March through May, 2009 - New Jersey Audubon Society

This was the best season on record for Swallow-tailed
Kite, with 10 reports comprising
perhaps 5 individuals, including 3 seen together
over the South Cape May Meadows
11 May. This photo is from 6 May. Photo/
Michael O’Brien
up of Glossy Ibis at Beaver Swamp WMA
reached 150 on 11 May (WK), and also attracted
a White-faced Ibis 3-9 May (TR et
al.). White-faced Ibis were also discovered
at BNWR 17-31 May (SB, LM et al.), and
on Cape Island on 30 May (KL et al.).
There were at least 10 different reports
of Swallow-tailed Kites around Cape Island
White-faced Ibis is annual in Region 5, e.g. this bird 17 May at Forsythe/”Brig.” Photo/Linda
Mack
and Tuckahoe WMA, and respectively,
they held 50+ 7-8 Mar (SB, LM) and 53
on 8 Mar (JC).
Also holdovers from the winter season
were Eurasian Wigeons at BNWR through 8
Mar (fide SB), and at Villas WMA through 15
Mar (KH). The Delaware Bay shore marshes
are awash in Green-winged Teal through
early spring, and a representative total was
the 750 at the Glades Wildlife Refuge 22 Mar
(JB). A stunning total of 500+ Canvasbacks
was reported from BNWR 22 Mar (JD),
and 27 Redheads were tallied at BNWR 7
Mar (fide SB). Greater Scaup topped out
at 3520 at BNWR 19 Mar (BNWR staff),
while Lesser Scaup totaled 6000 there 8
Mar (SB, LM). Three King Eiders were off
Cape May 31 Mar (MO).
There were 150 Red-throated Loons off
CMPt 22 Mar (MO), a fairly typical total for
the date. Less typical were the 45 Common
Loons tallied in active migration on 19 Apr
(MO). Horned Grebe numbers seem to have
declined in both spring and fall, so the 39 at
BNWR 9 Apr is a nice total (BNWR staff).
There were a couple of reports of the even
scarcer Red-necked Grebe, with two off
Cape May 25 Mar-1 Apr (MO et al.), and
one at BNWR 6 Apr (BH).
One or two Sooty Shearwaters were off
Cape May in mid-May (v,obs). Typical for
the date, though substantial in number, a
tally of Northern Gannets numbered 4500
off CMPt 29 Mar (MO). A predictable buildbetween
13 Apr and 11 May (v.obs), with a
maximum of three on the 11th (DF et al.). A
best guess would suggest that five individuals
may have been involved, two in April and
three in May. Mississippi Kites maxed out
with three on the lower peninsula 10 May
(fide VE), with sightings ranging from 28
Apr to 11 May (v.obs). A tally of 60 Broadwinged
Hawks 12 May in the Cape May
area is a good spring total (MO).
Yellow Rail reports are becoming almost
expected from TPt in mid-to-late April, with
two heard there on the 24th (fide DF). A
Black Rail was heard at the same locale 1
May (AL). Virginia Rails totaled seven at
TPt 1 May (DL).
There may be no better spring shore-birding
spot in New Jersey than at the Heislerville
impoundment, where 1000s of shorebirds
roost at high tide during late April and much
of May. Some peak number from that locale
included: 500 Black-bellied Plovers 21 May
(KM), 600 Semipalmated Plovers 18 May
(CV), 245 Greater Yellowlegs 22 Apr (TL),
10,000+ Semipalmated Sandpipers 18 May
(VE), 500 Least Sandpipers 8 May (MS),
12,000 Dunlin 5 May (fide VE), and 5000
Short-billed Dowitchers 21 May (MF).
The impoundment also held an American
Avocet from 12-16 May (PC et al.) and at
least two Curlew Sandpipers (one male and
one female) between 10-20 May (v.obs).
A count of 30 Piping Plover at Sea Isle
City 5 May was impressive (CW). A female
American Golden-plover was observed at
BNWR 23-24 May (SB, LM, VS). A Blacknecked
Stilt took up residence in the SCMM
29 Apr-10 May (m.obs). Other Black-necked
Stilt sightings came from the Coast Guard
ponds 1 May (MF) and 2 at BNWR 20 May
(fide SB). A nice tally (for spring) of Lesser
Yellowlegs was the 65 on 22 Apr from TPt
(CV). Only two Upland Sandpipers were
reported, 30 Apr at SCMM (RC) and 3 May
at BNWR (MN). Typical seasonal counts of
200 Whimbrel came from both northern
Cape May 10 May (VZ) and from BNWR
26 Apr (PB et al.).
Some Delaware Bay shorebird counts
included 1000 Ruddy Turnstones and
2000 Red Knots at Cook’s Beach 27 May
(DF). The high count for White-rumped
Sandpipers came from BNWR 24 May with
30+ tallied (SB, LM, VS). Stilt Sandpipers,
generally quite scarce in spring, were
represented by 1-2 at Heislerville 22-26 Apr
110 — March through May, 2009