Aug
28
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.
Aug
27
Giant Swallowtail, Philadelphia Vireos, lots of Baltimore Orioles and Black Terns, and some other nice birds in Cape May today
Filed Under Breeding Birds, Butterflies, Fall Migration, Seawatching, Terns, Warblers, Waterfowl | Leave a Comment
There were some birds to be had in Cape May today. However, perhaps the oddest “bird” of the day was a surprise Giant Swallowtail along the Plover Ponds and dune int he state Park. A southern species which overshoots, its chocolate background colour and the bold horizontal yellow bar across the upperwings showed very nicely.
Birdwise, a bit of spishing right by the car park at Hidden Valley early this morning quickly drew in a flock of no fewer than 48 Baltimore Orioles. Seeing that many orioles pour in to basically one cherry tree in droves was kind of something else.
Otherwise, given the relative paucity of Warblers, there were a surprising number of Red-eyed vireos just about everywhere. Even more surprising than that were the two Philly Vireos in the hedgerows at Hidden Valley. One was, typically, trailing a pod of Red-eyes as they worked their way north. The other, was all by its lonesome. Sweet-faced little things, Philly Vireos are an understatedly attractive bird we don’t get to see enough of. I do find it interesting that it often happens that they turn up on a bum wind.
There were plenty of sport-fishing boats just off the point today, and they, and the terns were apparently over a decent shoal of fish. While other more expected terns were well-represented in the swarm, there was a very nice concentration of 30 Black Terns in the mix. apparentyl as good as fish finders, one boat had ten alone around it, and another was being circled by 8. more than half were young of the year.
Other Black Terns were sitting on the beach, or the Bunker Pond.
Otherwise, a Common Nighthawk heading north at Higbee’s Beach was only the second I’ve seen this fall, and though unimpressive in numbers, there was a fine diverstiy of Warblers about, including Canada, Parula, Black-throated Blue, and dwindling numbers of the more summery migrants. And a white-eyed drake Shoveler was hanging out on the Bunker Pond with both teal and some Gadwall.
And while Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireos are heading south, some local White-eyes are still feeding young. Likewise, though bran and cinnamon coloured migrant juv Blue Grosbeaks are turning up, local adults are still singing, and newbie fledgling Indigo Buntings are still barely flying. And speaking of the nesting season-some fledgeling cowbirds are still being fed by hapless surrogate Cardinals and Carolina Wrens. Even as migrant gangs and flocks of Cowbirds (and other Icterids) are independent and heading south.
Aug
24
just a quick note, and….Biden?
Filed Under Fall Migration, Not-birds, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
The continuing southerly/easterly breeze continued to do its trick, and migrant landbirds were again nothing to write home about from Cape May, today.
However, Solitary and Pectoral Sandpipers were around the ponds at the Point in decent numbers, and Black Terns were very easy to see on the Bunker Pond.
Blue-winged Teal were a bit harder to come by, and I was able to only find about half of the fifty or so which were around at the end of last week.
Martins have largely gotten outta here, and Eastern Kingbirds and Ruby-throated Hummers seem to be going regardless of a good tail-wind or not.
And as an aside- I think Obama would’ve done better with Caroline Kennedy! I can see why Biden might be help in the electoral math, sort of….But isn’t the strategic idea of VP just to do no harm in the campaigning?
I can’t wait to see what gaffe of “forthright”-spoken Joe’s gives the other team the chance to shred the Obama campaign. Cause the next two months or so is an awfully long time for Biden to go without a good foot-to-mouth insertion.
If he can get them there,though he has my blessing, and all its worth. Seems like a decent enough person.
Aug
22
Oh, and by the way…
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I was just wondering if it had ocurred to anyone that the perfect running mate for Barack Obama would really be Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg.
She is after all, pretty much the vetting committee, and after all, Cheney was the “vetting committee” for Dubyah, if we recall, so the idea is not without precedent.
SHe plays to the feminist voice, the “change” mantra, and has the name. Also, why exactly did the Clan from the commonwealth eagerly endorse obama.
Anyway, probably but a pipe-dream. But she really is the perfect veep. And the incumbant a woman and a Kennedy in 4-8? How perfect would that be…
Aug
22
Yellow-headed Blackbird in Cape May
Filed Under Fall Migration, Rarities | Leave a Comment
There was a female Yellow-headed Blackbird in the Meadows Plover Pond late this morning.
She was about a third of the way down the south side of the pond, in the rushy growth. By the time I had made a call or two, she had either flown off, or gotten further into the reeds (though I expect the former), but in any event I could not relocate the bird.
Otherwise, the easterly winds did their work, and besides a few Black Terns, and just shy of thirty Blue-winged Teal, the relative “birdiness” of Cape Island was not what it had been the last couple of days.
Aug
21
Quiet day for birds in Cape May; Black-morph Parasitic Jaegers, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, etc.
Filed Under Fall Migration, Jaegers, Mammals | Leave a Comment
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.
Aug
20
August birding in Cape May
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The birding has been quite typically good, and quite typically “August” of late.
Eastern Kingbirds, Baltimore Orioles, and Bobolinks become more common by the day, this morning seeing some very nice flocks of the former two. It is difficult to go for a walk just about anywhere and not trip over Redstarts, Black & Whites, N. Waterthrushes, Yellows and Gnatcatchers. Yellows seem to betting a little thinner in the mixed flocks though.
Chestnut-sideds, Canadas, Worm-eatings and Bluewings are likewise had without much difficulty, and today a male Black-throated Blue stood out as being the first I’ve seen this fall. Another first migrant was a very un-scarlet Scarlet Tanager. Olivacea indeed.
Four juvenile Black Terns at South Cape May at sunset were perfectly picturesque. A fifth, adult bird was well offshore. Very good numbers of young least terns are around, and adults are, like their bigger chums, rapidly becoming winter-plumaged birds.
Just shy of forty Blue-winged Teal were about today, though they were easily overlooked. 11 were on the lighthouse pond, 18 on the bumker pond, a flock of 7 flew into the meadows, and there were the scottered pair or two were on ponds here and there.
Heron and Cormorant numbers increase daily, while Ibis are notably far fewer than a month ago.
And finally, I hear tell that there was a Yellow-headed Blackbird in the State Park today, though I did not see it.
All in all, from Hummers and Kingbirds, Redstarts and Orioles; to Pectoral Sandpipers and Black Terns in the Meadows it is most excellently August in Cape May.
Aug
14
Hey, Laaughing Boy…..(to be said a la Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd; re: Duck Season/Wabbit Season)
Filed Under Fall Migration, Not-birds | 2 Comments
“Many who live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them?”
J.R.R. Tolkien
One of the few truly kind people I’ve known (wicked little geminii sense of humor notwithstanding), who went by the name of George Myers, is no longer here. A dear friend, and the last good thing CMBO had going for it, he will be missed. We worked together for some time in a completely non-bird capacity, at the same teeny little cafe in Cape May, and he was universally loved by all who knew him. (And those lucky strangers whose sandwiches he made.) The hawkwatch is already barren without him. The ultra-competitive, (some may say pathologically so) rather heartless, and corporate-speaking new-guard at CMBO could do with a lot more of what George brought to the place: Generosity, levity, genuineness, humility, and the inherent modesty of good plain knowledge.
As someone very wise, who knew him very well, observed: “No matter where he was, wherever he went, people just liked George- cause he was always just George. He could fit in with anyone, anywhere, cause he didn’t have anything to prove, he was always George-and they would like that.”
The birding was very good today- George would’ve like that.
Butterflies didn’t suck either. He would’ve like that about as much.
The same Mourning Warbler as the last few days, the first juvenile Semi-sands and Short-billed Dow I’ve seen (magnificent animal the latter), the same gammy-legged Western Sandpiper as well as the very same pretty darned good-looking Baird’s Sandpiper, juv. and moulting adult Black Terns plucking from the surface like long-winged grace herself, a brace of young Blue Grosbeaks, and a Cliff Swallow all stood out; among others, as being noteworthy.
Yesterday I managed my first Shoveler of the fall, it and one of the best looking birds there is-a fresh juv. Tricolored Heron were in the Bunker Pond. The proportions, married to the bands of wierd teal and richest chestnut, coupled with the bright cadmium bill and the claret eye, heigthened by snowy accents here and there make this bird hands down seven courses of sin for the eye.
(Oh, and by the way, only George would’ve gotten the title on sight, and probably only he and I would automatically laugh at that as well as my imitation of the Great Gilderschneeze, or the diminutive wielder of the p-38iridium space-modulator. If you’re not that well-versed in the genius that is old bugs-bunny, then there may in fact be, absolutely no hope for you…)
Aug
12
Olive-sided Flycatcher, Brewster’s and Hundreds of other Warblers, Bairds Sandpiper continues, and some fabulous birds in Cape May
Filed Under Fall Migration, Warblers | Leave a Comment
There was an incredible “morning flight” at Higbee’s Beach today. From the Dike at Higbee’s Beach alone I tallied 165 A. Redstarts, 86 Yellows, 65 Black & Whites, 48 Northern Waterthrushes, 3 Worm-eatings, 88 Eastern Kingbirds, etc etc. I wound up with over two hundred Redstarts for the morning, and think that other reports of 800 are greatly exagerrated and somewhat fanciful observations…but that’s just me.
An obliging Olive-sided Flycatcher spent over an hour and a half alternating between two tall dead stubs just south of the impoundment.
A text-book “Brewster’s Warbler” was most accomodating at Hidden Valley, and the Baird’s Sandpiper continues in the State Park-this morning it was next to a White-rump for some time, affording an excellent comparison of the two “long-winged” peep.
Unfortunately, that is all that time will allow just now.
Aug
10
I was quite tickled to find a first-fall male Golden-winged Warbler at Hidden Valley this morning before the thunderstorms.
Hell, I’d be totally thrilled to find a Golden-winged Warbler anywhere in NJ these days!
THis one was with a good-sized bunch of Black& Whites, Redstarts, and Gnatcatchers with a a few Blue-wings, a Worm-eating, an adult male Hooded, and some Carolina Chickadee’s (the last ones making finding and re-finding the strikingly marked Golden-wing kinda fun). As an aside, I wonder if the Hooded was the same bird as yesterday? Who would know really? Though, today’s bird was rather frequently giving fragments of a proper song, and doing a bit of whisper-singing, while yesterday’s remained silent. Though if it were the same bird that could speak more to its fatigue level than anything else.
Now, being a young of the year, the Golden-wing had a smidge of olive where the yellow crown met the blue/grey of the nape, and had the most ever-so subtle of lemony washes on the upper breast, and across the vent, rather like the faintest suggestion of the pattern exhibited by a fall Chestnut-sided or Black-throated Green. The yellow was so subtle that it could easily have ben missed, or if noticed at all, might’ve been mistaken for a bit of reflected, leaf-filtered light.
This pattern is typical of a young male Golden-wing, though I assume the over-zealous might easily be led into believing that it was a result of some distant Blue-wing hybridization in the bird’s family tree.
A good bird to find, and one that can easily be missed even by the most active of birders in Cape May. I do love the little differences every fall brings.
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