http://birdcapemay.net Observations, ornithological or otherwise, from Cape May Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:22:18 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en There were two Stilt Sandpipers in the Heislerville impoundments this afternoon, along with lots and lots of Greater Yellowlegs, among others. The Stilts were far from in breeding plumage, but some years, I’ve seen the first in the end of March, and others, not til the middle of May, ... http://birdcapemay.net/?p=285 An misty grey early-morning turn around the point was not without reward today. The biggest surprise was an apparently juvenile Brown Pelican flying relatively high seaward, just over the jetties. It kept on heading due south-southeast as far as I could watch. It was in headed in the same ... http://birdcapemay.net/?p=284 In Bird news, the pair of Bald Eagles which has taken residence at Pond Creek were sitting cheek by jowel yesterday-side by each. In fact, one of the pair kept making nest-matierial forays into the wood-bine and ivy tangles. It was most interesting to see one of the pair grabbing ... http://birdcapemay.net/?p=283 Without much time: Yup, given the upward turn in temperatures, and the southerly winds, there was, predictably, a Laugher with the other gulls at the Cape May ferry terminal this morning. Wonderfully handosme beast it was too. Kind of like father Christmas coming to Narnia, or Aslan breathing life into ... http://birdcapemay.net/?p=282 There were a few unexpected birds tucked here and there around a Cape Island blanketed with snow today. Most surprising were number of birds in the middle of streets today-I suppose ploughed macadam being the only surface relatively free of snow, and a little out of the wind. Mainly butterbutts and ... http://birdcapemay.net/?p=281 The waters around Cape May are just chock-full of Ducks these days. The Delaware Bay, and the few spots in the Back-bays of the Great Saltmarsh that I checked out today were covered with waterfowl. Firstly the raft of Scoter which has been hanging out in the rips has swelled to ... http://birdcapemay.net/?p=280 Yes indeed, the odd Red/Silver Maples have begun to bloom, as well as a few Sweet Gums here and there, here on southernmost tip of NJ. I guess they have been fooled by the last ten days of above normal temps, but mid February is early even here, and we shall ... http://birdcapemay.net/?p=278 The Black-headed Gull, was not too terribly difficult to find among a whole herd of Bonaparte's Gulls at the Concrete Ship. Another good-sized bunch of Bonies were just off St. Mary's Jetty as well, but contained nothing else of great interest. Four White-winged Crossbills were hanging out in some Short-leaved Pine ... http://birdcapemay.net/?p=277 A half-hour spent at Sunset at Jake's Landing turned up no fewer than 4 Short-eared Owls. One obliging individual perched up o a post just across the channel from the boat-ramp for a good long while. The blackish Roughleg which has been hanging out there was in the very same ... http://birdcapemay.net/?p=275 Birds continue to be on the move in Cape May, and are at it with a largely northward bent. While I spied nothing unusual or rare, I did manage to garner some fine seasonal sightings of common birds in a rather short time today. The bird of the day was, however ... http://birdcapemay.net/?p=270