Blog

Cape May Spring Festival – Sunday, May 22, 2022

Leaders Choice Trolley Trip: 6:30am-9:30am

Leaders: Kathy Horn, Roger Horn

Dennis Creek WMA/Coswell Rd – 7:03am

30 species

Species Count
Mourning Dove 3
Clapper Rail 6
Black-bellied Plover 1
Semipalmated Plover 8
Ruddy Turnstone 40
Sanderling 1
Dunlin 12
Semipalmated Sandpiper 60
Willet 1
Laughing Gull 120
Herring Gull 13
Great Black-backed Gull 6
Forster’s Tern 10
Double-crested Cormorant 12
Great Egret 2
Snowy Egret 3
Osprey 5
Red-headed Woodpecker 2
Red-headed Woodpecker - Roger Horn

Red-headed Woodpecker photo by Roger Horn

 

Red-headed Woodpecker - Roger Horn

Red-headed Woodpecker photo by Roger Horn

Red-headed Woodpecker - Roger Horn

Red-headed Woodpecker photo by Roger Horn

Great Crested Flycatcher 4
Eastern Kingbird 1
Tree Swallow 20
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Carolina Wren 1
European Starling 24
House Finch 6
American Goldfinch 3
Song Sparrow 3
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 24
Boat-tailed Grackle 14
Northern Cardinal 2

 

Stone Harbor Blvd/The Wetlands Institute – 8:43am

19 species

Species Count
Clapper Rail 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Willet 8
Laughing Gull 16
Herring Gull (American) 6
Forster’s Tern 6
Snowy Egret 1
Little Blue Heron 1
Green Heron 2
Osprey 4
American Crow 1
Purple Martin 12
Tree Swallow 10
Barn Swallow 4
European Starling 4
Gray Catbird 2
House Sparrow 2
Boat-tailed Grackle 9

 

Songbirds in Belleplain State Forest: 7:00am-9:00am

Leaders Group 1:  Chris Marks, Mary Watkins

42 species

Species Count
Wild Turkey 1
Mourning Dove 4
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Laughing Gull 16
Herring Gull 2
Forster’s Tern 1
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 6
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Acadian Flycatcher 5
Eastern Phoebe 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 8
White-eyed Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 2
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 2
Carolina Chickadee 1
Tufted Titmouse 3
Tree Swallow 4
Barn Swallow 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Carolina Wren 4
European Starling 6
Brown Thrasher 1
Northern Mockingbird 4
Eastern Bluebird 3
Wood Thrush 1
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
Ovenbird 5
Worm-eating Warbler 2
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Hooded Warbler 3
Pine Warbler 1
Yellow-throated Warbler 2
Prairie Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 4
Indigo Bunting 1

 

Leaders Group 2: Bert Hixon, Guy Moody, BJ Pinnock, Susan Moody

36 species

Species Count
Canada Goose 15
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Laughing Gull 1
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 4
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Acadian Flycatcher 2
Eastern Phoebe 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 5
Eastern Kingbird 1
Red-eyed Vireo 2
American Crow 2
Tree Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Carolina Wren 10
European Starling 2
Eastern Bluebird 2
American Robin 2
Cedar Waxwing 1
Chipping Sparrow 4
Orchard Oriole 1
Common Grackle 2
Ovenbird 10
Worm-eating Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Prothonotary Warbler 1
Hooded Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 2
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 1

 

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

Leaders Group 1: Bill Boyle, Karen Thompson

36 species

Species Count
Canada Goose 4
Mallard 2
Mourning Dove 3
Chimney Swift 2
Purple Sandpiper 3
Laughing Gull 30
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Snowy Egret 2
Tricolored Heron 1
Osprey 2
Bald Eagle 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Merlin 1
Merlin - Karen Thompson

Merlin photo by Karen Thompson

Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 2
White-eyed Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 1
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 5
Tree Swallow 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Carolina Wren 10
Gray Catbird 1
Cedar Waxwing 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
Common Grackle 6
Swainson’s Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 7
Northern Cardinal 10
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 10
Indigo Bunting - Karen Thompson

Indigo Bunting photo by Karen Thompson

 

Leaders Group 2: David La Puma, Melissa Roach, Andrew Eppedio

43 species

Species Count
Canada Goose 2
Mourning Dove 3
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Chimney Swift 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Laughing Gull 25
Snowy Egret 2
Tricolored Heron 1
Green Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 4
Eastern Kingbird 3
White-eyed Vireo 4
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 3
Fish Crow 1
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 2
Tree Swallow 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Carolina Wren 6
European Starling 2
Gray Catbird 4
Northern Mockingbird 2
Wood Thrush 1
Cedar Waxwing 12
American Goldfinch 1
Field Sparrow 3
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Red-winged Blackbird 5
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Common Grackle 10
Swainson’s Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 3
Northern Cardinal 15
Blue Grosbeak 2
Indigo Bunting 11

 

47 species

Species Count
Canada Goose 8
Mallard 2
Mourning Dove 3
Chimney Swift 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 3
Purple Sandpiper 3
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1
Laughing Gull 33
Herring Gull (American) 1
Forster’s Tern 3
Double-crested Cormorant 21
Snowy Egret 2
Tricolored Heron 1
Black Vulture 1
Osprey (carolinensis) 3
Bald Eagle 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker (Eastern) 2
Merlin 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 3
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Eastern Kingbird 2
White-eyed Vireo 6
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 3
Fish Crow 1
Carolina Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 2
Tree Swallow 2
Barn Swallow (American) 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (caerulea) 2
Carolina Wren (Northern) 4
European Starling 2
Gray Catbird 5
Northern Mockingbird 1
American Robin 1
Cedar Waxwing 5
Field Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 2
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
Common Grackle (Purple) 3
Swainson’s Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 3
Northern Cardinal 8
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 9

 

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

Leaders Group 1: Barb Bassett, Patti Domm, Ruth Bergstrom

50 species

Species Count
Canada Goose 12
Mute Swan 2
Mallard 4
Mourning Dove 1
Chimney Swift 2
American Oystercatcher 2
Semipalmated Plover 2
Killdeer 2
Stilt Sandpiper 2
Dunlin 2
Least Sandpiper 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 20
Short-billed Dowitcher 30
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Willet 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Bonaparte’s Gull 2
Laughing Gull 20
Herring Gull (American) 4
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 8
Least Tern 100
Forster’s Tern 8
Black Skimmer 3
Great Egret 2
Snowy Egret 1
Tricolored Heron 1
Green Heron 1
Osprey 2
Fish Crow 1
crow sp. 2
Carolina Chickadee 1
Purple Martin 20
Tree Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 1
Carolina Wren 2
European Starling 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
American Robin 2
House Sparrow 2
Field Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 4
Eastern Towhee 1
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 20
Common Yellowthroat 3
Yellow Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 2
Indigo Bunting 1

 

Rea Farm (“The Beanery”): 10:00am-12:00pm

Leaders Group 2:  Lynn Pollard, Paul Shaw, Andrew Eppedio

51 species

Species Count
Canada Goose 8
Mallard 2
Mourning Dove 6
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 6
Chimney Swift 7
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Laughing Gull 40
Forster’s Tern 4
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 2
Black Vulture 9
Turkey Vulture 27
Osprey (carolinensis) 6
Mississippi Kite 21
Cooper’s Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk (lineatus Group) 1
Broad-winged Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk (borealis) 1
Hairy Woodpecker (Eastern) 2
American Kestrel 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Eastern Kingbird 2
White-eyed Vireo 3
Red-eyed Vireo 1
American Crow 3
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 2
Purple Martin 1
Tree Swallow 4
Barn Swallow (American) 8
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (caerulea) 3
House Wren (Northern) 1
Carolina Wren (Northern) 5
European Starling 2
Gray Catbird 3
Northern Mockingbird 1
Cedar Waxwing 2
House Sparrow 3
American Goldfinch 4
Chipping Sparrow 2
Field Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Common Grackle (Purple) 11
Louisiana Waterthrush 1
Prothonotary Warbler 2
Northern Cardinal 3
Blue Grosbeak 2
Indigo Bunting 7

 

Migration at the Point: 10:00am-12:00pm

Leaders Group 1: David La Puma, Freya McGregor, Virginia Rose

35 species

Species Count
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Glossy Ibis 1
Turkey Vulture 8
Osprey 2
Mississippi Kite 3
Downy Woodpecker 1
American Kestrel 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 4
Eastern Kingbird 6
White-eyed Vireo 4
Blue Jay 1
crow sp. 1
Carolina Chickadee 2
Purple Martin 60
Tree Swallow 6
Bank Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Carolina Wren 8
European Starling 2
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 2
American Robin 2
Cedar Waxwing 6
House Sparrow 2
American Goldfinch 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 6
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Common Grackle 10
Common Yellowthroat 6
Bay-breasted Warbler 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 2
Northern Cardinal 10
Indigo Bunting 1

 

TNC’s Garrett Family Preserve at Cape Island Creek: 10:00am-12:00pm

Leaders Group 1: Karen Thompson, Bill Boyle, Bernie Hodgdon

32 species

Species Count
Mute Swan 1
Mourning Dove 4
Laughing Gull 15
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Snowy Egret 1
Turkey Vulture 11
Osprey 5
Broad-winged Hawk 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Eastern Kingbird 1
White-eyed Vireo 1
American Crow 2
Carolina Chickadee 1
Tufted Titmouse 1
Tree Swallow 6
Barn Swallow 1
House Wren 2
Carolina Wren 3
American Robin 1
House Sparrow 3
Field Sparrow 4
Yellow-breasted Chat 4
Orchard Oriole 2
Red-winged Blackbird 6
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Common Grackle 4
Common Yellowthroat 2
Yellow Warbler 3
Prairie Warbler 6
Northern Cardinal 4
Indigo Bunting 5

 

Leaders Group 2: Jackie Parker, Keith parker, Hank Burk

38 species

Species Count
Mourning Dove 2
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Chimney Swift 6
Whimbrel 1
Greater Yellowlegs 3
Laughing Gull 12
Forster’s Tern 4
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 3
Glossy Ibis 1
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 5
Osprey 5
Downy Woodpecker 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
White-eyed Vireo 1
American Crow 3
Purple Martin 4
Tree Swallow 4
Barn Swallow 3
House Wren 2
Carolina Wren 7
European Starling 2
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 2
American Robin 4
House Sparrow 5
House Finch 4
Field Sparrow 2
Yellow-breasted Chat 4
Red-winged Blackbird 8
Common Grackle 6
Boat-tailed Grackle 4
Common Yellowthroat 4
Yellow Warbler 3
Prairie Warbler 3
Northern Cardinal 6
Indigo Bunting 5

 

Osprey Back Bay Birding by Boat: 10:00am-12:30pm

Leader: Victoria Sindlinger

Cape May Harbor – 10:10am

14 species

Species Count
Mallard 1
American Oystercatcher 3
Ruddy Turnstone 20
Red Knot 10
Red Knot - Victoria Sindlinger

Red Knot photo by Victoria Sindlinger

Sanderling 5
Sanderling - Victoria Sindlinger

Sanderling photo by Victoria Sindlinger

Sanderling - Victoria Sindlinger

Sanderling photo by Victoria Sindlinger

Dunlin 20
Dunlin - Victoria Sindlinger

Dunlin photo by Victoria Sindlinger

Dunlin - Victoria Sindlinger

Dunlin photo by Victoria Sindlinger

Willet 1
Laughing Gull 40
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Common Loon 2
Common Loon - Victoria Sindlinger

Common Loon photo by Victoria Sindlinger

Common Loon - Victoria Sindlinger

Common Loon photo by Victoria Sindlinger

Common Loon - Victoria Sindlinger

Common Loon photo by Victoria Sindlinger

Common Loon - Victoria Sindlinger

Common Loon photo by Victoria Sindlinger

Double-crested Cormorant 4
Osprey 7
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Boat-tailed Grackle 3

 

Jarvis Sound – 11:05am

22 species

Species Count
American Oystercatcher 10
Black-bellied Plover 5
Semipalmated Plover 1
Whimbrel 10
Ruddy Turnstone 10
Dunlin 30
Semipalmated Sandpiper 40
Short-billed Dowitcher 2
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Willet 4
Laughing Gull 200
Herring Gull 5
Great Black-backed Gull 3
Common Tern 20
Forster’s Tern 2
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 3
Snowy Egret 3
White Ibis 1
Osprey 4
Boat-tailed Grackle 3

 

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

Leaders Group 1: Kathy Horn, Melissa Roach

46 species

Species Count
Canada Goose 9
Mute Swan 2
Gadwall 2
Mallard 10
American Black Duck 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 2
Mourning Dove 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Virginia Rail 1
American Oystercatcher 2
Semipalmated Plover 8
Killdeer 1
Dunlin 3
White-rumped Sandpiper 2
Semipalmated Sandpiper 75
Short-billed Dowitcher 20
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Bonaparte’s Gull 2
Laughing Gull 25
Great Black-backed Gull 7
Least Tern 50
Forster’s Tern 40
Great Egret 2
Snowy Egret 3
Glossy Ibis 2
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 2
Mississippi Kite 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
crow sp. 2
Purple Martin 25
Barn Swallow 1
Carolina Wren 1
European Starling 4
Northern Mockingbird 1
House Sparrow 3
Field Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Red-winged Blackbird 15
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Common Grackle 5
Common Yellowthroat 1
Prairie Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 2

 

Leaders Group 2: Jackie Parker, Keith Parker

48 species

Species Count
Canada Goose 9
Mute Swan 2
Gadwall 3
Mallard 5
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 2
Mourning Dove 2
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Virginia Rail 1
American Oystercatcher 5
Semipalmated Plover 7
Killdeer 1
Dunlin 7
Least Sandpiper 23
Semipalmated Sandpiper 4
Short-billed Dowitcher 30
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Bonaparte’s Gull 2
Laughing Gull 22
Herring Gull 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Least Tern 50
Forster’s Tern 9
Great Egret 4
Snowy Egret 2
Turkey Vulture 3
Osprey 4
Mississippi Kite 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 1
American Crow 4
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3
Purple Martin 28
Tree Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 5
House Wren 1
Carolina Wren 4
European Starling 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
House Sparrow 2
Field Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 21
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Common Grackle 10
Common Yellowthroat 2
Prairie Warbler 2
Northern Cardinal 8
Indigo Bunting 3

 

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

Leaders: Mary Watkins, Lynn Pollard, Dave Pollard

32 species

Species Count
Canada Goose 2
Chimney Swift 3
American Oystercatcher 2
Black-bellied Plover 55
Semipalmated Plover 350
Dunlin 175
White-rumped Sandpiper 50
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1400
Short-billed Dowitcher 35
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Laughing Gull 40
Herring Gull 22
Great Black-backed Gull 17
Least Tern 2
Forster’s Tern 1
Black Skimmer 125
Double-crested Cormorant 252
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 2
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 4
Osprey 3
Eastern Kingbird 1
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 5
Purple Martin 10
Tree Swallow 12
Barn Swallow 24
Marsh Wren 7
Song Sparrow 2
Red-winged Blackbird 36
Common Grackle 4