Leaders: Roger Horn, Bernie Hodgdon, Holly and Mark Lemieux.
Temp: 39° F
Winds: SE 9 mph
Weather Conditions: cloudy
Today at Cape May Point, our walk started with a gorgeous Peregrine Falcon. It flew up to the lighthouse and nestled into the railing as we were assembling to start our walk. It took us a little while to locate it but we were able to get scopes on it for all to see.
Next, we headed out of the park. It was pretty quiet along the dunes up to Coral Avenue Dune crossing. Mostly seen at Coral we’re Black and Surf Scoters flying by and a few American Herring Gulls.
We moved on to Lake Lily. There was a good variety of ducks relegated to the open areas of water. Gadwall, Ring-necked Duck, 2 Lesser Scaup, Hooded Mergansers, Ruddy Ducks, American Widgeon, American Black Duck, Northern Shovelers and the usual groups of Mallards. We next went to CMBO Northwood Center and viewed the various “feeder” birds in the back at the Ryan DeWitt Trail. Fox sparrows we’re singing, and a White-breasted Nuthatch was calling loudly. We were able to get a quick look at Brown Thrasher as we walk back to the State Park. 41 species “Not too shabby”
41 species
| Species | Count |
| Canada Goose | 350 |
| Mute Swan | 4 |
| Northern Shoveler | 6 |
| Gadwall | 13 |
| American Wigeon | 10 |
| Mallard | 40 |
| American Black Duck | 10 |
| Ring-necked Duck | 22 |
| Lesser Scaup | 2 |
| Surf Scoter | 16 |
| Black Scoter | 7 |
| Hooded Merganser | 8 |
| Ruddy Duck | 6 |
| Mourning Dove | 30 |
| American Coot | 1 |
| Ring-billed Gull | 2 |
| American Herring Gull | 8 |
| Double-crested Cormorant | 1 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 1 |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | 2 |
| Downy Woodpecker (Eastern) | 1 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 1 |
 Peregrine Falcon photo by Roger Horn |
|
| Blue Jay | 2 |
| Carolina Chickadee | 6 |
| Tufted Titmouse | 2 |
| White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern) | 1 |
| Carolina Wren (Northern) | 6 |
| European Starling | 4 |
| Brown Thrasher | 1 |
| Northern Mockingbird | 6 |
| American Robin | 150 |
| House Sparrow | 20 |
| House Finch | 75 |
| American Goldfinch | 30 |
| Fox Sparrow (Red) | 6 |
| Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) | 1 |
| White-throated Sparrow | 10 |
| Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) | 2 |
| Common Grackle | 14 |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) | 2 |
| Northern Cardinal | 8 |
