We just about got blown off the dike this morning! The wind was WNW but far too strong for a good flight. We did have 3 Connecticut Warblers.
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/29/09
Number of species: 76
Mallard 3
Blue-winged Teal 5
Northern Shoveler 8
Green-winged Teal 4
Black Scoter 1
Common Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant 6
Snowy Egret 8
Turkey Vulture 4
Osprey 1
Bald Eagle 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4
Cooper's Hawk 2
American Kestrel 1
Merlin 2
Semipalmated Plover 2
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 5
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1
Least Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 55
Ring-billed Gull 12
Herring Gull 20
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 25
Caspian Tern 1
Forster's Tern 7
Royal Tern 6
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 8
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 12
American Crow 18
Tree Swallow 45
Carolina Chickadee 2
Carolina Wren 4
House Wren 1
Marsh Wren 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 5
Northern Mockingbird 2
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 35
Cedar Waxwing 18
Nashville Warbler 1
Northern Parula 6
Magnolia Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Black-throated Green Warbler 2
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 11
Bay-breasted Warbler 2
Blackpoll Warbler 31
American Redstart 3
Connecticut Warbler 3
Chipping Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 5
Indigo Bunting 1
Dickcissel 1
Red-winged Blackbird 14
Common Grackle 5
Baltimore Oriole 23
American Goldfinch 5
Sea Watch Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Today was a goregous day with a good wind from the WNW, but visibility was hampered due to heat waves, and so I did not see as many Gannets as I thought I would today.
We had the strongest turn out of the season so far for Double-Crested Cormorants at 1,390 as well as Blue-winged Teal at 19. And being counted for the first time this year we had both Great and Snowy Egrets at 11 and 13 respectively.
Here is a list of what was seen today.
Location: Avalon Sea Watch
Observation date: 9/30/09
Number of species: 14
Brant 18
Blue-winged Teal 19
Northern Pintail 9S
urf Scoter 12
Black Scoter 6
Dark-winged Scoter 1
Northern Gannet 6
Brown Pelican 22
Double-crested Cormorant 1390
Great Blue Heron 43
Great Egret 11
Snowy Egret 13
American Oystercatcher 44
Laughing Gull 8
Common Tern 2
We had the strongest turn out of the season so far for Double-Crested Cormorants at 1,390 as well as Blue-winged Teal at 19. And being counted for the first time this year we had both Great and Snowy Egrets at 11 and 13 respectively.
Here is a list of what was seen today.
Location: Avalon Sea Watch
Observation date: 9/30/09
Number of species: 14
Brant 18
Blue-winged Teal 19
Northern Pintail 9S
urf Scoter 12
Black Scoter 6
Dark-winged Scoter 1
Northern Gannet 6
Brown Pelican 22
Double-crested Cormorant 1390
Great Blue Heron 43
Great Egret 11
Snowy Egret 13
American Oystercatcher 44
Laughing Gull 8
Common Tern 2
Hawk Watch Wednesday September 30, 2009
A solid day at the Platform, with a pretty good movement of accipiters during the early hours through mid-day. There were some nice non-raptors as well, including the first group of American Coots (8) of the season, as well as a couple of flyover Dickcissels and a very obliging female Blue Grosbeak that dropped into the platform area at the end of the day.
eBird list follows (with Hawkcount data below):
Canada Goose 200
Mute Swan 8
Wood Duck 22 (flyover flocks of 5 then 17)
Gadwall 1
American Wigeon 4
American Black Duck 2
Mallard 8
Blue-winged Teal 3
Green-winged Teal 24
Surf Scoter 9
Black Scoter 1
Pied-billed Grebe 5
Double-crested Cormorant 45
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 5
Glossy Ibis 1
Black Vulture 9
Turkey Vulture 35
Osprey 54
Bald Eagle 12
Northern Harrier 8
Sharp-shinned Hawk 301
Cooper's Hawk 214
Broad-winged Hawk 13
Red-tailed Hawk 6
American Kestrel 54
Merlin 28
Peregrine Falcon 19
Common Moorhen 1
American Coot 8
Killdeer 10
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 8
Least Sandpiper 1
Pectoral Sandpiper 6
Stilt Sandpiper 1
peep sp. 2
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Caspian Tern 1
Forster's Tern 75
Royal Tern 5
Black Skimmer 100
Rock Pigeon 15
Mourning Dove 10
Chimney Swift 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 100
Blue Jay 20
Fish Crow 20
Tree Swallow 400
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Bank Swallow 2
Cliff Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 1
Carolina Chickadee 2
Carolina Wren 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
American Robin 2
Gray Catbird X
Northern Mockingbird X
European Starling X
American Pipit 1
Cedar Waxwing 2
Cape May Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 1
Prairie Warbler 1
Palm Warbler (Western) 25
Blackpoll Warbler 2
White-throated Sparrow 2
Blue Grosbeak 2
Indigo Bunting 10
Dickcissel 2
Bobolink 5
Red-winged Blackbird 350
American Goldfinch 20
House Sparrow 30
Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 30, 2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 5 43 43
Turkey Vulture 24 68 68
Osprey 49 1646 1646
Bald Eagle 12 195 195
Northern Harrier 8 156 156
Sharp-shinned Hawk 301 3812 3812
Cooper's Hawk 214 1233 1233
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 6
Broad-winged Hawk 13 178 178
Red-tailed Hawk 6 179 179
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 54 2075 2075
Merlin 28 834 834
Peregrine Falcon 19 262 262
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: 733 10689 10689
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 05:30:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 10.5 hours
Official Counter: Doug Gochfeld
Observers:
Weather:
NW/NNW Winds, Mostly cloudy
Sea Watch Tuesday September 29, 2009
The only notable seabird change from yesterday was that Gannets (including an adult)were moving more consistently. Another thousand+ day of Cormorants was again almost enirely concenrated in the morning. The non-waterbirds were probably more notable today, including 6 species of raptor, a Dickcissel which perched obligingly for a brief period, and a flyby Marbled Godwit.
Location: Avalon Seawatch
Observation date: 9/29/09
Notes: SW/W/NW Winds
Number of species: 44
dabbling duck sp. 4
Surf Scoter 3
Black Scoter 1
Common Loon 3
Northern Gannet 23
Brown Pelican 2
Double-crested Cormorant 1028
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 20 Townsends Inlet wader roost
Snowy Egret 85 Townsends Inlet wader roost
Little Blue Heron 8 Townsends Inlet wader roost
Turkey Vulture 10
Osprey 5
Bald Eagle 3
Northern Harrier 1
Merlin 1
Peregrine Falcon 6
Black-bellied Plover 1 Heard only
Semipalmated Plover 1 Heard only
American Oystercatcher 42 Townsends Inlet
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Marbled Godwit 1
Ruddy Turnstone 3
Sanderling 400
Least Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 7
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull 50
Caspian Tern 12
Common Tern 1
Forster's Tern 200
Royal Tern 20
Rock Pigeon X
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Tree Swallow 450
Carolina Wren 1 Heard only
American Robin 2
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 1 Flyover coming in off the jetty
Northern Cardinal 1
Indigo Bunting 1
Dickcissel 1 Perched briefly on telephone wire
Common Grackle 1
blackbird sp. 2
House Sparrow X
Location: Avalon Seawatch
Observation date: 9/29/09
Notes: SW/W/NW Winds
Number of species: 44
dabbling duck sp. 4
Surf Scoter 3
Black Scoter 1
Common Loon 3
Northern Gannet 23
Brown Pelican 2
Double-crested Cormorant 1028
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 20 Townsends Inlet wader roost
Snowy Egret 85 Townsends Inlet wader roost
Little Blue Heron 8 Townsends Inlet wader roost
Turkey Vulture 10
Osprey 5
Bald Eagle 3
Northern Harrier 1
Merlin 1
Peregrine Falcon 6
Black-bellied Plover 1 Heard only
Semipalmated Plover 1 Heard only
American Oystercatcher 42 Townsends Inlet
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Marbled Godwit 1
Ruddy Turnstone 3
Sanderling 400
Least Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 7
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull 50
Caspian Tern 12
Common Tern 1
Forster's Tern 200
Royal Tern 20
Rock Pigeon X
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Tree Swallow 450
Carolina Wren 1 Heard only
American Robin 2
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 1 Flyover coming in off the jetty
Northern Cardinal 1
Indigo Bunting 1
Dickcissel 1 Perched briefly on telephone wire
Common Grackle 1
blackbird sp. 2
House Sparrow X
Monarch Monitoring Project Week 3
Greetings All!
Week 3 brought us an average of 38.28 monarchs/hour, our highest numbers so far this season and we're getting some great turn outs for our weekly tagging demos...in fact, everyone seems to be getting in on the action...
That's right, that's Doug Gochfeld, this season's swing counter...Yay for cute incriminating pictures...
You may have also seen us on the Atlantic City news (NBC Channel 40)last Monday...If not, you can check us out here:
http://www.nbc40.net/view_story.php?id=10602
We also had our very first sighting of this little critter courtesy of Michael O'Brien:
Naturally with a find like this it only makes sense that the Ocala Skipper (Panoquina ocala) be our Butterfly of the Week
Appearance: 1.5-1.75 in. wingspan, slight purple sheen, long and narrow, longitudinally striped abdomen, forewings very long and narrow, outer wing edges are darker brown.
Habitat: Marshes, Forest Edges, Roadsides, old fields, utility easements and gardens
Interesting Facts: The Ocala Skipper is a variable immigrant and a relatively rare find (rare to non-existent in the Manhattan area)here in Cape May. This skipper appears from mid Sept.-mid-Oct. so hurry out and happy hunting!
For those interested in reading a bit more about our Monarchs and the story behind scientists' discovery of their overwintering grounds in the recent decades, I highly recommend picking up Sue Halpern's Four Wings and a Prayer: Caught in the Mystery of the Monarch Butterfly (ISBN: 037570194X). This book is an excellent overview of the mystery of their 2,000 mile journey and all the biologists studying them (including our very own scientific advisor, Dr. Lincoln Brower)and a great addition to any nature enthusiasts library. Copies are available at the CMBO Northwood Center, so pick up a copy today!
So some of you may have heard that prior to working here, I worked with sea turtles...
Sea turtles were what pulled me into the wonderful world of migratory animals and have led me to this marvelously charming town of Cape May to work with the Monarchs. Like Monarch Butterflies, the sea turtles that I worked with face similar threats to their survival. If you are interested in reading a little bit about my last job and about what scientists have done to protect nesting Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles on Padre Island National Seashore (Texas Gulf Coast) feel free to mosey on over to my other blog:
http://www.marinebioclaire.blogspot.com/
Now, for those who weren't aware, tomorrow is supposed to be an EPIC birding/butterflying day! Northwest Winds, 15 mph wind speed, mid-60's, sunny skies, and a partridge in a pear tree *sings* Grab your scopes, sun block, and enthusiasm (and if you're like me a strong cup of coffee if you're heading out there early)and enjoy what will hopefully be a fantastic flight day tomorrow!
Week 3 brought us an average of 38.28 monarchs/hour, our highest numbers so far this season and we're getting some great turn outs for our weekly tagging demos...in fact, everyone seems to be getting in on the action...
That's right, that's Doug Gochfeld, this season's swing counter...Yay for cute incriminating pictures...
You may have also seen us on the Atlantic City news (NBC Channel 40)last Monday...If not, you can check us out here:
http://www.nbc40.net/view_story.php?id=10602
We also had our very first sighting of this little critter courtesy of Michael O'Brien:
Naturally with a find like this it only makes sense that the Ocala Skipper (Panoquina ocala) be our Butterfly of the Week
Appearance: 1.5-1.75 in. wingspan, slight purple sheen, long and narrow, longitudinally striped abdomen, forewings very long and narrow, outer wing edges are darker brown.
Habitat: Marshes, Forest Edges, Roadsides, old fields, utility easements and gardens
Interesting Facts: The Ocala Skipper is a variable immigrant and a relatively rare find (rare to non-existent in the Manhattan area)here in Cape May. This skipper appears from mid Sept.-mid-Oct. so hurry out and happy hunting!
For those interested in reading a bit more about our Monarchs and the story behind scientists' discovery of their overwintering grounds in the recent decades, I highly recommend picking up Sue Halpern's Four Wings and a Prayer: Caught in the Mystery of the Monarch Butterfly (ISBN: 037570194X). This book is an excellent overview of the mystery of their 2,000 mile journey and all the biologists studying them (including our very own scientific advisor, Dr. Lincoln Brower)and a great addition to any nature enthusiasts library. Copies are available at the CMBO Northwood Center, so pick up a copy today!
So some of you may have heard that prior to working here, I worked with sea turtles...
Sea turtles were what pulled me into the wonderful world of migratory animals and have led me to this marvelously charming town of Cape May to work with the Monarchs. Like Monarch Butterflies, the sea turtles that I worked with face similar threats to their survival. If you are interested in reading a little bit about my last job and about what scientists have done to protect nesting Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles on Padre Island National Seashore (Texas Gulf Coast) feel free to mosey on over to my other blog:
http://www.marinebioclaire.blogspot.com/
Now, for those who weren't aware, tomorrow is supposed to be an EPIC birding/butterflying day! Northwest Winds, 15 mph wind speed, mid-60's, sunny skies, and a partridge in a pear tree *sings* Grab your scopes, sun block, and enthusiasm (and if you're like me a strong cup of coffee if you're heading out there early)and enjoy what will hopefully be a fantastic flight day tomorrow!
Sea Watch Monday September 28, 2009
In line with the hot-and-cold nature of the seawatch, the first two-plus hours of the day saw over 1200 individuals counted, but that number dropped off to only 49 counted during the last 9 hours. Double-crested Cormorants were the big movers of the morning, and migratory Laughing Gulls were detected for the first tme this season. I found out this Laughing Gull movement was evident well offshore too, after talking to Glen Davis (who was on a boat on the ocean) a bit later in the morning.
Non-waterbird notables were an American Pipit, and 2 Northern Flickers motoring in from off the ocean, the second of which was seen at around 12:30 PM (it must have been very far offshore).
eBird list follows
(Migrant waterbirds in bold):
Brant (Atlantic) 1
Northern Shoveler 2
Surf Scoter 1
Black Scoter 19
Common Loon 2
Northern Gannet 11
Brown Pelican 3
Double-crested Cormorant 1173
Great Blue Heron 3
Osprey 3
Peregrine Falcon 2
Ruddy Turnstone 2
Sanderling 150
Laughing Gull 34
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull 75
Caspian Tern 3
Common Tern 8
Forster's Tern 80
Royal Tern 10
jaeger sp. 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 2
Tree Swallow 50
American Robin 2
American Pipit 1
Cedar Waxwing 1
Northern Cardinal X
House Finch 2
House Sparrow 10
Non-waterbird notables were an American Pipit, and 2 Northern Flickers motoring in from off the ocean, the second of which was seen at around 12:30 PM (it must have been very far offshore).
eBird list follows
(Migrant waterbirds in bold):
Brant (Atlantic) 1
Northern Shoveler 2
Surf Scoter 1
Black Scoter 19
Common Loon 2
Northern Gannet 11
Brown Pelican 3
Double-crested Cormorant 1173
Great Blue Heron 3
Osprey 3
Peregrine Falcon 2
Ruddy Turnstone 2
Sanderling 150
Laughing Gull 34
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull 75
Caspian Tern 3
Common Tern 8
Forster's Tern 80
Royal Tern 10
jaeger sp. 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 2
Tree Swallow 50
American Robin 2
American Pipit 1
Cedar Waxwing 1
Northern Cardinal X
House Finch 2
House Sparrow 10
Morning Flight Monday September 28 2009
Light west winds overnight produced exactly the result I expected: a solid flight early that quickly tapered off. Good light, good company, and a few exciting birds made for a very enjoyable morning. In the second hour Bob Fogg alerted us via text message to a Red-headed Woodpecker flying towards the Dike from the sough end of Higbee. Three minutes later the very bird appeared and lit in the top a tree. It sat there basking in the morning sun and in the admiration of the assembled birders for the better part of 15 minutes. A bit later a flock of Black-bellied Plovers with a gorgeous juvenile American Golden-Plover in tow circled the impoundment, flying right over our heads before disappearing up the bayshore. One rather uncooperative Connecticut Warbler headlined a solid lineup of 17 species of warblers.
For those keeping track at home we added three species to the total for the Morning Flight project this season, American Black Duck, Surf Scoter and Parasitic Jaeger. Thanks to James Smith for spotting the Jaeger way out on the Bay. With the additions today, there have been 196 species seen from the Dike this season. Those who know me know I'm far too gracious to truly be competitive, but it is worth noting that we are rather handily kicking the tails of those slouches at the Hawkwatch when it comes to species totals for the season!
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/28/09
Number of species: 78
American Black Duck 1
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 1
Mallard 6
Blue-winged Teal 8
Northern Shoveler 8
Green-winged Teal 4
Surf Scoter 3
Black Scoter 12
Double-crested Cormorant 16
Turkey Vulture 6
Osprey 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
American Kestrel 3
Merlin 3
Black-bellied Plover 8
American Golden-Plover 1
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 5
Least Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 85
Ring-billed Gull 15
Herring Gull 8
Great Black-backed Gull 30
Forster's Tern 12
Royal Tern 6
Parasitic Jaeger 1 Head south along the middle of the Bay. Appeared to be an arriving migrant.
Rock Pigeon 35
Mourning Dove 8
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 53
Eastern Phoebe 1
Warbling Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 4
Blue Jay 12
American Crow 12
Fish Crow 1
Tree Swallow 35
Carolina Chickadee 3
Carolina Wren 5
House Wren 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 2
Brown Thrasher 2
European Starling 115
Cedar Waxwing 35
Tennessee Warbler 2
Nashville Warbler 1
Northern Parula 40
Yellow Warbler 3
Magnolia Warbler 5
Cape May Warbler 4
Black-throated Blue Warbler 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 7
Black-throated Green Warbler 5
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 31
Blackpoll Warbler 41
Black-and-white Warbler 1
American Redstart 35
Northern Waterthrush 2
Connecticut Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 4
Scarlet Tanager 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 6
Northern Cardinal 8
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3
Indigo Bunting 2
Bobolink 9
Red-winged Blackbird 65
Common Grackle 8
Baltimore Oriole 5
American Goldfinch 6
For those keeping track at home we added three species to the total for the Morning Flight project this season, American Black Duck, Surf Scoter and Parasitic Jaeger. Thanks to James Smith for spotting the Jaeger way out on the Bay. With the additions today, there have been 196 species seen from the Dike this season. Those who know me know I'm far too gracious to truly be competitive, but it is worth noting that we are rather handily kicking the tails of those slouches at the Hawkwatch when it comes to species totals for the season!
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/28/09
Number of species: 78
American Black Duck 1
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 1
Mallard 6
Blue-winged Teal 8
Northern Shoveler 8
Green-winged Teal 4
Surf Scoter 3
Black Scoter 12
Double-crested Cormorant 16
Turkey Vulture 6
Osprey 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
American Kestrel 3
Merlin 3
Black-bellied Plover 8
American Golden-Plover 1
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 5
Least Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 85
Ring-billed Gull 15
Herring Gull 8
Great Black-backed Gull 30
Forster's Tern 12
Royal Tern 6
Parasitic Jaeger 1 Head south along the middle of the Bay. Appeared to be an arriving migrant.
Rock Pigeon 35
Mourning Dove 8
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 53
Eastern Phoebe 1
Warbling Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 4
Blue Jay 12
American Crow 12
Fish Crow 1
Tree Swallow 35
Carolina Chickadee 3
Carolina Wren 5
House Wren 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 2
Brown Thrasher 2
European Starling 115
Cedar Waxwing 35
Tennessee Warbler 2
Nashville Warbler 1
Northern Parula 40
Yellow Warbler 3
Magnolia Warbler 5
Cape May Warbler 4
Black-throated Blue Warbler 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 7
Black-throated Green Warbler 5
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 31
Blackpoll Warbler 41
Black-and-white Warbler 1
American Redstart 35
Northern Waterthrush 2
Connecticut Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 4
Scarlet Tanager 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 6
Northern Cardinal 8
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3
Indigo Bunting 2
Bobolink 9
Red-winged Blackbird 65
Common Grackle 8
Baltimore Oriole 5
American Goldfinch 6
Sea Watch Sunday, September 27, 2009
The day started off rainy with only one Common Tern showing itself in the limited visibility. The rest of the day was pretty slow even though it gradually cleared off and became sunny. We had a total of 13 species and 266 total birds counted.
Below is a list of birds seen.
Location: Avalon Sea Watch
Observation date: 9/27/09
Number of species: 13
Brant 10
Green-winged Teal 1
Surf Scoter 4
Black Scoter 81
Common Loon 3
Cory's Shearwater 1
Greater Shearwater 1
Northern Gannet 11
Brown Pelican 7
Double-crested Cormorant 143
Great Cormorant 1
Common Tern 2
Parasitic Jaeger 3
Oh, I almost forgot, on a minor note we had two species of shearwater (Cory's and Greater) hang around for 4 1/2 hours, and at one point were in the same field of view.
Below is a list of birds seen.
Location: Avalon Sea Watch
Observation date: 9/27/09
Number of species: 13
Brant 10
Green-winged Teal 1
Surf Scoter 4
Black Scoter 81
Common Loon 3
Cory's Shearwater 1
Greater Shearwater 1
Northern Gannet 11
Brown Pelican 7
Double-crested Cormorant 143
Great Cormorant 1
Common Tern 2
Parasitic Jaeger 3
Oh, I almost forgot, on a minor note we had two species of shearwater (Cory's and Greater) hang around for 4 1/2 hours, and at one point were in the same field of view.
Morning Flight Sunday 27 2009
Once again a damp morning resulted in zero birds counted at the dike. We did have a fair number of birds in the trees after a periods of rain. The highlight of the morning was a Worm-eating Warbler, the first I've seen in several weeks.
Today the weather was kind to those who came up to visit the Avalon Seawatch. We had a 10-15mph wind out of the ESE blowing under a mostly cloudy sky.
Today started out slow compared to yesterday, and it seemed like the rest of the day could have followed suite, but things picked later on in the day. We had a total of 16 species spotted today, with a total 959 birds counted in total. Though we had less birds today, we had a greater diversity. Of the birds seen, those of special note are the first Brant, Common Eiders, Red-throated Loon, White-Winged Scoter, and Wood Duck of the season. Of further note is the lone Gannet seen today was an adult; another first for the season.
Below is a break down of the birds seen today:
Location: Avalon Sea Watch
Observation date: 9/26/09
Number of species: 16
Brant 6
Canada Goose 3
Wood Duck 4
Mallard 17
Northern Pintail 11
Green-winged Teal 6
Common Eider 8
Surf Scoter 34
White-winged Scoter 1
Dark-winged Scoter 34
Black Scoter 87
Red-throated Loon 1
Common Loon 3
Northern Gannet 1
Brown Pelican 4
Double-crested Cormorant 736
Common Tern 3
Today started out slow compared to yesterday, and it seemed like the rest of the day could have followed suite, but things picked later on in the day. We had a total of 16 species spotted today, with a total 959 birds counted in total. Though we had less birds today, we had a greater diversity. Of the birds seen, those of special note are the first Brant, Common Eiders, Red-throated Loon, White-Winged Scoter, and Wood Duck of the season. Of further note is the lone Gannet seen today was an adult; another first for the season.
Below is a break down of the birds seen today:
Location: Avalon Sea Watch
Observation date: 9/26/09
Number of species: 16
Brant 6
Canada Goose 3
Wood Duck 4
Mallard 17
Northern Pintail 11
Green-winged Teal 6
Common Eider 8
Surf Scoter 34
White-winged Scoter 1
Dark-winged Scoter 34
Black Scoter 87
Red-throated Loon 1
Common Loon 3
Northern Gannet 1
Brown Pelican 4
Double-crested Cormorant 736
Common Tern 3
Morning Flight Saturday September 26, 2009
A rather slow morning at Higbee's, and the strong east winds kept a lot of the activity between the sun and the dike. The lone highlight was a single Connecticut Warbler. Palm Warblers are now ever present and Redstarts are fading fast, as evidenced by the measley total of 5 for the day. Summer is most definitely over. Total birds counted for the day was 236. On a non-passerine note, a large movement of Double-crested Cormorants was detected, including one flock of around 150 individuals. 2 juvenile Long-billed Dowitchers also showed nicely for at least 20 minutes before flying off south.
Mallard X
Blue-winged Teal 6
Northern Shoveler 4
Double-crested Cormorant 450
Great Blue Heron 3
Osprey 15
Bald Eagle 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk 10
Cooper's Hawk 5
Red-tailed Hawk 2
American Kestrel 2
Merlin 6
Peregrine Falcon 2
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Solitary Sandpiper 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 4
Long-billed Dowitcher 2
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Forster's Tern 6
Royal Tern 4
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 52
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 4
American Crow X
Tree Swallow X
Barn Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee X
Carolina Wren 4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 12
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 26
Tennessee Warbler 1
Northern Parula 18
Magnolia Warbler 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 6
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 36
Blackpoll Warbler 13
Black-and-white Warbler 2
American Redstart 5
Northern Waterthrush 1
Connecticut Warbler 1
warbler sp. 42
Scarlet Tanager 2
Savannah Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal 3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 3
Red-winged Blackbird 100
Common Grackle 1
Baltimore Oriole 3
American Goldfinch 6
House Sparrow X
Mallard X
Blue-winged Teal 6
Northern Shoveler 4
Double-crested Cormorant 450
Great Blue Heron 3
Osprey 15
Bald Eagle 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk 10
Cooper's Hawk 5
Red-tailed Hawk 2
American Kestrel 2
Merlin 6
Peregrine Falcon 2
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Solitary Sandpiper 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 4
Long-billed Dowitcher 2
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Forster's Tern 6
Royal Tern 4
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 52
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 4
American Crow X
Tree Swallow X
Barn Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee X
Carolina Wren 4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 12
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 26
Tennessee Warbler 1
Northern Parula 18
Magnolia Warbler 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 6
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 36
Blackpoll Warbler 13
Black-and-white Warbler 2
American Redstart 5
Northern Waterthrush 1
Connecticut Warbler 1
warbler sp. 42
Scarlet Tanager 2
Savannah Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal 3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 3
Red-winged Blackbird 100
Common Grackle 1
Baltimore Oriole 3
American Goldfinch 6
House Sparrow X
Sea Watch Friday, September 25, 2009
Today was a good day for migrating birds on all fronts, including for migrating waterbirds. With the day starting with strong north-westerly winds the birds had a strong tail wind at their backs to speed them along the way.
The waves at Avalon sea watch were in a perpetual state of agitation making ocean conditions a Beaufort 3 to 4. With the waves breaking over parts of the jetty the air was filled with spray covering everything, including the optics (Note: Need to pack more lens cloths).
We had 1,576 birds migrate through. Of special note we had 112 American Oystercatchers pass by, as well as the first teal and mallards of the season. And what made this thousand plus day possible were the hundreds of cormorants and scoters flying through. I'd like to thank them for giving me something to count!
Here is a complete list of birds seen today.
Location: Avalon Sea Watch
Observation date: 9/25/09
Number of species: 14
Canada Goose 87
Mallard 5
Northern Pintail 47
Green-winged Teal 6
Surf Scoter 12
Black Scoter 51
Dark-winged Scoter 407
Common Loon 2
Brown Pelican 5
Double-crested Cormorant 785
Great Blue Heron 26
American Oystercatcher 112
Caspian Tern 5
Common Tern 4
Black Skimmer 22
The waves at Avalon sea watch were in a perpetual state of agitation making ocean conditions a Beaufort 3 to 4. With the waves breaking over parts of the jetty the air was filled with spray covering everything, including the optics (Note: Need to pack more lens cloths).
We had 1,576 birds migrate through. Of special note we had 112 American Oystercatchers pass by, as well as the first teal and mallards of the season. And what made this thousand plus day possible were the hundreds of cormorants and scoters flying through. I'd like to thank them for giving me something to count!
Here is a complete list of birds seen today.
Location: Avalon Sea Watch
Observation date: 9/25/09
Number of species: 14
Canada Goose 87
Mallard 5
Northern Pintail 47
Green-winged Teal 6
Surf Scoter 12
Black Scoter 51
Dark-winged Scoter 407
Common Loon 2
Brown Pelican 5
Double-crested Cormorant 785
Great Blue Heron 26
American Oystercatcher 112
Caspian Tern 5
Common Tern 4
Black Skimmer 22
Morning Flight Friday September 25 2009
We were treated to another excellent flight with great diversity. Waxwings basically took over the place. We had a few first for the Dike this season, Great Cormorant, Eastern Phoebe, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and a surprise Hooded Warbler. We had two incredibly cooperative Connecticut Warblers or at least as cooperative as could be expected from flying Connecticut Warblers. Warbler diversity matched the season high with 24 species, though the totals individuals were only 784 including 208 unidentified warblers.
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/25/09
Number of species: 94
Canada Goose 35
Gadwall 1
Mallard 5
Blue-winged Teal 12
Northern Shoveler 6
Green-winged Teal 7
Double-crested Cormorant 12
Great Cormorant 1 FOS
Great Blue Heron 5
Great Egret 8
Snowy Egret 9
Turkey Vulture 12
Osprey 55
Bald Eagle 2
Northern Harrier 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 85
Cooper's Hawk 9
Broad-winged Hawk 1
American Kestrel 14
Merlin 18
Peregrine Falcon 5
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 6
Laughing Gull 25
Herring Gull 12
Great Black-backed Gull 30
Caspian Tern 1
Forster's Tern 3
Royal Tern 6
Rock Pigeon 12
Mourning Dove 8
Belted Kingfisher 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 656
Eastern Wood-Pewee 4
Eastern Phoebe 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 4
Warbling Vireo 3
Red-eyed Vireo 6
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 18
Fish Crow 2
Tree Swallow 55
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 4
Carolina Chickadee 6
Carolina Wren 5
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 4
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 90
American Pipit 3
Cedar Waxwing 2060
Tennessee Warbler 2
Nashville Warbler 1
Northern Parula 35
Yellow Warbler 5
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2
Magnolia Warbler 4
Cape May Warbler 13
Black-throated Blue Warbler 9
Yellow-rumped Warbler 64
Black-throated Green Warbler 11
Blackburnian Warbler 4
Pine Warbler 4
Prairie Warbler 2
Palm Warbler 208
Bay-breasted Warbler 4
Blackpoll Warbler 116
Black-and-white Warbler 9
American Redstart 31
Ovenbird 1
Northern Waterthrush 2
Connecticut Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 2
Hooded Warbler 1
Wilson's Warbler 2
Scarlet Tanager 9
Chipping Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 3
Bobolink 14
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Common Grackle 2
Baltimore Oriole 9
Purple Finch 1
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 6
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/25/09
Number of species: 94
Canada Goose 35
Gadwall 1
Mallard 5
Blue-winged Teal 12
Northern Shoveler 6
Green-winged Teal 7
Double-crested Cormorant 12
Great Cormorant 1 FOS
Great Blue Heron 5
Great Egret 8
Snowy Egret 9
Turkey Vulture 12
Osprey 55
Bald Eagle 2
Northern Harrier 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 85
Cooper's Hawk 9
Broad-winged Hawk 1
American Kestrel 14
Merlin 18
Peregrine Falcon 5
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 6
Laughing Gull 25
Herring Gull 12
Great Black-backed Gull 30
Caspian Tern 1
Forster's Tern 3
Royal Tern 6
Rock Pigeon 12
Mourning Dove 8
Belted Kingfisher 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 656
Eastern Wood-Pewee 4
Eastern Phoebe 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 4
Warbling Vireo 3
Red-eyed Vireo 6
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 18
Fish Crow 2
Tree Swallow 55
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 4
Carolina Chickadee 6
Carolina Wren 5
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 4
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 90
American Pipit 3
Cedar Waxwing 2060
Tennessee Warbler 2
Nashville Warbler 1
Northern Parula 35
Yellow Warbler 5
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2
Magnolia Warbler 4
Cape May Warbler 13
Black-throated Blue Warbler 9
Yellow-rumped Warbler 64
Black-throated Green Warbler 11
Blackburnian Warbler 4
Pine Warbler 4
Prairie Warbler 2
Palm Warbler 208
Bay-breasted Warbler 4
Blackpoll Warbler 116
Black-and-white Warbler 9
American Redstart 31
Ovenbird 1
Northern Waterthrush 2
Connecticut Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 2
Hooded Warbler 1
Wilson's Warbler 2
Scarlet Tanager 9
Chipping Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 3
Bobolink 14
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Common Grackle 2
Baltimore Oriole 9
Purple Finch 1
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 6
Hawk Watch Thursday September 24, 2009
Finally some northwestish winds at the watch, and the Hawks, well...Falcons at least, responded. We had a solid afternoon American Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon flight pick up as the mid-day accipiter flight (also not too slow) wound down, and we counted almost through 6:00 PM since the Kestrels (200 total for the day, 30 after 5:00 PM) were still moving. By the late afternoon a good number of Ospreys had settled down to hunt and roost in the area (see Josh's post @ http://www.birdcapemay.org/blog/), so there could be an early movement of them tomorrow. Non-raptor highlights were a flyover Dickcissel, the continuing 2 Common Moorhen at the back of Bunker Pond and 2 Parasitic Jaegers working the rips between 8 and 9 AM.
eBird list follows:
Location: Cape Island--Cape May Point SP--CMBO Hawk Watch
Observation date: 9/24/09
Number of species: 69
Canada Goose 150
Mute Swan 10
Gadwall 2
American Wigeon 29
American Black Duck 4
Mallard X
Blue-winged Teal 11
Northern Shoveler 4
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Northern Gannet 1
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Great Blue Heron 5
Great Egret 8
Snowy Egret 1
Green Heron 3
Glossy Ibis 1
Black Vulture 16
Turkey Vulture 14
Bald Eagle 9
Northern Harrier 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk 171
Cooper's Hawk 59
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestrel 200
Merlin 18
Peregrine Falcon 23
Common Moorhen 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 9
Pectoral Sandpiper 16
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Caspian Tern 3
Common Tern X
Forster's Tern 40
Royal Tern 40
Black Skimmer 300
Parasitic Jaeger 2
Rock Pigeon 20
Mourning Dove 20
Chimney Swift 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 50
White-eyed Vireo 1 Heard only
Blue Jay 2
Fish Crow X
Tree Swallow 500
Cliff Swallow 2 Separate individual flyovers
Barn Swallow X
Carolina Chickadee 2
Carolina Wren 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
American Robin 2
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 8
European Starling X
Yellow Warbler 2
Palm Warbler (Western) 4
Northern Waterthrush 2
Common Yellowthroat 2
Song Sparrow 5
White-throated Sparrow 1 Heard only
Northern Cardinal X
Dickcissel 1
Bobolink 250
Red-winged Blackbird 500
Common Grackle 3
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow X
eBird list follows:
Location: Cape Island--Cape May Point SP--CMBO Hawk Watch
Observation date: 9/24/09
Number of species: 69
Canada Goose 150
Mute Swan 10
Gadwall 2
American Wigeon 29
American Black Duck 4
Mallard X
Blue-winged Teal 11
Northern Shoveler 4
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Northern Gannet 1
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Great Blue Heron 5
Great Egret 8
Snowy Egret 1
Green Heron 3
Glossy Ibis 1
Black Vulture 16
Turkey Vulture 14
Bald Eagle 9
Northern Harrier 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk 171
Cooper's Hawk 59
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestrel 200
Merlin 18
Peregrine Falcon 23
Common Moorhen 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 9
Pectoral Sandpiper 16
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Caspian Tern 3
Common Tern X
Forster's Tern 40
Royal Tern 40
Black Skimmer 300
Parasitic Jaeger 2
Rock Pigeon 20
Mourning Dove 20
Chimney Swift 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 50
White-eyed Vireo 1 Heard only
Blue Jay 2
Fish Crow X
Tree Swallow 500
Cliff Swallow 2 Separate individual flyovers
Barn Swallow X
Carolina Chickadee 2
Carolina Wren 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
American Robin 2
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 8
European Starling X
Yellow Warbler 2
Palm Warbler (Western) 4
Northern Waterthrush 2
Common Yellowthroat 2
Song Sparrow 5
White-throated Sparrow 1 Heard only
Northern Cardinal X
Dickcissel 1
Bobolink 250
Red-winged Blackbird 500
Common Grackle 3
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow X
Sea Watch Thursday, September 24, 2009
The day started out with a light drizzle over Avalon Sea Watch, before it cleared into a hot humid day. Visibility was partially limited due to haze, thus Atlantic City was not viewable for most of the day.
Today was another slow day of scanning the ocean, with only a slightly better count today of 74 birds, versus yesterdays count of 56. The most notable birds were the Northern Pintail that was leading six Double-crested Cormorants, the Great Blue Heron flying in from the ocean, and the Common Loon flying over in the early hours of the morning.
Here is a full list of birds encountered:
Location: Avalon Sea Watch
Observation date: 9/24/09
Number of species: 8
Northern Pintail 1
Common Loon 1
Northern Gannet 5
Brown Pelican 13
Double-crested Cormorant 30
Great Blue Heron 1
Common Tern 18
Dark-winged Scoter 5
Today was another slow day of scanning the ocean, with only a slightly better count today of 74 birds, versus yesterdays count of 56. The most notable birds were the Northern Pintail that was leading six Double-crested Cormorants, the Great Blue Heron flying in from the ocean, and the Common Loon flying over in the early hours of the morning.
Here is a full list of birds encountered:
Location: Avalon Sea Watch
Observation date: 9/24/09
Number of species: 8
Northern Pintail 1
Common Loon 1
Northern Gannet 5
Brown Pelican 13
Double-crested Cormorant 30
Great Blue Heron 1
Common Tern 18
Dark-winged Scoter 5
Morning Flight September 23 and 24 2009
Yesterday was spectacularly bad, however it was significantly better than the day before. Three days ago I counted zero birds, yesterday I counted two. I did spent a significant portion of the morning stacking Cheerios. I case anyone is wondering, roughly seven Cheerios can be stacked atop one another before falling over. More to the point, the two birds I counted were a Redstart and an unidentified warbler.
Today (09/24) was infinitely better than the past few days though the numbers remained low. The diversity was excellent, due largely to Michael O'Brien and his camera. There was an uncommonly cooperative Gray-cheeked Thrush that perched out in the open and allowed prolonged scope views. We also had a quick view of an adult Red-headed Woodpecker, also thanks to Michael O'Brien, and a late morning Lark Sparrow.
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/24/09
Number of species: 60
Canada Goose 5
Blue-winged Teal 12
Northern Shoveler 8
Green-winged Teal 7
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 4
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 35
Herring Gull 6
Great Black-backed Gull 15
Forster's Tern 4
Royal Tern 8
Rock Pigeon 4
Mourning Dove 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 12
Least Flycatcher 1
Blue Jay 12
American Crow 6
Tree Swallow 85
Carolina Chickadee 4
Carolina Wren 6
House Wren 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush 1
Swainson's Thrush 1
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 8
Northern Mockingbird 1
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 55
Cedar Waxwing 6
Northern Parula 7
Yellow Warbler 2
Cape May Warbler 5
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 3
Palm Warbler 4
Bay-breasted Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 8
American Redstart 5
Northern Waterthrush 3
Common Yellowthroat 6
Lark Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 6
Indigo Bunting 3
Dickcissel 1
Bobolink 8
Red-winged Blackbird 8
Common Grackle 4
American Goldfinch 4
Today (09/24) was infinitely better than the past few days though the numbers remained low. The diversity was excellent, due largely to Michael O'Brien and his camera. There was an uncommonly cooperative Gray-cheeked Thrush that perched out in the open and allowed prolonged scope views. We also had a quick view of an adult Red-headed Woodpecker, also thanks to Michael O'Brien, and a late morning Lark Sparrow.
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/24/09
Number of species: 60
Canada Goose 5
Blue-winged Teal 12
Northern Shoveler 8
Green-winged Teal 7
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 4
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 35
Herring Gull 6
Great Black-backed Gull 15
Forster's Tern 4
Royal Tern 8
Rock Pigeon 4
Mourning Dove 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 12
Least Flycatcher 1
Blue Jay 12
American Crow 6
Tree Swallow 85
Carolina Chickadee 4
Carolina Wren 6
House Wren 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush 1
Swainson's Thrush 1
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 8
Northern Mockingbird 1
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 55
Cedar Waxwing 6
Northern Parula 7
Yellow Warbler 2
Cape May Warbler 5
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 3
Palm Warbler 4
Bay-breasted Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 8
American Redstart 5
Northern Waterthrush 3
Common Yellowthroat 6
Lark Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 6
Indigo Bunting 3
Dickcissel 1
Bobolink 8
Red-winged Blackbird 8
Common Grackle 4
American Goldfinch 4
Sea Watch Wednesday, September 23, 2009
This morning the sunrose at 6:47am. Not too long afterwards rain passed through the area for the next few hours, and occassionally was down pouring. To say the least the visibility during early hours of the survey were fair to poor. However, it eventually cleared into a hot and humid day.
Today was a slower day than the first day of sea watch. There were only 56 birds encountered, the most notable bird sighted being a Great Cormorant heading south of the Jetty.
Here are the total counts for the day:
Location: Avalon Sea WatchObservation
date: 9/23/09
Number of species:6
Northern Gannet 1
Brown Pelican 12
Great Cormorant 1
Caspian Tern 9
Common Tern 30
Black Skimmer 3
Today was a slower day than the first day of sea watch. There were only 56 birds encountered, the most notable bird sighted being a Great Cormorant heading south of the Jetty.
Here are the total counts for the day:
Location: Avalon Sea WatchObservation
date: 9/23/09
Number of species:6
Northern Gannet 1
Brown Pelican 12
Great Cormorant 1
Caspian Tern 9
Common Tern 30
Black Skimmer 3
Hawk Watch Wednesday September 23, 2009
Heavy rain pushed us off the platform briefly this morning, but shortly afterwards the sun came out, the fog burned off and it became a beautiful day...just with the wrong winds. 2 Common Moorhens at the back of Bunker Pond entertained people for much of the day, and the changing of the seasons was evident in the 5 Black Scoters flying offshore, as well as my first White-throated Sparrow of the season calling from in front of the Platform.
My eBird list is below, followed by the Hawk Totals up to this date
Canada Goose 40
Mute Swan 8
Gadwall 3
American Wigeon 18
American Black Duck 10
Mallard X
Blue-winged Teal 3
Black Scoter 5
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Double-crested Cormorant 3
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 4
Green Heron 3
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Black Vulture 6
Turkey Vulture 10
Osprey 28
Bald Eagle 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 41
Cooper's Hawk 6
Red-tailed Hawk 4
American Kestrel 7
Merlin 4
Peregrine Falcon 13
Common Moorhen 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 11 Flocks of 4 and then 7
peep sp. 4
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Common Tern 10
Forster's Tern 30
Royal Tern 15
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 50
Fish Crow X
Tree Swallow X
Cliff Swallow 1
Barn Swallow X
Carolina Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 6
European Starling X
Yellow Warbler 4
Northern Waterthrush 2
Common Yellowthroat 1
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 2
Bobolink 5
Red-winged Blackbird X
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 40
Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 23, 2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 - 0 - 0
Turkey Vulture 0 - 0 - 0
Osprey 28 - 1316 - 1316
Bald Eagle 3 - 161 - 161
Northern Harrier 0 - 135 - 135
Sharp-shinned Hawk 41 - 3105 - 3105
Cooper's Hawk 6 - 845 - 845
Northern Goshawk 0 - 0 - 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 - 3 - 3
Broad-winged Hawk 0 - 161 - 161
Red-tailed Hawk 4 - 169 - 169
Rough-legged Hawk 0 - 0 - 0
Golden Eagle 0 - 0 - 0
American Kestrel 7 - 1563 - 1563
Merlin 4 - 718 - 718
Peregrine Falcon 13 - 129 - 129
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: 106 8315 8315
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 05:30:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 10.5 hours
Official Counter: Doug Gochfeld
Observers:
Weather:
Humid all day. SW and SSW winds, rain during the first couple of hours,
becoming sunny in the afternoon.
My eBird list is below, followed by the Hawk Totals up to this date
Canada Goose 40
Mute Swan 8
Gadwall 3
American Wigeon 18
American Black Duck 10
Mallard X
Blue-winged Teal 3
Black Scoter 5
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Double-crested Cormorant 3
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 4
Green Heron 3
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Black Vulture 6
Turkey Vulture 10
Osprey 28
Bald Eagle 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 41
Cooper's Hawk 6
Red-tailed Hawk 4
American Kestrel 7
Merlin 4
Peregrine Falcon 13
Common Moorhen 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 11 Flocks of 4 and then 7
peep sp. 4
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Common Tern 10
Forster's Tern 30
Royal Tern 15
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 50
Fish Crow X
Tree Swallow X
Cliff Swallow 1
Barn Swallow X
Carolina Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 6
European Starling X
Yellow Warbler 4
Northern Waterthrush 2
Common Yellowthroat 1
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 2
Bobolink 5
Red-winged Blackbird X
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 40
Cape May
Cape May Point, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 23, 2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 - 0 - 0
Turkey Vulture 0 - 0 - 0
Osprey 28 - 1316 - 1316
Bald Eagle 3 - 161 - 161
Northern Harrier 0 - 135 - 135
Sharp-shinned Hawk 41 - 3105 - 3105
Cooper's Hawk 6 - 845 - 845
Northern Goshawk 0 - 0 - 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 - 3 - 3
Broad-winged Hawk 0 - 161 - 161
Red-tailed Hawk 4 - 169 - 169
Rough-legged Hawk 0 - 0 - 0
Golden Eagle 0 - 0 - 0
American Kestrel 7 - 1563 - 1563
Merlin 4 - 718 - 718
Peregrine Falcon 13 - 129 - 129
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: 106 8315 8315
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Observation start time: 05:30:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 10.5 hours
Official Counter: Doug Gochfeld
Observers:
Weather:
Humid all day. SW and SSW winds, rain during the first couple of hours,
becoming sunny in the afternoon.
Morning Flight Tuesday September 22 2009
Completely and totally skunked! Zero birds counted in morning flight, just a few hanging out in the trees. We did get a flyby Marbled Godwit, complements of Michael O'Brien, a new species for the dike this season.
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/22/09
Number of species: 54
Mallard 6
Blue-winged Teal 8
Northern Shoveler 8
Green-winged Teal 4
Double-crested Cormorant 3
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 2
Little Blue Heron 1
Osprey 2
Merlin 1
Black-bellied Plover 1
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 6
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1
Western Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 45
Herring Gull 15
Great Black-backed Gull 55
Caspian Tern 2
Forster's Tern 7
Royal Tern 6
Rock Pigeon 4
Mourning Dove 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 8
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 8
American Crow 12
Tree Swallow 45
Carolina Chickadee 3
Carolina Wren 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Veery 3
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 2
Brown Thrasher 2
European Starling 55
Cedar Waxwing 7
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 3
American Redstart 1
Northern Waterthrush 3
Common Yellowthroat 4
Eastern Towhee 1
Field Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 4
Indigo Bunting 2
Bobolink 6
Red-winged Blackbird 45
Common Grackle 4
American Goldfinch 4
Location: Cape Island--Higbees Beach SWA--Dike
Observation date: 9/22/09
Number of species: 54
Mallard 6
Blue-winged Teal 8
Northern Shoveler 8
Green-winged Teal 4
Double-crested Cormorant 3
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 2
Little Blue Heron 1
Osprey 2
Merlin 1
Black-bellied Plover 1
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 6
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1
Western Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 45
Herring Gull 15
Great Black-backed Gull 55
Caspian Tern 2
Forster's Tern 7
Royal Tern 6
Rock Pigeon 4
Mourning Dove 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 8
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 8
American Crow 12
Tree Swallow 45
Carolina Chickadee 3
Carolina Wren 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Veery 3
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 2
Brown Thrasher 2
European Starling 55
Cedar Waxwing 7
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 3
American Redstart 1
Northern Waterthrush 3
Common Yellowthroat 4
Eastern Towhee 1
Field Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 4
Indigo Bunting 2
Bobolink 6
Red-winged Blackbird 45
Common Grackle 4
American Goldfinch 4
Sea Watch Tuesday September 22, 2009
Today we kicked off the Avalon Seawatch, and it wasn't as slow a day as I had expected. The first birds of the season were 3 Black Scoters (joined by 1 Surf Scoter), and we ended with 90 migrants comprised of 8 species. It was a warm day at the seawatch, and even if there weren't many birds it was nice to have hospitable weather, something that will be in short supply here later in the season.
eBird list follows (with migrants in bold)
Location: Avalon Seawatch
Observation date: 9/22/09
Number of species: 30
Canada Goose 2
Surf Scoter 3
Black Scoter 35
Common Loon 1
Northern Gannet 5
Brown Pelican 4
Double-crested Cormorant 8
Turkey Vulture 10
Osprey 6
Peregrine Falcon 1
Black-bellied Plover 1
Semipalmated Plover 1
Sanderling 40
Semipalmated Sandpiper 8
Western Sandpiper 1
Least Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Caspian Tern 5
Common Tern 29
Forster's Tern 60
Royal Tern 15
Rock Pigeon X
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Tree Swallow 500
European Starling X
House Finch X
House Sparrow 12
eBird list follows (with migrants in bold)
Location: Avalon Seawatch
Observation date: 9/22/09
Number of species: 30
Canada Goose 2
Surf Scoter 3
Black Scoter 35
Common Loon 1
Northern Gannet 5
Brown Pelican 4
Double-crested Cormorant 8
Turkey Vulture 10
Osprey 6
Peregrine Falcon 1
Black-bellied Plover 1
Semipalmated Plover 1
Sanderling 40
Semipalmated Sandpiper 8
Western Sandpiper 1
Least Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull X
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Caspian Tern 5
Common Tern 29
Forster's Tern 60
Royal Tern 15
Rock Pigeon X
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Tree Swallow 500
European Starling X
House Finch X
House Sparrow 12