Day Three
We started the day early - sunrise at Higbee Beach for morning flight. We were expecting to see an increase in bird migration after yesterday’s weather. We were not disappointed. Our first stop was the tower. I was the first to arrive, (except for the official counters), moments later the tower was full of birders.
The morning flight began - flocks of Cedar Waxwings flew overhead (total official morning flight count was 101). Northern Flickers flew in - 3 at a time…6 at a time, more….. sometimes landing on a branch for a moment’s rest (total official morning flight count was 290). Sharp-shinned Hawks flew overhead, catching the wind currents and sometimes diving into the foliage (total official morning flight count was 23). Large flocks of Yellow-rumped Warlbers flew overhead - this was the bird of the morning (total official morning flight count was 5,783).
Weather - Clear, NNE winds 20mph, 53 ℉
The period of time for the official Audubon bird count is: 06:49am - 12:49pm
-Select the image to view the full photograph-
Audubon morning flight counters.
Next, about 7:45am we went over to the Higbee Beach meadow area to continue with the morning flight watch. I always like to spend at least part of morning count at this spot (too bad it can’t be 7:00am multiple times in a day). The birds will sometimes land in the nearby trees and bushes. The Yellow-rumped Warblers were flying in, hundreds of them. The highlight was seeing the Clay-colored Sparrow, it is a rare specie in Maryland (I have only seen it once before).
After it quieted down (fewer birds were flying in), we took a walk along the meadow and also into some wooded areas, about 1.5 miles. We continued to see many flickers , Blue Jays, Yellow-rumped Warblers and an occasional Sharp-shinned Hawk overhead.
Our next birding spot was South Cape May Meadows. By this time the birding was not very good; none the less, it’s a great walk.
South Cape May Meadows
At this point some of the group went off to have lunch and some of us went to the Hawk Watch at Lighthouse Point State Park. I decided to walk the Monarch Trail which parallels Shallow Pond and Plover Pond 1 before turning into the marsh and wooded areas (about 1.06 miles).
Last birding spot for the day - I met up with some of the group at the Cape May Bird Observatory – Northwood Center. We watched a pair of Black-throated Blue Warblers feeding amongst the tree branches.
Long day of birding, about 9 hours and xx miles. Time to go back to the hotel, look at some pictures and get ready for a nice dinner.
