Leaders: Roger Horn, Bernie Hodgdon, Holly and Mark Lemieux.
Temp: 54° F
Winds: SE 14 mph
Weather Conditions: cloudy with a few sprinkles
The morning walk at Cape May Point State Park started with Purple Martins soaring around above and their chortling, bubbly call. Spring is here and northward bird migration continues. A top the dune crossing we were able to view a large group of gulls, and gannets feeding over the waters. The Northern Gannets continue to fly north out of the bay along with Black Scoters. Laughing Gulls have returned in full force flying in all directions and calling continuously. American Herring Gulls were present as well.
The “plover ponds” hosted a Belted Kingfisher and Red-winged Blackbirds sang profusely along the Reeds along with the staccato trill of Field Sparrows.
The Blue and Yellow trails had the usual cast of Northern Cardinals, Carolina Wrens a few Tree Swallows. Along the Seagrove entrance area Northern Flickers, an Eastern Bluebird and a couple of Eastern Meadowlarks entertained us in the field. Their camouflage was very evident as they walked through the grasses. 36 species. “Not too shabby”.
36 species
| Species | Count |
| Canada Goose | 6 |
| Mute Swan | 13 |
| Mallard | 12 |
| Black Scoter | 120 |
| Surf/Black Scoter | 30 |
| Bufflehead | 1 |
| Mourning Dove | 6 |
| Laughing Gull | 20 |
| American Herring Gull | 10 |
| Great Black-backed Gull | 1 |
| gull sp. | 40 |
| Northern Gannet | 30 |
| Double-crested Cormorant | 1 |
| Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) | 1 |
| Turkey Vulture | 7 |
| Osprey | 5 |
| Belted Kingfisher | 1 |
| Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) | 8 |
| American Crow | 1 |
| crow sp. | 2 |
| Carolina Chickadee | 2 |
| Tufted Titmouse | 1 |
| Tree Swallow | 6 |
| Purple Martin | 10 |
| Carolina Wren (Northern) | 5 |
| European Starling | 6 |
| Brown Thrasher | 1 |
| Northern Mockingbird | 1 |
| Eastern Bluebird | 1 |
| American Robin | 2 |
| House Finch | 4 |
| Field Sparrow | 4 |
| Eastern Towhee (Red-eyed) | 1 |
| Eastern Meadowlark (Eastern) | 2 |
| Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) | 36 |
| Brown-headed Cowbird | 4 |
| Common Grackle | 15 |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) | 1 |
| Northern Cardinal | 8 |
Blog write-up and eBird list by Roger Horn
