2005 Tour Narrative
We started our 2002 workshop huddled behind the Cape May Convention Center where, seeking shelter from the rain, we enjoyed a roosting flock of Black Skimmers and studied the differences between Royal, Caspian, Forster’s, and Common terns. Despite the inclement weather we did manage to see both Merlin and Peregrine Falcon from that vantage point. We spent much of the remainder of the morning looking at raptor slides, one of our two indoor sessions, dealing with large and small raptors respectively. By the time we finished the rain had all but stopped though the winds were still easterly (unfavorable for raptor migration) so we headed up the coast to study shorebirds at Stone Harbor. They did not disappoint us and we had a nice mixed flock of Black-bellied and Semipalmated plovers, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Red Knot, Sanderling, Western Sandpiper, Dunlin, and Short-billed Dowitcher, all challenging our identification skills with their gray winter plumage. A flock of American Oystercatchers was much less challenging but equally enjoyable.
On our second day, the winds blew from the northwest so we spent most of the morning at Cape May Point, splitting our time between the dunes and the hawk watch. The raptor flight started slowly but eventually the sky was full of Sharp-shinned Hawks with a liberal sprinkling of Cooper’s Hawks so we had lots of practice sorting them out. We also saw Red-tailed, Red-shouldered, and Broad-winged hawks and were able to study the differences in structure and plumage. An afternoon walk through South Cape May Meadows produced nice views of American Bittern, a good assortment of ducks, and an out-of-place immature Black-legged Kittiwake.
Day three saw another weak cold front with more northwesterly winds so we spent the early morning hours at Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area looking for passerines and early-rising raptors. Among the hordes of Yellow-rumped Warblers we found lingering Black-throated Blue, Palm, and Blackpoll warblers, American Redstart, and Common Yellowthroat. We also enjoyed close studies of a juvenile Broad-winged Hawk hunting the sunny edge. As the day warmed up we headed to the Rea Farm where we had nice comparisons of Black and Turkey vultures, more Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s hawks, and a very distant adult Bald Eagle. Later, at Cape May Point, we saw a good number of Merlins passing by and had our best views yet of Red-shouldered and Broad-winged hawks. We also enjoyed watching a swarm of Tree Swallows descend upon the dunes by the hawk watch, plucking bayberries.
On our last day, the winds switched back to the south so after spending the early morning at Hidden Valley we headed up the coast to Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge. Brigantine was crowded with waterfowl including 1000 Snow Geese, 4000 Brants, and 2000 Northern Pintails. There were also numerous shorebirds. Among the many Dunlin and Greater Yellowlegs were two American Avocets, seven White-rumped Sandpipers, and both Long-billed and Short-billed dowitchers offering good comparison. Raptors at Brigantine included several Northern Harriers and an adult Bald Eagle standing out in the marsh.
Michael O’Brien