just can't get enough Morning Flight in his life. That's a wonderful problem to have!
Glen Davis
Within 10 minutes after a spectacularly hazy and red rising sun (sunspots nicely viewed through a scope) the highlights of Prothonotary Warbler and Dickcissel had passed by. Then a male Black-throated Blue Warbler came at waist-height, atop the dike, and attempted to fly between me and the other two chaps up there this morning, Matt Garvey and Sam Galick. Wait, isn't today your day off, Sam!?! Well, he just can't get enough Morning Flight in his life. That's a wonderful problem to have!
Glen Davis
68° F
W @ 0-5 MPH
Muggy conditions
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 5
American Robin - 5
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Blue-winged Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 12
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 6
Prothonotary Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 8
warbler sp. - 2
Dickcissel - 1
Bobolink - 33 southbound
Baltimore Oriole - 1
Louisiana/Northern Waterthrush - 1
Total: 82
A full eBird checklist is here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/
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| Today was an impromptu bring your doggy to the dike day- on the right we have Sam's Border Collie, Captain, and Matt Garvey's Rat Terrier, Sydney! |
.JPG) |
| Matt Garvey (left) and Sam Galick(right) waiting for birds to exit |
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| Bobolink winging it south |
Morning Flight - 20 August 2013
Another very manageable and fun flight this morning, where twelve species of warblers were tallied. There was a nice Dickcissel that did a circle or two before moving on giving us some great looks. The forecast looks interesting with some west and north components to it- enough for some birds to fly in the coming days!
68° F
W @ 0-5 MPH
Clear conditions
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 12
Red-eyed Vireo - 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 7
American Robin - 6
Blue-winged Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 17
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2
Blackburnian Warbler - 2
Prairie Warbler - 1
"Baypoll" Warbler - 2
Black-and-white Warbler - 21
American Redstart - 163
Prothonotary Warbler - 1
Worm-eating Warbler - 4
Northern Waterthrush - 19
Canada Warbler - 2
warbler sp. - 58
Indigo Bunting - 1
Dickcissel - 1
Bobolink - 48
Baltimore Oriole - 3
Total: 374
68° F
W @ 0-5 MPH
Clear conditions
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 12
Red-eyed Vireo - 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 7
American Robin - 6
Blue-winged Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 17
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2
Blackburnian Warbler - 2
Prairie Warbler - 1
"Baypoll" Warbler - 2
Black-and-white Warbler - 21
American Redstart - 163
Prothonotary Warbler - 1
Worm-eating Warbler - 4
Northern Waterthrush - 19
Canada Warbler - 2
warbler sp. - 58
Indigo Bunting - 1
Dickcissel - 1
Bobolink - 48
Baltimore Oriole - 3
Total: 374
 |
| Thick clouds allowed us to view the sun safely for a short time, enough to see a plane run through along with some of it's sunspots! |
Morning Flight - 19 August 2013
This morning was surprisingly awesome given the current run of less than ideal migration conditions! A nice slug of American Redstarts made up a majority of the flight, while Yellow Warblers came in second. Eleven species of warbler were tallied with first of the season Cape May Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, and Golden-winged Warbler!!! for the dike. I was lucky enough to have my camera on the right bird at the time and was able to capture it in flight! We all were very surprised and happy with our fortune.
A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher paused briefly in the cherry tree before ducking back down into the trees at the bottom of the dike. Laughing Gulls continue to pirate unsuspecting cicada killer wasps of their prey, leaving one to question whether they garner sustenance from them or perhaps get some sort of higher mental state from the neurotoxin pumped into the food from the cicada killer's stinger... oh the things you ponder on slower days...
66° F
WSW @ 0-5 MPH
Clear conditions
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 6
Eastern Kingbird - 11
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 17
American Robin - 3
Cedar Waxwing - 10
Yellow Warbler - 45
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Cape May Warbler - 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 1
"Baypoll" Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 125
Worm-eating Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 15
warbler sp. - 16
Scarlet Tanager - 1
Blue Grosbeak -1
Bobolink - 4
Golden-winged Warbler - 1
Orchard Oriole - 1
Total: 264
A full eBird checklist is here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14957975
A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher paused briefly in the cherry tree before ducking back down into the trees at the bottom of the dike. Laughing Gulls continue to pirate unsuspecting cicada killer wasps of their prey, leaving one to question whether they garner sustenance from them or perhaps get some sort of higher mental state from the neurotoxin pumped into the food from the cicada killer's stinger... oh the things you ponder on slower days...
66° F
WSW @ 0-5 MPH
Clear conditions
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 6
Eastern Kingbird - 11
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 17
American Robin - 3
Cedar Waxwing - 10
Yellow Warbler - 45
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Cape May Warbler - 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 1
"Baypoll" Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 125
Worm-eating Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 15
warbler sp. - 16
Scarlet Tanager - 1
Blue Grosbeak -1
Bobolink - 4
Golden-winged Warbler - 1
Orchard Oriole - 1
Total: 264
A full eBird checklist is here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14957975
 |
| You never know what another day will bring in Cape May- as I was stepping out of the car I said to myself, "something interesting is going to happen today..." I was not disappointment! |
 |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler giving chase to a Black-and-white Warbler |
 |
| Male Golden-winged Warbler in flight- A very rare photograph if there are any in existence. |
 |
| Black-and-white Warbler in flight |
Morning Flight - 18 August 2013
The downward trend continues with less than favorable winds from the east this morning. While there weren't many birds to count I had plenty of visitors of which I was glad to keep my mind going through the random drizzle and wind. One of them being Jeff Gordon, President of the American Birding Association fresh off of their Camp Avocet for young birders which was a real treat along with David LaPuma.
Bird-wise the small number of birds moving were countered with quality- first a Yellow-throated Warbler flew northbound, while later on a Tennessee Warbler flew South. The Tennessee was particularly interesting in mid August, and my suspicions were confirmed when photographed that this was another adult in mid-molt.
70° F
E @ 5-10 MPH
Clear conditions with occasional drizzle
Eastern Kingbird - 9
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 5
American Redstart - 3
Yellow-throated Warbler - 1
Total: 19
Bird-wise the small number of birds moving were countered with quality- first a Yellow-throated Warbler flew northbound, while later on a Tennessee Warbler flew South. The Tennessee was particularly interesting in mid August, and my suspicions were confirmed when photographed that this was another adult in mid-molt.
70° F
E @ 5-10 MPH
Clear conditions with occasional drizzle
Eastern Kingbird - 9
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 5
American Redstart - 3
Yellow-throated Warbler - 1
Total: 19
 |
| Molting adult Tennessee Warbler |
Morning Flight - 17 August 2013
As predicted, the winds have been variable overnight and not very conducive for migration so the totals at Morning Flight continue to dwindle. Still, there was a bit of movement- a couple small groups of Bobolinks and the season's first Dickcissel. A couple flocks of Eastern Kingbirds passed by, and a Prairie Warbler briefly paused at the top of a Black Walnut tree before thinking better of it and ducking back into the bushes. The great shorebird habitat continues to draw in various species, and after the count was done, I had a chance to approaching a couple of unknowing juvenile shorebirds- a Lesser Yellowlegs and a Semi-palmated Sandpiper.
63° F
NE @ 5-10 MPH
Clear conditions
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 7
Eastern Kingbird - 15
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 11
American Robin - 7
Blue-winged Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 6
Black-and-white Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 3
Northern Waterthrush - 4
warbler sp. - 7
Dickcissel - 1
Bobolink - 11
Total: 75
63° F
NE @ 5-10 MPH
Clear conditions
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 7
Eastern Kingbird - 15
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 11
American Robin - 7
Blue-winged Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 6
Black-and-white Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 3
Northern Waterthrush - 4
warbler sp. - 7
Dickcissel - 1
Bobolink - 11
Total: 75
I have literally seen hundreds of sunrises at the dike over the years, each one different from the last. They really don't wear on you!! Come on up and enjoy one with me!
Morning Flight - 16 August 2013
This morning there was hardly a flight, though it was highlighted and dominated by a good showing of juvenile American Robins (48) as well as a few juvenile Northern Mockingbirds. You can't complain about having six species of warbler in flight though! Veeries were heard last night in Cape May Point, and a couple were seen at the base of the dike this morning. A Hooded Warbler was seen in the fields of Higbee Beach. One of the locally fledged Bald Eagles made a great appearance today, and one of the local adult parents of that bird showed itself as well pirating fish from Ospreys over the bay. The dike continues to be one of the best spots in the morning to see them.
Some unsettled weather is ahead of us for the next couple days, perhaps allowing for some migrants to slip in fly past. After that the wind appears to a have a consistent component of South in it, so we might still get to have some slow & warm August days ahead of us.
55° F
N @ 5-10 MPH
Clear conditions
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4
Eastern Kingbird - 30
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 11
American Robin - 48
Northern Mockingbird - 4
Cedar Waxwing - 24
Yellow Warbler 13
Prairie Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 3
Worm-eating Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 5
Canada Warbler - 1
Bobolink - 19
Baltimore Oriole - 2
Orchard Oriole - 5
Total: 171
A full eBird checklist is here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14935976
Some unsettled weather is ahead of us for the next couple days, perhaps allowing for some migrants to slip in fly past. After that the wind appears to a have a consistent component of South in it, so we might still get to have some slow & warm August days ahead of us.
55° F
N @ 5-10 MPH
Clear conditions
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4
Eastern Kingbird - 30
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 11
American Robin - 48
Northern Mockingbird - 4
Cedar Waxwing - 24
Yellow Warbler 13
Prairie Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 3
Worm-eating Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 5
Canada Warbler - 1
Bobolink - 19
Baltimore Oriole - 2
Orchard Oriole - 5
Total: 171
A full eBird checklist is here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14935976
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| Juvenile American Robin |
 |
| Prairie Warbler |
 |
| Juvenile Northern Mockingbird |
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| Juvenile Cedar Waxwing |
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| Juvenile Bald Eagle |
Morning Flight - 15 August 2013
A cold breeze from the Northeast and 56 degrees welcomed me and a few other brave mountain climbers up top the dike this morning ringing in the start of yet another fall here in Cape May. The dike is another 6-8 feet taller than last year with a gigantic, water-filled cut perfect for shorebirds which were in good attendance. The flight was fair, dominated by Blue-gray Gnatcatchers of which 240 flew past in small groups of 5-14 in a flock comprising for a little over a quarter of today's counted birds (29%). Other highlights were a poorly photographed, better seen Cerulean Warbler winging it north with a Yellow Warbler and a couple Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. Later on in the morning a Yellow-throated Warbler flew north. Overall a good morning with fall in the air- looking forward to the rest of the season! Hope to see you up there!
56° F
NE @ 5-10 MPH
Clear conditions
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 6
Eastern Kingbird - 127
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 240
American Robin - 15
Cedar Waxwing - 62
Blue-winged Warbler - 3
Yellow Warbler - 81
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1
Blackburnian Warbler - 2
Prairie Warbler - 5
Black-and-white Warbler - 10
American Redstart - 132
Worm-eating Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 33
warbler sp. 1 54
Indigo Bunting - 4
Bobolink - 19
Baltimore Oriole - 9
Orchard Oriole - 5
Cerulean Warbler - 1
Yellow-throated Warbler - 1
Total= 814
A full eBird checklist is here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14929349
56° F
NE @ 5-10 MPH
Clear conditions
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 6
Eastern Kingbird - 127
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 240
American Robin - 15
Cedar Waxwing - 62
Blue-winged Warbler - 3
Yellow Warbler - 81
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1
Blackburnian Warbler - 2
Prairie Warbler - 5
Black-and-white Warbler - 10
American Redstart - 132
Worm-eating Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 33
warbler sp. 1 54
Indigo Bunting - 4
Bobolink - 19
Baltimore Oriole - 9
Orchard Oriole - 5
Cerulean Warbler - 1
Yellow-throated Warbler - 1
Total= 814
A full eBird checklist is here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14929349
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| Blackburnian Warbler in flight |