- RBA
* New Jersey
* Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic Counties
* NJNH0603.23
* March 23, 2006
- Birds Mentioned
American Bittern
Bald Eagle
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Bonaparte's Gull
Clapper Rail
Eastern Phoebe
Great Cormorant
Great Horned Owl
Green-winged Teal
Harlequin Duck
Laughing Gull
Least Bittern
Northern Gannet
Osprey
Pine Warbler
Piping Plover
Purple Martin
Red-throated Loon
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Seaside Sparrow
Short-eared Owl
Snow Goose
Surf Scoter
Wilson's Snipe
===========- Transcript
Hotline: Cape May Natural History & Events Hotline
Number: (609) 861-0466
To Report: (609) 861-0700, 884-2736
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland & Atlantic Counties, NJ
Compiler: Pat Sutton, Cape May Bird Observatory
URL: http://www.njaudubon.org
CAPE MAY NATURAL HISTORY & EVENTS HOTLINE – March 23, 2006
This is Pat Sutton with the Cape May Natural History & Events
Hotline, a service of New Jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird
Observatory. This hotline was prepared on Thursday, March 23. New
Jersey Audubon's three hotlines can be read in full on our website
(www.njaudubon.org), by clicking on "Sightings" (at the top of any
page).
Please read to the end of this hotline to learn how you can help (1)
Halt the Harvest & Save the Red Knot from Extinction and (2) with the
Annual Beach Nesting Bird Fencing Days
Signs of winter continued this past week with temperatures in the
30s. Despite this Daffodils are blooming and Flowering Quince
(Japonica) is nearly in bloom.
CMBO’s “Poor Man’s Pelagic” on March 18 delighted in close looks at
N. GANNETS, GREAT CORMORANT (Lewes Terminal), the spring gathering of
RED-THROATED LOONS (83 counted), hundreds of BLACK and SURF SCOTER, a
few LAUGHING GULLS and BONAPARTE’S GULLS, and 2 HARBOR PORPOISES near
the Delaware side of the Bay. The show continues. On March 23, 417 N.
GANNETS passed by St. Mary’s at Cape May Point in 5 minutes, while 200
+ BONAPARTE’S GULLS and 25+ LAUGHING GULLS entertained at the Ferry
Terminal. The first crossing of the day aboard the Ferry is a good
bet for the next few weeks or more. Huge numbers of RED-THROATED
LOONS gather and feed at the mouth of the Delaware Bay each spring.
Add to this the fact that by mid-April Common Loons will be coming
into breeding plumage just before they migrate further north. CMBO’s
“Cruisin’ For Loons” on Saturday, April 22 (1-5:30 p.m.) is timed for
a stellar loon adventure, with 10 spaces left. Call 609-861-0700,
x-16 to register or for more information.
CMBO’s “Birding Cumberland” trip explored the Cohansey River on March
19. Bald Eagles were everywhere, including a spectacular white-
speckled immature at Percy Blew Road. At the end of Bayside Road an
adult perched on the very edge of the Delaware Bay while its mate
perched atop their nest in the distance. Several new BALD EAGLE nests
have been found this spring with a total of 56 pairs nesting in NJ.
The first eaglets hatched March 8, while eggs hatched at 5 other
nests between March 10th and 14th. Sadly, the nest at Beaver Swamp
WMA, just north of the CMBO Center in Goshen, has failed. Both adults
have been off the nest since about March 17.
While adult BALD EAGLES are busy with nests, immatures are wandering.
6 immatures were at Berrytown Road in Cumberland County on March 23.
2 immatures and 3 adults were enjoyed during the “Sunday Morning at
Turkey Point” Walk on March 19. The final walk will be Sunday, March
26 (8 to 10 a.m.), meeting at the end of Turkey Point Road.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS are returning. 15 were roosting at the
pond along Reeds Beach Road on March 18; by March 22 there were 30.
SNOW GEESE pretty much cleared out about 3 weeks ago, but 200-300 can
still be found at Hansey Creek. RIVER OTTERS were seen in the creek
under the bridge at the end of Hansey Creek Road this week. Bivalve
held over 2,000 GREEN-WINGED TEAL on March 16. HARLEQUIN DUCKS (2
males and 2 females) were enjoyed at the 8th Street Jetty in Avalon
on March 22.
The final “Nightfall at Jakes Landing” on March 19 enjoyed a SHORT-
EARED OWL, 5-6 CLAPPER RAIL, and a calling GREAT HORNED OWL. The
final “Nightfall at Corbin City Impoundments” will be on Sunday,
March 26, meeting at 5 p.m. on Griscom Mill Rd. (off Rt. 50) in the
Corbin City Hall parking lot.
WILSON’S SNIPE are on the move. 13-14 were flushed during a stroll
through the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge (or The Meadows) on March
21. An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen in The Meadows on March 20 and a
LEAST BITTERN on March 22. Friday, March 24 and 31 (5 p.m.-dusk),
“Winter Evenings at The Meadows” meets in TNC’s parking lot on Sunset
Boulevard. “Birding With Pete Dunne,” every Monday morning (7:30-9:30
a.m.), begins March 27.
SEASIDE SPARROWS began singing on March 22 at Turkey Point. PINE
WARBLERS are back and being reported on warm days, but not one was
heard during the cold weather on March 19 along the Cohansey River
during CMBO’s “Birding Cumberland” trip. PHOEBE are back and, during
this cold stretch, eking out a living in sheltered, sunny spots.
OSPREY are back, but easily missed too. Not one was seen on the
Cohansey River on March 19. PIPING PLOVER are returning. One on the
beach at The Meadows on March 16 and one at Barnegat Light on March 18.
* New Jersey
* Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic Counties
* NJNH0603.23
* March 23, 2006
- Birds Mentioned
American Bittern
Bald Eagle
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Bonaparte's Gull
Clapper Rail
Eastern Phoebe
Great Cormorant
Great Horned Owl
Green-winged Teal
Harlequin Duck
Laughing Gull
Least Bittern
Northern Gannet
Osprey
Pine Warbler
Piping Plover
Purple Martin
Red-throated Loon
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Seaside Sparrow
Short-eared Owl
Snow Goose
Surf Scoter
Wilson's Snipe
===========- Transcript
Hotline: Cape May Natural History & Events Hotline
Number: (609) 861-0466
To Report: (609) 861-0700, 884-2736
Coverage: Cape May, Cumberland & Atlantic Counties, NJ
Compiler: Pat Sutton, Cape May Bird Observatory
URL: http://www.njaudubon.org
CAPE MAY NATURAL HISTORY & EVENTS HOTLINE – March 23, 2006
This is Pat Sutton with the Cape May Natural History & Events
Hotline, a service of New Jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird
Observatory. This hotline was prepared on Thursday, March 23. New
Jersey Audubon's three hotlines can be read in full on our website
(www.njaudubon.org), by clicking on "Sightings" (at the top of any
page).
Please read to the end of this hotline to learn how you can help (1)
Halt the Harvest & Save the Red Knot from Extinction and (2) with the
Annual Beach Nesting Bird Fencing Days
Signs of winter continued this past week with temperatures in the
30s. Despite this Daffodils are blooming and Flowering Quince
(Japonica) is nearly in bloom.
CMBO’s “Poor Man’s Pelagic” on March 18 delighted in close looks at
N. GANNETS, GREAT CORMORANT (Lewes Terminal), the spring gathering of
RED-THROATED LOONS (83 counted), hundreds of BLACK and SURF SCOTER, a
few LAUGHING GULLS and BONAPARTE’S GULLS, and 2 HARBOR PORPOISES near
the Delaware side of the Bay. The show continues. On March 23, 417 N.
GANNETS passed by St. Mary’s at Cape May Point in 5 minutes, while 200
+ BONAPARTE’S GULLS and 25+ LAUGHING GULLS entertained at the Ferry
Terminal. The first crossing of the day aboard the Ferry is a good
bet for the next few weeks or more. Huge numbers of RED-THROATED
LOONS gather and feed at the mouth of the Delaware Bay each spring.
Add to this the fact that by mid-April Common Loons will be coming
into breeding plumage just before they migrate further north. CMBO’s
“Cruisin’ For Loons” on Saturday, April 22 (1-5:30 p.m.) is timed for
a stellar loon adventure, with 10 spaces left. Call 609-861-0700,
x-16 to register or for more information.
CMBO’s “Birding Cumberland” trip explored the Cohansey River on March
19. Bald Eagles were everywhere, including a spectacular white-
speckled immature at Percy Blew Road. At the end of Bayside Road an
adult perched on the very edge of the Delaware Bay while its mate
perched atop their nest in the distance. Several new BALD EAGLE nests
have been found this spring with a total of 56 pairs nesting in NJ.
The first eaglets hatched March 8, while eggs hatched at 5 other
nests between March 10th and 14th. Sadly, the nest at Beaver Swamp
WMA, just north of the CMBO Center in Goshen, has failed. Both adults
have been off the nest since about March 17.
While adult BALD EAGLES are busy with nests, immatures are wandering.
6 immatures were at Berrytown Road in Cumberland County on March 23.
2 immatures and 3 adults were enjoyed during the “Sunday Morning at
Turkey Point” Walk on March 19. The final walk will be Sunday, March
26 (8 to 10 a.m.), meeting at the end of Turkey Point Road.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS are returning. 15 were roosting at the
pond along Reeds Beach Road on March 18; by March 22 there were 30.
SNOW GEESE pretty much cleared out about 3 weeks ago, but 200-300 can
still be found at Hansey Creek. RIVER OTTERS were seen in the creek
under the bridge at the end of Hansey Creek Road this week. Bivalve
held over 2,000 GREEN-WINGED TEAL on March 16. HARLEQUIN DUCKS (2
males and 2 females) were enjoyed at the 8th Street Jetty in Avalon
on March 22.
The final “Nightfall at Jakes Landing” on March 19 enjoyed a SHORT-
EARED OWL, 5-6 CLAPPER RAIL, and a calling GREAT HORNED OWL. The
final “Nightfall at Corbin City Impoundments” will be on Sunday,
March 26, meeting at 5 p.m. on Griscom Mill Rd. (off Rt. 50) in the
Corbin City Hall parking lot.
WILSON’S SNIPE are on the move. 13-14 were flushed during a stroll
through the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge (or The Meadows) on March
21. An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen in The Meadows on March 20 and a
LEAST BITTERN on March 22. Friday, March 24 and 31 (5 p.m.-dusk),
“Winter Evenings at The Meadows” meets in TNC’s parking lot on Sunset
Boulevard. “Birding With Pete Dunne,” every Monday morning (7:30-9:30
a.m.), begins March 27.
SEASIDE SPARROWS began singing on March 22 at Turkey Point. PINE
WARBLERS are back and being reported on warm days, but not one was
heard during the cold weather on March 19 along the Cohansey River
during CMBO’s “Birding Cumberland” trip. PHOEBE are back and, during
this cold stretch, eking out a living in sheltered, sunny spots.
OSPREY are back, but easily missed too. Not one was seen on the
Cohansey River on March 19. PIPING PLOVER are returning. One on the
beach at The Meadows on March 16 and one at Barnegat Light on March 18.