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NJ Audubon’s Cape May Fall Festival 2023 – October 21, 2023

Triple Play Trolley Trip: 6:30am-12:00pm

Leaders: Tom Reed, Alan Crawford

Higbee Beach: Morning Flight – 7:03am

7 species

Species Count
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
American Crow 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Carolina Wren 4
Song Sparrow 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 15

 

Cape May Point State Park – 8:27am

28 species

Species Count
Canada Goose 12
Mute Swan 12
Gadwall 16
Eurasian Wigeon 1
American Wigeon 6
Mallard 28
Northern Pintail 6
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Eared Grebe 1
Mourning Dove 2
American Coot 6
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 10
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Common Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 2
Cooper’s Hawk 3
American Kestrel 2
Merlin 2
Peregrine Falcon 1
American Crow 1
Tree Swallow 1200
Carolina Wren 2
Northern Mockingbird 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 8

 

Avalon: 8th St. Jetty – 10:50am

15 species

Species Count
Black Scoter 5
scoter sp. 30
Semipalmated Plover 9
Sanderling 8
Dunlin 2
Purple Sandpiper 3
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 3
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Caspian Tern 2
Forster’s Tern 18
Royal Tern 3
Northern Gannet 2
Double-crested Cormorant 75
Bald Eagle 2

 

Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area: 7:30am-9:30am

Leaders: Jackie Parker, Jessika Acilio, Keith Parker

23 species

Species Count
Herring Gull 2
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Common Loon 1
Turkey Vulture 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Peregrine Falcon 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 10
Tufted Titmouse 1
Tree Swallow 24
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Carolina Wren 5
Gray Catbird 4
Brown Thrasher 2
Chipping Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 4
Swamp Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 14
Northern Cardinal 6

 

Rea Farm (“The Beanery”): 7:30am-9:30am

Leaders (Group 1): Bill Boyle, Chris Marks, Bill Roache, Barry Hershfeld

Leaders (Group 2): Scott Barnes, Hank Burk, MJ Roache

26 species – Group 1

Species Count
Mallard 12
American Black Duck 1
Mourning Dove 3
Greater Yellowlegs 3
Herring Gull 2
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 1
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 2
Cooper’s Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 2
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 6
Tree Swallow 30
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Carolina Wren 3
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 2
Swamp Sparrow 3
Red-winged Blackbird 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 22
Northern Cardinal 2

 

15 species – Group 2

Species Count
Mallard 12
Mourning Dove 6
Herring Gull 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 6
Tree Swallow 31
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Carolina Wren 4
European Starling 10
Gray Catbird 1
Swamp Sparrow 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 10

 

Cox Hall Creek Wildlife Management Area: 7:30am-9:30am

Leaders (Group 1): Kathy Horn, Virginia Rettig, Guy Moody

Leaders (Group 2): Roger Horn, Greg Miller, Dorian Anderson

29 species – Group 1

Species Count
Mallard 12
Mourning Dove 7
Herring Gull (American) 2
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Turkey Vulture 4
Cooper’s Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 6
Eastern Phoebe 3
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 6
Carolina Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 2
Tree Swallow 11
Golden-crowned Kinglet 5
Ruby-crowned/Golden-crowned Kinglet 4
Brown Creeper 1
Carolina Wren 5
European Starling 19
Gray Catbird 2
American Robin 6
White-throated Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow 9
Eastern Towhee 3
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 45
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 16
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 8
 

27 species – Group 2

Species Count
Mallard 8
Herring Gull (American) 5
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 1
Turkey Vulture 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper’s Hawk 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 10
Merlin 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2
crow sp. 1
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 1
Tree Swallow 30
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 7
Carolina Wren (Northern) 4
European Starling 8
American Robin 9
White-throated Sparrow 3
new world sparrow sp. 1
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 7
Common Grackle 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 14
Northern Cardinal 1

 

Leader’s Choice Trolley Trip: 8:00am-11:00am

Leaders: Dave and Lynn Pollard

Conswell Rd – 8:30am

6 species

Species Count
Clapper Rail 2
Bald Eagle 1
Red-headed Woodpecker 3
European Starling 5
Red-winged Blackbird 15
Yellow-rumped Warbler 5

 

543-555 Old New Jersey Ave: North Wildwood – 10:12am

15 species

Species Count
American Oystercatcher 75
Black-bellied Plover 25
Semipalmated Plover 1
Marbled Godwit 10
Sanderling 15
Dunlin 30
Short-billed Dowitcher 8
Laughing Gull 10
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 5
Great Black-backed Gull 7
Caspian Tern 1
Forster’s Tern 8
Royal Tern 20
Bald Eagle 2

 

EZ Birding at Cape May Point State Park: 10:00am-11:30pm

Leaders (Group 1): Bill Boyle, MJ Roache, Alyssa Bright

20 species – Group 1

Species Count
Canada Goose 30
Mute Swan 12
Gadwall 6
Mallard 13
Black Scoter 2
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Laughing Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 11
Lesser Black-backed Gull 20
Great Black-backed Gull 30
Northern Gannet 2
White Ibis 30
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Tree Swallow 5000
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
European Starling 30
American Robin 10
Palm Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 12

 

Rea Farm (“The Beanery”): 10:00am-11:30pm

Leaders (Group 1): Kathy Horn, Paul Shaw, BJ Pinnock

Leaders (Group 2): Jackie Parker, Keith Parker, Virginia Rettig

32 species – Group 1

Species Count
Mallard 3
American Black Duck 1
Mourning Dove 2
Herring Gull (American) 1
Double-crested Cormorant 1
White Ibis 27
Black Vulture 3
Turkey Vulture 3
Osprey (carolinensis) 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3
Cooper’s Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 6
Merlin 2
Eastern Phoebe 2
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 7
Carolina Chickadee 1
Tree Swallow 24
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
House Wren 1
Carolina Wren 4
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
American Robin 7
White-throated Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah) 1
Swamp Sparrow 3
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 25
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 30
Northern Cardinal 4

 

33 species – Group 2

Species Count
Wood Duck 2
American Black Duck 1
Mourning Dove 42
Herring Gull 2
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Double-crested Cormorant 2
White Ibis 30
Black Vulture 5
Turkey Vulture 8
Osprey 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 5
Cooper’s Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Northern Flicker 4
Merlin 3
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 3
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tree Swallow 50
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Carolina Wren 2
Gray Catbird 4
Northern Mockingbird 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Common Grackle 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 26
Northern Cardinal 4

 

TNC’s South Cape May Meadows: 10:00am-11:30am

Leaders (Group 1): Barb Bassett, John McElroy, Patti Domm, Hugh Simmons

Leaders (Group 2): Adehl Schwaderer, Mary Watkins, Greg Miller, John McElroy

28 species – Group 1

Species Count
Canada Goose 120
Mute Swan 6
Northern Shoveler 1
Gadwall 3
Mallard 20
Green-winged Teal 20
Mourning Dove 1
Common Gallinule 1
Stilt Sandpiper 1
Short-billed Dowitcher 3
Lesser Yellowlegs 3
Herring Gull (American) 6
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Egret 1
White Ibis 35
Turkey Vulture 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
American Kestrel 1
American Crow 1
Tree Swallow 2000
Carolina Wren 1
European Starling 4
Northern Mockingbird 1
House Sparrow 4
Chipping Sparrow 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 30
Northern Cardinal 2

 

28 species – Group 2

Species Count
Canada Goose 68
Mute Swan 3
Blue-winged Teal 2
Northern Shoveler 2
Gadwall 4
Mallard 45
Green-winged Teal 18
Mourning Dove 2
Short-billed Dowitcher 1
Long-billed Dowitcher 2
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Ring-billed Gull 3
Herring Gull 6
Royal Tern 2
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Egret 1
White Ibis 26
Turkey Vulture 5
Osprey 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 5
Cooper’s Hawk 1
Peregrine Falcon 2
Tree Swallow 1500
Golden-crowned Kinglet 3
Carolina Wren 2
European Starling 12
Song Sparrow 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 75

 

Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area: 10:00am-11:30pm

Leaders (Group 1): Bert Hixon, Alan Mart, Sally Lorbach

23 species – Group 1

Species Count
Mallard 1
Sanderling 12
Herring Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 3
Red-throated Loon 1
Black Vulture 3
Turkey Vulture 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Northern Flicker 1
Merlin 1
Eastern Phoebe 3
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 3
Common Raven 2
Tree Swallow 5
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Carolina Wren 6
Gray Catbird 3
Brown Thrasher 1
Song Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 6
Northern Cardinal 4

 

Hawk ID from the Vortex Bleachers: 1:00pm-3:00pm

Leaders: Alan Mart, Jess Gorzo, Hugh Simmons, Jackie Parker, Keith Parker

24 species

Species Count
Mallard 4
Mourning Dove 2
Herring Gull 3
Great Black-backed Gull 3
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 6
Turkey Vulture 5
Osprey 2
Northern Harrier 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 9
Cooper’s Hawk 5
Bald Eagle 1
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Northern Flicker 1
American Kestrel 2
Merlin 4
American Crow 4
Tree Swallow 500
European Starling 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
House Finch 1
Field Sparrow 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Common Grackle 1

 

24 species

Species Count
Mourning Dove 12
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Herring Gull 7
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 9
Turkey Vulture 14
Osprey 2
Northern Harrier 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 12
Cooper’s Hawk 2
Bald Eagle 3
Red-tailed Hawk 5
Northern Flicker 2
American Kestrel 3
Merlin 6
American Crow 10
Tree Swallow 300
European Starling 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 1
Common Grackle 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1

 

Waterbird ID from the Avalon Seawatch: 1:00pm-3:00pm

Leaders: Alan Crawford, BJ Pinnock, Greg Miller, Hugh Carolo

21 species

Species Count
Brant 3
Black Scoter 5
scoter sp. 30
American Oystercatcher 4
Semipalmated Plover 7
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Sanderling 3
Dunlin 3
Semipalmated Sandpiper 5
Parasitic Jaeger 2
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull 22
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Caspian Tern 1
Forster’s Tern 10
Common Tern 2
Royal Tern 4
Common Loon 1
Northern Gannet 2
Brown Pelican 1
Great Egret 1
Bald Eagle 2

 

TNC’s South Cape May Meadows: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Leaders (Group 1): Mary Watkins, Ruth Bergstrom, John McElroy

Leaders (Group 2): Dave Pollard, Lynn Pollard, Paul Shaw

31 species – Group 1

Species Count
Canada Goose 25
Northern Shoveler 2
Gadwall 4
Mallard 7
Northern Pintail 3
Green-winged Teal 16
Black Scoter 25
Mourning Dove 3
Common Gallinule 1
Common Gallinule - Ruth Bergstrom

Common Gallinule photo by Ruth Bergstrom

Sanderling 6
Short-billed Dowitcher 1
Long-billed Dowitcher 4
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Herring Gull 2
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Egret 3
Snowy Egret 1
Turkey Vulture 5
Cooper’s Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestrel 3
Merlin 2
Tree Swallow 500
European Starling 2
House Finch 2
Savannah Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 25

 

35 species – Group 2

Species Count
Canada Goose 40
Mute Swan 3
Northern Shoveler 5
Gadwall 2
Mallard 20
Northern Pintail 6
Green-winged Teal 25
Mourning Dove 3
Dunlin 2
Short-billed Dowitcher 5
Greater Yellowlegs 3
Laughing Gull 2
Herring Gull 5
Great Black-backed Gull 3
Double-crested Cormorant 4
American Bittern 1
Great Egret 3
Turkey Vulture 5
Osprey 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3
Cooper’s Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Northern Flicker 1
American Kestrel 3
Merlin 8
American Crow 3
Tree Swallow 1000
Carolina Wren 2
European Starling 5
Northern Mockingbird 1
Field Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler 30
Northern Cardinal 2