Autumn migration at Cape May NJ

Hi

I have returned after  10 days at CM and will post some reports and photos over the next few days.

CM is just south of NY city and is basicallya funnel for migrants heading south. After a NW front they actually migrate back north along the west edge of the cape. At dawn on such days birders gather at Higbee beach car park as hundreds of flickers, warblers, jays and waxwings pass through until mid-morning. Later a search of the nearby fields and migrant hot spots will turn up new birds.

 The CM observatory is close to the tip near the famous lighthouse, there are various habitats in several reserves so birding the area involves little travelling on a daily basis ( I like single location trips ).  As well as passerine migrants there are local breeders  and waders can be found at coastal sites. Brigantine state park reserve is an hour north up the coast. Raptors are highly visible and on good days stream overhead easily visible from the hawkwatch platform by the lighthouse . CM  is a safe middle class resort with old houses and no high rise blocks, good guide books and friendly local birders.

We saw about 160 spp including over 20 spp of american warblers.

S

Green Heron at Brigantine

Black skimmers and Forsters Terns 10 yards from sunbathers

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