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Cape May Spring Festival – Saturday May 20, 2023

Songbird Extravaganza at Belleplain State Forest: 4:30am-9:00am 

Leaders: Adehl Schwaderer, Chris Marks, Chris Daly

29 species

Species Count
Canada Goose 16
Wild Turkey 8
Mourning Dove 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Laughing Gull 7
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker (Eastern) 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 3
Acadian Flycatcher 1
Eastern Phoebe 2
White-eyed Vireo 4
Red-eyed Vireo 1
crow sp. 2
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (caerulea) 3
Carolina Wren (Northern) 2
European Starling 1
Wood Thrush 4
American Goldfinch 2
Chipping Sparrow 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
Ovenbird 5
Louisiana Waterthrush 1
Louisiana Waterthrush - Chris Daly

Louisiana Waterthrush photo by Chris Daly

 
Black-and-white Warbler 2
Hooded Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 1
Yellow-throated Warbler 4
Summer Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 5

 

Rea Farm (“The Beanery”): 7:00am-9:00am

Leaders Group 1: Carole Hughes, Will Kaselow, Barry Hershfeld

41 species

Species Count
Wood Duck 2
Mallard 4
Mourning Dove 4
Chimney Swift 2
Killdeer 1
Short-billed Dowitcher 2
Laughing Gull 12
Common Tern 2
Forster’s Tern 2
Common/Forster’s Tern 1
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 1
Green Heron 1
Black Vulture 1
Osprey 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
White-eyed Vireo 1
Yellow-throated Vireo 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 3
Fish Crow 1
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 2
European Starling 3
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
American Robin 4
House Finch 2
Song Sparrow 2
Eastern Towhee 1
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Common Grackle 3
Prothonotary Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 2
Northern Cardinal 2
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 4

 

Leaders Group 2:  Keith Parker, Jackie Parker, Hugh Simmons

41 species

Species Count
Canada Goose 9
Mallard 4
Mourning Dove 6
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Chimney Swift 6
Killdeer 2
Short-billed Dowitcher 6
Laughing Gull 6
Forster’s Tern 2
Great Egret 1
Green Heron 1
Black Vulture 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
White-eyed Vireo 1
Yellow-throated Vireo 2
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 3
Carolina Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 1
Tree Swallow 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Carolina Wren 4
European Starling 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
American Robin 1
Chipping Sparrow 3
Eastern Towhee 1
Yellow-breasted Chat 2
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Prothonotary Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 3
Northern Cardinal 3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Blue Grosbeak 3
Indigo Bunting 6

 

Cox Hall Creek WMA: 7:00am-9:00am

Leaders Group 1: Warren Cairo, Claudia Burns, Bernie Hodgdon

20 species

Species Count
Laughing Gull 12
Herring Gull 1
Green Heron 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Red-eyed Vireo 3
American Crow 2
Carolina Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 1
Carolina Wren 6
European Starling 3
Northern Mockingbird 1
American Robin 5
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Common Grackle 4
Prothonotary Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 2
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 2

 

TNC’s South Cape May Meadows: 7:00am-9:00am

Leaders: Bill Boyle, Karen Thompson, Hank Burk, Jesse Amesbury

35 species

Species Count
Canada Goose 14
Mute Swan 3
Mallard 6
Chimney Swift 3
Common Gallinule 1
American Oystercatcher 2
Semipalmated Plover 1
Killdeer 2
Least Sandpiper 3
Semipalmated Sandpiper 12
Short-billed Dowitcher 5
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 2
Laughing Gull 10
Least Tern 10
Forster’s Tern 5
Black Skimmer 3
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 1
Little Blue Heron 1
Osprey 1
American Crow 1
Carolina Chickadee 1
Purple Martin 14
Barn Swallow 8
Field Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Yellow-breasted Chat 2
Red-winged Blackbird 8
Common Grackle 2
Common Yellowthroat 2
Northern Cardinal 2
Indigo Bunting 2

 

Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area: 7:00am-9:00am

Leaders Group 1: Dave Pollard, Lynn Pollard, Paul Shaw

28 species

Species Count
Mourning Dove 3
Chimney Swift 10
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Laughing Gull 7
Forster’s Tern 1
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Eastern Kingbird 1
White-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Carolina Wren 12
European Starling 1
Gray Catbird 2
Veery 1
Field Sparrow 1
Baltimore Oriole 1
Red-winged Blackbird 5
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Boat-tailed Grackle 2
Blue-winged Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 3
Prairie Warbler 3
Northern Cardinal 6
Blue Grosbeak 2
Indigo Bunting 7

 

Leaders Group 2: Bill Roache, MJ Roache, Ruth Bergstrom

31 species

Species Count
Mourning Dove 7
Chimney Swift 9
Short-billed Dowitcher 1
Laughing Gull 1
Herring Gull 1
Great Egret 2
Osprey 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Eastern Kingbird 2
White-eyed Vireo 3
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 3
Fish Crow 2
Carolina Chickadee 1
Tufted Titmouse 1
Tree Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 1
Carolina Wren 12
European Starling 2
Baltimore Oriole 1
Red-winged Blackbird 5
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Common Grackle 3
Prairie Warbler 1
Canada Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 2
Blue Grosbeak 4
Indigo Bunting 10

 

Heislerville WMA: 10:00am-12:00pm

Leaders: Bill Roache, MJ Roache, Guy Moody, Alan Mart

26 species

Species Count
Canada Goose 3
Mute Swan 2
Mourning Dove 2
Black-bellied Plover 12
Semipalmated Plover 4
Dunlin 23
Semipalmated Sandpiper 200
Short-billed Dowitcher 13
Laughing Gull 6
Least Tern 6
Forster’s Tern 4
Black Skimmer 175
Double-crested Cormorant 50
Great Blue Heron 4
Great Egret 5
Snowy Egret 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 25
Bald Eagle 2
Fish Crow 2
Barn Swallow 1
Marsh Wren 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush 1
Song Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 14
Common Grackle 3
Northern Cardinal 1

 

Stone Harbor and Surroundings: 10:00am-12:00pm

Leaders: Will Kaselow, Sharon Meeker, John McElroy, Barry Hershfeld

24 species

Species Count
Mourning Dove 1
American Oystercatcher 4
Semipalmated Plover 6
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Red Knot 6
Sanderling 4
Purple Sandpiper 11
Semipalmated Sandpiper 15
Willet 4
Laughing Gull 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull 5
Great Black-backed Gull 16
Common Tern 1
Forster’s Tern 4
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Osprey 3
Fish Crow 2
Northern Mockingbird 2
American Robin 1
Song Sparrow 2
Eastern Towhee 2
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 11
Boat-tailed Grackle 1
Common Yellowthroat 2

 

Shorebird Express (Bayshore) Trolley Trip: 10:00am-1:30pm

Leader: Carole Hughes, Bernie Hodgdon

Reed’s Beach and Road – 10:40am

20 species

Species Count
Mourning Dove 3
Semipalmated Plover 11
Ruddy Turnstone 7
Red Knot 8
Sanderling 1
Least Sandpiper 5
Semipalmated Sandpiper 70
Western Sandpiper 1
Willet 1
Laughing Gull 1500
Herring Gull 60
Great Black-backed Gull 12
Forster’s Tern 7
Double-crested Cormorant 15
Carolina Wren 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
Song Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 4
Yellow Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 1

 

Cook’s Beach and Road – 10:40am

20 species

Species Count
Mourning Dove 3
Clapper Rail 1
Semipalmated Plover 7
Ruddy Turnstone 70
Red Knot 200
Dunlin 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1000
Willet 1
Laughing Gull 800
Herring Gull 20
Great Black-backed Gull 30
Caspian Tern 2
Forster’s Tern 12
Double-crested Cormorant X
Osprey 1
crow sp. 3
Marsh Wren 2
Seaside Sparrow 8
Song Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 9
Common Grackle 3

 

E-Z Birding at Cape May Point State Park: 10:00am-11:30am

Leaders Group 1: Jackie Parker, Keith Parker

40 species

Species Count
Mute Swan 9
Black Scoter 1
Mourning Dove 2
Chimney Swift 20
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
American Oystercatcher 4
Black-bellied Plover 1
Killdeer 1
Laughing Gull 8
Great Black-backed Gull 20
Least Tern 23
Common Tern 1
Forster’s Tern 4
Black Skimmer 7
Snowy Egret 1
Green Heron 2
Osprey 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 3
White-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3
Purple Martin 15
Tree Swallow 5
Barn Swallow 1
Carolina Wren 6
Northern Mockingbird 1
American Robin 1
Chipping Sparrow 3
Eastern Towhee 1
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 2
Tennessee Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 11
Magnolia Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 2
Indigo Bunting 5

 

 Leaders Group 2: Dave Pollard, Lynn Pollard, Marc Breslow, Lynn Breslow

32 species

Species Count
Mute Swan 4
Mallard 2
Mourning Dove 2
Chimney Swift 8
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
American Oystercatcher 2
Killdeer 1
Laughing Gull 5
Least Tern 15
Common Tern 8
Black Skimmer 6
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 2
Osprey 1
White-eyed Vireo 2
American Crow 1
Carolina Chickadee 1
Purple Martin 25
Tree Swallow 5
Carolina Wren 10
Northern Mockingbird 2
American Robin 1
American Goldfinch 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Red-winged Blackbird 6
Common Grackle 4
Tennessee Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 5
Magnolia Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 4
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 6

 

TNC’s Garrett Family Preserve at Cape Island Creek: 10:00am-11:30am

Leaders Group 1: Adehl Schwaderer, Hank Burk, Hugh Simmons, Alan Crawford, Paul Shaw, Sally Lorbach

37 species

Species Count
Mallard 2
Mourning Dove 1
Chimney Swift 8
Clapper Rail 2
Laughing Gull 8
Great Black-backed Gull 10
Great Egret 2
Snowy Egret 3
Green Heron 1
Black Vulture 1
Osprey 3
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 4
Eastern Kingbird 2
White-eyed Vireo 4
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 3
Fish Crow 1
Carolina Chickadee 1
Tree Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 1
Carolina Wren 10
European Starling 6
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
American Robin 4
American Goldfinch 2
Field Sparrow 5
Yellow-breasted Chat 5
Orchard Oriole 1
Red-winged Blackbird 8
Common Grackle 8
Common Yellowthroat 5
Yellow Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 2
Northern Cardinal 9
Indigo Bunting 4

 

TNC’s South Cape May Meadows: 1:30pm-3:30pm

Leaders Group 1: Karen Thompson, Bill Boyle, Patti Domm

33 species

Species Count
Canada Goose 14
Mute Swan 2
Mallard 7
Virginia Rail 1
Common Gallinule 1
American Oystercatcher 4
Killdeer 3
Ruddy Turnstone 22
Least Sandpiper 2
Semipalmated Sandpiper 4
Short-billed Dowitcher 1
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Laughing Gull 6
Common Tern 1
Forster’s Tern 23
Black Skimmer 5
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 1
Green Heron 1
Osprey 2
American Crow 1
Purple Martin 14
Tree Swallow 3
Barn Swallow 9
American Goldfinch 1
Song Sparrow 2
Baltimore Oriole 2
Red-winged Blackbird 15
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Common Yellowthroat 2
Northern Cardinal 1

 

Heislerville WMA: 1:30pm-3:30pm

Leaders: Brett Ewald, Chris Marks, Guy Moody, John McElroy

29 species

Species Count
Canada Goose 9
Mute Swan 2
Wood Duck 3
American Black Duck 1
American Oystercatcher 3
Black-bellied Plover 4
Semipalmated Plover 11
Dunlin 7
Semipalmated Sandpiper 19
Short-billed Dowitcher 6
Laughing Gull 11
Herring Gull 3
Forster’s Tern 5
Black Skimmer 125
Double-crested Cormorant 150
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 4
Osprey 4
Bald Eagle 1
Eastern Kingbird 1
Tree Swallow 1
Bank Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 3
Marsh Wren 1
Song Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Common Grackle 7

 

Osprey Back Bay Birding by Boat: 1:30pm-4:00pm

Leader: Warren Cairo, Claudia Burns

Jarvis Sound – 1:30pm

36 species

Species Count
Mallard 4
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 4
Mourning Dove 1
Clapper Rail 10
American Oystercatcher 20
Black-bellied Plover 75
Semipalmated Plover 25
Whimbrel 3
Ruddy Turnstone 12
Red Knot 10
Dunlin 125
Least Sandpiper 4
Semipalmated Sandpiper 25
Willet 3
Laughing Gull X
Herring Gull 20
Great Black-backed Gull 8
Least Tern 5
Common Tern 40
Forster’s Tern 50
Black Skimmer 4
Double-crested Cormorant 10
Great Egret 10
Snowy Egret 7
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 3
Osprey 30
Bald Eagle 2
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 2
Purple Martin 2
Tree Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 3
European Starling 4
Northern Mockingbird 1
Red-winged Blackbird 12
Yellow Warbler 1

 

Stone Harbor and Surroundings: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Leaders Group 1: Will Kaselow, Ruth Bergstrom, Paul Shaw, Chris Daly

27 species

Species Count
American Oystercatcher 3
Black-bellied Plover 4
Black-bellied Plover - Chris Daly

Black-bellied Plover photo by Chris Daly

 
Semipalmated Plover 7
Piping Plover 1
Ruddy Turnstone 5
Sanderling 16
Dunlin 2
Purple Sandpiper 2
Least Sandpiper 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 6
Short-billed Dowitcher 1
Willet 3
Laughing Gull 10
Herring Gull 3
Forster’s Tern 4
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 1
Osprey (carolinensis) 2
Fish Crow 1
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
American Robin 5
House Finch 1
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 8
Common Grackle 1
Boat-tailed Grackle 2
Yellow Warbler (Northern) 3
Northern Cardinal 1