Southeast wind. 'Nuff said.
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/21/09
Number of species: 68
Canada Goose 5
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 1
Mallard 4
Blue-winged Teal 8
Northern Shoveler 5
Northern Pintail 1
Green-winged Teal 6
Double-crested Cormorant 12
Great Blue Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Semipalmated Plover 1
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Solitary Sandpiper 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 5
Semipalmated Sandpiper 6
Least Sandpiper 3
White-rumped Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 40
Herring Gull 8
Great Black-backed Gull 35
Caspian Tern 1
Forster's Tern 5
Royal Tern 6
Rock Pigeon 4
Mourning Dove 12
Chimney Swift 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 8
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 8
Fish Crow 2
Tree Swallow 45
Barn Swallow 4
Carolina Chickadee 3
Carolina Wren 12
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
American Robin 6
Gray Catbird 8
Northern Mockingbird 2
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 55
American Pipit 1
Cedar Waxwing 7
Northern Parula 4
Yellow Warbler 2
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 5
Blackpoll Warbler 3
Black-and-white Warbler 1
American Redstart 5
Northern Waterthrush 2
Chipping Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 6
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 1
Dickcissel 1
Bobolink 5
Red-winged Blackbird 55
Common Grackle 3
Baltimore Oriole 1
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 6
Morning Flight Sunday September 20 2009
A bit of a slow day, but good diversity. We counted 18 species of warblers plus a Yellow-breasted Chat was seen from the platform.
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/20/09
Number of species: 77
Canada Goose 2
Gadwall 2
Mallard 6
Blue-winged Teal 8
Northern Shoveler 5
Green-winged Teal 6
Double-crested Cormorant 14
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 2
Snowy Egret 3
Black Vulture 15
Turkey Vulture 4
Osprey 6
Bald Eagle 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Solitary Sandpiper 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 6
Sanderling 6
Semipalmated Sandpiper 8
Least Sandpiper 12
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 45
Ring-billed Gull 3
Herring Gull 15
Great Black-backed Gull 40
Caspian Tern 1
Forster's Tern 12
Royal Tern 6
Rock Pigeon 15
Mourning Dove 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 31
Eastern Kingbird 1
Red-eyed Vireo 5
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 45
Fish Crow 3
Tree Swallow 215
Bank Swallow 1
Cliff Swallow 1
Carolina Wren 4
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
American Robin 3
Gray Catbird 8
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 85
Cedar Waxwing 44
Tennessee Warbler 3
Nashville Warbler 1
Northern Parula 68
Yellow Warbler 2
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Magnolia Warbler 1
Cape May Warbler 9
Black-throated Blue Warbler 6
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 2
Prairie Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 19
Blackpoll Warbler 7
Black-and-white Warbler 4
American Redstart 32
Northern Waterthrush 3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 1
Bobolink 27
Red-winged Blackbird 85
Common Grackle 6
Baltimore Oriole 7
House Finch 2
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/20/09
Number of species: 77
Canada Goose 2
Gadwall 2
Mallard 6
Blue-winged Teal 8
Northern Shoveler 5
Green-winged Teal 6
Double-crested Cormorant 14
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 2
Snowy Egret 3
Black Vulture 15
Turkey Vulture 4
Osprey 6
Bald Eagle 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Solitary Sandpiper 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 6
Sanderling 6
Semipalmated Sandpiper 8
Least Sandpiper 12
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 45
Ring-billed Gull 3
Herring Gull 15
Great Black-backed Gull 40
Caspian Tern 1
Forster's Tern 12
Royal Tern 6
Rock Pigeon 15
Mourning Dove 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 31
Eastern Kingbird 1
Red-eyed Vireo 5
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 45
Fish Crow 3
Tree Swallow 215
Bank Swallow 1
Cliff Swallow 1
Carolina Wren 4
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
American Robin 3
Gray Catbird 8
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 85
Cedar Waxwing 44
Tennessee Warbler 3
Nashville Warbler 1
Northern Parula 68
Yellow Warbler 2
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Magnolia Warbler 1
Cape May Warbler 9
Black-throated Blue Warbler 6
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 2
Prairie Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 19
Blackpoll Warbler 7
Black-and-white Warbler 4
American Redstart 32
Northern Waterthrush 3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 1
Bobolink 27
Red-winged Blackbird 85
Common Grackle 6
Baltimore Oriole 7
House Finch 2
Hawk Watch Results Sunday, September 20, 2009
Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 20, 2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 53 1259 1259
Bald Eagle 11 154 154
Northern Harrier 8 134 134
Sharp-shinned Hawk 220 2821 2821
Cooper's Hawk 92 772 772
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 3 3
Broad-winged Hawk 4 161 161
Red-tailed Hawk 5 165 165
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 27 1548 1548
Merlin 11 705 705
Peregrine Falcon 6 111 111
Unknown Accipiter 0 1 1
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 1 1
Total: 437 7835 7835
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 05:30:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 10.5 hours
Official Counter: Pete Dunne
Observers:
Weather:
Raptor Observations:
Non-raptor Observations:
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 20, 2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 53 1259 1259
Bald Eagle 11 154 154
Northern Harrier 8 134 134
Sharp-shinned Hawk 220 2821 2821
Cooper's Hawk 92 772 772
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 3 3
Broad-winged Hawk 4 161 161
Red-tailed Hawk 5 165 165
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 27 1548 1548
Merlin 11 705 705
Peregrine Falcon 6 111 111
Unknown Accipiter 0 1 1
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 1 1
Total: 437 7835 7835
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 05:30:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 10.5 hours
Official Counter: Pete Dunne
Observers:
Weather:
Raptor Observations:
Non-raptor Observations:
Hawk Watch Results Saturday, September 19
Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 19, 2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species - Day's Count - Month Total - Season Total
--------------------------------------------------
Black Vulture - 0 - 0 - 0
Turkey Vulture - 0 - 0 - 0
Osprey - 78 - 1206 - 1206
Bald Eagle - 21 - 143 - 143
Northern Harrier - 23 - 126 - 126
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 283 - 2601 - 2601
Cooper's Hawk - 173 - 680 - 680
Northern Goshawk - 0 - 0 - 0
Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 - 3 - 3
Broad-winged Hawk - 40 - 157 - 157
Red-tailed Hawk - 12 - 160 - 160
Rough-legged Hawk - 0 - 0 - 0
Golden Eagle - 0 - 0 - 0
American Kestrel - 39 - 1521 - 1521
Merlin - 41 - 694 - 694
Peregrine Falcon - 12 - 105 - 105 -
Unknown Accipiter - 0 - 1 - 1
Unknown Buteo - 0 - 0 - 0
Unknown Falcon - 0 - 0 - 0
Unknown Eagle - 0 - 0 - 0
Unknown Raptor - 0 - 1 - 1
Total: 723 7398 7398
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 05:30:00
Observation end time: 16:30:00
Total observation time: 11 hours
Official Counter: Pete Dunne
Report submitted by Doug Gochfeld
[Editor's note: This was an "ozone flight," with birds undoubtedly passing higher than could be seen even with binoculars or scope. One of these may have been the Swainson's Hawk Forrest recorded over at Cape Henlopen, Delaware in the afternoon.]
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 19, 2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species - Day's Count - Month Total - Season Total
--------------------------------------------------
Black Vulture - 0 - 0 - 0
Turkey Vulture - 0 - 0 - 0
Osprey - 78 - 1206 - 1206
Bald Eagle - 21 - 143 - 143
Northern Harrier - 23 - 126 - 126
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 283 - 2601 - 2601
Cooper's Hawk - 173 - 680 - 680
Northern Goshawk - 0 - 0 - 0
Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 - 3 - 3
Broad-winged Hawk - 40 - 157 - 157
Red-tailed Hawk - 12 - 160 - 160
Rough-legged Hawk - 0 - 0 - 0
Golden Eagle - 0 - 0 - 0
American Kestrel - 39 - 1521 - 1521
Merlin - 41 - 694 - 694
Peregrine Falcon - 12 - 105 - 105 -
Unknown Accipiter - 0 - 1 - 1
Unknown Buteo - 0 - 0 - 0
Unknown Falcon - 0 - 0 - 0
Unknown Eagle - 0 - 0 - 0
Unknown Raptor - 0 - 1 - 1
Total: 723 7398 7398
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 05:30:00
Observation end time: 16:30:00
Total observation time: 11 hours
Official Counter: Pete Dunne
Report submitted by Doug Gochfeld
[Editor's note: This was an "ozone flight," with birds undoubtedly passing higher than could be seen even with binoculars or scope. One of these may have been the Swainson's Hawk Forrest recorded over at Cape Henlopen, Delaware in the afternoon.]
Monarch Migration Project Week 2
Howdy All (In true Texas drawl)!
Week 2 of the migrating season was a bit of a step backwards from the previous weeks' numbers with an average of 7.37 Monarchs/hour. However, this number isn't all too surprising with the epic storm that happened during the week...the storm that resulted in Cameron Cox's impromptu kayak trip down Columbia Avenue at 6 AM (please refer to Doug's previous posts for pictures). As the high water receded, so did our Monarchs. This week, the Monarchs are staging a major comeback and today was a record day with 63.46 Monarchs/hour!
Last Friday (Sept. 18th) we kicked off our weekly Monarch tagging demos and Team Monarch is coming together. The biggest team player and founder of the Monarch Project here in Cape May, Dick Walton (who is well known for his work on the Peterson's Birding By Ear Field Guides), has just arrived here to assist us in tagging and getting the word out on what we're up to.
While reading about the Monarch happenings here sure is fun, what's better is that you can catch us in action for free! Till the end of the season (Oct. 31st), you can find us giving Monarch tagging demonstrations at the pavilion next to the Hawkwatch Platform (at Cape May Point State Park) every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2 PM.
And now for our Butterfly of the Week: The Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
ID Points: Wing Span 1.25-1.5 in. Very short antenae; Males have many small black spots on the underside of the hindwing while Females are pale brown in color with slightly lighter specks (the upper side is darker than males with an orange band rather visible)
(In this picture, the male is shown to the left and the female to the right)
Food (Adults): Aster, Swamp Milkweed, Ironweed (side note: These are also favorite foods for Adult Monarchs!), Thistles, and Sweet Pepperbush
Interesting Facts: When these caterpillars emerge, they eat leaves and also roll and tie them to create makeshift shelters that lie horizontally in the sod..talk about being resourceful!
Though these skippers breed further south, they often wander northward to the Cape May area at the end of summer. Like Monarchs, Fiery Skippers cannot survive the cold winters here, making them rarer to see as we head into the fall season. In recent walks given by staff of the Cape May Bird Observatory, we are still finding a few of them lurking about on walking paths at the State Park, Pavilion Circle, and other private gardens. If you haven't seen a Fiery Skipper yet, or, like me, have difficulty finding them amongst the sea of Sachems (another common Skipper species here), the Cape May Bird Observatory regularly hosts Butterfly walks around Cape May. The next CMBO sponsored walk will be held Thursday Sept. 24 in the Goshen Gardens (at the NJAB/CMBO Center for Research and Education) from 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM and a Butterfly and Dragonfly Walk will be held on Sunday Sept. 27 from Noon - 2PM meeting at the Hawkwatch Platform. Both events are $6 for members and $10 for non-members.
Till next time, Happy Bird/Butterfly/Dragonfly hunting everyone!
For more information about Dick Walton and his DVD releases, Podcasts, and other publications check out this website:
http://www.rkwalton.com/
For more cool pictures of the Fiery Skipper check out this site:
http://www.cirrusimage.com/skipper_fiery.htm
For the CMBO Weekly Walks Schedule, check out this link:
http://www.birdcapemay.org/programs.php
Week 2 of the migrating season was a bit of a step backwards from the previous weeks' numbers with an average of 7.37 Monarchs/hour. However, this number isn't all too surprising with the epic storm that happened during the week...the storm that resulted in Cameron Cox's impromptu kayak trip down Columbia Avenue at 6 AM (please refer to Doug's previous posts for pictures). As the high water receded, so did our Monarchs. This week, the Monarchs are staging a major comeback and today was a record day with 63.46 Monarchs/hour!
Last Friday (Sept. 18th) we kicked off our weekly Monarch tagging demos and Team Monarch is coming together. The biggest team player and founder of the Monarch Project here in Cape May, Dick Walton (who is well known for his work on the Peterson's Birding By Ear Field Guides), has just arrived here to assist us in tagging and getting the word out on what we're up to.
While reading about the Monarch happenings here sure is fun, what's better is that you can catch us in action for free! Till the end of the season (Oct. 31st), you can find us giving Monarch tagging demonstrations at the pavilion next to the Hawkwatch Platform (at Cape May Point State Park) every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2 PM.
And now for our Butterfly of the Week: The Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
ID Points: Wing Span 1.25-1.5 in. Very short antenae; Males have many small black spots on the underside of the hindwing while Females are pale brown in color with slightly lighter specks (the upper side is darker than males with an orange band rather visible)
(In this picture, the male is shown to the left and the female to the right)
Food (Adults): Aster, Swamp Milkweed, Ironweed (side note: These are also favorite foods for Adult Monarchs!), Thistles, and Sweet Pepperbush
Interesting Facts: When these caterpillars emerge, they eat leaves and also roll and tie them to create makeshift shelters that lie horizontally in the sod..talk about being resourceful!
Though these skippers breed further south, they often wander northward to the Cape May area at the end of summer. Like Monarchs, Fiery Skippers cannot survive the cold winters here, making them rarer to see as we head into the fall season. In recent walks given by staff of the Cape May Bird Observatory, we are still finding a few of them lurking about on walking paths at the State Park, Pavilion Circle, and other private gardens. If you haven't seen a Fiery Skipper yet, or, like me, have difficulty finding them amongst the sea of Sachems (another common Skipper species here), the Cape May Bird Observatory regularly hosts Butterfly walks around Cape May. The next CMBO sponsored walk will be held Thursday Sept. 24 in the Goshen Gardens (at the NJAB/CMBO Center for Research and Education) from 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM and a Butterfly and Dragonfly Walk will be held on Sunday Sept. 27 from Noon - 2PM meeting at the Hawkwatch Platform. Both events are $6 for members and $10 for non-members.
Till next time, Happy Bird/Butterfly/Dragonfly hunting everyone!
For more information about Dick Walton and his DVD releases, Podcasts, and other publications check out this website:
http://www.rkwalton.com/
For more cool pictures of the Fiery Skipper check out this site:
http://www.cirrusimage.com/skipper_fiery.htm
For the CMBO Weekly Walks Schedule, check out this link:
http://www.birdcapemay.org/programs.php
Morning Flight Saturday September 19 2009
This morning brought a very solid flight with great species diversity, though not overwhelming numbers. I have been attempting to deny that the fall is steadily slipping through my fingers, but my denial was dealt a resounding blow today when Palm Warblers soundly trounced redstarts as the most numerous warbler. Fall marches on. The Long-billed Dowitcher from yesterday made another appearance, but warblers were the hit of the morning. Including Common Yellowthroats, which do not participate in morning flight, we had 24 species of warblers; a rather solid total! There were 1084 individual warblers counted including 448 unidentified warblers. We also had some great looks at Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and a flyby Clay-colored Sparrow. A fine morning!
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/19/09
Number of species: 86
Mallard 6
Blue-winged Teal 5
Northern Shoveler 5
Green-winged Teal 6
Double-crested Cormorant 7
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 8
Turkey Vulture 12
Osprey 6
Bald Eagle 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 18
Cooper's Hawk 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Merlin 8
Semipalmated Plover 2
Killdeer 2
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Solitary Sandpiper 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 5
Semipalmated Sandpiper 6
Least Sandpiper 9
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Long-billed Dowitcher 1
Laughing Gull 55
Ring-billed Gull 4
Herring Gull 18
Great Black-backed Gull 35
Forster's Tern 2
Royal Tern 6
Rock Pigeon 12
Mourning Dove 4
Belted Kingfisher 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 94
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Warbling Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 12
Blue Jay 8
American Crow 55
Fish Crow 6
Tree Swallow 300
Barn Swallow 15
Carolina Chickadee 3
Carolina Wren 6
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 35
Cedar Waxwing 557
Blue-winged Warbler 1
Tennessee Warbler 9
Nashville Warbler 5
Northern Parula 110
Yellow Warbler 2
Chestnut-sided Warbler 3
Magnolia Warbler 2
Cape May Warbler 10
Black-throated Blue Warbler 13
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 4
Black-throated Green Warbler 8
Blackburnian Warbler 3
Prairie Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 256
Bay-breasted Warbler 9
Blackpoll Warbler 64
Black-and-white Warbler 22
American Redstart 80
Ovenbird 1
Northern Waterthrush 18
Connecticut Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 6
Wilson's Warbler 2
Canada Warbler 2
Scarlet Tanager 5
Clay-colored Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 5
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 9
Indigo Bunting 5
Bobolink 21
Red-winged Blackbird 110
Common Grackle 8
Baltimore Oriole 4
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch 12
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/19/09
Number of species: 86
Mallard 6
Blue-winged Teal 5
Northern Shoveler 5
Green-winged Teal 6
Double-crested Cormorant 7
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 8
Turkey Vulture 12
Osprey 6
Bald Eagle 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 18
Cooper's Hawk 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Merlin 8
Semipalmated Plover 2
Killdeer 2
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Solitary Sandpiper 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 5
Semipalmated Sandpiper 6
Least Sandpiper 9
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Long-billed Dowitcher 1
Laughing Gull 55
Ring-billed Gull 4
Herring Gull 18
Great Black-backed Gull 35
Forster's Tern 2
Royal Tern 6
Rock Pigeon 12
Mourning Dove 4
Belted Kingfisher 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 94
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Warbling Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 12
Blue Jay 8
American Crow 55
Fish Crow 6
Tree Swallow 300
Barn Swallow 15
Carolina Chickadee 3
Carolina Wren 6
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 35
Cedar Waxwing 557
Blue-winged Warbler 1
Tennessee Warbler 9
Nashville Warbler 5
Northern Parula 110
Yellow Warbler 2
Chestnut-sided Warbler 3
Magnolia Warbler 2
Cape May Warbler 10
Black-throated Blue Warbler 13
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 4
Black-throated Green Warbler 8
Blackburnian Warbler 3
Prairie Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 256
Bay-breasted Warbler 9
Blackpoll Warbler 64
Black-and-white Warbler 22
American Redstart 80
Ovenbird 1
Northern Waterthrush 18
Connecticut Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 6
Wilson's Warbler 2
Canada Warbler 2
Scarlet Tanager 5
Clay-colored Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 5
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 9
Indigo Bunting 5
Bobolink 21
Red-winged Blackbird 110
Common Grackle 8
Baltimore Oriole 4
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch 12
Morning Flight Friday September 18, 2009
Another very slow morning. Luckily a molting juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher was there from sunrise through the end of the count to brighten up the slow monotony of the flight. 107 re-determined migrants were counted. Tomorrow should be much better.
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/18/09
Number of species: 48
Mute Swan 4
Mallard X
Blue-winged Teal 6
Northern Shoveler 4
Green-winged Teal 10
Double-crested Cormorant X
Great Blue Heron 1
Snowy Egret 12
Osprey 2
Bald Eagle 1
Merlin 4
Semipalmated Plover 1
Spotted Sandpiper 4
Lesser Yellowlegs 6
Semipalmated Sandpiper 2
Least Sandpiper 6
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Long-billed Dowitcher 1
Laughing Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Caspian Tern 2
Forster's Tern X
Royal Tern 1
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-eyed Vireo 3
crow sp. X
Tree Swallow X
Carolina Wren 6
American Robin 2
Gray Catbird 1
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 19
Tennessee Warbler 2
Northern Parula 28
Yellow Warbler 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2
Palm Warbler 2
Blackpoll Warbler 2
Black-and-white Warbler 5
American Redstart 35
Northern Waterthrush 6
warbler sp. 17
Northern Cardinal X
Blue Grosbeak 2
Red-winged Blackbird X
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/18/09
Number of species: 48
Mute Swan 4
Mallard X
Blue-winged Teal 6
Northern Shoveler 4
Green-winged Teal 10
Double-crested Cormorant X
Great Blue Heron 1
Snowy Egret 12
Osprey 2
Bald Eagle 1
Merlin 4
Semipalmated Plover 1
Spotted Sandpiper 4
Lesser Yellowlegs 6
Semipalmated Sandpiper 2
Least Sandpiper 6
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Long-billed Dowitcher 1
Laughing Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Caspian Tern 2
Forster's Tern X
Royal Tern 1
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-eyed Vireo 3
crow sp. X
Tree Swallow X
Carolina Wren 6
American Robin 2
Gray Catbird 1
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 19
Tennessee Warbler 2
Northern Parula 28
Yellow Warbler 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2
Palm Warbler 2
Blackpoll Warbler 2
Black-and-white Warbler 5
American Redstart 35
Northern Waterthrush 6
warbler sp. 17
Northern Cardinal X
Blue Grosbeak 2
Red-winged Blackbird X
Morning Flight Thursday September 17 2009
A blustery morning with very few birds. Surprisingly, one of the weakest fliers, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, made an attempt to fight through the wind. A Seaside Sparrow, spotted by Scott Whittle, was a major surprise. Quite out of character it spent its time running around amid the frag!
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/17/09
Number of species: 67
Canada Goose 7
Mallard 4
Blue-winged Teal 5
Northern Shoveler 5
Green-winged Teal 2
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Egret 2
Glossy Ibis 3
Turkey Vulture 3
Osprey 8
Bald Eagle 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 15
Merlin 10
Peregrine Falcon 1
Semipalmated Plover 3
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Solitary Sandpiper 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 6
Semipalmated Sandpiper 12
Least Sandpiper 5
Laughing Gull 45
Ring-billed Gull 3
Herring Gull 15
Great Black-backed Gull 40
Caspian Tern 1
Forster's Tern 4
Royal Tern 6
Rock Pigeon 3
Mourning Dove 5
Chimney Swift 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 8
Eastern Kingbird 6
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 18
Fish Crow 1
Purple Martin 2
Tree Swallow 215
Bank Swallow 1
Cliff Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 45
Carolina Chickadee 3
Carolina Wren 5
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 16
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 8
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 35
Cedar Waxwing 15
Tennessee Warbler 1
Northern Parula 2
Palm Warbler (Western) 2
American Redstart 2
Northern Waterthrush 7
Common Yellowthroat 4
Seaside Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 6
Indigo Bunting 1
Bobolink 11
Red-winged Blackbird 35
Common Grackle 3
Baltimore Oriole 7
House Finch 6
American Goldfinch 12
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/17/09
Number of species: 67
Canada Goose 7
Mallard 4
Blue-winged Teal 5
Northern Shoveler 5
Green-winged Teal 2
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Egret 2
Glossy Ibis 3
Turkey Vulture 3
Osprey 8
Bald Eagle 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 15
Merlin 10
Peregrine Falcon 1
Semipalmated Plover 3
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Solitary Sandpiper 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 6
Semipalmated Sandpiper 12
Least Sandpiper 5
Laughing Gull 45
Ring-billed Gull 3
Herring Gull 15
Great Black-backed Gull 40
Caspian Tern 1
Forster's Tern 4
Royal Tern 6
Rock Pigeon 3
Mourning Dove 5
Chimney Swift 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 8
Eastern Kingbird 6
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 18
Fish Crow 1
Purple Martin 2
Tree Swallow 215
Bank Swallow 1
Cliff Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 45
Carolina Chickadee 3
Carolina Wren 5
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 16
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 8
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 35
Cedar Waxwing 15
Tennessee Warbler 1
Northern Parula 2
Palm Warbler (Western) 2
American Redstart 2
Northern Waterthrush 7
Common Yellowthroat 4
Seaside Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 6
Indigo Bunting 1
Bobolink 11
Red-winged Blackbird 35
Common Grackle 3
Baltimore Oriole 7
House Finch 6
American Goldfinch 12
Morning Flight Wednesday September 16 2009
A bit slow today though the warbler diversity was fairly good. The count of 7 Eastern Wood-Pewee was quite good.
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/16/09
Number of species: 79
Canada Goose 12
Gadwall 2
Mallard 5
Blue-winged Teal 12
Northern Shoveler 6
Green-winged Teal 5
Double-crested Cormorant 15
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 2
Osprey 6
Bald Eagle 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 12
Cooper's Hawk 2
American Kestrel 5
Merlin 10
Semipalmated Plover 6
Killdeer 2
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 8
Semipalmated Sandpiper 15
Least Sandpiper 6
Laughing Gull 85
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 12
Great Black-backed Gull 30
Caspian Tern 1
Forster's Tern 6
Royal Tern 12
Rock Pigeon 115
Mourning Dove 2
Chimney Swift 9
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 7
Alder Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 3
White-eyed Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 15
Fish Crow 2
Tree Swallow 250
Barn Swallow 300
Carolina Chickadee 3
Carolina Wren 6
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 8
Veery 1
American Robin 6
Gray Catbird 7
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 85
Cedar Waxwing 6
Tennessee Warbler 2
Northern Parula 35
Yellow Warbler 6
Chestnut-sided Warbler 3
Cape May Warbler 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler 4
Blackburnian Warbler 2
Palm Warbler (Western) 4
Blackpoll Warbler 20
Black-and-white Warbler 14
American Redstart 36
Northern Waterthrush 43
Common Yellowthroat 6
Savannah Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 8
Blue Grosbeak 1
Dickcissel 1
Bobolink 21
Red-winged Blackbird 145
Common Grackle 6
Baltimore Oriole 6
House Finch 8
American Goldfinch 14
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/16/09
Number of species: 79
Canada Goose 12
Gadwall 2
Mallard 5
Blue-winged Teal 12
Northern Shoveler 6
Green-winged Teal 5
Double-crested Cormorant 15
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 2
Osprey 6
Bald Eagle 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 12
Cooper's Hawk 2
American Kestrel 5
Merlin 10
Semipalmated Plover 6
Killdeer 2
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 8
Semipalmated Sandpiper 15
Least Sandpiper 6
Laughing Gull 85
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 12
Great Black-backed Gull 30
Caspian Tern 1
Forster's Tern 6
Royal Tern 12
Rock Pigeon 115
Mourning Dove 2
Chimney Swift 9
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 7
Alder Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 3
White-eyed Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 15
Fish Crow 2
Tree Swallow 250
Barn Swallow 300
Carolina Chickadee 3
Carolina Wren 6
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 8
Veery 1
American Robin 6
Gray Catbird 7
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 85
Cedar Waxwing 6
Tennessee Warbler 2
Northern Parula 35
Yellow Warbler 6
Chestnut-sided Warbler 3
Cape May Warbler 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler 4
Blackburnian Warbler 2
Palm Warbler (Western) 4
Blackpoll Warbler 20
Black-and-white Warbler 14
American Redstart 36
Northern Waterthrush 43
Common Yellowthroat 6
Savannah Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 8
Blue Grosbeak 1
Dickcissel 1
Bobolink 21
Red-winged Blackbird 145
Common Grackle 6
Baltimore Oriole 6
House Finch 8
American Goldfinch 14
Morning Flight Tuesday September 15 2009
Basically a typical day-after-a-big-flight kind of day. Some birds and good variety but it suffered from the comparison to yesterday. A flock of three adult Snow Geese was a pleasant surprise. Shorebird numbers are declining in the impoundment while waterfowl numbers are increasing.
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/15/09
Number of species: 89
Snow Goose 3
Canada Goose 5
Mallard 4
Blue-winged Teal 7
Northern Shoveler 5
Green-winged Teal 5
Double-crested Cormorant 12
Great Egret 2
Snowy Egret 36
Little Blue Heron 1
Osprey 4
Bald Eagle 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 15
Cooper's Hawk 2
American Kestrel 8
Merlin 15
Semipalmated Plover 2
Killdeer 5
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Solitary Sandpiper 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 12
Semipalmated Sandpiper 9
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 115
Ring-billed Gull 5
Herring Gull 25
Great Black-backed Gull 45
Caspian Tern 1
Forster's Tern 12
Royal Tern 8
Rock Pigeon 15
Mourning Dove 8
Chimney Swift 8
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 6
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 80
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Empidonax sp. 1
Eastern Kingbird 5
White-eyed Vireo 1
Philadelphia Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 8
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 45
Fish Crow 2
Tree Swallow 210
Barn Swallow 8
Carolina Chickadee 3
Carolina Wren 7
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
Veery 3
American Robin 5
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 120
Cedar Waxwing 174
Tennessee Warbler 2
Nashville Warbler 7
Northern Parula 92
Yellow Warbler 5
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Magnolia Warbler 2
Cape May Warbler 4
Black-throated Blue Warbler 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 3
Blackburnian Warbler 3
Prairie Warbler 1
Palm Warbler (Western) 21
Bay-breasted Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 21
Black-and-white Warbler 19
American Redstart 119
Ovenbird 1
Northern Waterthrush 31
Connecticut Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 4
Wilson's Warbler 1
Scarlet Tanager 2
Northern Cardinal 8
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3
Dickcissel 1
Bobolink 96
Red-winged Blackbird 45
Common Grackle 4
Baltimore Oriole 4
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 12
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/15/09
Number of species: 89
Snow Goose 3
Canada Goose 5
Mallard 4
Blue-winged Teal 7
Northern Shoveler 5
Green-winged Teal 5
Double-crested Cormorant 12
Great Egret 2
Snowy Egret 36
Little Blue Heron 1
Osprey 4
Bald Eagle 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 15
Cooper's Hawk 2
American Kestrel 8
Merlin 15
Semipalmated Plover 2
Killdeer 5
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Solitary Sandpiper 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 12
Semipalmated Sandpiper 9
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 115
Ring-billed Gull 5
Herring Gull 25
Great Black-backed Gull 45
Caspian Tern 1
Forster's Tern 12
Royal Tern 8
Rock Pigeon 15
Mourning Dove 8
Chimney Swift 8
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 6
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 80
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Empidonax sp. 1
Eastern Kingbird 5
White-eyed Vireo 1
Philadelphia Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 8
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 45
Fish Crow 2
Tree Swallow 210
Barn Swallow 8
Carolina Chickadee 3
Carolina Wren 7
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
Veery 3
American Robin 5
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 120
Cedar Waxwing 174
Tennessee Warbler 2
Nashville Warbler 7
Northern Parula 92
Yellow Warbler 5
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Magnolia Warbler 2
Cape May Warbler 4
Black-throated Blue Warbler 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 3
Blackburnian Warbler 3
Prairie Warbler 1
Palm Warbler (Western) 21
Bay-breasted Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 21
Black-and-white Warbler 19
American Redstart 119
Ovenbird 1
Northern Waterthrush 31
Connecticut Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 4
Wilson's Warbler 1
Scarlet Tanager 2
Northern Cardinal 8
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3
Dickcissel 1
Bobolink 96
Red-winged Blackbird 45
Common Grackle 4
Baltimore Oriole 4
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 12
Hawk Watch September 14, 2009
The day started out absurdly well, as there were American Kestrels and Sharp-shinned Hawks dotting the sky over the parking lot when I arrived just before dawn. American Kestrels were streaming high off the water (going north) over the entire visible coastline. In the frst 30 minutes of the day there were already 78 tallied. As a busy morning Kestrel and Accipiter flight tailed off, excitement built around the number of Bald Eagles that were moving. We ended up setting a new single day record count for Bald Eagles at the Cape May Hawkwatch, breaking the old record of 39 by 7.
Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 14, 2009
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 163 784 784
Bald Eagle 46 91 91
Northern Harrier 34 58 58
Sharp-shinned Hawk 753 1410 1410
Cooper's Hawk 165 335 335
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 2 2
Broad-winged Hawk 33 83 83
Red-tailed Hawk 34 123 123
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 399 1079 1079
Merlin 47 344 344
Peregrine Falcon 8 45 45
Unknown Accipiter 0 1 1
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 1 1
Total: 1684 4356 4356
Observation start time: 05:30:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 11.5 hours
Official Counter Pete Dunne
Observers: Doug Gochfeld
Weather:
Light NW winds.
Raptor Observations:
Kestrels and Sharp-shinneds were all over the sky pre-dawn. Bald Eagle count of 46 beat the previous daily high of 39.
Non-raptor Observations:
Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 14, 2009
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 163 784 784
Bald Eagle 46 91 91
Northern Harrier 34 58 58
Sharp-shinned Hawk 753 1410 1410
Cooper's Hawk 165 335 335
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 2 2
Broad-winged Hawk 33 83 83
Red-tailed Hawk 34 123 123
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 399 1079 1079
Merlin 47 344 344
Peregrine Falcon 8 45 45
Unknown Accipiter 0 1 1
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 1 1
Total: 1684 4356 4356
Observation start time: 05:30:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 11.5 hours
Official Counter Pete Dunne
Observers: Doug Gochfeld
Weather:
Light NW winds.
Raptor Observations:
Kestrels and Sharp-shinneds were all over the sky pre-dawn. Bald Eagle count of 46 beat the previous daily high of 39.
Non-raptor Observations:
Hawk Watch September 13, 2009 (redux)
Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 13, 2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 185 621 621
Bald Eagle 15 45 45
Northern Harrier 12 24 24
Sharp-shinned Hawk 451 657 657
Cooper's Hawk 40 170 170
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 6 50 50
Red-tailed Hawk 7 89 89
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 243 680 680
Merlin 95 297 297
Peregrine Falcon 6 37 37
Unknown Accipiter 0 1 1
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 1 1
Total: 1060 2672 2672
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 05:30:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 10.5 hours
Official Counter: Doug Gochfeld
Observers:
Weather:
Light NNW wind throughout the day. Cloudy early with some drizzle at times,
clearing by ~10:30 AM when the raptor flight really picked up.
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 13, 2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 185 621 621
Bald Eagle 15 45 45
Northern Harrier 12 24 24
Sharp-shinned Hawk 451 657 657
Cooper's Hawk 40 170 170
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 6 50 50
Red-tailed Hawk 7 89 89
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 243 680 680
Merlin 95 297 297
Peregrine Falcon 6 37 37
Unknown Accipiter 0 1 1
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 1 1
Total: 1060 2672 2672
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 05:30:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 10.5 hours
Official Counter: Doug Gochfeld
Observers:
Weather:
Light NNW wind throughout the day. Cloudy early with some drizzle at times,
clearing by ~10:30 AM when the raptor flight really picked up.
Morning Flight Monday September 14 2009
Expectations. Sometimes they are met or exceeded sometimes they are not. Today fell into the former category. Or, more accurately, expectations were utterly outstripped! I had a feeling that it would be a good day as I watched over 30 Sharp-shinned Hawks sail through the pink-washed pre-dawn sky. Almost immediately my suspicions were justified as warblers dotted the sky. Things quickly accelerated into world class bedlam with birds all over the sky. Several of the counts for the day were notable: The 347 Northern Parulas is an excellent number, while in these post spruce budworm years, the 13 Bay-breasted Warblers seen today is also notable, and the 129 Blue-gray Gnatsnachers, the second highest count of the season and late in the season for such a large push of Gnatcatchers. Also more signs of the progress of fall were evident today with the first Yellow-rumped Warbler for the count and the first large flight of Northern Flickers. In all, 22 species of warblers were counted from the Dike. Add to that number the afraid-to-fly Common Yellowthroats, and the Wilson's and Blue-winged Warblers seen from the Morning Flight platform, but not on the Dike, and we had 25 total species of warblers. Not shabby! The total number of warblers was 2073 including 853 unidentified warblers. The total number of species for the morning was 104, a fantastic total for 4.5 hours spent all at one spot!
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/14/09
Number of species: 104
Canada Goose 2
Mute Swan 7
Mallard 6
Northern Shoveler 7
Northern Pintail 7
Green-winged Teal 8
Double-crested Cormorant 25
Black Vulture 35
Turkey Vulture 7
Osprey 9
Bald Eagle 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 85 30+ before sunrise
Cooper's Hawk 1
American Kestrel 2
Merlin 12
Black-bellied Plover 1
Semipalmated Plover 2
Killdeer 5
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 9
Semipalmated Sandpiper 18
Least Sandpiper 3
Laughing Gull 85
Ring-billed Gull 5
Herring Gull 15
Great Black-backed Gull 85
Caspian Tern 2
Forster's Tern 15
Royal Tern 8
Black Skimmer 6
Rock Pigeon 12
Mourning Dove 4
Chimney Swift 9
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 5
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 129
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Least Flycatcher 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Eastern Kingbird 18
White-eyed Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 2
Philadelphia Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 15
Blue Jay 6
American Crow 25
Fish Crow 2
Purple Martin 3
Tree Swallow 400
Barn Swallow 6
Carolina Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 1
Carolina Wren 4
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 129 Huge flight for this late!
Veery 4
American Robin 2
Gray Catbird 8
Northern Mockingbird 3
European Starling 120
Cedar Waxwing 112
Tennessee Warbler 8
Nashville Warbler 12
Northern Parula 347
Yellow Warbler 18
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2
Magnolia Warbler 31
Cape May Warbler 17
Black-throated Blue Warbler 110
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 1 The end is near! Run for your life!
Black-throated Green Warbler 9
Blackburnian Warbler 7
Yellow-throated Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 6
Palm Warbler 33
Bay-breasted Warbler 13 The ratio of BBWA to BLPW was crazy. Seem to fly lower than BLPW
Blackpoll Warbler 27
Black-and-white Warbler 72
American Redstart 474
Ovenbird 1
Northern Waterthrush 23
Connecticut Warbler 6
Common Yellowthroat 9
Canada Warbler 1
Scarlet Tanager 15
Chipping Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 8
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 10
Blue Grosbeak 2
Indigo Bunting 5
Dickcissel 2
Bobolink 150
Red-winged Blackbird 90
Common Grackle 6
Baltimore Oriole 12
Purple Finch 2
American Goldfinch 14
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/14/09
Number of species: 104
Canada Goose 2
Mute Swan 7
Mallard 6
Northern Shoveler 7
Northern Pintail 7
Green-winged Teal 8
Double-crested Cormorant 25
Black Vulture 35
Turkey Vulture 7
Osprey 9
Bald Eagle 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 85 30+ before sunrise
Cooper's Hawk 1
American Kestrel 2
Merlin 12
Black-bellied Plover 1
Semipalmated Plover 2
Killdeer 5
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 9
Semipalmated Sandpiper 18
Least Sandpiper 3
Laughing Gull 85
Ring-billed Gull 5
Herring Gull 15
Great Black-backed Gull 85
Caspian Tern 2
Forster's Tern 15
Royal Tern 8
Black Skimmer 6
Rock Pigeon 12
Mourning Dove 4
Chimney Swift 9
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 5
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 129
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Least Flycatcher 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Eastern Kingbird 18
White-eyed Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 2
Philadelphia Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 15
Blue Jay 6
American Crow 25
Fish Crow 2
Purple Martin 3
Tree Swallow 400
Barn Swallow 6
Carolina Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 1
Carolina Wren 4
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 129 Huge flight for this late!
Veery 4
American Robin 2
Gray Catbird 8
Northern Mockingbird 3
European Starling 120
Cedar Waxwing 112
Tennessee Warbler 8
Nashville Warbler 12
Northern Parula 347
Yellow Warbler 18
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2
Magnolia Warbler 31
Cape May Warbler 17
Black-throated Blue Warbler 110
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 1 The end is near! Run for your life!
Black-throated Green Warbler 9
Blackburnian Warbler 7
Yellow-throated Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 6
Palm Warbler 33
Bay-breasted Warbler 13 The ratio of BBWA to BLPW was crazy. Seem to fly lower than BLPW
Blackpoll Warbler 27
Black-and-white Warbler 72
American Redstart 474
Ovenbird 1
Northern Waterthrush 23
Connecticut Warbler 6
Common Yellowthroat 9
Canada Warbler 1
Scarlet Tanager 15
Chipping Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 8
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 10
Blue Grosbeak 2
Indigo Bunting 5
Dickcissel 2
Bobolink 150
Red-winged Blackbird 90
Common Grackle 6
Baltimore Oriole 12
Purple Finch 2
American Goldfinch 14
Hawk Watch Sunday September 13, 2009
Raptors, finally! The first few hours of the day made it seem like it was going to be a dud, but as soon as the clouds cleared and it warmed up the Sharpies started to move, and the Kestrels came a little while later. Ospreys were moving loosely all day. Also of note around the platform was a Yellow-breasted Chat, a crowd pleasing flyby Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and a flyby White-rumped Sandpiper. Bobolinks were pouring over all morning, and the count we got (thanks mostly to Tony Leukering's dilligent listing) was over 4500. Total # of migrant raptors for the day was 1,060.
Location: Cape Island--CMBO Hawk Watch Site
Observation date: 9/13/09
Notes: Light NNW wind throughout the day. Cloudy early with some drizzle at
times, clearing by ~10:30 AM when the raptor flight really picked up.
Number of species: 78
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 7
American Wigeon 9
Blue-winged Teal 12
Green-winged Teal 3
Double-crested Cormorant X
American Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 5
Green Heron 1
Glossy Ibis 4
Black Vulture 5
Turkey Vulture 18
Osprey 185
Bald Eagle 16 One local adult stealing fish from various Ospreys, the
rest were deemed migrants.
Northern Harrier 12
Sharp-shinned Hawk 451
Cooper's Hawk 40
Broad-winged Hawk 6
Red-tailed Hawk 7
American Kestrel 243
Merlin 95
Peregrine Falcon 6
Semipalmated Plover 10
Killdeer 1
American Oystercatcher 1
Solitary Sandpiper 2 flybys
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 97
Least Sandpiper 8
White-rumped Sandpiper 1 flyby
Stilt Sandpiper 9 flybys, including a pure flock of 8
Short-billed Dowitcher 8
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Caspian Tern 4
Common Tern X
Forster's Tern X
Royal Tern 15
Black Skimmer X
Parasitic Jaeger 1
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Common Nighthawk 3
Chimney Swift X
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 5
Belted Kingfisher 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Empidonax sp. 1
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Fish Crow X
Tree Swallow 2500
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Bank Swallow 2
Barn Swallow X
Carolina Chickadee X
Carolina Wren 5
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 8
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing X
Yellow Warbler 10
Magnolia Warbler 1
American Redstart 3
Northern Waterthrush 4
Common Yellowthroat 5
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Song Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 3
Indigo Bunting 3
Bobolink 4671
Red-winged Blackbird X
Baltimore Oriole 6
American Goldfinch X
Location: Cape Island--CMBO Hawk Watch Site
Observation date: 9/13/09
Notes: Light NNW wind throughout the day. Cloudy early with some drizzle at
times, clearing by ~10:30 AM when the raptor flight really picked up.
Number of species: 78
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 7
American Wigeon 9
Blue-winged Teal 12
Green-winged Teal 3
Double-crested Cormorant X
American Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 5
Green Heron 1
Glossy Ibis 4
Black Vulture 5
Turkey Vulture 18
Osprey 185
Bald Eagle 16 One local adult stealing fish from various Ospreys, the
rest were deemed migrants.
Northern Harrier 12
Sharp-shinned Hawk 451
Cooper's Hawk 40
Broad-winged Hawk 6
Red-tailed Hawk 7
American Kestrel 243
Merlin 95
Peregrine Falcon 6
Semipalmated Plover 10
Killdeer 1
American Oystercatcher 1
Solitary Sandpiper 2 flybys
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 97
Least Sandpiper 8
White-rumped Sandpiper 1 flyby
Stilt Sandpiper 9 flybys, including a pure flock of 8
Short-billed Dowitcher 8
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Caspian Tern 4
Common Tern X
Forster's Tern X
Royal Tern 15
Black Skimmer X
Parasitic Jaeger 1
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Common Nighthawk 3
Chimney Swift X
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 5
Belted Kingfisher 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Empidonax sp. 1
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Fish Crow X
Tree Swallow 2500
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Bank Swallow 2
Barn Swallow X
Carolina Chickadee X
Carolina Wren 5
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 8
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing X
Yellow Warbler 10
Magnolia Warbler 1
American Redstart 3
Northern Waterthrush 4
Common Yellowthroat 5
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Song Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 3
Indigo Bunting 3
Bobolink 4671
Red-winged Blackbird X
Baltimore Oriole 6
American Goldfinch X
Morning Flight Sunday September 13 2009
Expectations. Sometimes they are met or exceeded sometimes they are not. Today, unfortunately, fell in the later category. It wasn't a bad morning, in fact it was pretty good, but I expected excellent and was disappointed. There was an solid flight of northbound Bobolinks, over 1300. Also, the first signs of the progression of fall were evident with a trickle of Blackpolls and Palm Warblers. The highlights were an immature Red-headed Woodpecker and a flyover Long-billed Dowitcher. Hint for morning flight visitors: get there early. Lately more than 75% of the flight has occurred in the first hour after dawn, roughly 6:45-7:45.
Mallard 6
Blue-winged Teal 6
Northern Shoveler 4
Northern Pintail 1
Green-winged Teal 8
Brown Pelican 1
Double-crested Cormorant 45
Great Blue Heron 1
Snowy Egret 3
Osprey 4
Bald Eagle 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 5
Cooper's Hawk 2
Merlin 8
Semipalmated Plover 2
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 4
Semipalmated Sandpiper 18
Least Sandpiper 4
Long-billed Dowitcher 1
Laughing Gull 85
Ring-billed Gull 4
Herring Gull 25
Great Black-backed Gull 45
Caspian Tern 4
Royal Tern 9
Rock Pigeon 12
Mourning Dove 3
Chimney Swift 3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 6
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 3
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Least Flycatcher 1
Empidonax sp. 2
Eastern Kingbird 76
White-eyed Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 4
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 18
Fish Crow 2
Purple Martin 3
Tree Swallow 145
Barn Swallow 5
Carolina Chickadee 3
Carolina Wren 8
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Veery 2
American Robin 3
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 145
Cedar Waxwing 15
Nashville Warbler 1
Northern Parula 56
Yellow Warbler 11
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2
Magnolia Warbler 5
Cape May Warbler 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler 13
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Blackburnian Warbler 2
Prairie Warbler 3
Palm Warbler 5
Blackpoll Warbler 24
Black-and-white Warbler 9
American Redstart 121
Northern Waterthrush 15
Common Yellowthroat 6
Northern Cardinal 8
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2
Indigo Bunting 1
Bobolink 1307
Red-winged Blackbird 90
Common Grackle 6
Baltimore Oriole 13
American Goldfinch 1
Mallard 6
Blue-winged Teal 6
Northern Shoveler 4
Northern Pintail 1
Green-winged Teal 8
Brown Pelican 1
Double-crested Cormorant 45
Great Blue Heron 1
Snowy Egret 3
Osprey 4
Bald Eagle 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 5
Cooper's Hawk 2
Merlin 8
Semipalmated Plover 2
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 4
Semipalmated Sandpiper 18
Least Sandpiper 4
Long-billed Dowitcher 1
Laughing Gull 85
Ring-billed Gull 4
Herring Gull 25
Great Black-backed Gull 45
Caspian Tern 4
Royal Tern 9
Rock Pigeon 12
Mourning Dove 3
Chimney Swift 3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 6
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 3
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Least Flycatcher 1
Empidonax sp. 2
Eastern Kingbird 76
White-eyed Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 4
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 18
Fish Crow 2
Purple Martin 3
Tree Swallow 145
Barn Swallow 5
Carolina Chickadee 3
Carolina Wren 8
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Veery 2
American Robin 3
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 145
Cedar Waxwing 15
Nashville Warbler 1
Northern Parula 56
Yellow Warbler 11
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2
Magnolia Warbler 5
Cape May Warbler 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler 13
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Blackburnian Warbler 2
Prairie Warbler 3
Palm Warbler 5
Blackpoll Warbler 24
Black-and-white Warbler 9
American Redstart 121
Northern Waterthrush 15
Common Yellowthroat 6
Northern Cardinal 8
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2
Indigo Bunting 1
Bobolink 1307
Red-winged Blackbird 90
Common Grackle 6
Baltimore Oriole 13
American Goldfinch 1
Hawk Watch Saturday September 12, 2009
What a day at the Hawkwatch. The platform list for the season gained several species, including Cattle Egret, American Bittern, Dickcissel, and Parasitic Jaeger, but the real show was from shorebirds. We tallied 653 Lesser Yellowlegs flowing by, and most of the flocks contained other species, largely Stilt (20+) and Pectoral (17), but also a few Dowitchers, 9 Semipalmated Sandpipers, and 2 Wilson's Phalaropes. The highlight shorebirds though, were 2 adult HUDSONIAN GODWITS still retainng some breeding plumage. We almost certainly missed a few shorebird flocks, and a couple of large ones were too far offshore to identify with any sort of certainty. Raptor-wise (this IS a hawkwatch after all) there wasn't a ton of variety, but Ospreys were definitely on the move through the middle of the day, Merlins had a small movement early, and a single Northern Harrier was nice.
My complete eBird lists follows:
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan 13
Gadwall 1
American Wigeon 6
Mallard X
Green-winged Teal 8
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Brown Pelican 12
Double-crested Cormorant 100
American Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 12
Great Egret 5
Snowy Egret 9
Little Blue Heron 1
Cattle Egret 1
Green Heron 1
Glossy Ibis 8
Black Vulture 4
Turkey Vulture 12
Osprey 67
Bald Eagle 1
Northern Harrier 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4
Cooper's Hawk 6
Broad-winged Hawk 1 The same non-migrant that's been hanging around for
a few days.
American Kestrel 5
Merlin 21
Peregrine Falcon 1
Greater Yellowlegs 25
Lesser Yellowlegs 653
Whimbrel 1 S-N calling flyby over Bunker Pond
Hudsonian Godwit 2 Close flyby adults, 9:15 AM
Semipalmated Sandpiper 11
Least Sandpiper 15
Pectoral Sandpiper 17
Stilt Sandpiper 20
Short-billed Dowitcher 7
Wilson's Phalarope 2 Flyovers with separate Lesser Yellowlegs flocks.
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Caspian Tern 1
Common Tern 200
Forster's Tern 40
Royal Tern 20
Parasitic Jaeger 2
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Common Nighthawk 2
Chimney Swift X
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 3
Belted Kingfisher 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Least Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 2
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Fish Crow X
Purple Martin 1
Tree Swallow 1500
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Bank Swallow 2
Cliff Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 50
Carolina Chickadee X
Carolina Wren 3
House Wren 1
Gray Catbird X
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling X
American Pipit 1 calling flyover, seemed to drop down near the bunker
Cedar Waxwing X
Yellow Warbler 12
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Northern Waterthrush 8
Common Yellowthroat X
Song Sparrow X
Northern Cardinal X
Indigo Bunting 1
Dickcissel 2
Bobolink 700
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle 2
Baltimore Oriole 54
American Goldfinch X
House Sparrow X
Morning Flight Saturday September 12 2009
Quite an interesting morning on the dike; perhaps even weird. The Baltimore Oriole situation provides the best example of how things went this morning. Throughout the morning orioles were trickling south until the beginning of the third hour when the floodgates opened and about three hundred went south! Just as I was beginning to wonder if there was enough space on the Point for all these orioles, when 300 orioles came back north! Then 60 went south, and 84 went north, ect. I was just a bit puzzled. Otherwise there were few passerines in flight. There were tons of Lesser Yellowlegs and two Stilt Sandpipers. The main highlight was a dark bird I picked up through binoculars and I assumed was my first Parasitic Jaeger for the dike, but when I put it in the scope it was clear that it was something different. After some fumbling around I realized it was a Long-tailed Jaeger!
Finally, on a personal note, some of you may have seen post from me on the NJ list. Unfortunately my email has been hacked and I've spent the last two day trying to fix it. My apologizes for the additions to your spam.
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/12/09
Number of species: 72
Mallard 4
Blue-winged Teal 3
Northern Shoveler 4
Green-winged Teal 8
Black Scoter 17
Brown Pelican 9
Double-crested Cormorant 8
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 5
Bald Eagle 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4
Cooper's Hawk 2
Merlin 8
Semipalmated Plover 2
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 85
Sanderling 2
Semipalmated Sandpiper 40
Least Sandpiper 6
Pectoral Sandpiper 2
Laughing Gull 85
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 25
Great Black-backed Gull 105
Common Tern 1
Forster's Tern 8
Royal Tern 12
Long-tailed Jaeger 1
Rock Pigeon 35
Mourning Dove 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Eastern Kingbird 78
White-eyed Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 6
American Crow 15
Purple Martin 2
Tree Swallow 200
Barn Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee 2
Carolina Wren 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Veery 2
American Robin 6
Gray Catbird 4
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 45
Cedar Waxwing 6
Nashville Warbler 1
Northern Parula 4
Yellow Warbler 6
Magnolia Warbler 1
Cape May Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 4
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 9
Black-and-white Warbler 2
American Redstart 9
Northern Waterthrush 8
Clay-colored Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 7
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 1
Dickcissel 3
Bobolink 300
Red-winged Blackbird 12
Common Grackle 2
Baltimore Oriole 353
American Goldfinch 2
Finally, on a personal note, some of you may have seen post from me on the NJ list. Unfortunately my email has been hacked and I've spent the last two day trying to fix it. My apologizes for the additions to your spam.
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/12/09
Number of species: 72
Mallard 4
Blue-winged Teal 3
Northern Shoveler 4
Green-winged Teal 8
Black Scoter 17
Brown Pelican 9
Double-crested Cormorant 8
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 5
Bald Eagle 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4
Cooper's Hawk 2
Merlin 8
Semipalmated Plover 2
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 85
Sanderling 2
Semipalmated Sandpiper 40
Least Sandpiper 6
Pectoral Sandpiper 2
Laughing Gull 85
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 25
Great Black-backed Gull 105
Common Tern 1
Forster's Tern 8
Royal Tern 12
Long-tailed Jaeger 1
Rock Pigeon 35
Mourning Dove 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Eastern Kingbird 78
White-eyed Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 6
American Crow 15
Purple Martin 2
Tree Swallow 200
Barn Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee 2
Carolina Wren 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Veery 2
American Robin 6
Gray Catbird 4
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 45
Cedar Waxwing 6
Nashville Warbler 1
Northern Parula 4
Yellow Warbler 6
Magnolia Warbler 1
Cape May Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 4
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 9
Black-and-white Warbler 2
American Redstart 9
Northern Waterthrush 8
Clay-colored Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 7
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 1
Dickcissel 3
Bobolink 300
Red-winged Blackbird 12
Common Grackle 2
Baltimore Oriole 353
American Goldfinch 2
Monarch Monitoring Project 9/12/2009
Greetings butterfly, birding, and nature enthusiasts! My name is Claire Iseton and I am the new Monarch Migration Project intern for what will hopefully be an exciting fall 2009 season here at Cape May. Chances are you may have seen me in the neighborhood channeling my inner 5-year old and donning a butterfly net. If you haven't yet, not to worry, that will soon change. I hope that if you do find me awkwardly tripping over things in people’s gardens that you'll stop on over, say hello, and feel free to ask any questions you may have.
But enough about me, let's talk about the star of the show: Danaus plexippus a.k.a. the Monarch Butterfly.
Some say that this butterfly was named in honor of King William III of England, who claimed the throne following a growing threat of a revival of Catholicism at the hand of King James II. A devout Protestant, he quickly gained public support and later won the English, Scottish, and Irish crowns following the Glorious Revolution of 1688. King William III to this day is more commonly known as William of Orange, which seems to make "Monarch" a rather fitting name for one of the most popular of the butterfly species.
The Monarch season has yet to reach full swing but the first week of September was very promising with an average of 26.77 monarchs per hour! This is significantly higher than the average 14.02 monarchs/hr we saw this time last year, and it's only the beginning...
In the past few days Monarch numbers have slowed to a halt, so I've been out trimming butterfly bushes (Buddleja sp, see above) around the Point. Before our cross-country migrants wander into your garden, I strongly encourage you do go out and deadhead too! Besides being a reference to the Grateful Dead fanbase, deadheading refers to removing the flower heads that have died to make way for fresh growth and new flowers. When removing the dead flowers, take care to leave as much of the stem as possible so the plant can devote more energy in creating new flowers just in time for the migrating season.
For more info. on butterfly bushes and the art of deadheading check out these sites:
http://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/mvv2-94.htm
http://butterflywebsite.com/articles/bgq/buddleia.htm
So grab a pair of clippers, a pail, and your green thumb and let's get deadheading!
But enough about me, let's talk about the star of the show: Danaus plexippus a.k.a. the Monarch Butterfly.
Some say that this butterfly was named in honor of King William III of England, who claimed the throne following a growing threat of a revival of Catholicism at the hand of King James II. A devout Protestant, he quickly gained public support and later won the English, Scottish, and Irish crowns following the Glorious Revolution of 1688. King William III to this day is more commonly known as William of Orange, which seems to make "Monarch" a rather fitting name for one of the most popular of the butterfly species.
The Monarch season has yet to reach full swing but the first week of September was very promising with an average of 26.77 monarchs per hour! This is significantly higher than the average 14.02 monarchs/hr we saw this time last year, and it's only the beginning...
In the past few days Monarch numbers have slowed to a halt, so I've been out trimming butterfly bushes (Buddleja sp, see above) around the Point. Before our cross-country migrants wander into your garden, I strongly encourage you do go out and deadhead too! Besides being a reference to the Grateful Dead fanbase, deadheading refers to removing the flower heads that have died to make way for fresh growth and new flowers. When removing the dead flowers, take care to leave as much of the stem as possible so the plant can devote more energy in creating new flowers just in time for the migrating season.
For more info. on butterfly bushes and the art of deadheading check out these sites:
http://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/mvv2-94.htm
http://butterflywebsite.com/articles/bgq/buddleia.htm
So grab a pair of clippers, a pail, and your green thumb and let's get deadheading!
Morning "Flight" Friday September 11, 2009
It would be hard for me to fully describe the early hours of today. Suffice to say that there was a lot of water around Cape May...mostly in places where it shouldn't have been. The street where us counters and naturalists are staying was under several inches of said water, and it was still coming down (and hard) as I started the morning "flight" count. 0 reverse migrants were counted, although an absolutely miserable looking Whimbrel was perched up on the dike for most of my stay there.
If you are planning on heading up to the dike over the next few days be forewarned that there is a large puddle at the base of the dike and the slope up to the dike is VERY slippery and dangerous. The photos above were taken on the sreet directly in front of the house and, yes, that is a Kayak.
eBird list:
Blue-winged Teal 2
Northern Shoveler 3
Green-winged Teal 6
Snowy Egret 1
Merlin 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Semipalmated Plover 9
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 2
Whimbrel 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 8
Least Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull X
Forster's Tern X
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Yellow Warbler 1
Northern Waterthrush 4
Morning Flight Thursday September 10 2009
Wow, just a bit windy this morning. Surprisingly there were warblers flying in between and sometimes amid the 40 MPH gusts. I spent a large part of the morning looking at warbler specks through the excellent Zeiss scope out on the distant treeline. Lots of raptors was also a surprise; the Ospreys just kept coming. Add 204 unidentified warblers to the total.
Mallard 4
Blue-winged Teal 15
Northern Pintail 1
Common Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant 85
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 8
Turkey Vulture 4
Osprey 40
Bald Eagle 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4
Cooper's Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestrel 6
Merlin 3
Peregrine Falcon 2
Semipalmated Plover 1
Killdeer 2
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Solitary Sandpiper 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 8
Sanderling 15
Semipalmated Sandpiper 55
Western Sandpiper 1
Least Sandpiper 8
Laughing Gull 35
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 35
Forster's Tern 3
Royal Tern 8
Rock Pigeon 15
Mourning Dove 6
Chimney Swift 12
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 4
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 131
White-eyed Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 6
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 15
Purple Martin 3
Tree Swallow 215
Barn Swallow 30
Carolina Chickadee 3
Carolina Wren 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
Veery 1
American Robin 8
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 65
Cedar Waxwing 53
Blue-winged Warbler 1
Tennessee Warbler 1
Northern Parula 23
Yellow Warbler 20
Magnolia Warbler 2
Cape May Warbler 10
Black-throated Blue Warbler 7
Black-throated Green Warbler 2
Pine Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 10
American Redstart 56
Northern Waterthrush 11
Connecticut Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 8
Wilson's Warbler 1
Savannah Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 9
Indigo Bunting 3
Bobolink 279
Red-winged Blackbird 85
Common Grackle 1
Baltimore Oriole 8
American Goldfinch 3
Mallard 4
Blue-winged Teal 15
Northern Pintail 1
Common Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant 85
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 8
Turkey Vulture 4
Osprey 40
Bald Eagle 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4
Cooper's Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestrel 6
Merlin 3
Peregrine Falcon 2
Semipalmated Plover 1
Killdeer 2
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Solitary Sandpiper 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 8
Sanderling 15
Semipalmated Sandpiper 55
Western Sandpiper 1
Least Sandpiper 8
Laughing Gull 35
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 35
Forster's Tern 3
Royal Tern 8
Rock Pigeon 15
Mourning Dove 6
Chimney Swift 12
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 4
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 131
White-eyed Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 6
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 15
Purple Martin 3
Tree Swallow 215
Barn Swallow 30
Carolina Chickadee 3
Carolina Wren 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
Veery 1
American Robin 8
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 65
Cedar Waxwing 53
Blue-winged Warbler 1
Tennessee Warbler 1
Northern Parula 23
Yellow Warbler 20
Magnolia Warbler 2
Cape May Warbler 10
Black-throated Blue Warbler 7
Black-throated Green Warbler 2
Pine Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 10
American Redstart 56
Northern Waterthrush 11
Connecticut Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 8
Wilson's Warbler 1
Savannah Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 9
Indigo Bunting 3
Bobolink 279
Red-winged Blackbird 85
Common Grackle 1
Baltimore Oriole 8
American Goldfinch 3