Thanks to everyone who participated, which included a number of fantastic and dedicated Cumberland and Salem Co. birders, plus the combined efforts of the seasonal staff at CMBO/NJAS doing their respective migration counts (Seawatch and Hawkwatch) and the die-hard locals down here on either side of the Cape May Canal. Thanks also to Bob Fogg for his continued management of the KEEKEEKERR text service which works wonderfully to alert us to any interesting birds within chasing distance. That service allows us to bird off-the-beaten-path always knowing we’ll get the word if something great is found elsewhere.

Here’s a tally of the ‘best birds’ from the weekend.

11/11/11

The best bird, by far, was a CALIFORNIA GULL identified by our resident seawatcher in Avalon, Tom Reed. The bird was reported around 11:00am flying between the sea wall and the bridge.

Soon thereafter Tom spotted an adult LITTLE GULL with a flock of Bonaparte’s Gulls.

Those staking out the Hawkwatch platform were treated to several good birds (eBird) including an adult male EURASIAN WIGEON (there have been two young birds, male and female, present lately- so this would represent the third for the season), 2 EURASIAN COLLARD DOVES (these have been present since August and will probably begin breeding at Cape May Point), a late BARN SWALLOW, TUNDRA SWAN (also 14 TUSW from Avalon) and a CACKLING GOOSE.

Also at Cape May Point were a WHITE-WINGED DOVE, and a SELASPHOROUS HUMMINGBIRD (Rufous/Allen’s) coming to a local feeder.

While not a rarity, the 25+ AMERICAN PIPITS feeding on the ground in the planted rye field at Higbees (field 1) were noteworthy in their number and moreso in the fact that they were stationary rather than simply a fleeting overhead glimpse. Try as we might, none of us could turn them into any other species of Anthus. American Pipits were also found in good numbers in Cumberland County including 20 at Shep Davis Rd. in Cedarville. ‘Lots’ of HORNED LARKS were also present at Baypoint Rd. in Cedarville.

Notably early birds included 3 male COMMON MERGANSERS in flight over Great Egg from Jeffers Landing.

Late stragglers included 2 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS (1ad/1juv) in the West impoundment at Corbin City WMA, with Dunlin and 1 Least Sandpiper and A BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER in the first field at Higbees.

Out of habit observations included an IPSWITCH SAVANNAH SPARROW on Jeffers Landing Rd., on the road edge surrounded by salt marsh west of the Garden State Parkway.

11/12/11

The Cape May National Golf Course provided some nice lingering migrants (eBird) including 2 BALTIMORE ORIOLES, a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, a single INDIGO BUNTING that gave serious pause until identified with photographs,  and 2 BELTED KINGFISHERS. A WILSON’S WARBLER (eBird) was also found flitting about in West Cape May.

3 more BALTIMORE ORIOLES were located at Cape May Point, and a final one was found at The Beanery.

Both ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, while not rarities, did provide nice consolation to those covering the Cox Hall Creek Wildlife Management Area. Also, two DICKCISSELS were detected as flyovers from the Magnesite Plant on Cape May Point.

Like I said, not a plethora of rarities but more important is the snapshot of birds that only a concerted effort can accomplish. While I haven’t done any thorough research into rarities elsewhere across the US, I do know that the Midwest IS having a very busy rarity season this year. Spotted Towhee, Inca Dove, Vermillion Flycatcher, Varied Thrush, Summer Tanager, Western Tanager, Broad-billed Hummingbird, just to name a few. The secret is probably in the weather, and the data can only be obtained with more frequent observations. On that note, I want to again thank everyone who participated in the 2011 Rarity Roundup. Please eBird your daily lists so that the data can and will be used to better understand the mysteries of vagrancy, population dynamics, and many other wonders of the bird world.

Good Birding,

David

More eBird checklists (check back for updates):

Cox Hall Creek WMA (west) on 11/12; DLP ; Fort Apache Park 11/12; DLP ; Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary (11/12) #1   #2   #3 ; DLP ; Abandoned Lot adjacent to the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary (11/12); DLP ; Champlain Lake, Villas (11/12); DLP ; David Douglass Park (11/12) DLP ; Higbee’s Beach WMA to the Concrete Ship, Cape May Point (11/11); DLP

Frames are every 1/2 hour. Click on the thumbnail to view the full-sized animation.

Since the last of the cold front had cleared the region by yesterday morning, migration over the mid-Atlantic has been set at ‘constant flow’.  Raptors moved through Cape May at a steady pace yesterday with two Golden Eagles being tallied at the Swarovski Hawkwatch. Having taken the rest of the day off after leading my Higbee’s Beach walk in the morning, I was able to see both of them. As the day ended, skies darkened, and winds continuing out of the north last night, it was no wonder that birds again took to the skies in southbound migration.

Looking at the regional composite you can see migration activity really concentrated along the east coast with the heaviest movements still south of us. I must say that I expected a little more in terms of density and coverage (especially more out of NY State), but then again it wasn’t as if many birds were backed up for more than one day. Where migration was significant, birds were heading out of New England and funneling down the coast with many of them making their way into New Jersey this morning. The trajectories on the individual radars suggest that the light NNE winds allowed birds to move inland by this morning as well, which will favor inland migrant traps over coastal ones. Light NE winds today will also favor inland hawkwatches too. That means Raccoon Ridge and Chimney Rock and Cold Brook Preserve in Central NJ, and sites along the Delaware River and Delaware Bay Shore down south. That said, since I can’t just throw Cape May under the bus… and I do expect a respectable portion of these coastal migrants to be on the southernmost peninsula (and Island) by daybreak. Now I’m out the door to look for owls pre-dawn… good birding to anyone lucky enough to have time on this Halloween Monday!

Wishing you many feathered treats,

David

Frames are every 1/2 hour. Click on the thumbnail to view the full-sized animation.

As I had written previously, and as I had been saying throughout the weekend, a big flight last night would be highly dependent on the timing of the storm system passing over our region. Well, as of 11:00pm last night the only coastal areas that met this criteria were extreme southern NJ and the Delmarva Peninsula. As a result, a light late-night/early-morning flight was apparent on the radar from central NJ down through the Delmarva (with the highest densities over DE). Birds were also moving out of southern NY over the Albany and Binghamton radars, all of which were headed due south on strong northerly winds. Looking at the regional composite, though, it is clear that the heaviest migration was well south of us where conditions had cleared out the night before… that should tell you something about what to expect tonight (but we’ll get to that in a minute).

With little migration over the region last night expect only minor changes in local bird densities. Northwest winds dominated (and continue to dominate) early this morning which favors coastal locations in the southern part of the state (there was no appreciable migration over eastern New York to convey birds into northeastern New Jersey). That, of course, means Cape May will be the place to be this morning- not only for the best chance at picking up newly arrived nocturnal migrants, but also because the persistent northwest winds will mean an excellent raptor show at the hawkwatch with better than even odds at multiple Golden Eagles and the possibility of a Northern Goshawk.

Diurnal migrants will be on the move today and I expect a heavy nocturnal flight across the entire region tonight as well. Since the winds are expected to turn light and northerly overnight I expect the flight to be more broadly dispersed across the landscape. This is, of course, better for the birds in terms of reduced mortality during migration, but makes finding them a little more difficult for us bipeds.  If you’re in Cape May tonight, though, it will be a good time to do some night listening for nocturnal migrants as overall density will be high regardless of the less-than-perfect winds (north winds still bring a large proportion of birds to the southern peninsula).

Now, get out there and bird- and please come back and let us know what you saw!

Good Birding

David

Frames are every 1/2 hour. Click on the thumbnail to view the full-sized animation.

The strengthening low pressure system to our south is part of the bigger front that keeps on giving (yesterday’s low, now out to sea, was/is also part of this frontal boundary) and appears to have been the barrier to what was otherwise a moderate night of migration. Migrants could be seen taking to the sky across eastern New York and statewide across New Jersey after sunset last night and heading in a NE->SW direction until being eclipsed by the low pressure system early this morning. Localized concentrations of migrants should be apparent across southern and central New Jersey this morning with inland sites being favored to coastal ones given the easterly component to the winds. Birding today will be tricky given the wind forecast (20+ mph) and precipitation outlook so make sure you dress appropriately and choose locations where you can get out of the wind (the birds are no fools, either… you can expect them to be following the same advice).

Good Birding

David

Frames are every 1/2 hour. Click on the thumbnail to view the full-sized animation.

What a classic fall migration event! If you check out the regional composite you can see the frontal boundary pushing off the east coast into late last night while the radars behind the front quickly transition from precipitation to migration as conditions improve. Migration was heavy throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey while New York exhibited a less significant flight. Looking at the radial velocity images you can really see the effect of strong NW winds in the upper atmosphere as birds were concentrated along the coast and funneled down the southern NJ peninsula. At the surface winds have been more northerly and even northeasterly, which should disperse some of these migrants as they land this morning. Still, these conditions favor coastal migrant traps such as Sandy Hook to the north and Cape May to the south.

Expect winds to persist out of the north today eventually turning northeast by this evening. This should produce a decent raptor flight throughout the day with the best conditions along the coast occurring in the morning and inland locations getting better later in the day. Unfortunately increased cloud cover during the day will diminish thermal lift and could impact inland hawkwatches before the wind potential can be realize. It’ll be a wait-and-see game today. Either way, today will be a great day to visit Cape May, and with the Autumn Weekend kicking into high gear there will be plenty of great eyes in the field to help spot the birds. I hope to see you out there!

Good Birding

David