Leaders: Roger Horn, Bernie Hodgdon
Temp: 29° F
Winds: NE 10 mph
Weather Conditions: cloudy, some sun
The walk at Cape Point State Park was quiet but there were many of the usual ducks and winter passerines to be seen and heard. Unfortunately, due to beach sand replenishment activities, the Dune areas, Beach and “plover” ponds were closed off for access. A total of 44 species were seen and heard. The numbers of Common Grackles have increased in recent days. We had many hundreds of them pass overhead at various altitudes. They would fly south towards the bay, but then seeing the water would turn around and head north. Species of note seen today was a Blue-headed Vireo. This is very late for any Vireo to be seen this time of year. Additionally, there were Purple Finches and a perched, Red-shouldered Hawk. Still a vast number of Yellow-rumped Warblers bopping about foraging on Wax Myrtle berries.
44 species
| Species | Count |
| Snow Goose | 1 |
| Canada Goose | 42 |
| Mute Swan | 2 |
| Tundra Swan | 4 |
| Northern Shoveler | 20 |
| Gadwall | 10 |
| American Wigeon | 8 |
| Mallard | 65 |
| American Black Duck | 55 |
| Northern Pintail | 18 |
| Green-winged Teal (American) | 20 |
| Ring-necked Duck | 8 |
| Hooded Merganser | 2 |
| Ruddy Duck | 10 |
| Mourning Dove | 8 |
| Greater Yellowlegs | 18 |
| American Herring Gull | 15 |
| Great Black-backed Gull | 1 |
| Great Egret | 3 |
| Great Blue Heron | 3 |
| Black Vulture | 4 |
| Turkey Vulture | 6 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 1 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 5 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 4 |
| Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) | 4 |
| Blue-headed Vireo | 1 |
| American Crow | 8 |
| Carolina Chickadee | 1 |
| Carolina Wren (Northern) | 6 |
| European Starling | 12 |
| Gray Catbird | 1 |
| Northern Mockingbird | 2 |
| Hermit Thrush | 1 |
| American Robin | 18 |
| House Finch | 3 |
| Purple Finch (Eastern) | 4 |
| American Goldfinch | 4 |
| White-throated Sparrow | 1 |
| Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) | 30 |
| Common Grackle | 1200 |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) | 30 |
| Northern Cardinal | 4 |
