Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 13, 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 2 459 459 Bald Eagle 1 68 68 Northern Harrier 3 109 109 Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 289 289 Cooper's Hawk 4 99 99 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 51 51 Red-tailed Hawk 0 14 14 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 5 804 804 Merlin 4 123 123 Peregrine Falcon 0 26 26 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 23 2042 2042 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 05:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10.5 hours Official Counter: Tom Reed Observers: Weather: Warm, sunny. Calm conditions during the morning, with a steady SE breeze developing by noon. Raptor Observations: Almost all movement restricted to the middle of the day. A kettle of 6 Bald Eagles around 10:45am included at least 4 non-residents, though only one bird apparently crossed to DE. Non-raptor Observations: Another decent movement of Monarchs (1400+) this morning. A light songbird flight was highlighted by Tennessee Warbler (1), Cape May Warbler (1), and Red-breasted Nuthatch (8+). Predictions: Sunny and warm, with a light wind of the south. A weak cold front is expected to move through tomorrow night.
Cape May Hawk Watch - 13 September 2012
Morning Flight - 13 September 2012
It's a strange day when Red-breasted Nuthatches fly in greater numbers (2x even) than anything else. Without competition, the highlight of the morning was a flock of seven Red-breasted Nuthatches that emerged from the woods at Higbee; but when I looked twice, I noticed that a single warbler was leading the pack - a Connecticut Warbler! And due to the slow warbler flight, today was probably my personal lifetime best Connecticut Warbler/warbler ratio: 1:25.
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 19
American Robin - 4
Cedar Waxwing - 1
Northern Parula - 4
Yellow Warbler - 2
Pine Warbler - 1
"Baypoll" Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 5
Northern Waterthrush - 9
Connecticut Warbler - 1
warbler sp. - 2
Indigo Bunting - 3
Total = 58
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 19
American Robin - 4
Cedar Waxwing - 1
Northern Parula - 4
Yellow Warbler - 2
Pine Warbler - 1
"Baypoll" Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 5
Northern Waterthrush - 9
Connecticut Warbler - 1
warbler sp. - 2
Indigo Bunting - 3
Total = 58
Cape May Hawk Watch - 12 September 2012
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 12, 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 28 457 457 Bald Eagle 6 67 67 Northern Harrier 14 106 106 Sharp-shinned Hawk 30 285 285 Cooper's Hawk 14 95 95 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 5 51 51 Red-tailed Hawk 1 14 14 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 30 799 799 Merlin 7 119 119 Peregrine Falcon 4 26 26 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 139 2019 2019 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 05:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10.5 hours Official Counter: Tom Reed Observers: Weather: Warm, mostly sunny. Calm winds to start, becoming W/NW through the rest of the AM before shifting to S shortly before noon. Raptor Observations: Almost all movement was restricted to the late-morning hours. Very high flight against blue skies. Essentially all movement shut down in the afternoon with the onset of south winds. Non-raptor Observations: A great morning movement of Monarchs (3600+), as well as thousands of dragonflies (primarily Black Saddlebags, with smaller numbers of both gliders, Common Green Darners and Carolina Saddlebags). A small songbird flight included 2 Dickcissels, 4 Cape May Warblers, 6+ Red-breasted Nuthatches and 1 Magnolia Warbler. Predictions: Sunny; SE winds
Morning Flight - 12 September 2012
After nearly a week of good morning flights, today's flight belied that trend. Warbler diversity was still relatively good (11 species), but overall numbers were dismal. In particular, the paucity of redstarts was stark; in fact, for a good chunk of the morning, I wondered if I'd even be able to click a single one.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 6
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 10
Cedar Waxwing - 1
Nashville Warbler - 1
Northern Parula - 12
Yellow Warbler - 3
Cape May Warbler - 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
Palm Warbler - 4
"Baypoll" Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 2
Northern Waterthrush - 13
warbler sp. - 9
Scarlet Tanager - 1
Indigo Bunting - 5
Bobolink - 2
Purple Finch - 1
Total = 79
Cape May Hawk Watch - 11 September 2012
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 11, 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 54 429 429 Bald Eagle 29 61 61 Northern Harrier 18 92 92 Sharp-shinned Hawk 76 255 255 Cooper's Hawk 43 81 81 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 2 2 Broad-winged Hawk 23 46 46 Red-tailed Hawk 12 13 13 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 51 769 769 Merlin 10 112 112 Peregrine Falcon 2 20 20 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 319 1880 1880 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 05:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10.50 hours Official Counter: Pete Dunne
Morning Flight - 11 September 2012
Although the winds seemed promising for a continuation of yesterday's fast-paced flight, warbler numbers dropped off today (369 individuals of 16 species). However, Red-breasted Nuthatches (157) were there to pick up the slack, flying in triple-digits for the first time since 8/29 (374). The season total for Red-breasted Nuthatches is now up to 770. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers (34 today, 16 yesterday) have also put in a good showing of late, after essentially disappearing following flights in mid- to late August. The other notable highlight for the day was a single juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker that flew north high overhead.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 5
Red-headed Woodpecker - 1
Northern Flicker - 3
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1
Eastern Phoebe - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 21
Red-eyed Vireo - 14
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 157
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 34
Veery - 1
American Robin - 2
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 220
Tennessee Warbler - 4
Nashville Warbler - 1
Northern Parula - 74
Yellow Warbler - 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 2
Cape May Warbler - 6
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 8
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Palm Warbler - 28
Blackpoll Warbler - 3
"Baypoll" Warbler - 2
Black-and-white Warbler - 11
American Redstart - 82
Northern Waterthrush - 26
warbler sp. - 115
Scarlet Tanager - 3
Indigo Bunting - 3
Dickcissel - 2
Bobolink - 42
Baltimore Oriole - 8
Purple Finch - 1
Total = 889
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 5
Red-headed Woodpecker - 1
Northern Flicker - 3
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1
Eastern Phoebe - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 21
Red-eyed Vireo - 14
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 157
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 34
Veery - 1
American Robin - 2
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 220
Tennessee Warbler - 4
Nashville Warbler - 1
Northern Parula - 74
Yellow Warbler - 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 2
Cape May Warbler - 6
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 8
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Palm Warbler - 28
Blackpoll Warbler - 3
"Baypoll" Warbler - 2
Black-and-white Warbler - 11
American Redstart - 82
Northern Waterthrush - 26
warbler sp. - 115
Scarlet Tanager - 3
Indigo Bunting - 3
Dickcissel - 2
Bobolink - 42
Baltimore Oriole - 8
Purple Finch - 1
Total = 889
Cape May Hawk Watch - 10 September 2012
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 10, 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 68 375 375 Bald Eagle 6 32 32 Northern Harrier 11 74 74 Sharp-shinned Hawk 154 179 179 Cooper's Hawk 21 38 38 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 1 1 Broad-winged Hawk 16 23 23 Red-tailed Hawk 1 1 1 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 291 718 718 Merlin 30 102 102 Peregrine Falcon 0 18 18 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 599 1561 1561 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 05:20:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10.75 hours Official Counter: Vince Elia
Morning Flight - 10 September 2012
For the first time this morning, I donned a sweatshirt. Apparently, I wasn't the only one acknowledging the past cold front; the composition of birds, too, took notice that fall was in the air. Today's excellent morning flight showed characteristic signs of the transitioning season. Northern Flickers (9) finally showed up today; Palm Warblers (51) were in double-digits for the first time this September; and hummingbirds (1), Yellow Warblers (17), and Northern Waterthrushes (35) were in reduced numbers compared to earlier season flights. Despite some reduction in species' numbers, the warbler flight today was exceptional (1304 warblers of 21 species), and included season-high counts of Northern Parula (298), Cape May Warbler (20), and Black-and-white Warblers (56).
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Northern Flicker - 9
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 4
Empidonax flycatcher - 2
Eastern Kingbird - 24
Red-eyed Vireo - 21
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 56
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 16
Northern Mockingbird - 2
Cedar Waxwing - 403
Tennessee Warbler - 5
Nashville Warbler - 1
Northern Parula - 298
Yellow Warbler - 17
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 3
Magnolia Warbler - 5
Cape May Warbler - 20
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 26
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
Black-throated Green Warbler - 4
Blackburnian Warbler - 2
Pine Warbler - 2
Prairie Warbler - 3
Palm Warbler - 51
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1
Blackpoll Warbler - 37
"Baypoll" Warbler - 5
Black-and-white Warbler - 56
American Redstart - 444
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 35
Canada Warbler - 1
warbler sp. - 286
Scarlet Tanager - 9
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 3
Indigo Bunting - 7
Bobolink - 233
Baltimore Oriole - 3
Purple Finch - 3
Total = 2100
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Northern Flicker - 9
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 4
Empidonax flycatcher - 2
Eastern Kingbird - 24
Red-eyed Vireo - 21
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 56
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 16
Northern Mockingbird - 2
Cedar Waxwing - 403
Tennessee Warbler - 5
Nashville Warbler - 1
Northern Parula - 298
Yellow Warbler - 17
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 3
Magnolia Warbler - 5
Cape May Warbler - 20
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 26
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
Black-throated Green Warbler - 4
Blackburnian Warbler - 2
Pine Warbler - 2
Prairie Warbler - 3
Palm Warbler - 51
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1
Blackpoll Warbler - 37
"Baypoll" Warbler - 5
Black-and-white Warbler - 56
American Redstart - 444
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 35
Canada Warbler - 1
warbler sp. - 286
Scarlet Tanager - 9
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 3
Indigo Bunting - 7
Bobolink - 233
Baltimore Oriole - 3
Purple Finch - 3
Total = 2100
Cape May Hawk Watch - 9 September 2012
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 09, 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 109 307 307 Bald Eagle 21 26 26 Northern Harrier 34 63 63 Sharp-shinned Hawk 17 25 25 Cooper's Hawk 10 17 17 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 6 7 7 Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 0 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 268 427 427 Merlin 30 72 72 Peregrine Falcon 5 18 18 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 500 962 962 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 05:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10.5 hours Official Counter: Tom Reed Observers: Weather: Mostly cloudy at dawn, becoming progressively less cloudy throughout the day as the front pulled away. Winds light out of the NE/N to start, becoming stronger and shifting to NW by early-afternoon. Raptor Observations: A slow start was replaced mid-morning by a very high and dispersed flight against a deep blue sky. The flight came down from outer space in the afternoon as the winds shifted and increased. A little push of Kestrels during the last few hours was a nice way to end the day. Non-raptor Observations: Bay-breasted Warbler (1), Cape May Warbler (4), Dickcissel (1), Gull-billed Tern (1), Black Tern (1), Common Nighthawk (5+), Blue-winged Teal (18) Predictions: More north winds tomorrow should bring a good flight.
Morning Flight - 9 September 2012
It finally started to feel more like autumn this morning. However, the front didn't quite clear the region in time to allow for a substantial morning flight. Nevertheless, Blackpoll Warblers (28) moved in double-digits for the first time this season. But while there seems to be a changing-of-the-guards (beginning 9/6, Northern Parulas have suddenly become a dominant member of the warbler flight), today's Orchard Oriole - a date that is getting late for this species - was the first one since 8/21.
Red-headed Woodpecker - 1
Empidonax flycatcher - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 77
Red-eyed Vireo - 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 16
Cedar Waxwing - 24
Tennessee Warbler - 2
Northern Parula - 49
Yellow Warbler - 10
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 2
Magnolia Warbler - 2
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 1
Palm Warbler - 4
Bay-breasted Warbler - 2
Blackpoll Warbler - 28
"Baypoll" Warbler - 6
Black-and-white Warbler - 11
American Redstart - 49
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 43
Canada Warbler - 1
warbler sp. - 63
Bobolink - 28
Orchard Oriole - 1
Total = 425
Red-headed Woodpecker - 1
Empidonax flycatcher - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 77
Red-eyed Vireo - 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 16
Cedar Waxwing - 24
Tennessee Warbler - 2
Northern Parula - 49
Yellow Warbler - 10
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 2
Magnolia Warbler - 2
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 1
Palm Warbler - 4
Bay-breasted Warbler - 2
Blackpoll Warbler - 28
"Baypoll" Warbler - 6
Black-and-white Warbler - 11
American Redstart - 49
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 43
Canada Warbler - 1
warbler sp. - 63
Bobolink - 28
Orchard Oriole - 1
Total = 425
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| Red-headed Woodpecker (Juvenile; photo by Sam Galick) |
Cape May Hawk Watch - 8 September 2012
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 08, 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 1 198 198 Bald Eagle 0 5 5 Northern Harrier 0 29 29 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 8 8 Cooper's Hawk 0 7 7 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 1 1 Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 0 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 3 159 159 Merlin 3 42 42 Peregrine Falcon 2 13 13 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 10 462 462 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 05:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10.33 hours Official Counter: Tom Reed Observers: Weather: Warm, humid and windy, with variable cloudiness throughout. Winds out of the south occasionally gusted to 30mph, particularly during the afternoon hours. A brief, light shower at dawn was followed by a 10-minute downpour late in the AM. Thunderstorms associated with the approaching cold front are scheduled to arrive this evening. Raptor Observations: Not much of anything flying today. Non-raptor Observations: Least Tern (1), Lesser Black-backed Gull (2), Bank Swallow (1) Predictions: A cold front will clear the coast overnight, and a nice flight is expected on north winds tomorrow.
Morning Flight - 8 September 2012
After two excellent mornings at Higbee, today's flight showcased few birds. The star, however, was a Kentucky Warbler that dropped into the Phragmites literally at our feet. As best as we can deduce, it probably weaved between onlookers before settling into the vegetation. At one point it actually approached my clipboard to within a few feet, as if imploring us to count it. It flew farther north and disappeared along the line of Phragmites - not typical Kentucky Warbler habitat, to say the least.
As it turns out, this is the first Kentucky Warbler registered in the Morning Flight database since its official inception in 2003. Kentucky Warblers were once seen more frequently on Cape Island; in fact, The Birds of Cape May (Sibley 1997) states that the average was once 10 individuals per fall on the island. A quick check on eBird shows that there have been only four fall reports in the past 10 years (1 in 2002 and 3 in 2005). Unfortunately, as they've become decidely less common, today's sighting was a real rarity.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 3
Empidonax flycatcher - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 2
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Northern Parula - 1
Yellow Warbler - 2
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1
Palm Warbler - 2
Black-and-white Warbler - 5
American Redstart - 16
Northern Waterthrush - 20
Kentucky Warbler - 1
warbler sp. - 4
Blue Grosbeak - 1
Indigo Bunting - 1
Dickcissel - 1
Bobolink - 18
Total = 80
As it turns out, this is the first Kentucky Warbler registered in the Morning Flight database since its official inception in 2003. Kentucky Warblers were once seen more frequently on Cape Island; in fact, The Birds of Cape May (Sibley 1997) states that the average was once 10 individuals per fall on the island. A quick check on eBird shows that there have been only four fall reports in the past 10 years (1 in 2002 and 3 in 2005). Unfortunately, as they've become decidely less common, today's sighting was a real rarity.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 3
Empidonax flycatcher - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 2
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Northern Parula - 1
Yellow Warbler - 2
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1
Palm Warbler - 2
Black-and-white Warbler - 5
American Redstart - 16
Northern Waterthrush - 20
Kentucky Warbler - 1
warbler sp. - 4
Blue Grosbeak - 1
Indigo Bunting - 1
Dickcissel - 1
Bobolink - 18
Total = 80
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| Kentucky Warbler (Photo by Tom Johnson) |
Cape May Hawk Watch - 7 September 2012
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 07, 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 102 197 197 Bald Eagle 4 5 5 Northern Harrier 18 29 29 Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 7 7 Cooper's Hawk 4 7 7 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 1 1 1 Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 0 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 83 156 156 Merlin 22 39 39 Peregrine Falcon 2 11 11 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 239 452 452 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 05:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10.5 hours Official Counter: Tom Reed Observers: Weather: Sunny and warm. Increasing south winds throughout the day. Raptor Observations: A surprisingly good flight given the conditions. Osprey started to move just before 10:00am, and Kestrels joined them about an hour later. The flight shut down by mid-afternoon, perhaps caused by an increase in wind speed from the south. Non-raptor Observations: Another decent passerine movement occurred this morning, though it was far less notable than yesterday's fallout. Highlights included Lark Sparrow (1), Dickcissel (1), Cape May Warbler (6), Eastern Kingbird (43), Ruby-throated Hummingbird (11) and several dozen each of American Redstart and Northern Waterthrush. Other notables: Black Tern (1), Gull-billed Tern (1), Tricolored Heron (4), Brown Pelican (14) Predictions: One last hot and humid day before a cold front arrives Saturday night.
Morning Flight - 7 September 2012
There a number of warblers that have local allegiances. Most notably, of course, is Cape May Warbler, but there are others: Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia) and Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica). However, no regular eastern warbler is as sought-after in Cape May as the Connecticut Warbler and for the first time this morning, one flew out at Higbee Beach. And then another, and another. And one more for good measure. In all, four Connecticut Warblers were seen amid a modest warbler flight (589 individuals of 16 species). Today's flight consisted of the same major players as yesterday - with much fewer redstarts - but Yellow Warblers also flew in comparatively reduced numbers. And for the first time in nearly a week, Red-breasted Nuthatches moved in appreciable numbers (the last double-digit flight was 53 on 9/1).
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1
Red-headed Woodpecker - 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Empidonax flycatcher - 4
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 7
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 53
Cedar Waxwing - 31
Tennessee Warbler - 3
Nashville Warbler - 1
Northern Parula - 100
Yellow Warbler - 12
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 7
Magnolia Warbler - 7
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 4
Black-throated Green Warbler - 3
Prairie Warbler - 3
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1
Blackpoll Warbler - 3
"Baypoll" Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 47
American Redstart - 172
Ovenbird - 2
Northern Waterthrush - 83
Connecticut Warbler - 4
warbler sp. - 141
Scarlet Tanager - 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1
Blue Grosbeak - 1
Indigo Bunting - 3
Bobolink - 40
Baltimore Oriole - 2
Total = 738
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1
Red-headed Woodpecker - 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Empidonax flycatcher - 4
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 7
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 53
Cedar Waxwing - 31
Tennessee Warbler - 3
Nashville Warbler - 1
Northern Parula - 100
Yellow Warbler - 12
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 7
Magnolia Warbler - 7
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 4
Black-throated Green Warbler - 3
Prairie Warbler - 3
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1
Blackpoll Warbler - 3
"Baypoll" Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 47
American Redstart - 172
Ovenbird - 2
Northern Waterthrush - 83
Connecticut Warbler - 4
warbler sp. - 141
Scarlet Tanager - 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1
Blue Grosbeak - 1
Indigo Bunting - 3
Bobolink - 40
Baltimore Oriole - 2
Total = 738
 |
| Connecticut Warbler (Photo by Tom Johnson) |
Morning Flight - 6 September 2012
Today's flight was night-and-day compared to yesterday's. A great liftoff of birds last evening and a protracted east-west band of early morning rain produced staggering number of birds around Cape May Point this morning. By the time heavy rains abated, birds were on the move. Interestingly, the proximity of the point actually seemed to have more songbirds aloft (particularly Bobolinks) than at Higbee Beach. However, despite a rain-shortened morning count, 1500+ warblers of 20 species were tallied. The flight was overwhelmingly dominated by American Redstarts, followed by Northern Parulas and Northern Waterthrushes. Black-and-white Warblers and Yellow Warblers also flew in moderate numbers. All of these species - minus Northern Waterthrush - were regularly found on the ground around Cape May during the rest of the day with loads of redstarts predominating; surprisingly little diversity could be mustered from midday warbler searches on the ground.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1
Empidonax flycatcher - 3
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 15
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2
American Robin - 1
Veery - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 23
Blue-winged Warbler - 1
"winged-warbler" sp. (Golden-winged/Blue-winged) - 1
Tennessee Warbler - 2
Northern Parula - 144
Yellow Warbler - 31
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 4
Magnolia Warbler - 5
Cape May Warbler - 7
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 18
Black-throated Green Warbler - 5
Blackburnian Warbler - 3
Palm Warbler - 1
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1
Blackpoll Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 48
American Redstart - 726
Worm-eating Warbler - 1
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 140
Louisiana Waterthrush - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 1
warbler sp. - 391
Scarlet Tanager - 3
Indigo Bunting - 3
Bobolink - 411
Baltimore Oriole - 1
Purple Finch - 1
Total =1999
The other highlight for the morning was an atmospheric flock of 91 Common Nighthawks bound for Delaware. As it turned out, this was merely a precursor for a red-letter day of Common Nighthawk migration. (A one-hour count prior to sunset at the state park yielded an all-time Cape May high count of 1202 individuals!)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1
Empidonax flycatcher - 3
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 15
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2
American Robin - 1
Veery - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 23
Blue-winged Warbler - 1
"winged-warbler" sp. (Golden-winged/Blue-winged) - 1
Tennessee Warbler - 2
Northern Parula - 144
Yellow Warbler - 31
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 4
Magnolia Warbler - 5
Cape May Warbler - 7
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 18
Black-throated Green Warbler - 5
Blackburnian Warbler - 3
Palm Warbler - 1
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1
Blackpoll Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 48
American Redstart - 726
Worm-eating Warbler - 1
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 140
Louisiana Waterthrush - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 1
warbler sp. - 391
Scarlet Tanager - 3
Indigo Bunting - 3
Bobolink - 411
Baltimore Oriole - 1
Purple Finch - 1
Total =1999
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| Philadelphia Vireo (Photo by Sam Galick) |
 |
| Tennessee Warbler (Photo by Sam Galick) |
The other highlight for the morning was an atmospheric flock of 91 Common Nighthawks bound for Delaware. As it turned out, this was merely a precursor for a red-letter day of Common Nighthawk migration. (A one-hour count prior to sunset at the state park yielded an all-time Cape May high count of 1202 individuals!)
Cape May Hawk Watch - 6 September 2012
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 06, 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 9 95 95 Bald Eagle 1 1 1 Northern Harrier 1 11 11 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 4 4 Cooper's Hawk 0 3 3 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 0 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 0 73 73 Merlin 6 17 17 Peregrine Falcon 6 9 9 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 23 213 213 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 05:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8.25 hours Official Counter: Tom Reed Observers: Weather: Humid and overcast for most of the day, with moderate/heavy rain during the early morning and again during the early afternoon. Winds light out of the west in the morning shifted to the south by midday, and went back around to west once the afternoon rain cleared. Raptor Observations: As expected, very light movement between bouts of rain. A few falcons riding the backside of the afternoon precipitation. Non-raptor Observations: Conditions overnight (stationary line of showers and thunderstorms over the Cape May area) led to a decent fallout of passerines, with some of the following noted from the hawk watch: 6,370 Bobolinks, 493 American Redstarts, 70+ Northern Waterthrushes, 45+ Yellow Warblers, ~20 Black-throated Blue Warblers, ~15 Northern Parulas, 2 Dickcissels, and a single Mourning Warbler (R. Crossley). There were far fewer shorebirds than yesterday, but we still tallied 175+ Lesser Yellowlegs, 20+ Pectoral Sandpipers, 8 Stilt Sandpipers, 2 Willets and 2 American Golden-Plovers. Predictions: Another summer day, with perhaps some early fog. Light winds, predicted to be from the south.
Cape May Hawk Watch - 5 September 2012
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 05, 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 20 86 86 Bald Eagle 0 0 0 Northern Harrier 0 10 10 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 4 4 Cooper's Hawk 0 3 3 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 0 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 2 73 73 Merlin 2 11 11 Peregrine Falcon 0 3 3 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 24 190 190 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 05:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10.5 hours Official Counter: Tom Reed Observers: Weather: Warm and humid with variable cloudiness throughout the day. Some thunderstorm activity well to our north and west during the afternoon hours. Winds SSW in the morning, shifting to WSW by late-morning; 10-15mph throughout. Raptor Observations: Very little movement today. A few Osprey passing through after the wind gained more of a westerly component. Non-raptor Observations: A nice shorebird flight took place during the morning, and continued at a slower pace through the rest of the day. Included were Lesser Yellowlegs (422), Pectoral Sandpiper (101), Stilt Sandpiper (66), Semipalmated Sandpiper (31), Least Sandpiper (27), Red Knot (17), Whimbrel (2), Black-bellied Plover (1) and American Golden-Plover (1). Other highlights: Gull-billed Tern, Black Tern (3+), Lesser Black-backed Gull (2) Predictions: Another warm day, but with a hopeful forecast for northwest winds in the morning.
Morning Flight - 5 September 2012
Perhaps this blog entry would be more aptly titled the "morning plight." SSW winds nearly pitched a shutout this morning, with only a few stragglers using those tailwinds to propel them northbound. As there were no birds, the highlight was a pleasant and thought-provoking conversation. Thanks guys.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 1
Morning Flight - 4 September 2012
The migration doldrums continued this morning, although the "flight" of mosquitoes was noteworthy. And because of this, I finally upgraded my footwear from open- to closed-toed. Northern Waterthrushes again held true to form and were flying about, despite poor conditions. Otherwise, warbler diversity actually increased from yesterday, which is saying something, I think.
Eastern Kingbird - 2
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1
Northern Mockingbird - 2
Northern Parula -1
Yellow Warbler -3
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 2
American Redstart -3
Northern Waterthrush -14
warbler sp. - 2
Blue Grosbeak - 1
Indigo Bunting - 2
Total = 37
The highlight of the day was a flyby Marbled Godwit that came in off the bayshore and appeared to be heading east on the canal. Otherwise, 17 southbound Brown Pelicans and 6 Belted Kingfishers were both good counts.
Eastern Kingbird - 2
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1
Northern Mockingbird - 2
Northern Parula -1
Yellow Warbler -3
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 2
American Redstart -3
Northern Waterthrush -14
warbler sp. - 2
Blue Grosbeak - 1
Indigo Bunting - 2
Total = 37
The highlight of the day was a flyby Marbled Godwit that came in off the bayshore and appeared to be heading east on the canal. Otherwise, 17 southbound Brown Pelicans and 6 Belted Kingfishers were both good counts.
Morning Flight - 3 September 2012
The flight today was very light with almost no warblers - and little diversity - on the move. On "off" days, Northern Waterthrushes seem to be the most opportunistic warbler, readily flying despite non-optimal winds.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird -2
Eastern Kingbird - 7
American Robin - 1
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Northern Parula -2
Yellow Warbler -1
American Redstart -6
Northern Waterthrush -12
warbler sp. -5
Dickcissel - 1
Bobolink -33
Total =71
Today's highlight, like yesterday's, were a pair of Buff-breasted Sandpipers. The birds flew in shortly after "sunrise" (had the sun been visible after rising) and foraged in the mudflats before eventually taking off for the point.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird -2
Eastern Kingbird - 7
American Robin - 1
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Northern Parula -2
Yellow Warbler -1
American Redstart -6
Northern Waterthrush -12
warbler sp. -5
Dickcissel - 1
Bobolink -33
Total =71
Today's highlight, like yesterday's, were a pair of Buff-breasted Sandpipers. The birds flew in shortly after "sunrise" (had the sun been visible after rising) and foraged in the mudflats before eventually taking off for the point.
 |
| Buff-breasted Sandpiper (top) showing off some acrobatics (Photo by Tiffany Kersten) |
Cape May Hawk Watch - 2 September 2012
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 02, 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 32 60 60 Bald Eagle 0 0 0 Northern Harrier 4 8 8 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 4 4 Cooper's Hawk 0 3 3 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 0 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 10 66 66 Merlin 2 8 8 Peregrine Falcon 1 2 2 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 49 151 151 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 05:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10.52 hours Official Counter: Tom Reed Observers: Weather: Overcast, humid, winds E to SE @ 5-10mph. Spotty afternoon showers. Raptor Observations: Almost all movement was restricted to the AM hours, before precipitation began. As might be expected, Osprey was the primary species on the move today. Non-raptor Observations: Upland Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper (2), Whimbrel (juvenile), Mourning Warbler, Dickcissel, Tricolored Heron, Stilt Sandpiper, 15+ Pectoral Sandpipers, 6 Black Terns, 350+ Bobolinks, 12 Northern Waterthrushes, 4 Red-breasted Nuthatches. Some songbirds on the move at dawn. A few Monarchs were moving through during the early morning, as well. Predictions: Cloudy, SE winds, showers.
Morning Flight - 2 September 2012
The flight this morning was very sparse, although Northern Waterthrushes flew in comparatively disproportionate numbers; a good many waterthrushes were also seen in south-bound flight. Today's Palm Warbler was the first one of the season and the 28th warbler of the fall.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 9
Red-eyed Vireo - 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 9
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 3
Cedar Waxwing - 31
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Northern Parula - 1
Yellow Warbler - 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2
Palm Warbler - 1
Blackpoll Warbler - 2
Black-and-white Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 15
Northern Waterthrush - 26
warbler sp. - 10
Blue Grosbeak - 2
Bobolink - 24
Total = 145
Overwhelmingly, Buff-breasted Sandpipers stole the show and a total of seven were observed throughout the morning. Two of these birds were foraging and loafing amongst the Semipalmated Plovers and peeps atop the dredge spoils. The other sightings included two northbound singles that only showed brief local interest and a trio of birds that were twice seen in flight.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 9
Red-eyed Vireo - 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 9
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 3
Cedar Waxwing - 31
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Northern Parula - 1
Yellow Warbler - 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2
Palm Warbler - 1
Blackpoll Warbler - 2
Black-and-white Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 15
Northern Waterthrush - 26
warbler sp. - 10
Blue Grosbeak - 2
Bobolink - 24
Total = 145
Overwhelmingly, Buff-breasted Sandpipers stole the show and a total of seven were observed throughout the morning. Two of these birds were foraging and loafing amongst the Semipalmated Plovers and peeps atop the dredge spoils. The other sightings included two northbound singles that only showed brief local interest and a trio of birds that were twice seen in flight.
Morning Flight - August analysis
With the month of August already under-our-belts, I thought I'd take the opportunity to summarize the morning flight migration from the latter half of the month (8/16 - 8/31). More than 6500 birds have already been tallied in redetermined migration at Higbee Beach, including 27 species of warblers and one confirmed hybrid (a single "Brewster's" Warbler). The bulk of this migration came in a single day (8/29), when more than 2700 birds were noted.
The species highlight for August was a White-winged Dove (8/20) that flew north across the Cape May Canal. However, excellent single-day flights of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers (313 on 8/16) and Red-breasted Nuthatches (374 on 8/29) were very memorable; the gnatcatcher count is an all-time Cape May high count while the nuthatch figure is the third-highest. Although not as obvious - daily numbers top out in the low teens - it has been a great fall for Ruby-throated Hummingbird migration. It's only the beginning of September, but the 2012 total is already the second highest season total yet.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1
White-winged Dove - 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 133
Belted Kingfisher - 9
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3
Olive-sided Flycatcher - 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2
Least Flycatcher - 1
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1
Empidonax flycatcher - 11
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 244
Warbling Vireo - 2
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 45
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 423
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 426
American Robin - 42
Northern Mockingbird - 12
Cedar Waxwing - 1020
Blue-winged Warbler - 2
Golden-winged Warbler - 1
"winged-warbler" sp. (Golden-winged/Brewster's) - 1
"Brewster's" Warbler - 1
Tennessee Warbler - 6
Nashville Warbler - 4
Northern Parula - 31
Yellow Warbler - 291
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 18
Magnolia Warbler - 12
Cape May Warbler - 14
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 62
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 4
Black-throated Green Warbler - 7
Yellow-throated Warbler - 1
Blackburnian Warbler - 15
Pine Warbler - 2
Prairie Warbler - 29
Blackpoll Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 120
American Redstart - 1419
Prothonotary Warbler - 2
Worm-eating Warbler - 8
Ovenbird - 9
Northern Waterthrush - 359
Louisiana Waterthrush - 6
Wilson's Warbler - 2
Hooded Warbler - 1
Canada Warbler - 2
warbler sp. - 550
Scarlet Tanager - 4
Summer Tanager - 1
Clay-colored Sparrow - 1
Lark Sparrow - 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1
Blue Grosbeak - 17
Indigo Bunting - 28
Dickcissel - 6
Bobolink - 879
Orchard Oriole - 3
Baltimore Oriole - 224
Purple Finch - 4
Total = 6522
The species highlight for August was a White-winged Dove (8/20) that flew north across the Cape May Canal. However, excellent single-day flights of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers (313 on 8/16) and Red-breasted Nuthatches (374 on 8/29) were very memorable; the gnatcatcher count is an all-time Cape May high count while the nuthatch figure is the third-highest. Although not as obvious - daily numbers top out in the low teens - it has been a great fall for Ruby-throated Hummingbird migration. It's only the beginning of September, but the 2012 total is already the second highest season total yet.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1
White-winged Dove - 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 133
Belted Kingfisher - 9
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3
Olive-sided Flycatcher - 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2
Least Flycatcher - 1
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1
Empidonax flycatcher - 11
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 244
Warbling Vireo - 2
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 45
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 423
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 426
American Robin - 42
Northern Mockingbird - 12
Cedar Waxwing - 1020
Blue-winged Warbler - 2
Golden-winged Warbler - 1
"winged-warbler" sp. (Golden-winged/Brewster's) - 1
"Brewster's" Warbler - 1
Tennessee Warbler - 6
Nashville Warbler - 4
Northern Parula - 31
Yellow Warbler - 291
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 18
Magnolia Warbler - 12
Cape May Warbler - 14
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 62
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 4
Black-throated Green Warbler - 7
Yellow-throated Warbler - 1
Blackburnian Warbler - 15
Pine Warbler - 2
Prairie Warbler - 29
Blackpoll Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 120
American Redstart - 1419
Prothonotary Warbler - 2
Worm-eating Warbler - 8
Ovenbird - 9
Northern Waterthrush - 359
Louisiana Waterthrush - 6
Wilson's Warbler - 2
Hooded Warbler - 1
Canada Warbler - 2
warbler sp. - 550
Scarlet Tanager - 4
Summer Tanager - 1
Clay-colored Sparrow - 1
Lark Sparrow - 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1
Blue Grosbeak - 17
Indigo Bunting - 28
Dickcissel - 6
Bobolink - 879
Orchard Oriole - 3
Baltimore Oriole - 224
Purple Finch - 4
Total = 6522
Cape May Hawk Watch - 1 September 2012
Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 01, 2012
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 28 28 28
Bald Eagle 0 0 0
Northern Harrier 4 4 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 4 4
Cooper's Hawk 3 3 3
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 0
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 56 56 56
Merlin 6 6 6
Peregrine Falcon 1 1 1
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 102 102 102
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 05:30:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 10.52 hours
Official Counter: Tom Reed
Observers:
Weather:
Mostly cloudy, humid and hazy throughout. Winds W to NW @ 5-10mph for most
of the day. Brief period of light rain during the mid-morning.
Raptor Observations:
A slow start to the day wasn't helped out by a period of showers during the
mid-morning. A few pulses of Kestrels and Ospreys came through during the
middle of the day as conditions improved. Most of the flight was fairly low
and close. Our first bird of the season was a Sharp-shinned Hawk.
Non-raptor Observations:
American Golden-Plover, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper (10+),
Stilt Sandpiper, Wilson's Snipe (5+), Gull-billed Tern, Little Blue Heron
(2), Tricolored Heron, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Red-breasted Nuthatch
(~10), Yellow-rumped Warbler (2), Cliff Swallow (2), Bank Swallow (15+),
Blue Grosbeak (4), Bobolink (800+), Brown Pelican (6).
A modest songbird flight, dominated by Bobolinks, took place during the
first two hours of daylight. Barn Swallows were moving throughout the day,
with a sprinkling of Bank Swallows, Purple Martins and Chimney Swifts mixed
in. A few shorebirds were also on the move, with several flocks of Lesser
Yellowlegs, Pectoral, Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers throughout.
A couple hundred southbound Monarchs were noted, with a noticeable influx
during the early-morning. A few dozen Cloudless Sulphurs were also counted
by Tony Leukering.
Predictions:
Given the date and the weather forecast (SE winds with a chance for
showers), I think we can expect a fairly slow day tomorrow.
Morning Flight - 1 September 2012 & Meet The Team!
The first day of September brought a nice passage of Cedar Waxwings and Bobolinks (best Bobolink flight so far this fall), but few warblers, despite ten species represented. Notable for its absence, not a single Black-and-white Warbler was seen; Yellow Warblers (4) were also few-and-far-between, with as many Tennessee Warblers (4) today. Considering the relatively poor flight conditions for small songbirds, a surprising number of Red-breasted Nuthatches (53) flew out this morning, all heading north.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 11
Eastern Kingbird - 19
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 53
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 3
American Robin - 2
Cedar Waxwing - 508
Tennessee Warbler - 4
Northern Parula - 1
Yellow Warbler - 4
Cape May Warbler - 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Blackpoll Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 21
Northern Waterthrush - 21
warbler sp. - 9
Bobolink - 727
Total = 1389
Other highlights included at least 11 Brown Pelicans and the Morning Flight's first Tricolored Heron of the season.
The graph below compares Red-breasted Nuthatch numbers from the Morning Flight during the past ten years (2003 - 2012), noting that the 2012 count is only 20% complete. These data suggest that Red-breasted Nuthatch flights typically occur every 2-3 years (although back-to-back in 2004 and 2005), with some interim years nearly devoid of irrupting birds. For instance, two years (2006, 2011) only had single-digit season counts (9 and 1, respectively). This year's movement of Red-breasted Nuthatches (476) is already the 4th-highest total ever, and it's just September 1st.
Alyssia Church
Alyssia is the George Myers Interpretive Naturalist this fall. She holds both a BS and MS degree in Geography from The Pennsylvania State University with a focus on Geographical Information Systems and Wildlife Conservation. She first came to Cape May in the Fall of 2010 as one of the Hawkwatch Interpretive Naturalists for CMBO
and last fall she worked as the Field Research Assistant for the Cape May Raptor Banding Project. She has worked in Maine, New Jersey, and central Pennsylvania conducting wildlife research with a strong focus on birds. Alyssia has been birding ever since she could pick up a bird guide and is very passionate about educating others about the natural world around them and the importance of conservation. When she is not out and about enjoying the great outdoors you can find Alyssia competing at amateur ballroom and latin dance competitions.
Julia Druce
Hello, I am the 2012 field technician with the Monarch Monitoring Project. For the past 3 years I've been working with various species of butterflies, ranging from from sulphurs to checkerspots, with a variety of scientists and research projects, covering molecular evolution to physiological ecology. I'm very excited to have the chance to learn about the ecology of the monarch, which is such an iconic and unique species! I find butterflies so fascinating because of the stunning amount of variation between species as well as within species. This makes butterflies a great system for answering diverse questions about how the natural world works. I'm planning on beginning graduate school soon. Ultimately I would like to work as an entomologist at a museum. Other subjects that I am excited about include moths (especially tiger moths and hawk moths), the Arctic (which has its fair share of butterflies), and working
sheepdogs.
Elizabeth (Libby) Errickson
Libby is a May 2012 graduate from Delaware Valley College with a degree in Wildlife
Conservation & Management. Although hailing from York, Pennsylvania, Libby is no stranger to South Jersey as she has been living in Atlantic City the past two summers. She first came to Cape May on an Ornithology class field trip two years ago, and is thrilled to now be working here as an Interpretive Naturalist for the Hawkwatch platform. Libby fell in love with birds the moment she saw a Resplendent Quetzal for the first time in Costa Rica at age 16, and her greatest dream is to one day be able to work in Quetzal research and conservation. She plans on attending graduate school sometime in the near future to get her Master's in Tropical Ecology. When she's not in Cape May devoting her life to birds, Libby's favorite hobbies include kayaking, fishing, Scuba diving, and riding her horse, Sam. Libby's favorite bird that she sees from the Hawkwatch on a regular basis is the Pied-billed Grebe.
Erin Lehnert
Erin came to CMBO after working for the National Park Service at Isle Royale National Park as a herpetologist for three seasons, where assisting with Common Loon banding projects got her hooked on birds. In addition to her enthusiasm for all things feathered, Erin enjoys playing the piano and cello, arts and crafts, backpacking, and reading. A native "Yooper" of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, winter is Erin's favorite season with all the opportunities for sledding and building snow statues, in addition to broomball and hockey. Erin is a recent graduate from Michigan Technological University in Michigan's Upper Peninsula with a bachelor's degree in Biology with an Ecology concentration, and in the future she hopes to continue her education with a master's degree in avian behavioral ecology.
Tom Reed
Tom is the Primary Hawkwatch Counter for the 2012 season. He volunteers as one of MBO’s Associate Naturalists, is a member of CMBO’s World Series of Birding team, and contributes to BirdCapeMay.org. Tom has conducted extensive fieldwork throughout southern New Jersey on behalf of various organizations and government agencies, and was the 2011 Avalon Seawatch counter. He also holds the New Jersey "big year" record and is the founder of the Mizpah Christmas Bird Count. Tom is a 2011 graduate of Rutgers University and holds a B.S. in Environmental Policy.
At the age of nine, Cameron Rutt began birding, what his parents thought would be nothing more than a passing interest. But whatever trains and dinosaurs lacked, birds possessed. He has been captivated by birds ever since and this once-hobby has now blossomed into a full-blown vocation. Cameron is an inveterate field biologist, working seasonally wherever the birds provide compensation. He has now worked eleven different field jobs since 2005, across seven states and three countries. This includes nearly a year in Borneo (Malaysia), nest-searching for passerines and near-passerines in a montane rainforest; a summer in Barbados to sample songbirds for avian malaria; a stint of shorebird banding on Alaska’s North Slope; and six months on Laysan (Northwestern Hawaiian Islands), where he assisted with the translocation of Millerbirds. But after counting raptors at Hawk Ridge, Minnesota, he's decided that if he must count birds, they better be songbirds, and counting warblers is better still. Cameron completed his undergraduate degree in Biology in 2008 and (eventually) plans on returning to school for higher education. When not birding, he still enjoys traveling, as well as writing, volleyball, and ultimate frisbee.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 11
Eastern Kingbird - 19
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 53
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 3
American Robin - 2
Cedar Waxwing - 508
Tennessee Warbler - 4
Northern Parula - 1
Yellow Warbler - 4
Cape May Warbler - 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Blackpoll Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 21
Northern Waterthrush - 21
warbler sp. - 9
Bobolink - 727
Total = 1389
Other highlights included at least 11 Brown Pelicans and the Morning Flight's first Tricolored Heron of the season.
The graph below compares Red-breasted Nuthatch numbers from the Morning Flight during the past ten years (2003 - 2012), noting that the 2012 count is only 20% complete. These data suggest that Red-breasted Nuthatch flights typically occur every 2-3 years (although back-to-back in 2004 and 2005), with some interim years nearly devoid of irrupting birds. For instance, two years (2006, 2011) only had single-digit season counts (9 and 1, respectively). This year's movement of Red-breasted Nuthatches (476) is already the 4th-highest total ever, and it's just September 1st.
Meet the Team!
This season's stellar team of Counters and Interpretive Naturalists are just getting started, so here's a quick introduction to the faces you can expect to see this season - please come and say hello to them all!Alyssia Church
Julia Druce
Elizabeth (Libby) Errickson
Erin Lehnert
Erin came to CMBO after working for the National Park Service at Isle Royale National Park as a herpetologist for three seasons, where assisting with Common Loon banding projects got her hooked on birds. In addition to her enthusiasm for all things feathered, Erin enjoys playing the piano and cello, arts and crafts, backpacking, and reading. A native "Yooper" of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, winter is Erin's favorite season with all the opportunities for sledding and building snow statues, in addition to broomball and hockey. Erin is a recent graduate from Michigan Technological University in Michigan's Upper Peninsula with a bachelor's degree in Biology with an Ecology concentration, and in the future she hopes to continue her education with a master's degree in avian behavioral ecology.Tom Reed
Tom is the Primary Hawkwatch Counter for the 2012 season. He volunteers as one of MBO’s Associate Naturalists, is a member of CMBO’s World Series of Birding team, and contributes to BirdCapeMay.org. Tom has conducted extensive fieldwork throughout southern New Jersey on behalf of various organizations and government agencies, and was the 2011 Avalon Seawatch counter. He also holds the New Jersey "big year" record and is the founder of the Mizpah Christmas Bird Count. Tom is a 2011 graduate of Rutgers University and holds a B.S. in Environmental Policy.
Cameron Rutt
At the age of nine, Cameron Rutt began birding, what his parents thought would be nothing more than a passing interest. But whatever trains and dinosaurs lacked, birds possessed. He has been captivated by birds ever since and this once-hobby has now blossomed into a full-blown vocation. Cameron is an inveterate field biologist, working seasonally wherever the birds provide compensation. He has now worked eleven different field jobs since 2005, across seven states and three countries. This includes nearly a year in Borneo (Malaysia), nest-searching for passerines and near-passerines in a montane rainforest; a summer in Barbados to sample songbirds for avian malaria; a stint of shorebird banding on Alaska’s North Slope; and six months on Laysan (Northwestern Hawaiian Islands), where he assisted with the translocation of Millerbirds. But after counting raptors at Hawk Ridge, Minnesota, he's decided that if he must count birds, they better be songbirds, and counting warblers is better still. Cameron completed his undergraduate degree in Biology in 2008 and (eventually) plans on returning to school for higher education. When not birding, he still enjoys traveling, as well as writing, volleyball, and ultimate frisbee.
Morning Flight - 31 August 2012
The flight diminished from recent days and few birds were flying. The overwhelming morning highlight was Cape May County's first American Golden-Plover of the fall. A molting adult flew into the mudflats atop the dredge spoils at Higbee Beach for a few minutes before a Cooper's Hawk scattered the shorebirds. The golden-plover took off and was last seen winging its way across the Delaware Bay.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
Empidonax flycatcher - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 3
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Northern Parula - 3
Yellow Warbler - 8
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 4
American Redstart - 43
Ovenbird - 2
Northern Waterthrush - 10
warbler sp. - 12
Blue Grosbeak - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 4
Total = 98
Other identified flying objects included the B-17 Flying Fortress, P-51 Mustang, and B-24 Liberator as part of the annual AirFest at the Naval Air Station Wildwood (NASW).
Morning Flight - 30 August 2012
Today's count was a noticeable deceleration from yesterday, but still contained a good passage of warblers (454 individuals of 13 species). The composition of the flight was interesting, with an excellent flight of Northern Waterthrushes (126) - more than 3x yesterday's count (39) - and more Yellow Warblers (53) too. Northern Waterthrushes were on the move early this morning, with a dozen tallied before the sun even came up. Red-breasted Nuthatches moved in appreciably smaller numbers today (20; only ~5% of yesterday's 374). Otherwise, following on the heels of 8/29's first tanagers of the fall, today's flight featured the first Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 11
Empidonax flycatcher - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 43
Red-eyed Vireo - 3
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 20
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 2
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 48
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Northern Parula - 9
Yellow Warbler - 53
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 2
Cape May Warbler - 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 7
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 5
Black-and-white Warbler - 25
American Redstart - 156
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 126
warbler sp. - 66
Scarlet Tanager - 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1
Blue Grosbeak - 2
Indigo Bunting - 5
Bobolink - 38
Baltimore Oriole - 30
Total = 659
Other highlights included 8 Brown Pelicans in an offshore feeding frenzy and a small flight of 20 northbound Black Terns. The real surprise, however, was an unidentified whale that Tom Johnson spotted in the Delaware Bay; it was only seen a few times in partial breaches.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 11
Empidonax flycatcher - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 43
Red-eyed Vireo - 3
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 20
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 2
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 48
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Northern Parula - 9
Yellow Warbler - 53
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 2
Cape May Warbler - 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 7
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 5
Black-and-white Warbler - 25
American Redstart - 156
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 126
warbler sp. - 66
Scarlet Tanager - 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1
Blue Grosbeak - 2
Indigo Bunting - 5
Bobolink - 38
Baltimore Oriole - 30
Total = 659
Other highlights included 8 Brown Pelicans in an offshore feeding frenzy and a small flight of 20 northbound Black Terns. The real surprise, however, was an unidentified whale that Tom Johnson spotted in the Delaware Bay; it was only seen a few times in partial breaches.
Morning Flight - 29 August 2012
Where to begin? Firstly, today's flight was an excellent one! After a 10-day stretch without a noteworthy front, last night's winds were finally conducive for migration. And the birds responded. The day was full of highlights and the flight as a whole was very enjoyable. Compared to the recent dribs and drabs, today's flight stood out in stark relief. All told, more than 2500+ birds were tallied and nearly a thousand warblers (949). American Redstarts comprised half of that figure (473) but warbler diversity was certainly in evidence today, with at least 24 species (!) and a photo-documented "Brewster's Warbler."
Despite this, the warblers were outshined today by a massive late August flight of Red-breasted Nuthatches (374); only 28 were counted from here during the prior two weeks. This is the highest count since the Morning Flight officially began nearly a decade ago (the prior high count was 276 on a more expected date of 12 October 2010). However, The Birds of Cape May (Sibley 1997) mention two other round number counts which exceed today's number: 500 on 28 September 1995 and 400 on 21 September 1981. In contrast to these late September and October flights, the early date of today's passage makes it all the more exceptional. Is it possible that numbers will continue to build for this species?
A number of other notable species made appearances today: Olive-sided Flycatcher, Hooded Warbler, Summer Tanager, 2 Lark Sparrows (!), and 4 Purple Finches. The large number of Baltimore Orioles (174), which included a flock of 76 birds, also deserves mentioning.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to today's count!
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 12
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1
Olive-sided Flycatcher - 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2
Empidonax flycatcher - 2
Eastern Kingbird - 20
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 37
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 374
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 17
American Robin - 5
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 829
Blue-winged Warbler - 1
"winged-warbler" sp. (Golden-winged/Brewster's) - 1
"Brewster's" Warbler - 1
Tennessee Warbler - 5
Nashville Warbler - 4
Northern Parula - 18
Yellow Warbler - 45
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 15
Magnolia Warbler - 10
Cape May Warbler - 12
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 49
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
Black-throated Green Warbler - 6
Blackburnian Warbler - 2
Pine Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 3
Blackpoll Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 33
American Redstart - 473
Worm-eating Warbler - 1
Ovenbird - 2
Northern Waterthrush - 39
Louisiana Waterthrush - 1
Wilson's Warbler - 1
Hooded Warbler - 1
Canada Warbler - 1
warbler sp. - 222
Scarlet Tanager - 3
Summer Tanager - 1
Lark Sparrow - 2
Blue Grosbeak - 1
Indigo Bunting - 5
Dickcissel - 2
Bobolink - 254
Baltimore Oriole - 174
Purple Finch - 4
Total = 2691
Morning flight aside, there was still one more highlight for the day. Two Upland Sandpipers dropped in for a brief stay at the ephemeral mudflats atop the dredge spoils.
Despite this, the warblers were outshined today by a massive late August flight of Red-breasted Nuthatches (374); only 28 were counted from here during the prior two weeks. This is the highest count since the Morning Flight officially began nearly a decade ago (the prior high count was 276 on a more expected date of 12 October 2010). However, The Birds of Cape May (Sibley 1997) mention two other round number counts which exceed today's number: 500 on 28 September 1995 and 400 on 21 September 1981. In contrast to these late September and October flights, the early date of today's passage makes it all the more exceptional. Is it possible that numbers will continue to build for this species?
A number of other notable species made appearances today: Olive-sided Flycatcher, Hooded Warbler, Summer Tanager, 2 Lark Sparrows (!), and 4 Purple Finches. The large number of Baltimore Orioles (174), which included a flock of 76 birds, also deserves mentioning.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to today's count!
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 12
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1
Olive-sided Flycatcher - 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2
Empidonax flycatcher - 2
Eastern Kingbird - 20
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 37
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 374
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 17
American Robin - 5
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 829
Blue-winged Warbler - 1
"winged-warbler" sp. (Golden-winged/Brewster's) - 1
"Brewster's" Warbler - 1
Tennessee Warbler - 5
Nashville Warbler - 4
Northern Parula - 18
Yellow Warbler - 45
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 15
Magnolia Warbler - 10
Cape May Warbler - 12
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 49
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
Black-throated Green Warbler - 6
Blackburnian Warbler - 2
Pine Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 3
Blackpoll Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 33
American Redstart - 473
Worm-eating Warbler - 1
Ovenbird - 2
Northern Waterthrush - 39
Louisiana Waterthrush - 1
Wilson's Warbler - 1
Hooded Warbler - 1
Canada Warbler - 1
warbler sp. - 222
Scarlet Tanager - 3
Summer Tanager - 1
Lark Sparrow - 2
Blue Grosbeak - 1
Indigo Bunting - 5
Dickcissel - 2
Bobolink - 254
Baltimore Oriole - 174
Purple Finch - 4
Total = 2691
Morning flight aside, there was still one more highlight for the day. Two Upland Sandpipers dropped in for a brief stay at the ephemeral mudflats atop the dredge spoils.
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| Red-breasted Nuthatch (Photo by Tom Johnson) |
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| "Brewster's Warbler" (Photo by Tony Leukering) |
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| Black-throated Blue Warbler (Photo by Tom Johnson) |
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| Lark Sparrow (Photo by Tony Leukering) |
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| Baltimore Oriole (Photo by Tony Leukering) |
Morning Flight - 28 August 2012
Songbird migration has come to a virtual standstill so tonight's promising winds couldn't be more timely. Warbler "diversity" (and I use that term lightly) was down to a season-low today and very few warblers were seen. Period. Only the swarm of staging Eastern Kingbirds (~123) provided some air-borne passerines in any sizable number.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 6
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 7
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1
Northern Mockingbird - 1
American Redstart - 11
Worm-eating Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 1
warbler sp. - 1
Blue Grosbeak - 1
Bobolink - 35
Total = 66
Highlights, in general, were limited, although 4 Black Terns were again seen today. In fact, Black Terns have become expected from Higbee in recent weeks.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 6
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 7
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1
Northern Mockingbird - 1
American Redstart - 11
Worm-eating Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 1
warbler sp. - 1
Blue Grosbeak - 1
Bobolink - 35
Total = 66
Highlights, in general, were limited, although 4 Black Terns were again seen today. In fact, Black Terns have become expected from Higbee in recent weeks.
Morning Flight - 27 August 2012
South winds stalled songbird movement, leaving few birds airborne today. Aside for the minor movement of predominantly Yellow Warblers yesterday, there hasn't been a warbler flight since 8/22, now five days ago. Today's highlight was the first migrant sparrow of the year: Clay-colored Sparrow.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 10
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 2
Cedar Waxwing - 4
Yellow Warbler - 3
Black-and-white Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 21
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 7
warbler sp. - 5
Clay-colored Sparrow - 1
Indigo Bunting - 5
Bobolink - 17
Total = 78
Other non-morning flight highlights included a Northern Gannet and continued good numbers of Black Terns. I tallied at least 20, although I'm sure there were more filtering in and out of the bay. At one point, a larid feeding frenzy contained no less than 17 Black Terns!
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 10
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 2
Cedar Waxwing - 4
Yellow Warbler - 3
Black-and-white Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 21
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 7
warbler sp. - 5
Clay-colored Sparrow - 1
Indigo Bunting - 5
Bobolink - 17
Total = 78
Other non-morning flight highlights included a Northern Gannet and continued good numbers of Black Terns. I tallied at least 20, although I'm sure there were more filtering in and out of the bay. At one point, a larid feeding frenzy contained no less than 17 Black Terns!
Morning Flight - 26 August 2012
Although heavy downpours (2+ inches of rain yesterday and more this morning) and intense nighttime thunderstorms had largely subsided by dawn, I was still delayed by the last remnants of rain and lightning before ascending to my sunrise perch. After the weather broke, the morning turned out to be quite nice, but with moderately strong east winds. I guess this recipe proved just right for Yellow Warblers, which took the opportunity to at last upend American Redstart as the most numerous warbler for the first time this year. An obliging Ovenbird and a flock of six Baltimore Orioles rounded out the list of highlights.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 6
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2
American Robin - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 7
Yellow Warbler - 41
Prairie Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 5
American Redstart - 22
Worm-eating Warbler - 1
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 18
warbler sp. - 18
Bobolink - 5
Baltimore Oriole - 6
Total = 134
Other highlights include a southbound flight of waterbirds:
Double-crested Cormorant - 48
Great Egret - 15
Snowy Egret - 23
Glossy Ibis - 8
Otherwise, today's 5 Stilt Sandpipers and 27 Black Terns were the high counts from Higbee so far. Lastly, yesterday's Chuck-will's-widow continued between 6:00 - 6:05 AM, before disappearing for good into the woods.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 6
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2
American Robin - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 7
Yellow Warbler - 41
Prairie Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 5
American Redstart - 22
Worm-eating Warbler - 1
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 18
warbler sp. - 18
Bobolink - 5
Baltimore Oriole - 6
Total = 134
Other highlights include a southbound flight of waterbirds:
Double-crested Cormorant - 48
Great Egret - 15
Snowy Egret - 23
Glossy Ibis - 8
Otherwise, today's 5 Stilt Sandpipers and 27 Black Terns were the high counts from Higbee so far. Lastly, yesterday's Chuck-will's-widow continued between 6:00 - 6:05 AM, before disappearing for good into the woods.
Morning Flight Musings - Red Crossbills heading our way?
Although it is only August, it is never too early to speculate. So with that in mind: could this be the year for a major Red Crossbill flight? After considering the rash of Red Crossbill sightings so far this month, it seems at least possible.
Red Crossbills are currently moving in unprecedented numbers in the Upper Midwest. Karl Bardon, from his perch at Hawk Ridge (Duluth, Minnesota), has already broken the state high-count three times in the past two weeks alone! Since 8/15, he has tallied 2811 southbound Red Crossbills, including 1192 yesterday (8/24):
Hawk Ridge fall counts (2012)
Other Red Crossbill sightings from around the Midwest come from Kansas, central Nebraska, northern Illinois, and southern Wisconsin. Things don't seem quite so advanced (yet?) in the Northeast; however, there have been multiple sightings from Massachusetts in the past week, a flyover yard bird in Connecticut (8/24), and a single flyover in northeastern Pennsylvania just this morning (8/25). If we compare last year's August eBird records with those already entered from this fall, we can see a pretty clear difference. This is particularly noticeable in the Upper Midwest, but a closer inspection of the Northeast reveals crossbills inching their way south.
Whether or not this early season push actually amounts to anything is too soon to say, but, in any case, it is worth keeping an eye - and particularly a keen ear - out for Red Crossbills in the near future.
Red Crossbills are currently moving in unprecedented numbers in the Upper Midwest. Karl Bardon, from his perch at Hawk Ridge (Duluth, Minnesota), has already broken the state high-count three times in the past two weeks alone! Since 8/15, he has tallied 2811 southbound Red Crossbills, including 1192 yesterday (8/24):
Hawk Ridge fall counts (2012)
Other Red Crossbill sightings from around the Midwest come from Kansas, central Nebraska, northern Illinois, and southern Wisconsin. Things don't seem quite so advanced (yet?) in the Northeast; however, there have been multiple sightings from Massachusetts in the past week, a flyover yard bird in Connecticut (8/24), and a single flyover in northeastern Pennsylvania just this morning (8/25). If we compare last year's August eBird records with those already entered from this fall, we can see a pretty clear difference. This is particularly noticeable in the Upper Midwest, but a closer inspection of the Northeast reveals crossbills inching their way south.
Whether or not this early season push actually amounts to anything is too soon to say, but, in any case, it is worth keeping an eye - and particularly a keen ear - out for Red Crossbills in the near future.
Morning Flight - 25 August 2012
The "flight" - if you can even call it that - was nearly nonexistent this morning. In fact, only 53 birds were tallied in the truncated count period, before a wide band of light rain engulfed Cape May. However, that doesn't mean that there weren't some goodies to be seen. Among the 38 warblers in northbound flight were the season's first Cape May Warbler, a close Golden-winged Warbler, and an even closer Prothonotary Warbler. Otherwise, American Redstarts narrowly beat out Ruby-throated Hummingbirds as the day's most numerous migrant.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 8
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 4
American Robin - 1
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Golden-winged Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 6
Cape May Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 4
American Redstart - 12
Prothonotary Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 6
warbler sp. - 6
Indigo Bunting - 1
Total = 53
The interesting birds, however, were not just confined to songbirds. At approximately 6:05 AM (15-20 minutes before sunrise), a Chuck-will's-widow was seen doing a broad circuit of the road and another shorter sally a bit later. Following this observation in the pre-dawn light, I was greeted with a rare sunrise rainbow - that appeared exactly at sunrise - before dissipating a few short minutes later. About an hour afterward (7:13 AM), a flock of 8 southbound Hudsonian Godwits - the second occurrence of this species already this season - were scoped heading down the bayshore. Not too shabby for a "bad" day of migrants at the Cape...
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 8
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 4
American Robin - 1
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Golden-winged Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 6
Cape May Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 4
American Redstart - 12
Prothonotary Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 6
warbler sp. - 6
Indigo Bunting - 1
Total = 53
The interesting birds, however, were not just confined to songbirds. At approximately 6:05 AM (15-20 minutes before sunrise), a Chuck-will's-widow was seen doing a broad circuit of the road and another shorter sally a bit later. Following this observation in the pre-dawn light, I was greeted with a rare sunrise rainbow - that appeared exactly at sunrise - before dissipating a few short minutes later. About an hour afterward (7:13 AM), a flock of 8 southbound Hudsonian Godwits - the second occurrence of this species already this season - were scoped heading down the bayshore. Not too shabby for a "bad" day of migrants at the Cape...
Morning Flight - 24 August 2012
Conditions were similar to yesterday and resulted in another very light warbler flight. Again, Bobolinks saved the day and kept overall numbers in triple-digits. Red-breasted Nuthatch numbers continue to creep upward and today's count bumped the season total up to 22. The highlight was a Warbling Vireo that was scoped on the treeline just prior to its departure.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 10
Empidonax sp. - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 5
Warbling Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 9
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 7
Cedar Waxwing - 22
Yellow Warbler - 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2
Blackburnian Warbler - 2
Prairie Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 6
American Redstart - 22
Northern Waterthrush - 8
warbler sp. - 14
Indigo Bunting - 2
Bobolink - 118
Total = 234
Other highlights included 25 flyby Brown Pelicans, a male Black Scoter that was southbound over Delaware Bay, and 4 Black Terns.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 10
Empidonax sp. - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 5
Warbling Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 9
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 7
Cedar Waxwing - 22
Yellow Warbler - 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2
Blackburnian Warbler - 2
Prairie Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 6
American Redstart - 22
Northern Waterthrush - 8
warbler sp. - 14
Indigo Bunting - 2
Bobolink - 118
Total = 234
Other highlights included 25 flyby Brown Pelicans, a male Black Scoter that was southbound over Delaware Bay, and 4 Black Terns.
Morning Flight - 23 August 2012
It was muggy, calm, and overcast this morning and the birds - as if they were trying to tell us something - apparently slept in. Vince Elia relieved me of my vigil for the morning and spared me a slow flight. Nevertheless, a few sightings were noteworthy, including the 4th Dickcissel of the year already.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
Eastern Kingbird - 25
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1
American Robin - 3
Cedar Waxwing - 4
Northern Parula - 1
Yellow Warbler - 4
Prairie Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 11
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 10
Blue Grosbeak - 1
Dickcissel - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 1
Total = 69
The highlight of the day was a jaeger sp. (probable Parasitic Jaeger) that Vince spotted in flight over the Delaware Bay.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
Eastern Kingbird - 25
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1
American Robin - 3
Cedar Waxwing - 4
Northern Parula - 1
Yellow Warbler - 4
Prairie Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 11
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 10
Blue Grosbeak - 1
Dickcissel - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 1
Total = 69
The highlight of the day was a jaeger sp. (probable Parasitic Jaeger) that Vince spotted in flight over the Delaware Bay.
Morning Flight - 22 August 2012
Today's flight brought a number of firsts for the fall, including Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-eyed Vireo, and Black-throated Blue Warbler. In fact, although the flight was rather light and protracted, we ended up with a nice diversity of warblers (9 species). And among those warblers, we were afforded some fantastic in-flight looks, lit up beautifully with the morning sun to our backs (eventually that same sun would make things uncomfortably toasty). Red-breasted Nuthatches finally flew in numbers greater than one - a promising sign of a fall flight for that species. But despite all of this, the day's highlight was certainly not a passerine or near-passerine (read on).
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 7
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1
Empidonax flycatcher - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 14
Red-eyed Vireo - 3
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 8
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 26
American Robin - 4
Northern Mockingbird - 2
Cedar Waxwing - 14
Yellow Warbler - 19
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
Blackburnian Warbler - 2
Prairie Warbler - 4
Black-and-white Warbler - 8
American Redstart - 101
Worm-eating Warbler - 2
Northern Waterthrush - 13
warbler sp. - 10
Indigo Bunting - 2
Bobolink - 10
Baltimore Oriole - 3
Total = 261
At 7:51 AM, a Hudsonian Godwit was spotted over the Delaware Bay, heading north. It appeared to land on the beach just north of the Cape May Canal, but despite a long walk on the beach a few hours later, it could not be re-found. Other highlights for the day include a nice flight of north-bound Snowy Egrets (26), a Whimbrel, and a single Black Tern.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 7
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1
Empidonax flycatcher - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 14
Red-eyed Vireo - 3
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 8
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 26
American Robin - 4
Northern Mockingbird - 2
Cedar Waxwing - 14
Yellow Warbler - 19
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
Blackburnian Warbler - 2
Prairie Warbler - 4
Black-and-white Warbler - 8
American Redstart - 101
Worm-eating Warbler - 2
Northern Waterthrush - 13
warbler sp. - 10
Indigo Bunting - 2
Bobolink - 10
Baltimore Oriole - 3
Total = 261
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| Northern Waterthrush (left) and Blackburnian Warbler (right; photo by Sam Galick) |
At 7:51 AM, a Hudsonian Godwit was spotted over the Delaware Bay, heading north. It appeared to land on the beach just north of the Cape May Canal, but despite a long walk on the beach a few hours later, it could not be re-found. Other highlights for the day include a nice flight of north-bound Snowy Egrets (26), a Whimbrel, and a single Black Tern.
Morning Flight - 21 August 2012
Aside from three large flocks of Bobolinks (including one of 85), the flight was light this morning. But for the third consecutive morning, a single Red-breasted Nuthatch flew out. Also, the consistent passage of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds continues, with 59 heading north in the past six days alone. Otherwise, highlights included a Worm-eating Warbler and another Orchard Oriole.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 13
Eastern Kingbird - 39
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1
American Robin - 2
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 13
Yellow Warbler - 6
Prairie Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 30
Worm-eating Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 20
warbler sp. - 13
Indigo Bunting - 2
Bobolink - 183
Baltimore Oriole - 4
Orchard Oriole - 1
Total = 333
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 13
Eastern Kingbird - 39
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1
American Robin - 2
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 13
Yellow Warbler - 6
Prairie Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 30
Worm-eating Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 20
warbler sp. - 13
Indigo Bunting - 2
Bobolink - 183
Baltimore Oriole - 4
Orchard Oriole - 1
Total = 333
Morning Flight - 20 August 2012
What the flight today lacked in quantity, it made up for in quality. Sam Galick spotted (and photographed) a southbound White-winged Dove quickly winging its way through the treetops this morning (7:15 AM). After about an hour-and-a-half (8:51 AM), presumably the same White-winged Dove was then seen flying over the treeline to our west. We watched as it flew across the Cape May Canal and out-of-sight. The warbler flight this morning was definitely "light," but, notably, contained a single Prothonotary Warbler, which flew by nicely for those few, patient observers. Other highlights included 4 Brown Pelicans, 8 Black Terns, the second consecutive day with a Red-breasted Nuthatch, and a single Dickcissel.
White-winged Dove - 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 14
Empidonax flycatcher - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 25
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 3
American Robin - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 30
Yellow Warbler - 21
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 3
Black-and-white Warbler - 4
American Redstart - 23
Prothonotary Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 15
warbler sp. - 25
Blue Grosbeak - 1
Dickcissel - 1
Bobolink - 61
Baltimore Oriole - 1
Total = 235
White-winged Dove - 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 14
Empidonax flycatcher - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 25
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 3
American Robin - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 30
Yellow Warbler - 21
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 3
Black-and-white Warbler - 4
American Redstart - 23
Prothonotary Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 15
warbler sp. - 25
Blue Grosbeak - 1
Dickcissel - 1
Bobolink - 61
Baltimore Oriole - 1
Total = 235
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| White-winged Dove (photo by Sam Galick) |
Morning Flight - 19 August 2012
Today was numerically the best warbler flight of the fledgling season (406 warblers), but consisted overwhelmingly of American Redstarts (>80% of identified warblers) with relatively little diversity. The single Chestnut-sided, Pine, and Wilson Warblers were all firsts for the season, as was the lone Red-breasted Nuthatch. The second Orchard Oriole of the season was also tallied today - these two birds may represent the majority of that species' season total.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 11
Eastern Kingbird - 19
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 4
American Robin - 8
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 15
Yellow Warbler - 21
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Pine Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 5
Black-and-white Warbler - 13
American Redstart - 288
Northern Waterthrush - 28
Wilson's Warbler - 1
warbler sp. - 47
Blue Grosbeak - 2
Indigo Bunting - 2
Bobolink - 81
Baltimore Oriole - 1
Orchard Oriole - 1
Total = 553
Other highlights included 6 Brown Pelicans that landed in the bay, 2 Stilt Sandpipers, and a flight of 444 north-bound Purple Martins (thanks to Ramsay Koury)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 11
Eastern Kingbird - 19
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 4
American Robin - 8
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 15
Yellow Warbler - 21
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Pine Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 5
Black-and-white Warbler - 13
American Redstart - 288
Northern Waterthrush - 28
Wilson's Warbler - 1
warbler sp. - 47
Blue Grosbeak - 2
Indigo Bunting - 2
Bobolink - 81
Baltimore Oriole - 1
Orchard Oriole - 1
Total = 553
Other highlights included 6 Brown Pelicans that landed in the bay, 2 Stilt Sandpipers, and a flight of 444 north-bound Purple Martins (thanks to Ramsay Koury)
Morning Flight - 18 August 2012
The passing front last night didn't quite clear Cape May in time for a good flight, but did manage to delay the count (and wash my car!). I spent the first hour waiting out thunderstorms and heavy rain, and eventually the system let up enough to spare my spreadsheet from becoming unusable. The main three August warblers - Yellow Warbler, American Redstart, and Northern Waterthrush - again predominated, as expected, with little else flying. Small flocks of 5 or more Blue-gray Gnatcatchers sputtered into the headwind, providing most of the mid-morning entertainment. Highlights were few and far between but included a pair of Black Terns and a close flyby Blackburnian Warbler.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4
Eastern Kingbird - 14
Warbling Vireo - 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 43
American Robin - 3
Cedar Waxwing - 7
Yellow Warbler - 3
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 22
Northern Waterthrush - 17
warbler sp. - 14
Blug Grosbeak - 2
Indigo Bunting - 1
Bobolink - 20
Total = 152
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4
Eastern Kingbird - 14
Warbling Vireo - 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 43
American Robin - 3
Cedar Waxwing - 7
Yellow Warbler - 3
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 22
Northern Waterthrush - 17
warbler sp. - 14
Blug Grosbeak - 2
Indigo Bunting - 1
Bobolink - 20
Total = 152
Morning Flight - 17 August 2012
The winds switched direction and changed the nature of the flight today. Today, birds were flying both north and south which made the flight more challenging to count. For instance, 30 Northern Waterthrushes were counted in redetermined migration (heading north), but 20 were seen flying the other direction. Rumors reached us of good numbers of Blue-winged Warblers elsewhere at Higbee, but only one flew out today. Other highlights include 2 Black Terns, the first Ovenbird of the season, 2-3 Louisiana Waterthruses, and two Dickcissels.
Eastern Kingbird - 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 7
American Robin - 9
Northern Mockingbird - 2
Cedar Waxwing - 9
Blue-winged Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 22
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 6
American Redstart - 35
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 30
Louisiana Waterthrush - 2
Northern/Louisiana Waterthrush - 1 (probable LOWA)
warbler sp. - 23
Dickcissel - 2
Bobolink - 12
Total = 165
Other sightings include a moderate south-bound flight of Eastern Kingbirds (159) and Bobolinks (127).
Eastern Kingbird - 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 7
American Robin - 9
Northern Mockingbird - 2
Cedar Waxwing - 9
Blue-winged Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 22
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 6
American Redstart - 35
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 30
Louisiana Waterthrush - 2
Northern/Louisiana Waterthrush - 1 (probable LOWA)
warbler sp. - 23
Dickcissel - 2
Bobolink - 12
Total = 165
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| Ovenbird (Photo by Sam Galick) |
Morning Flight - 16 August 2012
The front last night brought NW winds...and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. The first official day of the 2012 Morning Flight season got underway with an incredible flight of gnatcatchers, apparently the all-time Cape May high - 313 (!). A little bit of sleuthing turned up prior high counts of 210 on 19 August 1993 and 202 on 23 August 2011. And in typical gnatchatcher fashion, the flight picked up steam as the morning wore on. The four full count hours, with the first such hour beginning at sunrise (6:14 AM) progressed as follows: 0, 15, 98, and 173 (9:14 - 10:14 AM). We even stayed a bit longer, just to nudge the final tally over the 300 threshold. Otherwise, highlights include 1 Gull-billed Tern, 17 Black Terns (all north-bound), Yellow-throated Warbler (which narrowly missed being the first bird to fly out for the season), 2 early Yellow-rumped Warblers, 2 Louisiana Waterthrushes, and an Orchard Oriole.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 12
Empidonax flycatcher - 4
Least Flycatcher - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 32
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 313
American Robin - 5
Northern Mockingbird - 4
Cedar Waxwing - 15
Yellow Warbler - 37
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1
Blackburnian Warbler - 5
Yellow-throated Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 2
Black-and-white Warbler - 7
American Redstart - 149
Worm-eating Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 11
Louisiana Waterthrush - 2
Canada Warbler - 1
warbler sp. - 80
Blue Grosbeak - 6
Indigo Bunting - 3
Bobolink - 45
Baltimore Oriole - 4
Orchard Oriole - 1
Total = 744
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 12
Empidonax flycatcher - 4
Least Flycatcher - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 32
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 313
American Robin - 5
Northern Mockingbird - 4
Cedar Waxwing - 15
Yellow Warbler - 37
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1
Blackburnian Warbler - 5
Yellow-throated Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 2
Black-and-white Warbler - 7
American Redstart - 149
Worm-eating Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 11
Louisiana Waterthrush - 2
Canada Warbler - 1
warbler sp. - 80
Blue Grosbeak - 6
Indigo Bunting - 3
Bobolink - 45
Baltimore Oriole - 4
Orchard Oriole - 1
Total = 744
Canada Warbler (photo by Sam Galick)
Yellow Warbler (photo by Sam Galick)