Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 03, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 41 47 Turkey Vulture 0 59 176 Osprey 135 259 2428 Bald Eagle 10 28 329 Northern Harrier 9 33 209 Sharp-shinned Hawk 125 738 3986 Cooper's Hawk 55 316 1170 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 4 11 Broad-winged Hawk 5 30 238 Red-tailed Hawk 1 9 119 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 22 92 2330 Merlin 60 90 603 Peregrine Falcon 86 114 427 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 3 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: 509 1813 12079 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 05:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10.5 hours Official Counter: Mary Raikes Observers: Weather: Mostly cloudy in the am with winds from the NE, then skies clearing in the afternoon with winds from the E and SE (5-10mph). High temp of 70F. Raptor Observations: A nice falcon day with peregrines taking a high westerly flight north of the platform and merlins low over the treeline in the afternoon. A good osprey line as well mid-day heading west high and to the north of the platform. Non-raptor Observations: A good diversity with large flocks of Blue Jays(100+), Great Blue Herons(75), and Double-crested Cormorant(1,980). Also, Common Nighthawk(1), Wood duck(1), American Widgeon, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Pied-billed Grebe(1), American Bittern(1), Little Blue Heron(2), Snowy Egret(1), Downy Woodpecker(1), Greater Yellowlegs(6), Stilt Sandpiper(1), Caspian Tern(2). Predictions: Showers in the am becoming mostly sunny in the afternoon. Winds south, then becoming northwest 15-20mph. ======================================================================== Cape May information may be found at: http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/CMBO/
Hawkwatch - 3 October 2014
Morning Flight - 2 October 2014
Birds did fly north by Morning Flight today. It was a small flight by all accounts but held a satisfying variety and birds could be viewed well this morning. 75 warblers of 11 species, including Nashville, Chestnut-sided, and Connecticut Warblers. Blue Jays seemed to be doing a clockwise circuit through southern most NJ.
Weather and time: mostly clear with clouds developing; 60-62 ºF; winds N to NE at 8-10 mph; 5-35% building cloud cover; every good visibility; 0656 sunrise; 3.25 hours.
Morning Flight Count totals:
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 5
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 11
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 2
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 285 north starting ~0800; a similar number seen heading south far to the east 30-45 min before
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) 25 south at dawn
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 8
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 222
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) 1
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 1
Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla) 1
Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) 1
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 1
Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) 3
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 11
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) 1
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 19
Bay-breasted/Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga castanea/striata) 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) 3
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 9
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 12
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) 4
warbler sp. (Parulinae sp.) 9
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 1
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 1
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 4
Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) 1
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 1
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 22
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 6
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 2
Today's full list can be viewed at: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20008112
Weather and time: mostly clear with clouds developing; 60-62 ºF; winds N to NE at 8-10 mph; 5-35% building cloud cover; every good visibility; 0656 sunrise; 3.25 hours.
Morning Flight Count totals:
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 5
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 11
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 2
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 285 north starting ~0800; a similar number seen heading south far to the east 30-45 min before
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) 25 south at dawn
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 8
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 222
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) 1
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 1
Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla) 1
Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) 1
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 1
Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) 3
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 11
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) 1
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 19
Bay-breasted/Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga castanea/striata) 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) 3
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 9
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 12
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) 4
warbler sp. (Parulinae sp.) 9
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 1
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 1
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 4
Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) 1
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 1
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 22
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 6
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 2
Today's full list can be viewed at: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20008112
 |
| How far did this Blue Jay travel to get to Cape May? (Photo by: Glen Davis) |
Seawatch - 2 October 2014
Observation time: 0556 - 1840
Observer: Skye Haas
Species counted:
American Black Duck - 3
American Black Duck/Mallard - 1
Green-winged Teal - 11
Surf Scoter - 7
White-winged Scoter - 1
Black Scoter - 32
Dark-winged Scoter - 6
Northern Gannet - 1
Brown Pelican - 1
Double-crested Cormorant - 3499
Great Cormorant - 1
Great Blue Heron - 1
Laughing Gull - 99
Herring Gull - 13
Great Black-backed Gull - 2
Caspian Tern - 5
Forster's Tern - 196
Royal Tern - 5
Black Skimmer - 14
Parasitic Jaeger - 1
Total: 3,899
A note from Skye:
Avalon started out pretty slow today, but midday, the winds switched to a northerly with a touch of rain being spitted out and a lot of Double-crested Cormorants came riding the tailwind. Also notable was the first White-winged Scoter of the season first spotted and quickly photographed by Tom Johnson. While no American Oystercatchers were seen migrating today, 61 birds were seen resting on the beach near Townsend's Inlet later in the day, along with a large flock of Black-bellied Plovers. Only a couple of Parasitic Jaeger sightings today, but even more Forster's Terns were observed. Both Golden-crowned Kinglet and Brown Creeper gave an October feel to the passerines. Other non-waterbird highlights included a Cape May Warbler and the third Red-bellied Woodpecker sighting of the season.
Observer: Skye Haas
Species counted:
American Black Duck - 3
American Black Duck/Mallard - 1
Green-winged Teal - 11
Surf Scoter - 7
White-winged Scoter - 1
Black Scoter - 32
Dark-winged Scoter - 6
Northern Gannet - 1
Brown Pelican - 1
Double-crested Cormorant - 3499
Great Cormorant - 1
Great Blue Heron - 1
Laughing Gull - 99
Herring Gull - 13
Great Black-backed Gull - 2
Caspian Tern - 5
Forster's Tern - 196
Royal Tern - 5
Black Skimmer - 14
Parasitic Jaeger - 1
Total: 3,899
A note from Skye:
Avalon started out pretty slow today, but midday, the winds switched to a northerly with a touch of rain being spitted out and a lot of Double-crested Cormorants came riding the tailwind. Also notable was the first White-winged Scoter of the season first spotted and quickly photographed by Tom Johnson. While no American Oystercatchers were seen migrating today, 61 birds were seen resting on the beach near Townsend's Inlet later in the day, along with a large flock of Black-bellied Plovers. Only a couple of Parasitic Jaeger sightings today, but even more Forster's Terns were observed. Both Golden-crowned Kinglet and Brown Creeper gave an October feel to the passerines. Other non-waterbird highlights included a Cape May Warbler and the third Red-bellied Woodpecker sighting of the season.
 |
| White-winged Scoter. [Photo by Tom Johnson.] |
Hawkwatch - 2 October 2014
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 02, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 40 41 47 Turkey Vulture 35 59 176 Osprey 48 124 2293 Bald Eagle 9 18 319 Northern Harrier 13 24 200 Sharp-shinned Hawk 154 613 3861 Cooper's Hawk 174 261 1115 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 3 10 Broad-winged Hawk 9 25 233 Red-tailed Hawk 6 8 118 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 20 70 2308 Merlin 7 30 543 Peregrine Falcon 10 28 341 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 3 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: 527 1304 11570 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 05:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 11 hours Official Counter: Mary Raikes Observers: Weather: Calm (0-5mph) with clear skies in the morning, then winds(5-10mph) from the N/NW in the afternoon with low clouds and nearly 100% coverage. Raptor Observations: Good flight of accipiters in the morning, but as clouds moved in the flight decreased dramatically in the afternoon. Non-raptor Observations: Most notable: Wilson's Snipe. Caspian Tern(1), American Widgeon, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Pied-billed Grebe(1), Little Blue Heron, Green Heron, Pectoral Sandpipers(11), Red-breasted Nuthatch. Predictions: Most sunny skies with winds northeast then east 5-15mph. ======================================================================== Cape May information may be found at: http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/CMBO/
Hawkwatch – 1 October 2014
Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 01, 2014
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 1 1 7
Turkey Vulture 24 24 141
Osprey 76 76 2245
Bald Eagle 9 9 310
Northern Harrier 11 11 187
Sharp-shinned Hawk 459 459 3707
Cooper's Hawk 87 87 941
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 1 8
Broad-winged Hawk 16 16 224
Red-tailed Hawk 2 2 112
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 50 50 2288
Merlin 23 23 536
Peregrine Falcon 18 18 331
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 3
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: 777 777 11043
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 05:30:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 10.5 hours
Official Counter: Tom Reed
Observers:
Weather:
Mild and pleasant. Winds NE/N 5–10mph; high temp 73F; variable
cloudiness; visibility good.
Raptor Observations:
A few decent pulses of accipiters during the late-AM; small numbers of most
everything else throughout the day.
Non-raptor Observations:
COMMON RAVEN (1, first at Cape May since 1997), Black-capped Chickadee (1,
long-staying local rarity); Pectoral Sandpiper (25+), Parasitic Jaeger (2),
Common Nighthawk (2), Cape May Warbler (1)
Predictions:
Partly sunny, 73F, winds N 10–15mph
========================================================================
Report submitted by Tom Reed (coturnicops@gmail.com)
Cape May information may be found at:
http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/CMBO/
Morning Flight - 1 October 2014
T'was another tranquil morning atop the Higbee dike. Today is hence a good day to review what's happened so far since August 16, 2014. Below the normal daily summary is a table of the data collected through today for the Morning Flight Project.
Weather and time: light rain at sunrise and afterwards cloudy; 62-61 ºF; winds SE at 3 mph; 85% cloud cover; excellent visibility; 0654 sunrise; 2.25 hours.
Morning Flight Count totals:
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) 15 south
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 2
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 6
Today's full list can be viewed at: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S19997058
16 AUG-1 OCT 2014 (listed in a previous taxonomic order)
Weather and time: light rain at sunrise and afterwards cloudy; 62-61 ºF; winds SE at 3 mph; 85% cloud cover; excellent visibility; 0654 sunrise; 2.25 hours.
Morning Flight Count totals:
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) 15 south
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 2
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 6
Today's full list can be viewed at: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S19997058
16 AUG-1 OCT 2014 (listed in a previous taxonomic order)
| Total | Max | Max Date | |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | 153 | 33 | 17-Aug |
| Belted Kingfisher | 13 | 3 | 13-Sep |
| Red-headed Woodpecker | 1 | 1 | 27-Sep |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | 58 | 20 | 27-Sep |
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | 6 | 4 | 28-Sep |
| Downy Woodpecker | 19 | 3 | 18-Aug |
| Hairy Woodpecker | 0 | 0 | 16-Aug |
| Northern Flicker | 992 | 451 | 23-Sep |
| Eastern Wood-Pewee | 31 | 5 | 17-Sep |
| Alder Flycatcher | 2 | 1 | 6-Sep |
| Least Flycatcher | 1 | 1 | 15-Sep |
| Empidonax sp. | 4 | 1 | 24-Aug |
| Eastern Phoebe | 18 | 12 | 23-Sep |
| Great-crested Flycatcher | 40 | 36 | 12-Sep |
| Western Kingbird | 0 | 0 | 16-Aug |
| Eastern Kingbird | 1,758 | 346 | 29-Aug |
| Warbling Vireo | 3 | 1 | 4-Sep |
| Philadelphia Vireo | 7 | 2 | 23-Sep |
| Red-eyed Vireo | 176 | 41 | 27-Sep |
| Horned Lark | 0 | 0 | 16-Aug |
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | 32 | 20 | 27-Sep |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | 0 | 0 | 16-Aug |
| Golden-crowned Kinglet | 0 | 0 | 16-Aug |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | 10 | 4 | 23-Sep |
| kinglet sp. | 1 | 1 | 23-Sep |
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | 267 | 57 | 18-Aug |
| Catharus sp. | 3 | 3 | 15-Sep |
| American Robin | 86 | 19 | 26-Sep |
| Northern Mockingbird | 15 | 6 | 3-Sep |
| American Pipit | 9 | 5 | 27-Sep |
| Cedar Waxwing | 3,253 | 381 | 23-Sep |
| Blue-winged Warbler | 10 | 2 | 12-Sep |
| Tennessee Warbler | 65 | 22 | 15-Sep |
| Orange-crowned Warbler | 0 | 0 | 16-Aug |
| Nashville Warbler | 18 | 3 | 14-Sep |
| Northern Parula | 1,505 | 391 | 15-Sep |
| Yellow Warbler | 472 | 85 | 15-Sep |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | 54 | 11 | 29-Aug |
| Magnolia Warbler | 91 | 20 | 12-Sep |
| Cape May Warbler | 94 | 19 | 23-Sep |
| Black-throated Blue Warbler | 307 | 58 | 15-Sep |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | 77 | 35 | 27-Sep |
| Black-throated Gray Warbler | 1 | 1 | 29-Aug |
| Black-throated Green Warbler | 47 | 13 | 27-Sep |
| Blackburnian Warbler | 25 | 5 | 15-Sep |
| Pine Warbler | 5 | 1 | 24-Aug |
| Prairie Warbler | 29 | 3 | 18-Aug |
| Palm Warbler | 893 | 259 | 27-Sep |
| Bay-breasted Warbler | 15 | 5 | 23-Sep |
| Blackpoll Warbler | 416 | 138 | 26-Sep |
| "Baypoll" warbler | 91 | 27 | 26-Sep |
| Cerulean Warbler | 0 | 0 | 16-Aug |
| Black-and-white Warbler | 582 | 177 | 15-Sep |
| American Redstart | 5,569 | 2,631 | 15-Sep |
| Prothonotary Warbler | 9 | 1 | 16-Aug |
| Worm-eating Warbler | 11 | 4 | 16-Aug |
| Ovenbird | 17 | 3 | 15-Sep |
| Northern Waterthrush | 824 | 147 | 10-Sep |
| Louisiana Waterthrush | 3 | 1 | 17-Aug |
| Connecticut Warbler | 8 | 2 | 15-Sep |
| Common Yellowthroat | 16 | 14 | 15-Sep |
| Hooded Warbler | 1 | 1 | 15-Sep |
| Wilson's Warbler | 8 | 2 | 4-Sep |
| Canada Warbler | 3 | 2 | 29-Aug |
| warbler sp. | 2,460 | 1,006 | 15-Sep |
| Summer Tanager | 4 | 1 | 29-Aug |
| Scarlet Tanager | 70 | 17 | 23-Sep |
| Chipping Sparrow | 5 | 2 | 27-Sep |
| Clay-colored Sparrow | 0 | 0 | 16-Aug |
| Vesper Sparrow | 0 | 0 | 16-Aug |
| Lark Sparrow | 0 | 0 | 16-Aug |
| Savannah Sparrow | 16 | 11 | 27-Sep |
| White-crowned Sparrow | 0 | 0 | 16-Aug |
| Dark-eyed Junco | 0 | 0 | 16-Aug |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | 39 | 11 | 23-Sep |
| Blue Grosbeak | 25 | 3 | 29-Aug |
| Indigo Bunting | 114 | 16 | 27-Sep |
| Dickcissel | 16 | 8 | 29-Sep |
| Bobolink | 5,063 | 1,724 | 4-Sep |
| Eastern Meadowlark | 0 | 0 | 16-Aug |
| Rusty Blackbird | 0 | 0 | 16-Aug |
| Orchard Oriole | 3 | 2 | 16-Aug |
| Baltimore Oriole | 282 | 130 | 29-Aug |
| Purple Finch | 20 | 9 | 27-Sep |
| Pine Siskin | 6 | 3 | 27-Sep |
| House Finch | 570 | 77 | 18-Aug |
| American Goldfinch | 96 | 39 | 4-Sep |
| House Sparrow | 71 | 16 | 21-Aug |
Seawatch - 1 October 2014
Observation time: 0553 - 1752
Observer: Skye Haas
Species counted:
Northern Pintail - 6
Aythya sp. - 6
Surf Scoter - 2
Black Scoter - 22
Dark-winged Scoter - 3
Scoter sp. - 4
Red-throated Loon - 1
Brown Pelican - 1
Double-crested Cormorant - 2647
Laughing Gull - 73
Herring Gull - 3
Great Black-backed Gull - 13
Caspian Tern - 4
Forster's Tern - 133
Royal Tern - 15
Parasitic Jaeger - 6
American Oystercatcher - 30
Total: 2,969
A note from Skye:
It was a good day at Avalon. It was moderately busy most of the day with Double-crested Cormorants flying for several hours with over 2600 counted. This now pushes this species past the 10,000 mark! Not bad for only 10 days of counting so far. Also notable today were several Parasitic Jaeger sightings. The official tally was 6 birds, but there were at least 10 sightings of this feisty bird due to the many Laughing Gulls and terns feeding on small fish relatively close to the shore in the afternoon. However what I found to be most interesting was this odd American Oystercatcher thing that was going on. I had a couple of flocks pass by me, flying in these tight high flocks. Later in the day (and not recorded in the migration count) were 12 birds sitting on the beach by the Townsend's Inlet. Ducks continue to be slow to arrive, with the majority of ducks seen today to be all northbound birds including a handful of very early Lesser Scaup. Peregrine Falcons continue to be daily sightings, and today there were a couple of Northern Harriers seen far offshore.
Observer: Skye Haas
Species counted:
Northern Pintail - 6
Aythya sp. - 6
Surf Scoter - 2
Black Scoter - 22
Dark-winged Scoter - 3
Scoter sp. - 4
Red-throated Loon - 1
Brown Pelican - 1
Double-crested Cormorant - 2647
Laughing Gull - 73
Herring Gull - 3
Great Black-backed Gull - 13
Caspian Tern - 4
Forster's Tern - 133
Royal Tern - 15
Parasitic Jaeger - 6
American Oystercatcher - 30
Total: 2,969
A note from Skye:
It was a good day at Avalon. It was moderately busy most of the day with Double-crested Cormorants flying for several hours with over 2600 counted. This now pushes this species past the 10,000 mark! Not bad for only 10 days of counting so far. Also notable today were several Parasitic Jaeger sightings. The official tally was 6 birds, but there were at least 10 sightings of this feisty bird due to the many Laughing Gulls and terns feeding on small fish relatively close to the shore in the afternoon. However what I found to be most interesting was this odd American Oystercatcher thing that was going on. I had a couple of flocks pass by me, flying in these tight high flocks. Later in the day (and not recorded in the migration count) were 12 birds sitting on the beach by the Townsend's Inlet. Ducks continue to be slow to arrive, with the majority of ducks seen today to be all northbound birds including a handful of very early Lesser Scaup. Peregrine Falcons continue to be daily sightings, and today there were a couple of Northern Harriers seen far offshore.
 |
| [American Oystercatchers. Photo by Skye Haas.] |
Seawatch - 30 September 2014
Observation time: 0555 - 1744
Observer: Tom Reed
Species Counted:
Canada Goose - 2
American Black Duck - 4
Northern Pintail - 214
Green-winged Teal - 17
Surf Scoter - 5
Black Scoter - 24
Common Loon - 1
Northern Gannet - 6
Brown Pelican - 20
Double-crested Cormorant - 2,672
Great Blue Heron - 3
Laughing Gull - 306
Great Black-backed Gull - 8
Common Tern - 1
Forster's Tern - 86
Royal Tern - 10
Black Skimmer - 10
Parasitic Jaeger - 3
Total: 3,392
Observer: Tom Reed
Species Counted:
Canada Goose - 2
American Black Duck - 4
Northern Pintail - 214
Green-winged Teal - 17
Surf Scoter - 5
Black Scoter - 24
Common Loon - 1
Northern Gannet - 6
Brown Pelican - 20
Double-crested Cormorant - 2,672
Great Blue Heron - 3
Laughing Gull - 306
Great Black-backed Gull - 8
Common Tern - 1
Forster's Tern - 86
Royal Tern - 10
Black Skimmer - 10
Parasitic Jaeger - 3
Total: 3,392
 |
| [Brown Pelicans. Photo by Tom Reed.] |
Morning Flight - 30 September 2014
As radar indicated, last night a small push of migrants were on the move. The Cape May Point State Park had a decent dawn showing of warblers with 150-200 estimated by Tom Johnson. The Higbee dike, however, did not have this number of moving or recently arrived songbirds. Perhaps it's that the majority of the birds moving were accomplishing their feats of mass relocation with great success. It's possible that only the birds in the more open habitats near the beaches were spurred on to a Morning Flight activity. The southwest tip of the Cape May peninsula lies by the State Park. It marks the end of the road if crossing water, especially in the daytime, isn't your thing. Higbee Beach WMA lies a couple miles to the north of this tip. How can songbird behavior at sunrise be so different at the same time in two only closely separated locations. We have a lot to explore on this topic!
Weather and time: light rain at sunrise and afterwards cloudy; 62-61 ºF; winds SE at 3 mph; 85% cloud cover; excellent visibility; 0654 sunrise; 2.25 hours.
Morning Flight Count totals:
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) 169 south
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) 7
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 1
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 2
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 23
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 1
warbler sp. (Parulinae sp.) 7
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 1
Today's full list can be viewed at: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S19992000
Weather and time: light rain at sunrise and afterwards cloudy; 62-61 ºF; winds SE at 3 mph; 85% cloud cover; excellent visibility; 0654 sunrise; 2.25 hours.
Morning Flight Count totals:
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) 169 south
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) 7
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 1
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 2
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 23
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 1
warbler sp. (Parulinae sp.) 7
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 1
Today's full list can be viewed at: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S19992000
Hawkwatch - 30 September 2014
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 30, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 6 6 Turkey Vulture 0 117 117 Osprey 42 2169 2169 Bald Eagle 5 301 301 Northern Harrier 8 176 176 Sharp-shinned Hawk 199 3248 3248 Cooper's Hawk 91 854 854 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 3 7 7 Broad-winged Hawk 21 208 208 Red-tailed Hawk 3 110 110 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 43 2238 2238 Merlin 8 513 513 Peregrine Falcon 38 313 313 Unknown Accipiter 0 3 3 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 1 1 Zone-tailed Hawk 0 1 1 Total: 461 10266 10266 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10 hours Official Counter: Mary Raikes Observers: Weather: Light rain before sunrise and very calm for the first two hours. Clouds slowly cleared throughout day with winds at 5-10mph from the E/NE with temperatures in the low 70's. Raptor Observations: Very slow first two hours of the day then as clouds cleared and winds increased, large kettles of accipiters formed with a good diversity of buteos as well. A small, but steady flow of falcons in the late afternoon, high and to the north of the platform. Non-raptor Observations: Pied-billed Grebe(1), American Widgeon, Little Blue Heron(2), Green Heron, large flocks of Blue Jays(150+), Caspian Tern(2), Red-breasted Nuthatch(1), Indigo Bunting(1) Predictions: Slight chance of showers, winds NNE 10-15mph, temps in the low 70's. ======================================================================== Cape May information may be found at: http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/CMBO/
Morning Flight - 29 September 2014
With light south to west winds overnight it seems like a small amount was occurring but there was very little evidence of this, today at the Higbee dike.
Weather and time: cloudy; 64–67 ºF; winds W at 3 mph; 85% cloud cover; very good visibility; 0653 sunrise; 2.25 hours.
Morning Flight Count totals: Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 5
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 2
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) 22
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) 1
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 1
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 6
Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) 1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 6
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 4
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) 1
warbler sp. (Parulinae sp.) 2
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 2
Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) 8 south
Today's full list can be viewed at: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S19980232
Morning Flight Count totals: Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 5
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 2
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) 22
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) 1
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 1
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 6
Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) 1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 6
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 4
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) 1
warbler sp. (Parulinae sp.) 2
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 2
Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) 8 south
Today's full list can be viewed at: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S19980232
Morning Flight - 28 September 2014
For a morning lacking any real migration vibe it was still quite a decent and fun to watch flight. The largest tally of southbound Blue Jays for the year was reached with 101.
Weather and time: mostly clear; 59–68 ºF; winds ENE to ESE at 2-3 mph; 25% cloud cover; good visibility; 0652 sunrise; 3.25 hours.
Morning Flight Count totals: Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1 south
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 16 plus 7 south
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 4
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 3
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 33
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 14
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 144 43 north, 101 south
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) 25 south predawn
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 7
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 3
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 13
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) 1
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 14
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) 6
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 4
Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla) 1
Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) 1 took off from reeds below and went south
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 4
Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) 3
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 4
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) 2
Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea) 1
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 22
Bay-breasted/Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga castanea/striata) 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) 8
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 8
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 7
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) 3
warbler sp. (Parulinae sp.) 5
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 1
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) 1
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 4
Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) 3
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 2
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) 2
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 3
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 1
Today's full list can be viewed at: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S19974278
Weather and time: mostly clear; 59–68 ºF; winds ENE to ESE at 2-3 mph; 25% cloud cover; good visibility; 0652 sunrise; 3.25 hours.
Morning Flight Count totals: Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1 south
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 16 plus 7 south
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 4
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 3
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 33
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 14
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 144 43 north, 101 south
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) 25 south predawn
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 7
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 3
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 13
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) 1
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 14
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) 6
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 4
Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla) 1
Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) 1 took off from reeds below and went south
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 4
Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) 3
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 4
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) 2
Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea) 1
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 22
Bay-breasted/Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga castanea/striata) 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) 8
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 8
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 7
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) 3
warbler sp. (Parulinae sp.) 5
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 1
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) 1
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 4
Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) 3
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 2
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) 2
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 3
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 1
Today's full list can be viewed at: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S19974278
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| Is this a Peach- and Marigold-shafted Flicker??? |
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| Is this a pigment aberration? I'm not sure, but it sure is pretty! (Photos by: Glen Davis) And now for the smooth photographic stylings of Tom Johnson |
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| Most Blue Jays have been heading south at Morning Flight. |
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| Dull the blue and add some yellow to color up a Magnolia Warbler |
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| Lookout little mutant/abberrent flicker, a giant Monarch is bearing down on you! (Photos by: Tom Johnson) |
Morning Flight - 27 September 2014
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| Photo by: Glen Davis |
Morning Flight Count totals:
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) 2
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 2
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 20
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 235
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) 3
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) 1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 41
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) 40 south
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 20
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) 5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 3
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 6
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 24
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) 5
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 353
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) 25
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 82
Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina) 2
Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla) 1
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 108
Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) 3
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 155
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) 6
Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea) 1
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) 2
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) 4
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) 1
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 43
Bay-breasted/Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga castanea/striata) 8
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) 37
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 259
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 38
Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor) 1
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) 13
warbler sp. (Parulinae sp.) 403
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 2
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 11
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) 9
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) 1
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 16
Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) 97
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 4
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 19
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) 9
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 3
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 22
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 12
Seawatch - 29 September 2014
Observation time: 0539 - 1746
Observer; Tom Reed
Species counted:
American Black Duck - 1
Green-winged Teal - 11
Surf Scoter - 12
Black Scoter - 26
Dark-winged Scoter - 1
Red-throated Loon - 1
Common Loon - 4
Northern Gannet - 6
Brown Pelican - 9
Double-crested Cormorant - 1,074
Great Blue Heron - 1
Laughing Gull - 144
Herring Gull - 9
Great Black-backed Gull - 39
Caspian Tern - 2
Common Tern - 22
Forster's Tern - 202
Royal Tern - 27
Parasitic Jaeger - 2
Total: 1,593
Other sightings:
Monarch Butterfly - 94
Painted Lady - 2
Red Admiral - 1
Common Green Darner - 30
Wandering Glider - 3
Bottlenose Dolphin - 50
Observer; Tom Reed
Species counted:
American Black Duck - 1
Green-winged Teal - 11
Surf Scoter - 12
Black Scoter - 26
Dark-winged Scoter - 1
Red-throated Loon - 1
Common Loon - 4
Northern Gannet - 6
Brown Pelican - 9
Double-crested Cormorant - 1,074
Great Blue Heron - 1
Laughing Gull - 144
Herring Gull - 9
Great Black-backed Gull - 39
Caspian Tern - 2
Common Tern - 22
Forster's Tern - 202
Royal Tern - 27
Parasitic Jaeger - 2
Total: 1,593
Other sightings:
Monarch Butterfly - 94
Painted Lady - 2
Red Admiral - 1
Common Green Darner - 30
Wandering Glider - 3
Bottlenose Dolphin - 50
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| [A Peregrine Falcon seen at the Seawatch. Photo by Tom Reed.] |
Hawkwatch - 29 September 2014
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 29, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 6 6 Turkey Vulture 0 117 117 Osprey 29 2127 2127 Bald Eagle 1 296 296 Northern Harrier 7 168 168 Sharp-shinned Hawk 114 3049 3049 Cooper's Hawk 18 763 763 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 4 4 Broad-winged Hawk 3 187 187 Red-tailed Hawk 0 107 107 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 26 2195 2195 Merlin 10 505 505 Peregrine Falcon 21 275 275 Unknown Accipiter 0 3 3 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 1 1 Zone-tailed Hawk 0 1 1 Total: 229 9805 9805 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 all day with high humidity and very little wind. Winds 0-5 mph coming off the water from the west, southwest, and south. Raptor Observations: Fairly slow day with the majority of the flight in the am; very slow afternoon hours. Flight, however, was much lower than the past few days with most of the accipiters and falcons passing above the treeline to the north of the platform. Non-raptor Observations: Good movement of Blue Jays in the am(50+), Caspian Tern(4), American Bittern(1) on back of Bunker Pond shore, American Widgeon, Gadwall, Blue and Green-winged Teal, Pied-billed Grebe(1), Little Blue Heron(1), Double-crested cormorant flocks(300+). Predictions: Cloudy with a chance of rain in the am, then clearing and sunny with winds from the southeast 5-10mph. Temperatures reaching 72F. ======================================================================== Cape May information may be found at: http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/CMBO/
Hawkwatch - 28 September 2014
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 28, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 6 6 Turkey Vulture 0 117 117 Osprey 63 2098 2098 Bald Eagle 3 295 295 Northern Harrier 4 161 161 Sharp-shinned Hawk 203 2935 2935 Cooper's Hawk 64 745 745 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 4 4 Broad-winged Hawk 4 184 184 Red-tailed Hawk 0 107 107 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 86 2169 2169 Merlin 5 495 495 Peregrine Falcon 40 254 254 Unknown Accipiter 0 3 3 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 1 1 Zone-tailed Hawk 0 1 1 Total: 472 9576 9576 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 05:45:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10.25 hours Official Counter: Mary Raikes Observers: Weather: Very light and variable winds for all of day; 0-5 mph from the east, south, and southwest. A low ground fog limited visibility until 0630EST. Very warm temperatures (79F) with high cirrus clouds. Raptor Observations: Flight was north of the platform, moving east to west, far above and beyond the treeline. Non-raptor Observations: Large flocks of Blue Jays in the am (70+), Cape May Warbler(2), Yellow Warbler, Palm Warbler, Caspian Tern(2), Black Skimmer(50), American Widgeon, Gadwall, Little Blue Heron. Predictions: Partly cloudy. Winds light and variable. ======================================================================== Cape May information may be found at: http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/CMBO/
Seawatch - 28 September 2014
Observation time: 0552 - 1846
Observer: Skye Haas
Species observed:
American Wigeon - 6
Nothern Pintail - 4
Green-winged Teal - 74
Duck sp. - 3
Surf Scoter - 3
Dark-winged Scoter - 1
Common Loon - 1
Nothern Gannet - 1
Brown Pelican - 1
Double-crested Cormorant - 252
Great Cormorant - 2
Caspian Tern - 1
Forster's Tern - 8
Royal Tern - 24
Parasitic Jaeger - 2
Jaeger sp. - 2
Semipalmated Plover - 28
Calidris sp. -9
Sulid sp. - 1
Total: 423
A note from Skye:
Hot and slow is the succinct summary of today's count at Avalon. Still there were a few fun sightings and after all, any day spent birding is a good one right? Green-winged Teal and Cormorants were seen moving in modest numbers, and two different young Great Cormorants were observed. Four jaegers were seen; the morning bird was quite feisty and attacked an Osprey. There was a very subtle but prolonged Royal Tern migration over the course of the day. They do seem to be clearing out fast. Non-waterbirds of note include another Red-bellied Woodpecker, a Cape May Warbler and quite a few butterflies. Several Monarchs were seen, as well as a Lady of some kind, 5 Buckeyes, Milbert's Tortoiseshell, and some kind of small Lycanid (hairstreak/blue).
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| [Ospery. Photo by Skye Haas.] |
Seawatch - 27 September 2014
Observation time; 0550 - 1850
Observer: Skye Haas
Species Observed:
Northern
Pintail – 4
Green-winged
Teal – 110
Dabbler sp. – 2
Duck sp. – 15
Surf Scoter
– 4
Black
Scoter – 7
Common Loon
– 2
Northern
Gannet – 3
Brown
Pelican – 1
Double-crested
Cormorant – 803
Laughing
Gull – 39
Caspian
Tern – 2
Forster’s
Tern – 14
Royal Tern
– 3
Tern sp. – 5
Semipalmated Plover – 19
Sandpiper sp. –
4
Total: 1,037
A note from Skye:
It was a moderate flight today at Avalon. Green-winged Teal made their first decent yet humble push of birds, and the Cormorants continued a second morning of flying. A few more Northern Gannets were seen today, including a nice adult off the 8th street jetty. Peregrines have been seen the last few days hunting shorebirds along the seawall. There was a small morning Northern Flicker flight down the shoreline, but the non-waterbird that really caught my attention was the Ammodramus sparrow that came flying off the ocean. But alas, I could not tell what kind it was. There were still decent numbers of Tree Swallows passing by the count site, but I didn't see the huge flock that has been feeding at the Townsend's Inlet the last few days. A nice afternoon event was the Cobbs Creek Docent Program bring a group of students from Philadelphia. It was fun to see them checking out the seawatch and I ended up talking pine forest fire ecology with them for a few. Hopefully some of these kids will be coming back to Cape May Bird Observatory in a few years to be interpretive naturalists!
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| [Peregrine Falcon. Photo by Skye Haas.] |
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| [Tree Swallow. Photo by Skye Haas.] |
Hawkwatch - 27 September 2014
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 27, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 6 6 Turkey Vulture 13 117 117 Osprey 71 2035 2035 Bald Eagle 10 292 292 Northern Harrier 9 157 157 Sharp-shinned Hawk 443 2732 2732 Cooper's Hawk 76 681 681 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 4 4 Broad-winged Hawk 18 180 180 Red-tailed Hawk 13 107 107 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 67 2083 2083 Merlin 39 490 490 Peregrine Falcon 32 214 214 Unknown Accipiter 0 3 3 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 1 1 Zone-tailed Hawk 1 1 1 Total: 792 9104 9104 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 05:45:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10.25 hours Official Counter: Mary Raikes Observers: Weather: Zero cloud coverage today with light and variable winds for most of the day. Starting from the N in the early morning then NE, switching to NW mid-day, and then S/SE/SW in the afternoon. Temperatures reaching 77F. Raptor Observations: ZONE-TAILED HAWK: seen first in small kettle over bunker 0945(EST), then headed north, circled back high over platform and headed SW from point over Delaware Bay. Lots of sharp-shinned hawks in the morning followed by a really, really high flight in the afternoon. Non-raptor Observations: Pied-billed Grebe(1), American Widgeon(7), Little Blue Heron, Black Skimmer(10), Caspian Tern(1). Large flocks of Blue Jays(50+). Predictions: Sunny, mid-70's, winds light and variable E/SE 0-5mph. ======================================================================== Cape May information may be found at: http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/CMBO/
Seawatch - 26 September 2014
Observation time: 0549 - 1855
Observer: Skye Haas
Observer: Skye Haas
Species observed:
Green-winged
Teal – 1
Surf Scoter
– 8
Black
Scoter – 7
Common Loon
– 1
Northern
Gannet – 1
Brown
Pelican – 5
Double-crested
Cormorant – 1930
Great
Cormorant – 1
Cormorant sp. – 3
Great Blue
Heron – 2
Laughing
Gull – 7
Caspian
Tern – 6
Forster’s
Tern – 6
Royal Tern
– 12
American
Oystercatcher – 3
Total: 1,993
Skye's summary of the day:
The Avalon Seawatch was a more pleasant place today than the previous two days. The ocean was far more gentle and viewing conditions greatly improved. My first bird of the day was a Northern Gannet, so for a Great Lakes guy I took it as a good omen. It of course ended up being my only gannet of the day, but it quickly became apparent that it was going to be a good Cormorant day. A nice early season total of 1,930 Double-crested Cormorants were recorded as well as the first Great Cormorant of the season. Only a few ducks were seen today, both species of dark-winged scoter and a single Green-winged Teal. An oddity for the count location was an out-of-place Red-bellied Woodpecker in the parking lot pines that seemed eager to keep moving. Shorebird numbers are building on the jetty as well with a mix of Turnstones, Western, Semipalmated & Least Sandpipers and over 250 Sanderlings. Finally, the Bottle-nosed Dolphin show was pretty exciting today, but there haven't been any more Humpback Whale sightings since Tuesday.
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| [Double-crested Cormorants. Photo by Skye Haas.] |
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| [Bottle-nosed Dolphins. Photo by Skye Haas.] |
Hawkwatch - 26 September 2014
Cape May Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 26, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 6 6 Turkey Vulture 2 104 104 Osprey 116 1964 1964 Bald Eagle 12 282 282 Northern Harrier 8 148 148 Sharp-shinned Hawk 255 2289 2289 Cooper's Hawk 129 605 605 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 4 4 Broad-winged Hawk 8 162 162 Red-tailed Hawk 5 94 94 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 83 2016 2016 Merlin 68 451 451 Peregrine Falcon 32 182 182 Unknown Accipiter 0 3 3 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 1 1 Total: 718 8312 8312 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 05:45:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 10.25 hours Official Counter: Mary Raikes Observers: Weather: Mainly clear skies in the am with winds from the north 5-10 mph, then mostly cloudy skies in the afternoon with winds light and variable from the NW, S, SE, and SW. Raptor Observations: Large kettles of very high accipiters throughout most of the day, as well as nice numbers of falcons. All quite high, often disappearing in the clouds. Non-raptor Observations: Pied-billed grebe, Northern Shovelers, Green and Blue-winged Teal, Gadwall, Little Blue Heron, Common Nighthawk(1) feeding over pond mid-day. Movement of Blue Jays in the am (25+). Predictions: Mainly sunny, high of 76, with winds from the NE 5-10 mph. ======================================================================== Cape May information may be found at: http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/CMBO/