The most exciting thing I spied at Cape May Point today were two spectacularly close to shore Parasitic Jaegers engaged in a bit of behaviour I’ve never seen before.

A feather-perfect light-morph adult, and a very dark juvenile were just over the wave line on the beach, and decided that giving a fish-laden Osprey hell for a bit was a good use of their time. The Jaegers were, as is their wont, unbelievable manouverable, and flew rings around the bunker-laden Osprey, who seemed like a huge, lumbering dolt by comparison. The Osprey had no intention of giving up the fish, and I can’t imagine the Jaegers seriously thought it might, but were just having a bit of fun quite literally ruffling its feathers.

I’ve never witnessed a Jaeger/Osprey interaction before, but, well, why shouldn’t they give it a try, and have a bit of excercise at the comparatively huge bird’s expense?

The harassing duo beat a line NE towards Second Avenue once they gave up the game, but a couple more were off-shore in the feeding flock of Larids, engaged in more typical activities at a more typical distance.

Caspian Terns were finally around the Point in good numbers, and adults, and strikingly marbled Juveniles were sitting on the beach at the Point, the Bunker Pond, and foraging over the ponds and surf. Caspian Terns know they’re cool. The fact that these magnificent animals are shot to “protect” salmon out west is just a bit more than criminal.

Black Terns, like the majority of Shorebirds, have flown the coop this week, and are decidedly scarce, I have only heard reports of one or two since the fronts of this past week. I myself have spied nary a one. Lesser Black-backed Gulls have also departed, the concentrations of none-breeders present since May, which peaked in late July, are no longer to be found on the beach at South Cape May. Least Terns are still hanging in as lone singletons or duos, but will soon be a memory of summer 08.

Otherwise there were a surprising number of song-birds (namely warblers) around, despite the nasty and strong south-easterly winds. Magnolia, BT-Blue, Yellow, Parula, Prairie etc. were all not hard to find, and I hear tell that A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was at Higbee’s Beach.

In butterfly news, a Palamedes Swallowtail was found yesterday morning in the State Park, and was still present, just a bit further inland later that afternoon.

The maligned easterly winds, usually detested by birders in Cape May, certainly did the trick this afternoon, and pushed a Long-tailed Jaeger in with the very nice feeding flocks of Larids.

A lightish morph juv. it was facing into the wind with the other terns, and acting for all the world like an overgrown Black Tern. (It should be mentioned that there were about 30 Black Terns in the mix of Juvenile Laughers and other terns. In fact, Black Terns outnumbered Least Terns at Cape May Point today-September is indeed here, for all intents.)

By that I mean it was plucking from the surface, cheek by jowel with the Gulls and Terns, and elicited none of the fear a Parasitic would’ve in the flock. It was more just part of the feeding flock, rather than preying upon it. In fact, you might say, it got no respect-for a Jaeger. While I was watching he made a few halfe hearted passes at successful terns, but gave up quickly, and when it did it was usually the object of cheeky retaliation-the terns would turn on the Jaeger, and summarliy bop it in the ass. In other words, the bird’s behaviour was completely not that of my much beloved Parasitics, specifically, it was much more Tern-like.

The Laughing Gulls actually bullied it a bit, and that provided the first clue in realizing that the bird was not a Parasitic-it was a good deal smaller than the Laughing Gulls who were picking on it! The long armed, narrow wings, lacking the broad “muscular” base of a Parasitic, were also carried in a gentle, gull-like bow, and were blunt tipped-all of which helped contribute to the Nighthawk, or Black-tern like jizz. The bill was perfectly stubby, the central tail feathers perfectly projecting and blunt tipped, the nape rounded and extensively pale, the forehead steep. All of which gave the bird a rather sweet look when perched. The chest was full, and rounded, and tapered tear-drop-like into the long tail. The center of gravity was the chest, a Parasitic holds it more in the belly-the difference being analagous to that between Arctic and Common Terns.

A very cool bird, like another Long-tailed I found on an early september evening, this bird seemed to like companionship, and came in just over the surf, as if contemplating roosting with the “other” terns.

Other than the Jaeger and the nice numbers of Black Terns, there were an impressive 56 Blue-winged teal in the Ponds this evening, a Canada Warbler at Higbee’s Beach, 3 juv Stilt Sandpipers in the Meadows (as well as a couple adults in the park) and a decent showing of Lesser Black-backs along the Beach.

While today was by most accounts, mostly dead, there were a few signs of life, and that being said, there were, of course, thousands of birds about the place.

THe most interesting thing seen from the Dike this morning were probably the two “black” Parasitic Jaegers who ganged up on a Royal Tern just off shore. Even in binoculars, the looks were spectacular.

Otherwise, there were excellent numbers of both Solitary Sandpipers and Blue-winged Teal around this morning. There were 11 Solitaries at the east end of the Lighthouse pond alone, which was kind of something to see. Likewise, there no fewer than 28 Blue-winged Teal on the Bunker Pond alone, and I wound up with just shy of 50 all day.

An adult Yellow-bellied Flycathcer was most cooperative at the end of the second Tower field -just opposite the wet woods at Higbee’s this evening, but otherwise the place was largely devoid of avian life.

A single White-rump was in the Meadows, and juv. Black Terns were very easy to see today. They were sitting on the end of st. Peter’s Jetty, and foraging just over a little boil of snapper blues, in the morning, and performing their insect plucking ballet over the Bunker Pond in the evening.

And I have neglected to mention, the first Red Bat I’ve seen this fall was in the State Park yesterday, and the wee little white-tail fawn that appeared about 2 weeks ago in the state park is still very confiding, and has not yet become coytote chow. I guess the long late fall, and late rut at land’s end is behind the very late calving of fawns in Cape May.

While I really didn’t have much time to go birding today between life, job, and free-lance work, I did manage to squeeze in a bit of time in fresh-air today, and saw a bird or two in the bargain.

No fewer than 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were at South Cape May. 1 Adult, and three first-summers. One of the first-summers appears to be the bird possessed of a pale based bill which has been hanging around since at least the seventh of May. His mantle is likewise kind of distinctive, and more to the point he looks just like the bird in the photos taken earlier in the month.

Shorebirds seem to have thinned out, Spotted Sands and Solitaries in particular. However, between Pond Creek Marsh and The Meadows, a few Leasts, greater numbers of Short-billed Dowitchers, Dunlin, Semi-sands (there were 90 Semi-sands at the West Cape May impoundments, and little else) Semi-plovers, a few Black-bellies, and Turnstones were easy enough to see.

Two Parasitic Jaegers, both apparently first-summer types were off the point, as was a Black Tern, but really surprising were a pair of Gadwall sitting in the mouth of the bay, a good third of a mile out to sea.

One of the nesting Cooper’s Hawks was low and getting mobbed as it crossed Lighthouse Ave, heading towards the presumed nest site.

Willets are indeed breeding at Pond Creek, though the Meadows is, unsurprisingly, devoid of a breeding pair this year. Belted Kingfishers continue to hunt around Davy’s Lake, though I do not know just where they are nesting.

The birds of the day, however, were the 75 Snowy and ten Great Egrets concentrated along one bit of Pond Creek. Several of the Snowies had blood red-lores and feet, a rare fair feature, and a trait which will quickly dissipate. High breeding flush notwithstanding, 25 Snowies roosting in a bare tree, and a steady stream of them pouring over the marsh to gather in a particular mumichog-rich spot was quite a sight-especialy considering that a scant 100 years ago, they were hanging by their golden toes on the edge of the abyss, staring into the eternity of extinction. Seeing the descendants of the survivors of the millnery trade’s holocaust happily going about their business in good numbers under a gorgeous May sunset, innocently unaware of the trials of their ancestors, does indeed do the heart good.

And while the season for blooming Beach Plums at Higbee’s has come and gone, there are impressive stands of Yellow Irises in the Meadows, which alone are worth a turn around the place. An introduced species, but nonetheless striking for the fact, and not nearly as nasty as Purple Loosestrife, or Mute Swans, I suppose.

CJV

It helps that there are lots of friendly folks around the place this week, to be sure!

A bit of sea-watching first thing turned up an odd, and single Greater Scaup, winging into the Bay. First one of those I have seen in weeks. Parasitic Jeagers were easy to see this morning, even in this wind. All were light morph-birds, maybe 5 en toto.

Then a text regarding a Cerulean Warbler at Higbee’s came in. Spring Ceruleans are even fewer and further between than August Ceruleans, and are a bit more outstanding in hue. I did indeed rush over-but the bird was singing, never seen, and moving North and West with the wind. Cerulean Warbler is another bird, like the Red Knot, and Rusty Blackbird which should really be listed and entitled to full protection under the law. NJ happens to have one of the highest breeding densities of Cerulean Warblers by the way. Centred in the Kittatiny/Watergap area, and largely neglected. I wonder what the fate of High Point might mean for Cerulean Warblers?

After that, and back to the point, an Orchard Oriole and a Baltimore, side by each in the little parking lot near the Lighthouse was a very nice comparison. While admiring Orioles, a passing birder posed the question, “How common are Sandhill Cranes around here, cause I am sure I saw one at the Zoo yesterday, seen bunches of them, and the keepers assure me its not one of theirs.” I thought, ya know, the habitat is ok, and I bet they have Crowned Cranes in the collection there, as most Zoos do in their africa exhibits, so the proposition is kind of good….

Well, needless to say, I went to the Zoo. And yup, there was a Sandhill Crane, in an open pasture. It is really mud-stained brown in the plumage, only grey on the neck, and is one of the taller (i.e. not tundra nesting) races. In waiting for the Zoo to open I also managed among other Warblers and Vireos a Black-poll, and an apparently nesting set of Eastern Bluebirds-which are not all that common here.

[EEEERP! Back-up! Turns out this bird is indeed a captive. The crane that is not the Blue-birds or warblers!. Just shows to go you, believe half of what you see, and none of what you hear are good words to live by! Sorry for pasing on faulty 411, but kinda really funny too!]

There was also a breeding plumaged Cattle Egret in the Zebra enclosure, too.

Thence I risked the transmission to go to Heislerville. I left before High Tide, at just afternoon, apparently a visit on an incoming tide-timed just right to miss the year’s first Curlew Sandpiper! Drat. However, the throngs of Dunlin, S.B. Dowitchers, Semi-sands and Plovers, Yellowlegs, etc. And a thick flock of 70 Black Skimmers were more than enough to keep me occupied for an hour or two. A sickly Red-throated Loon, in the back impoundment, and occaisionally hauling out on the lawn is an odd bird to be in the brackish water there.

Back to the Point and a fully breeding Black Tern, and a couple of fly-by Red Knot being very nice additions to my day-despite the best efforts of those friendly folks at Northwood.

Thanks to the genuinely nice guys from M.O.S. I wound up having not missed out on all the Curlew Sands in the area today, and got to see the one on the mussel beds at the North-east end of Nummy’s. Almost as good were the numbers of Royal Terns and Common Terns on Champagne Island. Twenty and over a hundred respectively. Forster’s Terns are settling in on the SE end of Nummy’s, a breeding plumaged Common Loon was in the Inlet, and like at Heislerville, there were a few trios of Red-breasted Mergansers hanging around.

Lots of Whimbrel, and a fine diversity of other Shorebirds were in the Hereford Inlet area.

Sadly though, an Osprey nest at the south end of Nummy’s Island, replete with a baby, is now sans a parent. It was road-killed near the toll-bridge there, and the chick is at an age when little can be done, and people who actually work on birds in NJ are too short-staffed to intevene. And yet, CMBO and NJAS are too busy paying nearly all employees to play big day at the moment to worry about birds which are vulnerable in NJ.

What a State in which to enjoy birds! (pun very much intended!). And thanks again to NJAS for saving me the trip I was going to make in the next day or two anyway. (I don’t expect anyone but Dunne and Gilmore’s Mafia to understand that remark) Good job folks, you done real good today!

CJV

In the rarity realm, I stumbled upon a young male Ruff at the Meadows this late afternoon/early evening. (If you ever see a bird that “was found” on CMBO’s website, like the Swainson’s Hawk this past fall, the present Ruff, or many others, you can safely bet it was found by me, by the way.) He was on the east path, on the little island which has been the frequent and recent hang-out of Gulls and Terns

It was a smart-looking-bird, black capped and black-spangled on the breast. I find it most interesting that so far this Spring Ruffs have been found in decent numbers around the Cape May Peninsula, but Curlew Sandpipers have been lacking.

There was also a first-summer Lesser Black-backed Gull on this Island. While yes, the bird had a funny bit of pink on the base of its bill, contrary to what others may have thought, in every other aspect it was indeed a first summer LBBG. It was a case of “stop fixating on one feature, and just LOOK at the thing!”. In terms of wing length, overall colour and pattern, rufous barring on the flanks, dark primaries, secondaries, and secondary coverts, size, shape and every other freature, the bird was indisputably a Lesser Black-back. Though I would like to see the photos folka got, and see what other, more larophile folks than myself have to think of it, I ma convinced that this was a one-year-old Lesser Black-back. I have a hunch that an LBBG, with a bit more pink on the base of its bill than it should, is a touch more likely than a hybrid Lesser Black-backXHerring gull, an idea espoused by some-especially considering the bird’s other features.

The first first-summer Laughing Gull I have seen this year were also there, and four or five Common Terns were roosting in their midst.

A turn around Hidden Valley this morning turned up a few migrants, like Parulas, the odd Rose-beasted Grosbeak, and a Northern Waterthrush. However, a small flock of 6 male Bob-o-links were singing their guts out from the second hedge. All were still sporting buff-edged flanks, and had not worn off-enough of their basic plumage to be in full-breeding form just yet. You would never know it from the wonderful sound they were making, though. Bobolinks have an extremely complicated vocal reptoire, depending upon the breeding situation, and it is very interesting to learn their “speak”, so to speak. I hear that Bobolinks were found in the Cape Island Creek preserve fields this morning too, which is ironic, cause they were the “target species” I was lookng for there yesterday.

One and the very same imm. male Orchard Oriole is singing and defending a territory in the first hedge by the way. White-eyed Vireos are giving their little chrps more frequently, and are engaged in nest building already. It is intersting to watch the feeding beahviour of V. griseus. They are much smaller than the other breeding Vireos of the northeast, and tend to flutter-pluck much more in their foraging, Kinglet-like, as opposed to the stealthy stalking of their heavier congeners. I was reminded today of the colloquial name for the endemic Bermudian race, which is locally known in Bermuda (where I spent vast portions of my youth) as “Chick-of-the-village”. “Chick-of-the-village” is also a great mnemonic for their distinctive call.

Several small groups of immaculate breeding plumaged Common Loons were flying over the palce this morning as well. Great flocks of D.C. Corms were heading north all day too, and Glossy Ibis continue to head north, coming in off the bay, etc.

Parasitic Jaegers, perhaps my favorite creature on god’s green earth, were easy to see from the point this morning, a small raft of three were floating off St. Mary’s while I was watching. A hen Common Eider was floating for a while around that jetty, and then beached herself, and waddled around for a while, preening for a bit up above the wrack-line.

Broad-winged hawks, a couple of Kestrels, a few Harriers, Merlins and Peregrines were going north today, but the most interesting thing were three Bald Eagles which wandered around over the Beanery, and wound up kettling and heading south from Higbee’s Beach. Two brandy-new looking young of the year, and a full adult made up the group. Perhaps these were a family from the far south, heading north on summer vaction already?

A completely unexpected Gull-billed Tern hunted over the Bunker Pond for a while and continued on, this morning in the State Park. Pine Warblers remain on territory there, despite the fact that mowing was being conducted under their patch. Cooper’s Hawks were very much not in evidence in this patch today. Most Purple Martins are gathering nest material, but a few were already carrying food to nests in the park already.

Shorebirding was excellent on Nummy’s Island at Sunset; a half a dozen Red Knot, and nearly three hundred Whimbrel, among many others were to be easily seen as I was gabbing with an old friend. Royal Terns are now back in Hereford Inlet, as are Commons, as usual, just a bit after they return to the point. A pair of Royals departed the Meadows as I found the Ruff-their guttural churps, like overgrown Commons, being most welcome music to these ears. I hear tell that a Black Tern was at the Higbee’s breakwater this morning as well, though I did not see the beast.

And finally, a male Falcate Orange-tip or two were very nice little butterflies to see, at Higbee’s Beach today. and I keep forgeting to mention that the first Hummingbird Moth I’ve seen was nearly a week ago now, last Saturday.

CJV

(*some just personal, of course!!)

I did a fair bit of birding around some of my favorite patches today, and came across some great birds along the way.

Hidden Valley first thing was kind of on the quiet side in terms of migrants. A Northern Waterthrush was singing from the wet area near the Car-park, and a Parula was singing deep in the wet woods. Small flocks of chime-songed, and stunning Yellow-rumped Warblers were also in the wet woods, and 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches were the only other boreal migrants I came across. A Prothonotary seems to in fact be on territory there as well.

However the “best” bird at Hidden was one of the handsomest in the book- a breeding plumaged adult male Orchard Oriole, singing his guts out, and actively setting up a territory. What a bird. I am always struck by just how small and long-tailed Orchards appear, particularly in flight.

And at last, a territorial male Indigo Bunting has taken up shop in one of the hedgerows. Cape Island has few enough breeding birds and it is not with out reason that the return of Indigo Buntings and Blue Grosbeaks is such cause for celebration. I can’t wait till the full complement of Indigos, Blue Gros’s, Chats, and Orchard Orioles are back in the hedgerows they belong.

The Beanery just after Hidden likewise proved underwhelming in terms of migrants, though a pair of Blue-headed Vireos was well worth the walk. Also of note is the lingering Snow Goose which continues to linger there apparently! I had thought him gone, but today it was again accompanying some Canadas near Steven’s Street. 2 Rusty Blackbirds, one at Hidden Valley, and one at the Beanery, are now getting late in these parts. 2 Merlins were hunting the Beanery, zooming like spit-fires through the fields and woods. One was a perfect tiercel “Blue-jack” with reddish leggings and a battleship back, the other a falcon

A bit of Sea-watching from St. Peters proved to be time well spent. Nearly 200 Forster’s Terns were in the rips. More first years continue to trickle in daily, but the number of absurdly long streamer-tailed and blindingly white retriced breeding adults is impressive.

And then lo and behold, while looking at each and every Forster’s in “turn” so to speak, my scope hit my first Common Tern of the year. I am always struck by just how very different these two birds are. The plebian, stocky, dark grey, and comparatively stubby tailed Common Tern stood right out among all of his angelic white and paradise-tailed companions.

One fact which also helps in picking up on one’s first Common Tern of the year at Cape May is that they arrive nearly 2 months after the Forster’s, and by now there are literally hundreds of Forster’s around. While it may seem like the increase in Forster’s through April might be a hinderance in finding the needle in the fishing haystack as it were, there is nothing like looking through hundreds of one species, day after day, which makes picking out something different all that much easier when it does arrive.

If, in Cape May, Piping Plovers mean Spring is here, Common Terns mean Summer is not at all far behind.

Also in the same vein, I finally found my first Royal Tern of the year in the rips. Striking thing, in full black-crested breeding form, bill like a freshly peeled carrot. Ever since I saw my first one, being chased by a Frigate at sunset while reef-fishing in the Keys at the age of 10, I have always had a “thing” for this, second largest tern. They have always seemed like something from the tropics, who navigate the Spanish Main and Bermuda Triangle sans fear. Finding and watching the first successful colony of them in here in NJ, was definitely a hight point in my ornithological career. (Now I just have to finish writing the paper…)

While on the subject of my first tern sightings of the year, a quick stop at Beaver-dam revealed my first two Gull-bills of this year, plucking carpenter frogs from the lily pads, the way they do fiddler crabs on the flats at Stone Harbor, or whiptail lizards at Laguna Atascosa. If there is one Tern I like more than a Royal or even a Roseate, Gull Billed is it, though it all depends upon which one I am lookng at at the time, I daresay!

At least 5 Parasitic Jaegers were with the herds of Terns and Gulls in the Rips, some very close, and 4 were light-morph adults. Although, one which otherwise seemed adult in plumage was noticably lacking streamers. At one point I watched one come coursing along at wave top as they do, and then it just began ascending on a 45 degree, as if it was going to tower up to single out a successful Tern. However, I noticed it lacked the urgency of wing beat this usually calls for, and lo and behold, it was, in fact rising to meet 2 other high soaring Jaegers, and the three kettled like this for some time. Then one after another, they dropped and left the kettle to hone in on, each to its own, some distantly spied and unsuspecting victim. What animals…

A sublime breeding-plumaged Great Cormorant was sitting on St. Mary’s Jetty, not a usual spot, and dwarfed its D.C. chums. And most surprisingly was a courting flock of 40 Black Scoters just off the point, doing there “cour-cour-cour-deLAINE” calls and displaying to beat the band on this late date. Which is really odd, since the lack of the sounds & sight of courting Scoters was one of Cape May Point’s great deprivations this spring…

The bit of the back bays I checked out were blissfully birdy at a highishtide today-shore-birdy in particular. 19 Red Knot were on Nummy’s Island, many already in fine breeding plumage and a single, perfectly breeding plumaged bird was roosting in the pool at the Wetlands Institute.

Whimbrel were well represented, I saw nearly one hundred in the Shellbay/Stone Harbor area, and in-coming Short-billed Dowitchers have significantly increased in number, many also already in fine feather, the majority still assuming it though. Dunlin have likeiwse seen a surge, and are similarly becoming “Red-backed” Sandpipers once again. Breeding plumage Black-bellys were stalking, Thick-knee like, through the salt-hay, and more and more stunning harlequin Turnstones are coming in too seems.

I was very excited to find my first two Semipalmated Sandpipers in the main impoundment at Heislerville today, until five minutes later when I found just under a hundred in the back impoundment! Surprisingly few leasts were with them, but 115 Semipalmated Plovers made the 4 I saw at the Meadows today seem paltry. There were easily 225 Short-billed Dows at Heislerville too, and the place is full of drop dead, gorgeous black and white dappled Greater Yellowlegs. It seems like the ones leaving Pond Creek the other evening may’ve found a better staging place in Heislerville-but who knows really?

Perhaps the best part of Heislerville though were the 39 Black Skimmers in the main impoundment. They were all just roosting, sitting in the shallows and not on the island they usually frequent. Just the mere idea alone that Skimmers, Royal, Common, and Gull-billed Terns are all back in ‘the hood” made today a red-letter one, and my summer-longing spirits soar.

Otherwise, a Broadwing kettling over Cape May Point, and a third-year Bald Eagle doing the same were very nice this morning. Yellow warblers are now at the Beanery, the Park, and the Meadows, but one of the best birds of the day came second-hand from a friend who found a roosting eastern Screech Owl in the State Park this morning. Try as I might, I could not find the bird, but this is a very nice record, as Screeches are few and far between around Cape Island. I know only of a usual 2-3, and this is a new site.

The Killdeer nest on the west path at the Meadows in now possessed of the full complement of 4 eggs. With luck it will be unmolested by humans, though it is right on the path. However, people do walk their dogs around on the TNC property with impunity after hours, so it is only with guarded hope that this nest may be a success.

And finally, while this time of year, everyone is concerned with “firsts’ it seems like no-one emphasizes lasts. To that end I saw a Hermit Thrush at Higbee’s this afternoon, and wonder when will there be another before Autumn…

CJV

It was interesting to see what was around with a north-wind blowing a gale through Cape May today. Despite the weather I managed one or two interesting sightings, mainly cause I focused my activity on the point itself, which is usually the best tack to take in nasty weather.

An apparently adult female Rose-breasted Grosbeak was near a feeder on Harvard ave in the Point, not far from St. Peter’s and St. Mary’s Jetties. In other words she was yards away from the beach.

A wind-blown Caspian Tern is one of the very few spring Caspians I have seen around Cape Island, and they are often later in the spring-as in early June. This one was headed NW over Cape May Point, did a swing around Lily Lake, and kept on going, all sleek and tucked-in in the stiff wind. He was also in immaculate breeding plumage.

Sea watching from St. Mary’s produced 3 Parasitic Jaegers, one light, one mid-morph, and one just out there. Two Eastern Kingbirds came in low over the waves, looking desperate to make landfall at the Point. I have seen Kingbirds doing this diurnal trans-bay crossing even in inclement weather on several occaisions.

Another Kingbird or two were at Higbee’s but other than Prairies, Yellowthroats, White-eyed Vireos, Gnatcatchers, and the other breeders, etc. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet or two were some of the only migrants. Migrant, breeding plumaged, Swamp Sparrows continue to turn up in non-breeding kind on habitat on Cape Island, but the surge of White-throats which occurred in the last 4 days or so seems to have died down a bit.

A few pairs ofnorthbound Willets are still coming in high over the ocean, I saw about 10 today. A Solitary Sandpiper, as well as 6 Leasts in the Meadows,were the only other note-worthy migrant shorebird sightings I managed today. Yellow-legs seemed to have cleared out, when they were in such good numbers around Cape Island as recently as Thursday evening. Wilson’s Snipe have also clearly past the peak of their passage, and are getting harder to come by every day.

Also, Yellow Warblers were singing from the State Park, even in this wind! And Barn Swallows were having a real hard time of it today; several were exhausted on the point beaches, and a couple were similarly worn out on the dikes at the Meadows. They would feebly move a few yards and then plunk back down on the ground, clearly just tuckered out by the wind.

It is worth noting that I have not seen a White-breasted Nuthatch around the point since the smattering of records of a pair (or pairs?) in the beginning of April. I guess these April W.B. Nuthatch records were of migrants after all.

CJV

Having spent most of my afternoon in the Stone Harbor Police Station pressing charges on an anti-plover thug, I am really a bit worn out today, and just want to pass along a few notes:

An incredibly cooperative Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow was on the south end of Nummy’s Island today, singing his guts out. (Why on earth did it ever get spread that these birds don’t really sing, I wonder? He was going at a rate of 2 per minute!) I got some great pictures from the road, however, just north of the toll bridge. Please do not walk out on tte marsh though, the bird is easy enough to see from the pavement, and clearly on territory. I was really surprised to find it there, especially singing and especially this early.

Hopefully this may relieve some of the pressure the birds on Ocean Drive receive during the World Series of Birding. While on the team, I have personally witnessed the “Team Zeiss” captain and Director of CMBO, as well as the newly installed CMBO Director of Bird Programs, literally run willy-nilly at top speed, splashing all the way, through this famous patch of marsh on Ocean Drive in order to flush the Saltmarsh Sharptails near Breezy Lee. Surely a cry-of foul, and a disqualifier in the game, but when you make up the rules, no-one is looking, and none are willing to point out that the emperor really wears no clothes, well, you can get away with anything in the name of “conservation”, I guess…

Anyway, Seasides have also returned to the leeward, bayside edge in the marsh behind Nummy’s as well.

Forster’s Terns were doing back-stand courtship displays today in the State Park- I really think they may actually breed here or in the new islands at the Meadows this year. It is not at all usual to see this display among Forster’s on Cape Island.

My first “Blue”, as in adult male Blue Grosbeaks finally arrived at Higbee’s this morning, but I was on a specific quest for Prairie Warblers in the Dune forest, and stopped just long enough to admire that amazing Corn-flower, nearly purplish blue. There are apparently six Prairies on territory at Higbee’s, but only one more female has apparnetly arrived. As a result though, and as breeding earnestness is setting in, they have now started to sing their “Black-throated” song a lot more. And today, a lone Palm Warbler was out in the cedar and holly scrub, too. Late to the party in the muskeg I guess.

Tricolored Herons were easy enough to see in the back-bays today, I managed four all told.

Willets were both moving overhead at the point, flying north over and into the bay, or in pairs at Shell-bay, and on Nummy’s Island. Wilets are also looking territotrial at Pond-creek today, and Greater legs continue to come through and overhaead in numbers off the point. A couple of Whimbrel were also on Nummy’s today as well.

My first Spotted Sandpiper of the year was seen this evening from my favorite hillock overlooking Pond Creek behind the Magnesite plant. I just love their scientific name “Actitis”. It sounds like some kind of chronic ailment thesbians might be prone to, to my imaginative ear.

And I could only manage 2 Parasitic Jaegers this evening from my aforementioned evening perch. 2 is just fine with me though, I could never tire of this, perhaps my favorite bird. The 20th or so of April is prime for Royal Terns to start turning up, but I have neither seen nor heard of any just yet-soon though. This is also among my most favorite of creatures, Royal Terns were well named, can’t wait till I can witness their return.

Herpwise, I found my first Diamond-backed Terrapin of the year out at Stone Harbor, but a whole heckuvalot more surprising was a Spotted Turtle on the road to Shell-bay! the edge of a saltmarsh is not at all where I would expect to find a Spotted Turtle, but there are weed-chocked fresh ponds in that area I suppose. I had to stop to move him off the side of the road, and likewise did the same for a Black Rat Snake today. I don’t know if anyone ever notices, but next to no-one ever shoos Snakes off of Roads. Due to that, and my lifelong fascination with serpents, I always make it a point to stop for snakes too-many drivers swerve out of their way to get them, awful sods…

Sorry, but having been roughed up, and dealing with police reports most of the day, I really don’t have more in me today than a list, though I saw plenty, and plenty worth writing volumes on. See the jerseybirds list-serve for details, I’ll post more on the nasty incident which occurred at Stone Harbor Pt. today, Champagne Island, and Forster’s Terns later. As for now, I am just plain knackered!

Go birding!
CJV

Belleplain State Forest proved to be a most excellent place for an ornithologist to wander around the few hours after dawn this morning; a bit later on it very much came through for the herpetologist and lepidopterist as well, I might add.

The place was full of Ovenbirds, though based on past experience, I expect more to arrive soon. Worm-eating Warblers were singing from a few spots, though they also have clearly not reached full density just yet, and were far from conspicuous, though they were not too difficult to hear.

There is no finer place in my experience to study and really learn all the obnoxiously similar trilled passerine songs as from the little triangle near the Sunset Bridge at Belleplain. Today, without really moving, one could hear, sort through, and hear again for emphasis, Pine Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, and Dark-eyed Junco. There are fewer spots where this sort of enviable in-the-field classroom exists.

Hooded Warblers were not all too common, though I did manage to find a couple of weeta-weeta-whEAteo ing males here and there. None were too keen on showing themselves however, and I am loathe to spish in the more heavily birded parts of the area. The ones I found in the less heavily birded-parts were uninterested in spishing this morning, so I guess it all works out anyway!

Pine Warblers were gathering nest material from of all places, road-klled muskrat fur! A Female Pine was repeatedly picking the stuff from a dessiated an apparently long-since squished carcass on the pavement and flew off with, looking for all the world like she was wearing a bad stage-moustache.

A pair of Yellow-throated Warblers were engaged in their wonderful courtship display. He dogged her every move, and did a fluttering parachute flight on several occaisions while dropping down to follow her. He maintained a crouched posture not entierly unlike a male House sparrow-the entire time; bill wide open, head tucked in, everything accentuated the striking yellow, black and white face pattern. Likewise, this pose really showed off just how long-billed yellow-throateds are for wood-warblers. Perhaps a bit of sexual selection goes along with the natural slecetion involved in Yellow-throated long-billedness?

Also when side by each, the male’s throat is a smidge brighter, and the facial pattern a hint crisper than the hen-bird. She incidentally was non-plussed and uninterested. Wanted none of it, and was busy fly-catching the whole time, seemingly hungrier than coy.

Best of all, and bully for them, were a pair of Yellow-throated Warblers who mobbed, gave chase to, and succeeded in driving an adult Red-tail off his perch, not once, but twice! Guess those needle bills come in handy for more than picking bugs out of pinecones! Who would’ve thought that two tiny Yellow-throated’s had it in them, even considered the stubby footed buteo a threat, or that a bird as big as Red-tail could be forced to move by two such diminutive marauders?

A duo of male Black & Whites were clearly engaged in a hot border dispute, and the border seemd to be the trunk of one particular oak. Each was singing non-stop, and making dips into the other side of the fence, so to speak, which would result in a sprited, chase and aggressive calls. While incessantly singing, when engaged in heated debate over their territories frontier, they gave a high pitched rapidfire speeded up version which was most entertaining. They kept this up for nearly half an hour.

The first Yellow Warbler I’ve had this year was singing near the electric fence on the back side of hte Sunset Bridge “quad”.

No fewer than four Prothonotaries were singing near the lake between 347 and the sunset bridge today, and one incredibly cooperative male ws sitting on the guardrail at the bridge itself, no fewer than six feet away.

A most confiding Broadwinged hawk was perch-hunting and cooperatively close and un-afraid near the crossroads at the Lake Campground at Belleplain, the second one I have seen this year in that neighborhood.

Two cast in bronze and copper young tom Wild Turkeys on Pine-Swamp Road were as always, a breathtaking sight in the bright Aprl sun. I think Ben Frankling may’ve been on to something when he proposed this as the national bird. They really are the majestic equals of Bald Eagles.

Butterfly-wise, Brown Elfins must’ve undergone a mass emergence in the last few days, for today they well outnumbered Henry’s on the dirt roads at Belleplain. Tawnier and more active than Henry’s they don’t seem to like to settle nearly as much. And speaking of butterflies, no fewer than 4 male Falcate Orangetips were on Langley Road in Heislerville today.

New Road also held Prothonotary, and Yellow-throated Warblers today. Since they finally seem to be spreading south, I thought they might’ve been at the Beanery too, but no such luck.

The White-faced Ibis Bill Boyle discovered yesterday was in the back impoundment at Heislerville, as I reported to the RBA earlier in the day. A rather drab individual, he does have a red face and eye, and a bit more of a white border than his other Plegadis chums.Otherwise, the impoundments there were socked in with mist, precluding much enjoyable birding, and rendering Plegadis scrutinization a bit frustrating, and at times just plain impossible.

A Eurasian Collared Dove was feeding in the mown over stubble at the trail head of the State Park, and was presumably the same one reported earlier on NJbirds. It flushed from the mud next to the boardwalk with some purple Grackles, and headed Bunkerward. Spring and Summer records of these range-expanding birds are becoming increasingly more numerous occurences in Cape May county with each passing year, and it is only a matter of time before they are part of the resident avifauna. I give them five years tops. Anyone want to take the bet?

And perhaps best of all, and not at all unexpected since the first of the van made its appearance a few days ago, as noted by Tony Leukering, 4 Parasitic Jaegers were hunting over the glassy waters of the mouth of the Bay this evening, as seen from my favorite Hillock near the Magnesite Plant. There are few, if any, beasts nature has conceived whose abilities I envy more than the poetry of motion which is a Parasitic Jaeger. Possibly my favorite bird-though that will likely change with the proverbial “next one I’m looking at!”

A first-year, mid-morphish bird was most intriguing, as many of the early birds tend to be adults in not quite breeeding plumage most years, but then their is a real surge in full-breeding plumaged birds in mid-may. Younger birds tend to follow a bit later, as one would expect, and are not that common, as most remin on the pelagic wintering grounds. A striking dark adult, and handsome light adult seemed more appropriate to the time of year. The other was just far away, but nevertheless a Parasitic Jaeger.

A flock of 80 or so Glossy Ibis winging in off the Atlantic towards Pond Creek were also a sight to see this evening.

And contrary to the inaccurate speculation CMBO’s Director of Bird Programs continues to spew as informed information, Jaegers are perfectly to be expected after the 20th of April in the Cape May Rips. As soon as the bulk of Laughing Gulls, and vanguard of true Tern numbers appear from on south, there will inevitably be Jaegers following the herds off the point. Glad to see he is learning about Jaegers from my protege, and former student of sea-watching, Bob Fogg, though. I taught Bob well.

What was it Mark Twain said? “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”, Was that the oft, yet disputedly attributed quote? Apparently being Director of Bird Programs for CMBO must be like being a TV weatherman- you can broadcast inaccurate information daily, but as long as you put up a good face, people tune in, and you “yes” the “station manager” (ie Pete Dunne) to death, you maintain job security….

Cheers
CJV

Recently Written

• Excellent Bayshore Birding: Lots of Shorebirds, Gulls, Silly numbers of Turkeys, and a Vesper Sparrow
• Dolphins, a Brown Pelican, A Cape Island Yellow-throated Warbler and a nice little “fall” around the point in the mist
• Some Eagle notes, etc.
• LAGU in Cape May, and a few other early spring notes
• After the snow in Cape May
• Lots and lots of ducks around Cape May
• Flowering Maples
• News and Notes from Cape May; Black-headed Gull, White-winged Crossbills, continuing Eurasian Wigeon, etc.
• Some nice looks at Short-eared Owls, etc.
• A seal, a balmy day, and the colour of a randy Mallards feet

Categories

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• ABA “Peeps” - excellent birding updates from the American Birding Association
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• Bent’s Life Histories-familiar birds - an edited and synoptic version of Bent’s volumes, an invaluable resource nevertheless
• Bill Hubick Photography - exceptional photos and website from a fine fellow
• Birdlife International - world bird conservation at large
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• ebird
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• Point Reyes Bird Observatory Conservation Science - a legitimate Bird Observatory
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• Punkbirder-the unsound approach - We need a lot more “punk-birding” here in the States
• Save the Albatross - if 100,000 people were slaughtered per year, we’d call it genocide…
• Shorebirder - nice blog from CT
• Sibley Guides Notebook - better than the artwork even
• Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center - Dedicated to research for migratory birds
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