Observation time: 0618 - 1804
Observer: Skye Haas
Species counted:
Brant - 75
Wood Duck - 1
Gadwall - 2
American Wigeon - 14
American Black Duck - 4
Mallard - 3
Northern Pintail - 2
Green-winged Teal - 188
Ring-necked Duck - 1
Greater Scaup - 15
Lesser Scaup - 8
Scaup sp. - 19
Duck sp. 72
Common Eider - 1
Surf Scoter - 3,379
White-winged Scoter - 4
Black Scoter - 4,764
Dark-winged Scoter - 5,550
Long-tailed Duck - 3
Bufflehead - 4
Red-breasted Merganser - 12
Red-throated Loon - 63
Common Loon - 34
Northern Gannet - 878
Brown Pelican - 2
Double-crested Cormorant - 9,288
Laughing Gull - 456
Bonaparte's Gull - 19
Ring-billed Gull - 51
Great Black-backed Gull - 6
Caspian Tern - 1
Common Tern - 1
Forster's Tern - 36
Royal Tern - 13
Parasitic Jaeger - 8
Jaeger sp. - 1
Black-bellied Plover - 6
Semipalmated Plover - 4
Ruddy Turnstone -3
Dunlin - 150
Sanderling - 60
Purple Sandpiper - 1
Spotted Sandpiper - 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper - 2
Calidris sp. - 22
Total: 25,227
Hawkwatch - 31 October 2014
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 31, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 2 99 105 Turkey Vulture 65 951 1068 Osprey 3 1616 3785 Bald Eagle 11 291 592 Northern Harrier 13 681 857 Sharp-shinned Hawk 205 9813 13061 Cooper's Hawk 82 2565 3419 Northern Goshawk 0 2 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 20 132 139 Broad-winged Hawk 2 515 723 Red-tailed Hawk 54 369 479 Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1 Golden Eagle 0 6 6 American Kestrel 8 2164 4402 Merlin 6 850 1363 Peregrine Falcon 1 648 961 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 4 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 1 Zone-tailed Hawk 0 0 1 Total: 472 20704 30970 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:15:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 9.75 hours Official Counter: Mary Raikes Observers: Weather: On the chillier side, 40F in the morning and a high of 55F. Mostly cloudy skies and winds from the North 5-10 mph. Raptor Observations: Some kettles formed in the late morning with quite a few Red-tails, Red-shoulders, and vultures. Flight was quite high overhead and by the late afternoon shut down entirely with increasing clouds. Non-raptor Observations: Horned Lark(3), Redhead(1) on the pond, Blue Goose(1), good number of Eastern Bluebirds(16 in flock), and over 500 gannets feeding on the rips in the morning. Predictions: Rain moving in overnight, heavy at times during the day with winds from the North 20-25mph. ======================================================================== Cape May information may be found at: http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/CMBO/
Hawkwatch – 30 October 2014
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 30, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 9 97 103 Turkey Vulture 168 886 1003 Osprey 12 1613 3782 Bald Eagle 11 280 581 Northern Harrier 64 668 844 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1183 9608 12856 Cooper's Hawk 255 2483 3337 Northern Goshawk 0 2 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 68 112 119 Broad-winged Hawk 19 513 721 Red-tailed Hawk 138 315 425 Rough-legged Hawk 1 1 1 Golden Eagle 0 6 6 American Kestrel 40 2156 4394 Merlin 18 844 1357 Peregrine Falcon 17 647 960 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 4 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 1 Zone-tailed Hawk 0 0 1 Total: 2003 20232 30498 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10 hours Official Counter: Tom Reed Observers: Weather: Seasonable. Patchy fog during early-AM, becoming partly cloudy through the rest of the AM and mostly clear for the PM. Winds NW/NNW 5-10mph. Raptor Observations: A strong flight of accipiters throughout, particularly during the AM. Nice movement of buteos throughout second half of AM and early PM. SY Rough-legged Hawk passed over platform at 1333(EST) and continued s. across water (thanks SB). Non-raptor Observations: Eurasian Wigeon (4), Redhead (1), Stilt Sandpiper (3), White-rumped Sandpiper (1), Parasitic Jaeger (5), White-winged Dove (1), Cave Swallow (2), Barn Swallow (1), American Robin (12,000), Yellow-rumped Warbler (3,000) Predictions: Mostly sunny, 58ºF, winds NE 10mph.
Seawatch - 30 October 2014
Observation time: 0720 - 1811
Observer: Skye Haas
Species counted:
Canada Goose - 13
Brant - 39
Wood Duck - 14
Gadwall - 4
American Black Duck - 15
Northern Pintail - 27
Green-winged Teal - 57
Greater Scaup - 6
Scaup sp. - 1
Duck sp. - 158
Surf Scoter - 4,452
White-winged Scoter - 2
Black Scoter - 4,747
Dark-winged Scoter - 6,195
Bufflehead - 8
Red-breasted Merganser - 1
Red-throated Loon - 132
Common Loon - 53
Horned Grebe - 2
Northern Gannet - 2,100
Brown Pelican - 6
Double-crested Cormorant - 13,338
Great Blue Heron - 3
Great Egret - 2
Snowy Egret - 2
Laughing Gull - 523
Bonaparte's Gull - 49
Ring-billed Gull - 81
Great Black-backed Gull - 33
Iceland Gull - 1
Forster's Tern - 124
Royal Tern - 24
Parasitic Jaeger - 4
Greater Yellowlegs - 1
American Oystercatcher - 14
Black-bellied Plover - 140
Semipalmated Plover - 4
Dunlin - 200
Sanderling - 150
Ruddy Turnstone - 8
Red Knot - 30
Spotted Sandpiper - 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper - 3
Calidris sp. - 40
Total: 32,807
A note from Skye:
The Avalon count was a bit frustrating today as we spent too many hours with the majority of our birds (primarily scoters and cormorants) migrating far off-shore. As is even though we ended up with a healthy total of 15,396 scoters for the day, "dark-winged" scoters were the lead totals with nearly half of all scoters falling into this catch-all grouping. The dawn radar showed quite a bit of passerine migration going on, but other then a little influx of Savannah Sparrows, few passerines were seen today. It was pretty adorable when I got on a small songbird flying in off the ocean only to realize it was a Winter Wren coming in!
Observer: Skye Haas
Species counted:
Canada Goose - 13
Brant - 39
Wood Duck - 14
Gadwall - 4
American Black Duck - 15
Northern Pintail - 27
Green-winged Teal - 57
Greater Scaup - 6
Scaup sp. - 1
Duck sp. - 158
Surf Scoter - 4,452
White-winged Scoter - 2
Black Scoter - 4,747
Dark-winged Scoter - 6,195
Bufflehead - 8
Red-breasted Merganser - 1
Red-throated Loon - 132
Common Loon - 53
Horned Grebe - 2
Northern Gannet - 2,100
Brown Pelican - 6
Double-crested Cormorant - 13,338
Great Blue Heron - 3
Great Egret - 2
Snowy Egret - 2
Laughing Gull - 523
Bonaparte's Gull - 49
Ring-billed Gull - 81
Great Black-backed Gull - 33
Iceland Gull - 1
Forster's Tern - 124
Royal Tern - 24
Parasitic Jaeger - 4
Greater Yellowlegs - 1
American Oystercatcher - 14
Black-bellied Plover - 140
Semipalmated Plover - 4
Dunlin - 200
Sanderling - 150
Ruddy Turnstone - 8
Red Knot - 30
Spotted Sandpiper - 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper - 3
Calidris sp. - 40
Total: 32,807
A note from Skye:
The Avalon count was a bit frustrating today as we spent too many hours with the majority of our birds (primarily scoters and cormorants) migrating far off-shore. As is even though we ended up with a healthy total of 15,396 scoters for the day, "dark-winged" scoters were the lead totals with nearly half of all scoters falling into this catch-all grouping. The dawn radar showed quite a bit of passerine migration going on, but other then a little influx of Savannah Sparrows, few passerines were seen today. It was pretty adorable when I got on a small songbird flying in off the ocean only to realize it was a Winter Wren coming in!
Making up for the likely Thayer's Gull yesterday, a nice looking adult Iceland Gull gave enough of a good look to ensure a solid ID today. But the craziest part of the seawatch today was the last 90 minutes of the count when a huge Northern Gannet flight erupted. Of the 2100 Gannets counted today, 81% of them came during that time! Lots of gulls, terns and Red-throated Loons came by in this period too and I was hopping to stay on top of this end-of-day flight. More to come!
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| Savannah Sparrow. [Photo by Skye Haas.] |
Seawatch - 29 October 2014
Observation time: 0615 - 1802
Observer: Skye Haas
Species counted:
Brant - 66
Gadwall - 8
American Wigeon - 12
American Black Duck - 13
Blue-winged Teal - 1
Northern Shoveler - 1
Northern Pintail - 5
Green-winged Teal - 47
Redhead - 5
Ruddy Duck - 5
Greater Scaup - 10
Lesser Scaup - 24
Surf Scoter - 7,214
White-winged Scoter - 6
Black Scoter - 2,608
Dark-winged Scoter - 1,662
Bufflehead - 4
Red-breasted Merganser - 1
Red-throated Loon - 60
Common Loon - 102
Horned Grebe - 14
Northern Gannet - 4,190
Brown Pelican - 76
Double-crested Cormorant - 2,016
Great Cormorant - 1
Great Blue Heron - 13
Laughing Gull - 154
Bonaparte's Gull - 14
Ring-billed Gull - 37
Great Black-backed Gull - 31
Thayer's Gull/Iceland Gull - 1
Caspian Tern - 7
Forster's Tern - 178
Royal Tern - 113
Parasitic Jaeger - 8
American Oystercatcher - 23
Black-bellied Plover - 190
Semipalmated Plover - 4
Red Knot - 60
Ruddy Turnstone - 2
Sanderling - 800
Dunlin - 400
Western Sandpiper - 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper - 2
Purple Sandpiper - 1
Dowitcher sp. - 3
Total: 20,193
A note from Skye:
Another good Northern Gannet flight today! Just under 4200 Gannets went winging by the Seawatch, though there presence has been sparking some conversation among the long-time Avalon sea-watchers. Why so many young birds? Why so early when the water is still so warm? Is there a dearth of prey items further north sending these birds south early? And will my Gannet clicker take another day like today? I hope so, because while rare, 10,000 Gannet days have been had at Avalon before; I can only imagine what that looks like, and just maybe I'll get to find out!
Observer: Skye Haas
Species counted:
Brant - 66
Gadwall - 8
American Wigeon - 12
American Black Duck - 13
Blue-winged Teal - 1
Northern Shoveler - 1
Northern Pintail - 5
Green-winged Teal - 47
Redhead - 5
Ruddy Duck - 5
Greater Scaup - 10
Lesser Scaup - 24
Surf Scoter - 7,214
White-winged Scoter - 6
Black Scoter - 2,608
Dark-winged Scoter - 1,662
Bufflehead - 4
Red-breasted Merganser - 1
Red-throated Loon - 60
Common Loon - 102
Horned Grebe - 14
Northern Gannet - 4,190
Brown Pelican - 76
Double-crested Cormorant - 2,016
Great Cormorant - 1
Great Blue Heron - 13
Laughing Gull - 154
Bonaparte's Gull - 14
Ring-billed Gull - 37
Great Black-backed Gull - 31
Thayer's Gull/Iceland Gull - 1
Caspian Tern - 7
Forster's Tern - 178
Royal Tern - 113
Parasitic Jaeger - 8
American Oystercatcher - 23
Black-bellied Plover - 190
Semipalmated Plover - 4
Red Knot - 60
Ruddy Turnstone - 2
Sanderling - 800
Dunlin - 400
Western Sandpiper - 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper - 2
Purple Sandpiper - 1
Dowitcher sp. - 3
Total: 20,193
A note from Skye:
Another good Northern Gannet flight today! Just under 4200 Gannets went winging by the Seawatch, though there presence has been sparking some conversation among the long-time Avalon sea-watchers. Why so many young birds? Why so early when the water is still so warm? Is there a dearth of prey items further north sending these birds south early? And will my Gannet clicker take another day like today? I hope so, because while rare, 10,000 Gannet days have been had at Avalon before; I can only imagine what that looks like, and just maybe I'll get to find out!
Scoters started to pick up some today, but we still have a ways to go. Right now the question of what will be the "big day" is looming- Tom sez'Saturday so bring your galoshes as it is predicted to be a wet one. Another 100+ Common Loon day was good to see, and we set the season high count for Brown Pelican with 76 birds. And in the category of "if only it had made a closer pass" was an adult Thayer's/Iceland Gull that was particularly dark pigmented in the primaries. Oh well, all I can say is it was a pretty white-winged gull framed against the steely blue clouds of the cold front hitting the Atlantic.
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| Northern Gannet. [Photo by Mike Kilpatrick.] |
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| Brown Pelican. [Photo by Mike Kilpatrick.] |
Hawkwatch - 29 October 2014
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 29, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 88 94 Turkey Vulture 69 718 835 Osprey 21 1601 3770 Bald Eagle 3 269 570 Northern Harrier 23 604 780 Sharp-shinned Hawk 751 8425 11673 Cooper's Hawk 44 2228 3082 Northern Goshawk 0 2 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 44 51 Broad-winged Hawk 0 494 702 Red-tailed Hawk 7 177 287 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 6 6 American Kestrel 94 2116 4354 Merlin 26 826 1339 Peregrine Falcon 12 630 943 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 4 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 1 Zone-tailed Hawk 0 0 1 Total: 1052 18229 28495 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:15:00 Observation end time: 16:30:00 Total observation time: 10.25 hours Official Counter: Tom Reed Observers: Weather: Mild and humid during the AM, winds SSW->SW 5-10mph. Cooler and cloudier during the PM, winds W->NW 10-15mph. Raptor Observations: Steady movement of SSHA and AMKE after winds shifted to NW during mid-PM. Non-raptor Observations: Eurasian Wigeon (4), Northern Gannet (1200), Stilt Sandpiper (3), White-rumped Sandpiper (1), Parasitic Jaeger (~20), Eurasian Collared-Dove (1), Black-capped Chickadee (1) Predictions: Sunny, 58ºF, winds NNW 5-10mph. ======================================================================== Cape May information may be found at: http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/CMBO/
Hawkwatch - 28 October 2014
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 28, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 88 94 Turkey Vulture 0 649 766 Osprey 6 1580 3749 Bald Eagle 5 266 567 Northern Harrier 7 581 757 Sharp-shinned Hawk 92 7674 10922 Cooper's Hawk 34 2184 3038 Northern Goshawk 0 2 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 42 49 Broad-winged Hawk 2 494 702 Red-tailed Hawk 9 170 280 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 6 6 American Kestrel 6 2022 4260 Merlin 5 800 1313 Peregrine Falcon 2 618 931 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 4 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 1 Zone-tailed Hawk 0 0 1 Total: 169 17177 27443 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10 hours Official Counter: Mary Raikes Observers: Weather: Partly cloudy skies today with winds light, less than 10mph, from the S and SE. Warm with temperatures reaching 73F. Raptor Observations: Quiet day as expected with the southerly winds. Most birds with to the distant north of the viewing platform. Mainly accipiters and only a few distant low kettles forming. Non-raptor Observations: A strong American Robin flight as well as Red-winged Blackbird, Starling, Cedar Waxwing, and Blue Jays. Other morning flight birds include American Pipit(1), Pine Siskin(3), White-breasted Nuthatch(1), Red-breasted Nuthatch(2), Purple finch, American Goldfinch, and Yellow-rumped Warbler. Pond waterfowl included: Gadwall(148), Northern Pintail(53), American Widgeon(201), Eurasian Widgeon(4), Ring-necked Duck(4), American Coot(22), Mallard(7), Northern Shoveler(21), Ruddy Duck(19), Pied-billed Grebe(6), Green-winged Teal(21), and Blue-winged Teal(3) per Skye Haas. AMERICAN BITTERN(2) on pond. Predictions: Chance of precip in the afternoon with temperatures in the mid 60's and winds 10-15mph from the SW. ======================================================================== Cape May information may be found at: http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/CMBO/
Seawatch - 28 October 2014
Observation time: 0623 - 1704
Observer: Tom Reed
Species counted:
Brant - 2
Wood Duck - 82
American Wigeon - 57
American Black Duck - 42
Mallard - 1
Mallard/American Black Duck - 1
Mallard x American Black Duck - 1
Blue-winged Teal - 1
Northern Shoveler - 9
Northern Pintail - 80
Green-winged Teal - 2,047
Ring-necked Duck - 28
Greater Scaup - 39
Lesser Scaup - 117
Scaup sp. - 44
Aythya sp. - 17
Surf Scoter - 2,716
White-winged Scoter - 6
Black Scoter - 1,366
Dark-winged Scoter - 140
Bufflehead - 21
Redhead - 26
Ruddy Duck - 3
Hooded Merganser - 1
Red-breasted Merganser - 12
Red-throated Loon - 55
Common Loon - 51
Horned Grebe - 19
Northern Gannet - 2,322
Brown Pelican - 1
Double-crested Cormorant - 823
Great Blue Heron - 11
Laughing Gull - 1,745
Bonaparte's Gull - 346
Ring-billed Gull - 273
Herring Gull - 40
Little Gull - 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1
Great Black-backed Gull - 79
Caspian Tern - 1
Common Tern - 1
Forster's Tern - 853
Royal Tern - 446
Black Skimmer - 1
Parasitic Jaeger - 6
Total: 13,933
Observer: Tom Reed
Species counted:
Brant - 2
Wood Duck - 82
American Wigeon - 57
American Black Duck - 42
Mallard - 1
Mallard/American Black Duck - 1
Mallard x American Black Duck - 1
Blue-winged Teal - 1
Northern Shoveler - 9
Northern Pintail - 80
Green-winged Teal - 2,047
Ring-necked Duck - 28
Greater Scaup - 39
Lesser Scaup - 117
Scaup sp. - 44
Aythya sp. - 17
Surf Scoter - 2,716
White-winged Scoter - 6
Black Scoter - 1,366
Dark-winged Scoter - 140
Bufflehead - 21
Redhead - 26
Ruddy Duck - 3
Hooded Merganser - 1
Red-breasted Merganser - 12
Red-throated Loon - 55
Common Loon - 51
Horned Grebe - 19
Northern Gannet - 2,322
Brown Pelican - 1
Double-crested Cormorant - 823
Great Blue Heron - 11
Laughing Gull - 1,745
Bonaparte's Gull - 346
Ring-billed Gull - 273
Herring Gull - 40
Little Gull - 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1
Great Black-backed Gull - 79
Caspian Tern - 1
Common Tern - 1
Forster's Tern - 853
Royal Tern - 446
Black Skimmer - 1
Parasitic Jaeger - 6
Total: 13,933
Seawatch - 27 October 2014
Observation time: 0622 - 1705
Observer: Tom Reed
Species counted:
Canada Goose - 5
Brant - 54
Wood Duck - 135
American Wigeon - 1
American Black Duck - 30
Mallard - 1
Mallard/American Black Duck - 21
Northern Pintail - 3
Green-winged Teal - 64
Greater Scaup - 1
Scaup sp. - 8
Surf Scoter - 2,156
White-winged Scoter - 2
Black Scoter - 991
Dark-winged Scoter - 2,560
Ruddy Duck - 9
Long-tailed Duck - 2
Bufflehead - 39
Red-breasted Merganser - 4
Red-throated Loon - 31
Common Loon - 167
Horned Grebe - 54
Northern Gannet - 1,192
Double-crested Cormorant - 6,158
Great Cormorant - 2
Great Blue Heron - 4
Tricolored Heron - 1
Laughing Gull - 382
Bonaparte's Gull - 141
Ring-billed Gull - 494
Herring Gull - 90
Black-legged Kittiwake - 1
Forster's Tern - 68
Royal Tern - 117
Parasitic Jaeger - 7
Total: 14,995
Observer: Tom Reed
Species counted:
Canada Goose - 5
Brant - 54
Wood Duck - 135
American Wigeon - 1
American Black Duck - 30
Mallard - 1
Mallard/American Black Duck - 21
Northern Pintail - 3
Green-winged Teal - 64
Greater Scaup - 1
Scaup sp. - 8
Surf Scoter - 2,156
White-winged Scoter - 2
Black Scoter - 991
Dark-winged Scoter - 2,560
Ruddy Duck - 9
Long-tailed Duck - 2
Bufflehead - 39
Red-breasted Merganser - 4
Red-throated Loon - 31
Common Loon - 167
Horned Grebe - 54
Northern Gannet - 1,192
Double-crested Cormorant - 6,158
Great Cormorant - 2
Great Blue Heron - 4
Tricolored Heron - 1
Laughing Gull - 382
Bonaparte's Gull - 141
Ring-billed Gull - 494
Herring Gull - 90
Black-legged Kittiwake - 1
Forster's Tern - 68
Royal Tern - 117
Parasitic Jaeger - 7
Total: 14,995
Seawatch - 26 October 2014
Observation time: 0620 - 1820
Observer: Skye Haas
Species counted:
Canada Goose - 23
Brant - 56
Gadwall - 4
American Wigeon - 24
American Black Duck - 13
Mallard - 2
Northern Shoveler - 2
Northern Pintail - 9
Green-winged Teal - 19
Duck sp. - 57
Common Eider - 1
Eider sp. - 1
Surf Scoter - 1,334
White-winged Scoter - 2
Black Scoter - 2,076
Dark-winged Scoter - 438
Ruddy Duck - 44
Long-tailed Duck - 4
Red-throated Loon - 21
Common Loon - 151
Horned Grebe - 9
Pied-billed Grebe - 1
Northern Gannet - 2,388
Brown Pelican - 6
Double-crested Cormorant - 7,936
Great Cormorant - 6
Great Blue Heron - 43
Great Egret - 29
Laughing Gull - 367
Bonaparte's Gull - 272
Ring-billed Gull - 84
Herring Gull - 32
Great Black-backed Gull - 12
Caspian Tern - 3
Forster's Tern - 166
Royal Tern - 44
Black Skimmer - 4
Parasitic Jaeger - 2
Black-bellied Plover - 61
Semipalmated Plover - 7
American Oystercatcher - 41
Sanderling - 800
Dunlin - 150
Ruddy Turnstone - 10
Red Knot - 20
Dowitcher sp. - 2
Purple Sandpiper - 2
Semipalmated Sandpiper - 4
Calidris sp. - 32
Total: 16,814
A note from Skye:
And I thought there were a lot of Gannets yesterday! The first few hours of the seawatch today could be best described as a river of sulids over the ocean, which as I now type it, seems like some sort of zen birding koan... But anyhow, it was yet another wonderful day at Avalon as the birds were non-stop all day. And it wasn't just gannets either! Another strong Common Loon flight was recorded, and ducks continue to dribble through. A possible female King Eider flew by but was too quick for me to identify, and even though it was a just a small flock, I really enjoyed a late afternoon look at a mixed flock of Pintail, Gadwall and Wigeon; I've always really enjoyed seeing those species in a migratory watch setting. Though we have had a couple good scoter flights this month, both Tom and I speculate that there is something major brewing with the scoters as their numbers have been low so far this season, and to have two "meh" scoter days in a row in the last week of October could mean a really insane flight day in our near future!
Another great feature to the day was a strong gull movement. It was the first real influx of Ring-billed Gulls and even a decent amount of Herring Gulls were deemed "migrants". Herring and Black-backed Gulls are two of the hardest species to tell if they are actual migrants or just meandering about the waterfront; often their inclusion on a waterbird count total depends on a judgement call on the part of the counter. We try our best but sometimes it takes a few flocks of birds going by before you catch on that there are gulls actually migrating! However, more easy to call migrants were the tight flocks of the always delightful Bonaparte's Gulls that flew by Avalon. One of my more favorite birds, I frequently think about what strange lives these creatures live- spending part of their life cycle nesting in moss-lined stick nests placed in spruce trees in the boreal forest!
Notable due to its tardiness in migration, a Bank Swallow flew by mid-afternoon. Once again, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin and many kinglets were moving down the coastline filling the Jersey shores with the sounds of my North Woods homeland. Though migration is a perilous journey and as incredible of a life strategy it can be, not all make their destination. We were amazed and a touch horrified when Taffy Mortimer Jefferson, the Laughing Gull mascot of the this year's Seawatch snagged a Kinglet right out of the air in front of us without even opening his wings as he dozed on the seawall. Great reflexes there Taffy!
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| Bonaparte's Gulls. [Photo by Skye Haas.] |
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| An odd couple - Common Eider and Pied-billed Grebe. [Photo by Skye Haas.] |
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| Taffy the Laughing Gull with a mouth full of Kinglet. [Photo by Skye Haas.] |
Hawkwatch - 27 October 2014
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 27, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 88 94 Turkey Vulture 0 649 766 Osprey 5 1574 3743 Bald Eagle 16 261 562 Northern Harrier 25 574 750 Sharp-shinned Hawk 249 7582 10830 Cooper's Hawk 96 2150 3004 Northern Goshawk 0 2 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 6 41 48 Broad-winged Hawk 9 492 700 Red-tailed Hawk 50 161 271 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 6 6 American Kestrel 9 2016 4254 Merlin 3 795 1308 Peregrine Falcon 2 616 929 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 4 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 1 Zone-tailed Hawk 0 0 1 Total: 470 17008 27274 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10 hours Official Counter: Mary Raikes Observers: Weather: Very, very clear skies today with light NW winds in the morning and W in the afternoon. Temperatures reaching 64F. Raptor Observations: A slow morning with mainly accipiters and then some really nice kettles mid-day with lots of Red-tails. Flight dropped off in the afternoon with only a handful of really really high birds. Non-raptor Observations: Noticeable movement of Eastern Meadowlark, American Robin, Blue Jays, Red-winged Blackbird, and Brown-headed Cowbirds in the morning. Two V's of Snow Geese(22 and 19) and 1 Blue Goose on the pond. Still lots of ducks on the pond including Eurasian Widgeon(3). Predictions: Sunny, with a few clouds, and south winds 9-13 mph. Warm temps with 74F as a high. ======================================================================== Cape May information may be found at: http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/CMBO/
Hawkwatch - 26 October 2014
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 26, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 88 94 Turkey Vulture 0 649 766 Osprey 9 1569 3738 Bald Eagle 8 245 546 Northern Harrier 25 549 725 Sharp-shinned Hawk 326 7333 10581 Cooper's Hawk 59 2054 2908 Northern Goshawk 1 2 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 35 42 Broad-winged Hawk 3 483 691 Red-tailed Hawk 13 111 221 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 6 6 American Kestrel 72 2007 4245 Merlin 33 792 1305 Peregrine Falcon 9 614 927 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 4 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 1 Zone-tailed Hawk 0 0 1 Total: 558 16538 26804 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10 hours Official Counter: Mary Raikes Observers: Weather: Quite breezy with winds from the NW/W between 10-15mph and gusts up to 25mph. Very sunny skies with no cloud coverage and temperatures reaching 64F. Raptor Observations: Mainly sharpies with kestrels and merlins in the afternoon. Flight was quite distant over the treeline to the north of platform. Non-raptor Observations: Still lots of ducks on the pond including Eurasian Widgeon(3), Pied-billed Grebe(2), Ring-necked Duck(3), Gadwall, American Widgeon, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal. Also, Tundra Swan(3) and Blackpoll Warbler(1). Predictions: More sun! A bit cooler in the low 60's with winds continuing from the NW 8-14mph. ======================================================================== Cape May information may be found at: http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/CMBO/
Hawkwatch - 25 October 2014
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 25, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 6 88 94 Turkey Vulture 72 649 766 Osprey 13 1560 3729 Bald Eagle 16 237 538 Northern Harrier 48 524 700 Sharp-shinned Hawk 267 7007 10255 Cooper's Hawk 55 1995 2849 Northern Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 35 42 Broad-winged Hawk 25 480 688 Red-tailed Hawk 25 98 208 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 1 6 6 American Kestrel 37 1935 4173 Merlin 6 759 1272 Peregrine Falcon 8 605 918 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 4 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 1 Zone-tailed Hawk 0 0 1 Total: 580 15980 26246 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10 hours Official Counter: Mary Raikes Observers: Weather: A very pleasant day with temperatures in the high 60's. Winds started light from the NW and switched to W then SW in the afternoon. Very clear skies with no cloud coverage all day. Raptor Observations: A fairly high, far away flight with large kettles of turkey vultures mixed with other raptors including accipiters, broad-wings and harriers. Non-raptor Observations: An impressive morning flight with huge numbers of American Robin, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Other movements included sparrows sp., thrush sp., kinglet sp., finch sp., eastern meadowlark, and dark-eyed juncos. Also, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher(1). Predictions: Sunny, mid-60's, strong northwest winds 20-30mph. ======================================================================== Cape May information may be found at: http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/CMBO/
Seawatch - 25 October 2014
Observation
time: 0616 – 1819
Observer:
Skye Haas
Canada Goose
– 25
Brant – 101
Wood Duck –
8
Northern
Pintail – 8
Green-winged
Teal – 67
Ring-necked
Duck – 2
Greater
Scaup – 6
Lesser Scaup
– 3
Scaup sp. – 10
Duck sp. – 141
Common Eider
– 3
Surf Scoter
– 3,165
White-winged
Scoter – 3
Black Scoter
– 1,402
Dark-winged Scoter – 1,216
Long-tailed
Duck – 3
Red-throated
Loon – 30
Common Loon
– 54
Loon sp. – 2
Horned Grebe
– 2
Northern
Gannet – 1,564
Brown
Pelican – 12
Double-crested
Cormorant – 10,465
Great Blue
Heron – 14
Laughing
Gull – 214
Bonaparte’s
Gull – 19
Herring Gull
– 20
Lesser
Black-backed Gull – 1
Great
Black-backed Gull – 20
Black-legged Kittiwake – 1
Caspian Tern
– 2
Common Tern
– 6
Forster’s
Tern – 230
American
Oystercatcher – 4
Royal Tern –
14
Parasitic
Jaeger – 5
Black-bellied
Plover – 38
Semipalmated
Plover – 6
Ruddy
Turnstone – 4
Greater
Yellowlegs – 1
Red Knot –
18
Sanderling –
200
Dunlin – 64
Dowitcher sp. – 4
Spotted
Sandpiper – 1
Purple
Sandpiper – 3
White-rumped
Sandpiper – 1
Semipalmated
Sandpiper – 2
Calidris sp. – 1
Total: 19,185
A note from Skye:
Heya folks, Sorry to be away for so long, its been a crazy week with surprise trips to the dentist, friends in town and the 65th Autumn Birding Weekend at the Cape so I've just not been able to keep up with blogging this week. But hopefully this brief hiatus is over and lets just get down to whats been happening at Avalon lately. Early week saw some huge scoter movements- I had ten thousand scoters in 3 hours on Wednesday morning and the day before Tom recorded an amazing 36,595 scoters on the 21st! Holy moly it was impressive! Over the next few days some later season birds have made an appearance with Black-legged Kittitwake being seen the last three days in a row. Purple Sandpipers are now on the rocks in front of the seawatch as well. Passerines have been borealesque with lots of Yellow-rumps, but other North Woods goodies like Winter Wren, Rusty Blackbird, Juncos, Purple Finch and Pine Siskin have been seen the last few days. And yesterday saw what could be our big day for Common Loon with 235 counted.
Its been a real treat this week, my good friend Max Henschell and former Whitefish Point waterbird counter alumni has been visiting and today we were treated to a heck of a Northern Gannet show. Just under 1600 were recorded; there was never a moment that these modern day pterodactyls weren't cruising by the watch. Also notable were a couple of Common Eiders, some drake Long-tailed Ducks and a good selection of gulls and terns. Non-waterbirds were also bumping and combined waterbird, raptors and passerines came to 81 species today! Also very cool yet all too brief was some unknown species of whale sighted northeast off the 8th Street Jetty.
A list of non-waterbirds:
Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Norther Harrier, Bald Eagle, Rock Pigeon, Morning Dove, Tree Swallow, Northern Flicker, Peregrine Falcon, Eastern Phoebe, Tree Swallow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, American Pipit, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Boat-tailed Grackle, House Finch, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow.
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| Common Loon. [Photo by Skye Haas.] |
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| Northern Gannet. [Photo by Skye Haas.] |
Hawkwatch - 24 October 2014
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 24, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 7 82 88 Turkey Vulture 35 577 694 Osprey 19 1547 3716 Bald Eagle 24 221 522 Northern Harrier 30 476 652 Sharp-shinned Hawk 686 6740 9988 Cooper's Hawk 88 1940 2794 Northern Goshawk 1 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 6 34 41 Broad-winged Hawk 5 455 663 Red-tailed Hawk 7 73 183 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 5 5 American Kestrel 153 1898 4136 Merlin 33 753 1266 Peregrine Falcon 2 597 910 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 4 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 1 Zone-tailed Hawk 0 0 1 Total: 1096 15400 25666 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10 hours Official Counter: Mary Raikes Observers: Weather: Mostly cloudy skies becoming partly cloudy as the day progressed. Winds NW/W between 10-15 mph with gusts up to 22mph. Temperatures reaching 66F. Raptor Observations: Lots of sharpies all day with a good flight of harriers, bald eagles, and kestrels as well. First goshawk (immature) of the season. Non-raptor Observations: Still lots of ducks on the pond with Eurasian Widgeon(4). More interesting birds included: White Pelican(1), Bonaparte's Gull(1), and Iceland Gull(1). Predictions: NW winds overnight switching to West 8-15 mph. Sunny skies with temperatures in the mid-60's. ======================================================================== Cape May information may be found at: http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/CMBO/
Seawatch - 24 October 2014
Observation
time: 0619 -1808
Observer:
Skye Haas
Species
counted:
Brant – 89
Wood Duck –
1
American
Wigeon – 3
American
Black Duck – 26
Northern
Pintail – 10
Green-winged
Teal – 60
Scaup sp. – 9
Duck sp. – 24
Surf Scoter
– 508
White-winged
Scoter – 2
Black Scoter
– 1,871
Dark-winged Scoter – 527
Long-tailed
Duck – 4
Red-throated
Loon – 51
Common Loon
– 231
Horned Grebe
– 3
Northern
Gannet – 837
Brown
Pelican – 1
Double-crested
Cormorant – 16,071
Great Blue
Heron – 1
Great Egret
– 14
Snowy Egret
– 2
Laughing
Gull – 560
Bonaparte’s
Gull – 1
Ring-billed
Gull – 108
Black
Kittiwake – 1
Common Tern
– 1
Forster’s
Tern – 229
Royal Tern –
31
Parasitic
Jaeger – 3
American
Oystercatcher – 14
Black-bellied
Plover – 63
Red Knot – 2
Morning Flight – 24 October 2014
A strong northwest wind greeted birds and birders at the Higbee Dike this morning. A look at the overnight radar revealed that there were likely more birds leaving Cape May than arriving, but we still enjoyed a lovely flight during the first 90 minutes of daylight. Kinglets were a definite highlight, with several Ruby-crowneds flying within inches of our faces at times.
Weather: partly sunny, winds NW 15-20mph, 55-57ºF, visibility excellent.
Morning Flight totals:
Northern Flicker – 27
Red-breasted Nuthatch – 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet – 12
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 120
kinglet, sp. – 21
American Robin – 95
American Pipit – 20
Cedar Waxwing – 19
Northern Parula – 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler – 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler – 1,054
Palm Warbler – 22
Blackpoll Warbler – 1
Blackpoll/Bay-breasted Warbler – 1
Northern Waterthrush – 1
warbler, sp. – 12
Chipping Sparrow – 5
Savannah Sparrow – 1
Dark-eyed Junco – 1
Indigo Bunting – 1
Eastern Meadowlark – 12
Rusty Blackbird – 12
Purple Finch – 67
Pine Siskin – 132
House Finch – 16
American Goldfinch – 21
Weather: partly sunny, winds NW 15-20mph, 55-57ºF, visibility excellent.
Morning Flight totals:
Northern Flicker – 27
Red-breasted Nuthatch – 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet – 12
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 120
kinglet, sp. – 21
American Robin – 95
American Pipit – 20
Cedar Waxwing – 19
Northern Parula – 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler – 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler – 1,054
Palm Warbler – 22
Blackpoll Warbler – 1
Blackpoll/Bay-breasted Warbler – 1
Northern Waterthrush – 1
warbler, sp. – 12
Chipping Sparrow – 5
Savannah Sparrow – 1
Dark-eyed Junco – 1
Indigo Bunting – 1
Eastern Meadowlark – 12
Rusty Blackbird – 12
Purple Finch – 67
Pine Siskin – 132
House Finch – 16
American Goldfinch – 21
Hawkwatch – 23 October 2014
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 23, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 75 81 Turkey Vulture 103 542 659 Osprey 68 1528 3697 Bald Eagle 4 197 498 Northern Harrier 27 446 622 Sharp-shinned Hawk 503 6054 9302 Cooper's Hawk 25 1852 2706 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 28 35 Broad-winged Hawk 0 450 658 Red-tailed Hawk 1 66 176 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 5 5 American Kestrel 208 1745 3983 Merlin 69 720 1233 Peregrine Falcon 19 595 908 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 4 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 1 Zone-tailed Hawk 0 0 1 Total: 1027 14304 24570 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:15:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 9.75 hours Official Counter: Tom Reed Observers: Doug Gochfeld, Steve Bauer Weather: Cool. Winds NW 15-25mph; mostly cloudy with AM showers; visibility fair->good. Raptor Observations: A surprisingly good flight, with AMKE and SSHA moving w. along the treeline and dunes throughout a rainy morning. Several pulses of SSHA during drier times in the PM. Thanks to SB and DG for coverage during parts of the late-PM. Non-raptor Observations: Eurasian Wigeon (4), Black/Surf Scoter (15,000+), Killdeer (630+), Long-billed Dowitcher (1), Stilt Sandpiper (9), Pectoral Sandpiper (29), White-rumped Sandpiper (3), Wilson's Snipe (35+), Parasitic Jaeger (~10), Cliff Swallow (4) Predictions: Sunny, 64ºF, winds NW 15-25mph.
Morning Flight -- 23 October 2014
Even though the wind was roaring this morning, there was a light flight of Yellow-rumped Warblers at the Higbee dike. There was very little songbird activity, otherwise. Thousands of scoters streamed south out of the bay and about 150 Killdeer cycled past in flocks.
Weather and time: cloudy with intermittent light drizzle; 53 degrees F; winds NW at 23 mph; 100% cloud cover; very good visibility; 0717 sunrise; 3.25 hours.
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 1
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 1
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 480
warbler sp. (Parulinae sp.) 11
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) 1
Morning Flight Count totals:
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 4Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 1
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 1
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 480
warbler sp. (Parulinae sp.) 11
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) 1
Seawatch - 23 October 2014
Observation
time: 0614 – 1816
Observer:
Skye Haas
Species
counted:
Snow Goose –
5
Brant – 196
Wood Duck –
1
Gadwall – 1
American
Wigeon – 1
American
Black Duck – 206
Mallard – 2
Northern
Shoveler – 1
Northern
Pintail – 2
Green-winged
Teal – 57
Greater
Scaup – 2
Lesser Scaup
– 9
Duck sp. – 90
Common Eider
– 1
Surf Scoter
– 403
Black Scoter
– 2,737
Dark-winged Scoter – 890
Scoter sp. – 93
Long-tailed
Duck – 1
Red-breasted
Merganser – 1
Red-throated
Loon – 31
Common Loon
– 63
Horned Grebe
– 1
Ring-necked
Grebe – 1
Northern
Gannet – 483
Brown
Pelican – 6
Double-crested
Cormorant – 13,536
Great Cormorant
– 3
Great Blue
Heron – 65
Laughing
Gull – 684
Bonaparte’s
Gull – 6
Ring-billed
Gull – 37
Herring Gull
– 16
Great
Black-backed Gull – 56
Black
Kittiwake – 1
Caspian Tern
– 2
Forster’s
Tern – 85
Royal Tern –
50
Parasitic
Jaeger – 6
Lesser
Black-backed Gull – 3
Redhead – 2
American
Oystercatcher – 1
Dunlin – 26
Black-bellied
Plover – 43
Red Knot –
21
Semipalmated
Plover – 6
Sanderling –
500
Purple
Sandpiper – 1
Ruddy
Turnstone – 2
Calidris sp. – 3
Total: 20,439
Hawkwatch – 22 October 2014
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 22, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 2 75 81 Turkey Vulture 52 439 556 Osprey 25 1460 3629 Bald Eagle 6 193 494 Northern Harrier 49 419 595 Sharp-shinned Hawk 413 5551 8799 Cooper's Hawk 88 1827 2681 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 3 28 35 Broad-winged Hawk 4 450 658 Red-tailed Hawk 7 65 175 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 1 5 5 American Kestrel 8 1537 3775 Merlin 10 651 1164 Peregrine Falcon 5 576 889 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 4 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 1 Zone-tailed Hawk 0 0 1 Total: 673 13277 23543 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10 hours Official Counter: Tom Reed Observers: Weather: Cool and damp. Winds N 10-15mph; cloud cover >90% throughout; visibility good->fair->poor. Rain developing during the late-PM. Raptor Observations: A short-lived burst of birds during the late-AM. Non-raptor Observations: Eurasian Wigeon (4), Black/Surf Scoter (10,000+), American Bittern (1), Parasitic Jaeger (~10), Yellow-billed Cuckoo (1), Lapland Longspur (1), Yellow-rumped Warbler (8,000). Predictions: Cloudy, 59ºF, winds NW 20-30mph.
Morning Flight -- 22 October 2014
POW! This morning's migration really knocked my socks off. There was great late diversity and moderately high numbers for the time of season. Kinglets and Chipping Sparrow stepped out to be recognized in Morning Flight today and the Yellow-rumped Warbler flight was outrageous. Other highlights included 2 Orange-crowned Warblers, Clay-colored Sparrow, and 154 Purple Finches.
Weather and time: mostly cloudy; 56 degrees F; winds NNE at 8-20 mph; 85% cloud cover; very good visibility; 0716 sunrise; 4.25 hours.
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 2
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 9
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 3
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 86
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 24
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 40
kinglet sp. (Regulus sp.) 2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 28
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 95
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) 1
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 17
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 1
Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina) 1
Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata) 2
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 3
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) 1
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 12
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) 7
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 253
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 12486 12,466 north, 20 south in 4th hour
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) 1
warbler sp. (Parulinae sp.) 517
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 336
Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) 1
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) 1
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 27
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 1
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 60
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 2
Dickcissel (Spiza americana) 2
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) 11
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 124
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) 154
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 43
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 23
Morning Flight Count totals:
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 2
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 9
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 3
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 86
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 24
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 40
kinglet sp. (Regulus sp.) 2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 28
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 95
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) 1
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 17
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 1
Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina) 1
Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata) 2
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 3
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) 1
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 12
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) 7
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 253
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 12486 12,466 north, 20 south in 4th hour
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) 1
warbler sp. (Parulinae sp.) 517
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 336
Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) 1
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) 1
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 27
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 1
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 60
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 2
Dickcissel (Spiza americana) 2
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) 11
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 124
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) 154
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 43
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 23
Morning Flight -- 21 October 2014
It was a quite seasonably slow day with rain interrupting the count in the second hour.
Weather and time: cloudy; 62 degrees F; winds SW at 3-5 mph; 75-95% cloud cover; excellent visibility; 0715 sunrise; 1.75 hours.
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 2
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 2
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) 5
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 6
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) 1
Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina) 1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 1
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 3
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 343 127 north, 216 south
warbler sp. (Parulinae sp.) 20
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 13
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 1
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) 16 south
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) 8
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 8
Weather and time: cloudy; 62 degrees F; winds SW at 3-5 mph; 75-95% cloud cover; excellent visibility; 0715 sunrise; 1.75 hours.
Morning Flight Count totals:
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 2
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 2
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) 5
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 6
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) 1
Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina) 1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 1
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 3
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 343 127 north, 216 south
warbler sp. (Parulinae sp.) 20
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 13
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 1
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) 16 south
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) 8
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 8
Morning Flight -- 20 October 2014
Today there was an intriguing flight. The first 1.5 hours after sunrise was a fairly typical flight, although maybe heavier than expected, with birds flying north. These seemed to be migrants that arrived in Cape May a few hours before dawn and then were seen engaging in the morning flight phenomenon-- following the conventional idea of what this project is all about. During the second half of the four and a quarter hour effort, the songbirds, and predominantly Yellow-rumps (as expected at this time) were seen coming in high and from the Delaware Bay, moving south. These were apparent to be two different sets of migrants in different modes of migration, specific to where they were at sunrise-- the first set having dropped down on land some time before daylight, and the second set just making landfall from the bay.
Weather and time: sun with increasing clouds; 41-58 degrees F; winds SE at 5-8 mph; 2-40% cloud cover; excellent visibility; 0714 sunrise; 4.25 hours.
Morning Flight Count totals:
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 2Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 31 20 north, 11 south, maybe some of the same individuals
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 4
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 50 some back south, thought to be the same individuals
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 10
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 82 63 south, 19 north
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 8
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 9
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) 2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 65 27 north, 38 south
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) 29 14 north, 15 south
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 36 19 north, 17 south
Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina) 1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 2 1 north, 1 south
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) 2
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 43 35 north, 8 south
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) 1 south
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 3049 1499 north, 1550 south
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) 1 south
warbler sp. (Parulinae sp.) 706 690 north, 16 south
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 20
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 2
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 9
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 1
Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) 1 south
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) 37
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) 8 1 north, 7 south
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 1
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 53 22 north, 31 south
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) 74 60 north, 14 south
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 63 52 north, 11 south
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 24 south
Seawatch - 22 October 2014
Observation
time: 0611 – 1811
Observer:
Skye Haas/Sam Galick
Species
counted:
Brant – 36
American
Wigeon – 1
American
Black Duck – 22
Northern
Pintail – 6
Green-winged
Teal – 23
Ring-necked
Duck – 2
Lesser Scaup
– 5
Surf Scoter
– 4,181
Black Scoter
– 6,172
Dark-winged Scoter – 4,845
Scoter sp. – 30
Red-throated
Loon – 8
Common Loon
– 12
Northern
Gannet – 174
Brown
Pelican – 1
Double-crested
Cormorant – 2,518
Laughing
Gull – 228
Ring-billed
Gull – 9
Forster’s
Tern – 11
Royal Tern –
1
Black
Skimmer – 1
Parasitic
Jaeger – 8
Jaeger sp. – 1
Waterbird sp. – 40
Black-bellied
Plover – 20
Semipalmated
Plover – 4
Sanderling –
80
Dunlin – 25
Calidris sp. – 3
Total: 18,461
Seawatch - 21 October 2014
Observation time: 0600 - 1745
Observer: Tom Reed
Species counted:
Brant - 12
Wood Duck - 7
American Black Duck - 49
American Black Duck x Mallard - 1
Northern Pintail - 1
Green-winged Teal - 29
Greater Scaup - 2
Lesser Scaup - 6
Scaup sp. - 2
Surf Scoter - 23,270
White-winged Scoter - 11
Black Scoter - 12,913
Dark-winged Scoter - 401
Long-tailed Duck - 1
Bufflehead - 1
Red-breasted Merganser - 4
Red-throated Loon - 72
Common Loon - 60
Horned Grebe - 2
Northern Gannet - 102
Brown Pelican - 62
Double-crested Cormorant - 6,953
Great Cormorant - 1
Great Blue Heron - 4
Laughing Gull - 786
Ring-billed Gull - 46
Great Black-backed Gull - 23
Caspian Tern - 1
Common Tern - 1
Forster's Tern - 446
Royal Tern - 110
Black Skimmer - 72
Parasitic Jaeger - 10
Total: 45,461
Hawkwatch - 21 October 2014
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 21, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 73 79 Turkey Vulture 25 387 504 Osprey 6 1435 3604 Bald Eagle 7 187 488 Northern Harrier 44 370 546 Sharp-shinned Hawk 93 5138 8386 Cooper's Hawk 125 1739 2593 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 8 25 32 Broad-winged Hawk 12 446 654 Red-tailed Hawk 15 58 168 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 2 4 4 American Kestrel 5 1529 3767 Merlin 7 641 1154 Peregrine Falcon 21 571 884 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 4 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 1 Zone-tailed Hawk 0 0 1 Total: 370 12604 22870 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10 hours Official Counter: Mary Raikes Observers: Weather: Very nice day starting with S/SW winds 5-10mph, but switching to light W/NW winds in the afternoon. Skies were mostly cloudy with a few sprinkles in the morning then clearing with very little cloud coverage in the late afternoon. Temperatures reaching high 60's. Raptor Observations: A slow morning with the S/SW winds, but as the winds decreased and changed directions nice kettles formed with a good diversity of buteos and a good number of coopers hawks. Quite a few harriers and peregrines streamed on out and 2 Golden Eagles were sighted. Non-raptor Observations: Lots of diversity on the pond still with Eurasian Widgeon(4), Pied-billed Grebe(2), American Widgeon, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, and Green-winged Teal to name a few. Predictions: Rain likely with N/NE winds 10-20mph. ======================================================================== Cape May information may be found at: http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/CMBO/
Seawatch - 20 October 2014
Observation time: 0614 - 1815
Observer: Tom Reed
Species counted:
Snow Goose - 18
Canada Goose - 94
Brant - 370
Wood Duck - 111
American Wigeon - 15
American Black Duck - 324
Mallard - 2
American Black Duck/Mallard - 12
American Black Duck x Mallard - 1
Northern Pintail - 138
Green-winged Teal - 1,638
Dabbler sp. - 33
Ruddy Duck - 1
Greater Scaup - 11
Lesser Scaup - 15
Scaup sp. - 4
Surf Scoter - 540
Black Scoter - 5,256
Dark-winged Scoter - 521
Long-tailed Duck - 5
Red-breasted Merganser - 4
Red-throated Loon - 64
Common Loon - 68
Horned Grebe - 4
Northern Gannet - 4
Brown Pelican - 12
Double-crested Cormorant - 14,066
Black-crowned Night Heron - 1
Great Blue Heron - 38
Laughing Gull - 760
Ring-billed Gull - 11
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2
Common Tern - 1
Forster's Tern - 382
Royal Tern - 113
Parasitic Jaeger - 7
Total: 24,646
Observer: Tom Reed
Species counted:
Snow Goose - 18
Canada Goose - 94
Brant - 370
Wood Duck - 111
American Wigeon - 15
American Black Duck - 324
Mallard - 2
American Black Duck/Mallard - 12
American Black Duck x Mallard - 1
Northern Pintail - 138
Green-winged Teal - 1,638
Dabbler sp. - 33
Ruddy Duck - 1
Greater Scaup - 11
Lesser Scaup - 15
Scaup sp. - 4
Surf Scoter - 540
Black Scoter - 5,256
Dark-winged Scoter - 521
Long-tailed Duck - 5
Red-breasted Merganser - 4
Red-throated Loon - 64
Common Loon - 68
Horned Grebe - 4
Northern Gannet - 4
Brown Pelican - 12
Double-crested Cormorant - 14,066
Black-crowned Night Heron - 1
Great Blue Heron - 38
Laughing Gull - 760
Ring-billed Gull - 11
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2
Common Tern - 1
Forster's Tern - 382
Royal Tern - 113
Parasitic Jaeger - 7
Total: 24,646
Hawkwatch - 20 October 2014
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 20, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 73 79 Turkey Vulture 15 362 479 Osprey 2 1429 3598 Bald Eagle 5 180 481 Northern Harrier 21 326 502 Sharp-shinned Hawk 74 5045 8293 Cooper's Hawk 47 1614 2468 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 17 24 Broad-winged Hawk 7 434 642 Red-tailed Hawk 6 43 153 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 2 2 American Kestrel 5 1524 3762 Merlin 9 634 1147 Peregrine Falcon 7 550 863 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 4 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 1 Zone-tailed Hawk 0 0 1 Total: 199 12234 22500 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10 hours Official Counter: Mary Raikes Observers: Weather: Day started a cold 36F with clear skies and no wind. Winds were light from the south starting around 800EST and increasing to 15mph in the afternoon with gusts of 20+ from the south/southwest. Raptor Observations: An early flight of accipiters and harriers and kettles of vultures, red-tails and broad wings, but flight shut down with the increasing southerly winds. Non-raptor Observations: Noticeable numbers of American Robin, Blue Jays, Red-winged Blackbirds, Eastern Meadowlark, Killdeer, and Double-crested Cormorants. Typical waterfowl on the pond including Wood ducks(8). Also, Yellow-headed Blackbird(1). Predictions: Chance of showers in the afternoon with warmer temperatures and winds from the southwest 5-10mph. ======================================================================== Cape May information may be found at: http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/CMBO/
Morning Flight -- 19 October 2014
It was a wonderful and blustery day at the dike! Yellow-rumped Warbler stole the show with 15,782 counted. The high wind speed created a spectacle of whipping and winding birds streaming by. The flight didn't really get started until 20-30 minutes past sunrise. Another major highlight was the staggering number of raptors (primarily Sharp-shinned Hawk with over 2,000 conservatively estimated) streaming north for the 6 hours of the day that the count was conducted.
Morning Flight Count totals:
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 93
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 4
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 6
kinglet sp. (Regulus sp.) 8
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 1
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) 9
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 59
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) 1
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 1
Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina) 3
Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata) 1
Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla) 2
Oreothlypis sp. (Oreothlypis sp.) 1
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 5
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) 2
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 14
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) 6 Filter
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 185
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 15782
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) 2
warbler sp. (Parulinae sp.) 1741
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 24
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 2
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) 1
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 1
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) 3
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) 1
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 6
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 93
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 4
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 6
kinglet sp. (Regulus sp.) 8
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 1
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) 9
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 59
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) 1
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 1
Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina) 3
Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata) 1
Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla) 2
Oreothlypis sp. (Oreothlypis sp.) 1
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 5
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) 2
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 14
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) 6 Filter
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 185
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 15782
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) 2
warbler sp. (Parulinae sp.) 1741
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 24
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 2
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) 1
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 1
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) 3
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) 1
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 6
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 2