tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956631247598711162024-02-20T19:36:26.077-05:00Cape May Birding and WildlifeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-3019723709195456422011-04-12T19:59:00.000-04:002011-04-12T19:59:08.434-04:00Rounding Off GuyanaIt's been an age since I had time to finish off the Guyana trip, so here's the final part of the story...<br />
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From Kaieteur, we headed back towards the coast for an overnight stop at Baganara Island. This wasn't really my kind of place - more the sort of place people go to show off - but it was nice and peaceful and the different habitat gave us some new birds to look at. We headed out by boat on the evening to an amazing island of mangroves where several hundred Orange-winged Parrots came in to roost - quite a site, and quite a racket too! The following morning there was time to walk some open, scrubby grassland which proved to be good for Ash-throated Crakes and I found the only Bran-coloured Flycatcher of the trip. Spotted Sandpipers and South American Snipe really looked out of place feeding on the lawns, along with more-expected Collared Plovers and Chestnut-bellied Seedeaters.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_f3IP0LUjWA/TaTfjwM4qhI/AAAAAAAADSY/ElgH4x_8i3g/s1600/DSCN7980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_f3IP0LUjWA/TaTfjwM4qhI/AAAAAAAADSY/ElgH4x_8i3g/s400/DSCN7980.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Baganara Island - a little less lawn and a little more nice habitat could make this a real heaven-on-earth place to visit.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2peHHZ8-eFo/TaTft-hJpJI/AAAAAAAADSg/bDqoq3gllv4/s1600/_MG_9669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2peHHZ8-eFo/TaTft-hJpJI/AAAAAAAADSg/bDqoq3gllv4/s400/_MG_9669.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Collared Plovers graced the lawns at Baganara Island.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XXCd6ynpB6w/TaTfvzDsgoI/AAAAAAAADSk/Mmo005t-CEw/s1600/_MG_9711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XXCd6ynpB6w/TaTfvzDsgoI/AAAAAAAADSk/Mmo005t-CEw/s400/_MG_9711.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>This Common Tody-flycatcher couldn't resist peering at me as I sheltered in the bushes from a passing rain shower.</em></div><br />
From Baganara, we headed downriver, passing Eddie Grant's house on the way! We stopped close to the coast then transferred by road to Georgetown and had a couple of hours walking around the <br />
Botanic Gardens. This was actually just a park, but it proved to be a nice place to finish off, with a good range of generalist species, a number of which were new for our lists. I hadn't realised that the final dinner included a full-on press conference with TV and newspaper coverage!! We were called upon to talk to a number of dignitaries about the future of tourism in Guyana, something which is a relatively new venture for them and something for which there is still time to get the balance right and not go down the route of so many other countries...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MR6Zsn1ssRU/TaTfw3iGhrI/AAAAAAAADSo/ALEVA5hmWm4/s1600/_MG_9714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MR6Zsn1ssRU/TaTfw3iGhrI/AAAAAAAADSo/ALEVA5hmWm4/s400/_MG_9714.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Not exactly the showiest of Guyana's birds, Pale-breasted Thrushes were common at the botanic gardens.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cOclC9bdg94/TaTfyS_uHnI/AAAAAAAADSs/o5kSrzttWkc/s1600/_MG_9725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cOclC9bdg94/TaTfyS_uHnI/AAAAAAAADSs/o5kSrzttWkc/s400/_MG_9725.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Social Flycatcher hanging out on its own!</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E48Lv3niyZc/TaTfzocfqrI/AAAAAAAADSw/mge-QyXk2v4/s1600/_MG_9730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E48Lv3niyZc/TaTfzocfqrI/AAAAAAAADSw/mge-QyXk2v4/s400/_MG_9730.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Wattled Jacanas are common throughout much of the Neotropics and stomped around on floating vegetation at the botanic gardens.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NF01wRIPBaM/TaTf01MaiKI/AAAAAAAADS0/c4fNqV8cwJ0/s1600/_MG_9748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NF01wRIPBaM/TaTf01MaiKI/AAAAAAAADS0/c4fNqV8cwJ0/s400/_MG_9748.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Female Crimson-crested Woodpecker looks for lunch.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RgNkHkREBDk/TaTf2Cv-cjI/AAAAAAAADS4/rialh38HWyY/s1600/_MG_9753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RgNkHkREBDk/TaTf2Cv-cjI/AAAAAAAADS4/rialh38HWyY/s400/_MG_9753.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>The Sacred Lotus grows abundantly in ditches around Georgetown, having been introduced from Asia. The species has a special place in the minds of many people and always makes for interesting photo opportunities. This is a ripe seed head.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1hBWKqnKr7c/TaTf3fCRNyI/AAAAAAAADS8/Fw9G2xuZeEo/s1600/_MG_9755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1hBWKqnKr7c/TaTf3fCRNyI/AAAAAAAADS8/Fw9G2xuZeEo/s400/_MG_9755.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Sacred Lotus flower</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X_nZ3Cw7Ab4/TaTf5I2gu-I/AAAAAAAADTA/nHIcrW_Esl8/s1600/_MG_9780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X_nZ3Cw7Ab4/TaTf5I2gu-I/AAAAAAAADTA/nHIcrW_Esl8/s400/_MG_9780.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Yellow-bellied Elaenia was the last species to be added to our trip list.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bN3CbmaoV6E/TaTf6-0ec9I/AAAAAAAADTE/gQzwNXqKMUc/s1600/_MG_9786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bN3CbmaoV6E/TaTf6-0ec9I/AAAAAAAADTE/gQzwNXqKMUc/s400/_MG_9786.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Ruddy Ground-doves were very common around the coastal strip and often seen in sizeable feeding parties. These seven males and one female were part of a flock of over 40 in the botanic gardens.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JRuGhlD6WDE/TaTgBurq8FI/AAAAAAAADTI/TXDOhYvjFY4/s1600/_MG_9796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JRuGhlD6WDE/TaTgBurq8FI/AAAAAAAADTI/TXDOhYvjFY4/s400/_MG_9796.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>We had seen the Amazonian Water-lilies in their white, first-night colours; now finally we saw some flushed pink and getting ready to open in the evening to release the beetles entrapped for the day within.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gAOD_zEjpOY/TaTgDEeyG6I/AAAAAAAADTM/Y3PQVxwsEeo/s1600/_MG_9797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gAOD_zEjpOY/TaTgDEeyG6I/AAAAAAAADTM/Y3PQVxwsEeo/s400/_MG_9797.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Time to reflect on an awesome trip (and think about the drive home from New York!!).</em></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-43510137587091735662011-03-26T10:23:00.000-04:002011-03-26T10:23:36.677-04:00Kaieteur FallsDeparting from Iwokrama Forest by plane, we had one major appointment which we had postponed on the way out due to bad weather. And what an appointment it was! Flying north-west from Iwokrama, the land gradually became more hilly, more rocky. Still the area was rainforest to the horizon, broken just occasionally by some very remote gold mines along some of the smaller waterways. Suddenly, we were turning sharply and there, out of the port windows was one of the world's most spectacular waterfalls - Kaieteur. The pilot did us proud, making two passes so that everyone got a chance to take a picture out of their window (though Muggins here had landed the seat with the wing strut in the way!) Information on Kaieteur Falls seems rather conflicting and confused; it is often called the world's highest single-drop waterfall, though it isn't. What it does have is an impressive combination of height and volume of waterflow which puts it well up into the spectacular bracket for most people. The long drop of the falls has been measured at 226 meters (741 feet); adding on the cascades at the bottom, the total drop becomes 251 meters (822 feet) which puts it almost five times the height of Niagara Falls and about twice the height of Victoria Falls. For me though, what makes Kaiteur Falls so special is not the statistics but the location.<br />
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Kaieteur Falls is probably the greatest tourist attraction in Guyana (depends on your interests of course, some people may prefer the rum distilleries!) and yet, when you visit, you may be the only group to go there that week! This makes it a very special place indeed in this overcrowded world of ours. There is no entrance gate (- no entrance fee!), no queue to get in, nobody walking in front of you just as you press the shutter on the camera. There's not even a road to it - yes that old chestnut "You can't get there from here" almost rings true for Kaieteur! Best of all, there is no litter from those hateful people who pop up everywhere and feel the need to ruin everything for everyone else. Just your group and the wildlife.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GJI1VradK0s/TY3vaP4BwZI/AAAAAAAADPU/yVlH5z2fdng/s1600/DSCN7966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GJI1VradK0s/TY3vaP4BwZI/AAAAAAAADPU/yVlH5z2fdng/s400/DSCN7966.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Tank bromeliad (Brocchinia micrantha) towering over its admirers!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>We landed at the small airstrip and walked out to the first overlook - but our route was not without interest for the area has some spectacular tank bromeliads, massive plants that get most of their water needs by storing it in the leaf bases. Many bromeliads grow high up on the branches of rainforest trees but others are terrestrial (such as the Pineapple) and the Kaieteur bromeliads grow so large they would surely bring down any tree that they tried to grow on!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bQGHKjqp0rA/TY3vbjC41NI/AAAAAAAADPY/shH8RY3KV-M/s1600/DSCN7967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bQGHKjqp0rA/TY3vbjC41NI/AAAAAAAADPY/shH8RY3KV-M/s400/DSCN7967.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Looking into the heart of a bromeliad.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NdZff5oLtKI/TY3vdL0me_I/AAAAAAAADPc/MRS4XGLLsxY/s1600/DSCN7973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NdZff5oLtKI/TY3vdL0me_I/AAAAAAAADPc/MRS4XGLLsxY/s400/DSCN7973.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>The bromeliads had a special treat for us in store too, for there is a wonderful little golden frog, about the same size as the top section of your thumb which lives in the bromeliads and I'm sure that their tadpoles do a good job feeding on mosquito larvae! This is Colostethus beebei, a species of frog related to the poison-dart frogs found throughout the Neotropics.</em></div><br />
Another really special treat lies along the walk to Kaieteur Falls for those prepared to look. It's a species that we had seen several times already this trip but I had managed to get a photo - due to a combination of too many trees, poor light in the rainforest and the usual dice-roll in the unlucky stakes! Now was my turn though, for right in front of us was the most awesome pompom in dayglow orange, flaunting itself before us...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XXu6P_IggWE/TY3udbSIMCI/AAAAAAAADOY/eI-YUsnu9so/s1600/_MG_9578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XXu6P_IggWE/TY3udbSIMCI/AAAAAAAADOY/eI-YUsnu9so/s400/_MG_9578.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Guianan Cock-of-the-rock - one of the most stunning members of the cotinga family, a family which has more than its fair share of stunners!</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zHJYYnCicxY/TY3ueu1lPkI/AAAAAAAADOc/bshTDCPYnoE/s1600/_MG_9583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zHJYYnCicxY/TY3ueu1lPkI/AAAAAAAADOc/bshTDCPYnoE/s400/_MG_9583.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Guianan Cock-of-the-rock males display themselves in arenas called leks. The leks are visited by females who pick their favourite, mate with them, then shy away to a large rock somewhere to raise a brood in a nest which is somewhat precariously stuck to the side of the rock face. When sunlight hits a male - you need your sunglasses on!</em></div><br />
And so to the falls; the one tiny downside to the remoteness of Kaieteur is that you usually only get two hours there - so you have to get busy with the camera. Here's just a few of the ludicrously large number of pictures that I managed to cram into my time there!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gYXXeyO_g9E/TY3vYrB4utI/AAAAAAAADPQ/Fu9eVWF25ys/s1600/DSCN7960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gYXXeyO_g9E/TY3vYrB4utI/AAAAAAAADPQ/Fu9eVWF25ys/s400/DSCN7960.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>First views, as the plane makes a photo pass of the falls.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-k4GsY3fY2D4/TY3ucH1mK8I/AAAAAAAADOU/CSPyq0oDmcs/s1600/_MG_9559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-k4GsY3fY2D4/TY3ucH1mK8I/AAAAAAAADOU/CSPyq0oDmcs/s400/_MG_9559.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>View from the first overlook - we started from the furthest viewpoint and gradually worked closer. Note the tank bromeliad in the foreground.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RlR4rKkUJqE/TY3ufq4ZY-I/AAAAAAAADOg/iRjjliRxDl4/s1600/_MG_9585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RlR4rKkUJqE/TY3ufq4ZY-I/AAAAAAAADOg/iRjjliRxDl4/s400/_MG_9585.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Long-lens shot of the top of the falls.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vYax8PVoyM0/TY3uhIW6nDI/AAAAAAAADOk/WBxMmxps57s/s1600/_MG_9587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vYax8PVoyM0/TY3uhIW6nDI/AAAAAAAADOk/WBxMmxps57s/s400/_MG_9587.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Looking away from the falls over the tank bromeliads, the valley of the Potaro River cuts through the rocky plateau on its way to the coast. If you want to put a road in to the falls, this is what you're up against!</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-sMI3_fRR3CQ/TY3uitPBJJI/AAAAAAAADOo/InhX7cYdePI/s1600/_MG_9592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-sMI3_fRR3CQ/TY3uitPBJJI/AAAAAAAADOo/InhX7cYdePI/s400/_MG_9592.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>View from the second overlook.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OBkNf_Knn38/TY3ukmk86UI/AAAAAAAADOs/sUB6jk7NY04/s1600/_MG_9598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OBkNf_Knn38/TY3ukmk86UI/AAAAAAAADOs/sUB6jk7NY04/s400/_MG_9598.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Another view down the Potaro Valley. Coming to the falls by river is possible - but then you've got to find a way of climbing up through that lot if you want to visit the top of the falls!</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PYZcYZy6KFM/TY3umCKFR_I/AAAAAAAADOw/Fsi-ZgFg_EQ/s1600/_MG_9599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PYZcYZy6KFM/TY3umCKFR_I/AAAAAAAADOw/Fsi-ZgFg_EQ/s400/_MG_9599.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Sunlight + mist from the falls = rainbow shots!</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-EExq0PBUoFQ/TY3u0LkgnfI/AAAAAAAADO0/9YClulDfScA/s1600/_MG_9603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-EExq0PBUoFQ/TY3u0LkgnfI/AAAAAAAADO0/9YClulDfScA/s400/_MG_9603.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>PLEASE DON'T DO THIS - WE DIDN'T!!!! OK, we're all very naughty children, but it was kind of special being somewhere without a ton of guard rails and barriers; it really is fun looking over the edge of an 800-foot drop!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RZqWSYSjiHo/TY3u1gL5e-I/AAAAAAAADO4/V7An4nPPEfs/s1600/_MG_9610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RZqWSYSjiHo/TY3u1gL5e-I/AAAAAAAADO4/V7An4nPPEfs/s400/_MG_9610.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Some of the USA's top bird tour guides and award-holding travel writers contemplate not coming back from Guyana! Not only is it 800 feet to the bottom, but this rock has a spectacular undercut!!</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-85sZtn4cJaQ/TY3u3YXRDdI/AAAAAAAADO8/28CX7ZFtl3w/s1600/_MG_9623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-85sZtn4cJaQ/TY3u3YXRDdI/AAAAAAAADO8/28CX7ZFtl3w/s400/_MG_9623.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>At the falls themselves - here's the view from the top of the falls - where the water just disappears over the edge!</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ku1Iaym8TxY/TY3u4nlc4fI/AAAAAAAADPA/WWtcrukqwds/s1600/_MG_9625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ku1Iaym8TxY/TY3u4nlc4fI/AAAAAAAADPA/WWtcrukqwds/s400/_MG_9625.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Another view from the top, with the Potaro Valley and rising mist.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KwDWfsatY74/TY3u50X1doI/AAAAAAAADPE/CmxBF5_RRjI/s1600/_MG_9632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KwDWfsatY74/TY3u50X1doI/AAAAAAAADPE/CmxBF5_RRjI/s400/_MG_9632.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Standing on the very edge of the falls to get this shot looking straight down was something I might not do again in a hurry!</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-630POh2z_2o/TY3u75a8qUI/AAAAAAAADPI/j-QURJYrk0c/s1600/_MG_9634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-630POh2z_2o/TY3u75a8qUI/AAAAAAAADPI/j-QURJYrk0c/s400/_MG_9634.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>OK, I did do it again!</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9naIThsWHyc/TY3u9BdPoPI/AAAAAAAADPM/7Hh_9Ga7Mk8/s1600/_MG_9657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9naIThsWHyc/TY3u9BdPoPI/AAAAAAAADPM/7Hh_9Ga7Mk8/s400/_MG_9657.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>The parting shot; a farewell to Kaieteur Falls from the plane as we head to the coast and our last couple of days in Guyana...</em></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-41927344808250971552011-03-19T11:38:00.000-04:002011-03-19T11:38:12.805-04:00Iwokrama ForestDriving north from the Rupununi savanna, we were soon in a chain of low foothills. Passing through these, we entered the lowland rainforest again, this time entering the million or so acres of land that make up the Iwokrama Forest reserve. This is a spectacular reserve, crammed with everything you see on TV when they show you rainforest! Iwokrama is probably the best place in the world to see Jaguars in the wild - something we didn't manage on our whistle-stop familiarisation tour, but something I hope to see if I can get back there with a group. Our first stop was at the Atta Rainforest Lodge, a fabulous little place set in a forest clearing with Black Curassows wandering around on the lawn! Having checked into our rooms and got a few things sorted, we headed for the canopy walkway, a spectacular set of gantries and platforms that take you 90' up into the rainforest canopy for fabulous views and some good birding. It was dark by the time we got back to the lodge, but we'd all had plenty of rum and beers so no-one worried too much about what might be lurking out there as we found our way back along the trail!<br />
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Next morning saw us heading for the nearby main road to get a clear view of the trees and all the birds that were waking to a new dawn. Macaws, toucans and plenty of tanagers bustled everywhere we looked and an amazing purple and white Pompadour Cotinga added to the burgeoning list of cotingas we had been building. Guianan Toucanet, Long-tailed Tyrant, Black-eared Fairy, White-tailed Trogon, Black-necked Aracari, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Purple-throated Fruitcrow - the birds just kept coming. I took a short walk into the rainforest edge by the lodge at one point too and was soon greeted by a nice selection of antbirds, including Rufous-bellied and White-flanked Antwrens and a singing Guianan Warbling Antbird. We continued our journey north to the Iwokrama field station and a two-day stay at the river lodge. This was pretty luxurious we reckoned and a great place to feel like we were getting back to civilization (not necessarily a good thing!). The drive took us right through Iwokrama Forest and we made a good number of birding stops on the way. One of our best finds was a party of 11 Grey-winged Trumpeters feeding along the edge of the road. The river lodge gave us yet more spectacular birding in prime rainforest habitats, as well as some nice riverine habitats. Before heading back towards the coast, we visited the local butterfly farm. These farms are initiatives set up to provide employment for local people, whilst ensuring that the butterflies are not collected from the wild. Unfortunately, though intentions are good, certainly the latter objective is not met as it was clear from the guided tour we had that the butterflies are replenished regularly from the wild when disease or parasite problems cause the farm to fail. Given that the butterflies are only being farmed to supply similar facilities in the Western world (which are clearly themselves not sell-sustaining) it doesn't seem to me to be the best way to be treating these amazing creatures...<br />
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Anyway, here's some photos from Iwokrama..<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5xQjdjUIEtI/TYS073pUJ2I/AAAAAAAADMw/1RBblMLaZho/s1600/_MG_9416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5xQjdjUIEtI/TYS073pUJ2I/AAAAAAAADMw/1RBblMLaZho/s400/_MG_9416.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Black Spider Monkeys are common in Iwokrama and we saw several troups during our stay. Like most wild monkeys, they're wary of Humans (can say I blame them!) so it's tough to get good, close pictures of them.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6MrIOVJDoUY/TYS09LD6NwI/AAAAAAAADM0/NG196eWwPjs/s1600/_MG_9421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6MrIOVJDoUY/TYS09LD6NwI/AAAAAAAADM0/NG196eWwPjs/s400/_MG_9421.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another Black Spider Monkey gives us the eye - nice toupe!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7l-gceqX0zc/TYS0-WYr3VI/AAAAAAAADM4/2homYN-70Z8/s1600/_MG_9428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7l-gceqX0zc/TYS0-WYr3VI/AAAAAAAADM4/2homYN-70Z8/s400/_MG_9428.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The main route through Iwokrama Forest is the same dirt road to the coast that we had been travelling along on and off since we left Lethem.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-eImUdbc3cKE/TYS1AsV9C1I/AAAAAAAADM8/fhxORO8XTsQ/s1600/_MG_9435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-eImUdbc3cKE/TYS1AsV9C1I/AAAAAAAADM8/fhxORO8XTsQ/s400/_MG_9435.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Monkeys seem to be relatively common in Iwokrama and we were soon seeing several different species - this one is a Weeping Capuchin, which was busy having a light lunch of cecropia fruits.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vxJE-UyH8zw/TYS1BuOwN5I/AAAAAAAADNA/IV4PmRhCSWc/s1600/_MG_9454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vxJE-UyH8zw/TYS1BuOwN5I/AAAAAAAADNA/IV4PmRhCSWc/s400/_MG_9454.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Atta Rainforest Lodge proved to be a great place to see the impressive Black Currasow. These birds are about the size of a female Wild Turkey and, though they are truly wild birds, they seem to become habituated to humans fairly readily - as long as they're not shot for dinner!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DalQ8Vdg-zU/TYS1lqLZIxI/AAAAAAAADNk/egM-jzkXIEA/s1600/DSCN7927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DalQ8Vdg-zU/TYS1lqLZIxI/AAAAAAAADNk/egM-jzkXIEA/s400/DSCN7927.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our main reason for visiting Atta Rainforest Lodge was to see the cleverly-designed canopy walkway that they have there. The walkway sits 90 feet up in the forest canopy and is designed such that not a single screw, bolt or nail is put into a tree to keep it in place. It relies entirely on cross-supports that pull against each other and hold it all in place. Apparently, the whole structure is checked every six months to allow for any growth in the tree girth and prevent it from cutting into the trunks. Oh and the incentive to go out there? That red cool box you can see on the platform has the beers in it!!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-q1WbUiGggOQ/TYS1nIprJxI/AAAAAAAADNo/y_hACkrMyqM/s1600/DSCN7933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-q1WbUiGggOQ/TYS1nIprJxI/AAAAAAAADNo/y_hACkrMyqM/s400/DSCN7933.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The ever-intrepid Megan strides out along the swaying walkway!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-x7KF8AfSgO4/TYS1oUxs-jI/AAAAAAAADNs/piVHBmwbvdg/s1600/DSCN7935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-x7KF8AfSgO4/TYS1oUxs-jI/AAAAAAAADNs/piVHBmwbvdg/s400/DSCN7935.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can't have a good trip without a good guide and our main man on this trip was Wally Prince - a real gem, nice guy, great birder!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wSgT34lKb84/TYS1E_Nm1DI/AAAAAAAADNE/hVtWcnz8qP4/s1600/_MG_9462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wSgT34lKb84/TYS1E_Nm1DI/AAAAAAAADNE/hVtWcnz8qP4/s400/_MG_9462.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More of our group - yes, we all made it across to the cool box...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zFJHVfzmHl8/TYS1JTWotpI/AAAAAAAADNI/SQ_OkST8jQU/s1600/_MG_9465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zFJHVfzmHl8/TYS1JTWotpI/AAAAAAAADNI/SQ_OkST8jQU/s400/_MG_9465.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and settled down to watch the sun set while the parrots flew off to their night roosts - awesome!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-073gqU4jLCg/TYS1L8lZykI/AAAAAAAADNM/lRmyNtFUkPg/s1600/_MG_9520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-073gqU4jLCg/TYS1L8lZykI/AAAAAAAADNM/lRmyNtFUkPg/s400/_MG_9520.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At Iwokrama River Lodge, the wide, open lawns beside the river have become favourite feeding sites for the wonderful little Pied Lapwings that breed on sandbars in the rivers throughout the country.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xsVLsBDSKTQ/TYS1NXBPiCI/AAAAAAAADNQ/63qPHR8Kts0/s1600/_MG_9525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xsVLsBDSKTQ/TYS1NXBPiCI/AAAAAAAADNQ/63qPHR8Kts0/s400/_MG_9525.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another bird attracted to easy pickings around the lodge - Yellow-headed Caracara.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-U0Ff3qxjJ24/TYS1O2z9fiI/AAAAAAAADNU/8f5u-_aa2Cc/s1600/_MG_9540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-U0Ff3qxjJ24/TYS1O2z9fiI/AAAAAAAADNU/8f5u-_aa2Cc/s400/_MG_9540.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A boat trip to a bar across the river (yes, a bar with beers, not a sandbar!) gave us an opportunity to look for night wildlife on the way back. A Blackish Nightjar was our birding prize, but closer encounters were had of a number of reptiles and amphibians, including Schneider's Dwarf Caiman. Above is an eyeball to eyeball view of a Black Caiman that we found lurking at the edge of the river.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-RYFiuE-CnOs/TYS1QyvqU1I/AAAAAAAADNY/buVNyaZKmVY/s1600/_MG_9542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-RYFiuE-CnOs/TYS1QyvqU1I/AAAAAAAADNY/buVNyaZKmVY/s400/_MG_9542.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Most mornings started relatively cool, with whisps of mist drifting through the trees as the day slowly warmed after dawn.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6onKdme0Gt4/TYS1SYKXDXI/AAAAAAAADNc/ziRtasPRlN4/s1600/_MG_9545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6onKdme0Gt4/TYS1SYKXDXI/AAAAAAAADNc/ziRtasPRlN4/s400/_MG_9545.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If nothing else, the butterfly farm gave us a chance to photograph some of the flighty butterflies we had seen but not photographed in the murky depths of the rainforest. This is one of the Owl Butterflies - <em>Caligo idomeneus</em>.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WLK5Oz7DdCU/TYS1VIkVfFI/AAAAAAAADNg/KqMydR6AOM4/s1600/_MG_9549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WLK5Oz7DdCU/TYS1VIkVfFI/AAAAAAAADNg/KqMydR6AOM4/s400/_MG_9549.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Perhaps strangely from this shot, this blue, black and white butterfly is called a Red Cracker - but it is actually red underneath.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-g-IJ5K97s7w/TYS1pwjcmII/AAAAAAAADNw/r0s1jbE02_A/s1600/DSCN7947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-g-IJ5K97s7w/TYS1pwjcmII/AAAAAAAADNw/r0s1jbE02_A/s400/DSCN7947.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our plane awaits! Having spent many years at the whim of international airline companies and international airports, it is pretty nice to be able to drive up to your plane, load your own bag on (knowing it hasn't been treated like a piece of junk by a couldn't-care-less baggage handler) and take off just as soon as your settled in and comfy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next post - the AWESOME Kaieteur Falls!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-45326827575605197082011-03-15T23:18:00.001-04:002011-03-15T23:22:09.945-04:00More Rupununi & Rewa LodgeFrom Yupukari, we continued our journey by boat along the Rupununi River, watching the world and its wildlife pass us by as a seemingly endless procession of Wood Storks, Cocoi Herons, Lesser Yellow-headed Vultures, Ringed, Green and Amazon Kingfishers, Drab Water-tyrants (yes, there really is a bird called that!) and parties of Black Skimmers and Large-billed and Yellow-billed Terns entertained us. Eventually we arrived at Ginep Landing, from where we transfered to a very different form of transport - an ex-British Army Bedford truck! We bounced along a dirt track which is actually Guyana's only road that runs from the coast right into the interior as far as Lethem on the Brazilian border - some road! We rattled and shook, but still managed nice views of a range of good birds, a few monkeys and some fabulous scenery as we passed a range of low hills along the edge of the savanna. Eventually we made it to Annai, had a refreshing glass of home-made lemonade (well, a couple of Banks's Beer for some of us!) at Rock View Lodge then soon headed back to the river to resume our journey. <br />
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Another 50 miles on the river lay ahead of us and a little over two hours later we arrived at Rewa village. The villagers here had heard about these people called 'tourists' who would be interested in their rainforest and the wildlife that they lived amongst. So they took advice on building a 'lodge' (though they knew not what that was when they started!) and - so they told us - they waited for the tourists to arrive. For a year! No-one told them about advertising, they just were told that tourists would come. Luckily for them, we did come and the word about Rewa is getting out. It was a spectacular place to be. With breakfasts served overlooking the river, boat trips to look for Arapaima and Black Caiman and a whole host of great birds to be found, we certainly had as great time here. Highlights included more macaws than we could ever have hoped for, a Great Potoo found by our own Jim Danzenbaker at a daytime roost, masses of toucans, great flocks of antbirds and much more. We were sad to leave Rewa, but all itching to return and spend even more time here on a return visit.<br />
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From Rewa, it was back to something resembling civilization as we went by river back to Rockview Lodge for lunch, then by road into the truly wonderful Iwokrama Forest. Picture time now....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Cny5BEw5_uo/TYAWAGNgNgI/AAAAAAAADK0/VHHXliRDyww/s1600/_MG_9168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Cny5BEw5_uo/TYAWAGNgNgI/AAAAAAAADK0/VHHXliRDyww/s400/_MG_9168.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Typical river view on the boat trip from Yupukari to Ginpe Landing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FCvMWtr8_Qw/TYAWB0dUnAI/AAAAAAAADK4/R0da_s4VYG8/s1600/_MG_9181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FCvMWtr8_Qw/TYAWB0dUnAI/AAAAAAAADK4/R0da_s4VYG8/s400/_MG_9181.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Guyana's major trunk road! The dusty trail that heads into the foothills from the Rupununi savanna is the only road to reach from the coast to the far interior. It may seem primitive, but it keeps everything in perspective and helps protect this wonderful land. One day, a surfaced road will replace it...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zQ84ARKFZP4/TYAWDAaJmoI/AAAAAAAADK8/suMd3eufxZs/s1600/_MG_9198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zQ84ARKFZP4/TYAWDAaJmoI/AAAAAAAADK8/suMd3eufxZs/s400/_MG_9198.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Savanna view with some low-key cattle ranching.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oVS7sOrHWPg/TYAVv-BljRI/AAAAAAAADKg/tsKcOe8NAlQ/s1600/DSCN7847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oVS7sOrHWPg/TYAVv-BljRI/AAAAAAAADKg/tsKcOe8NAlQ/s400/DSCN7847.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Getting ready to depart from Kwatamang Landing on the Rupununi River.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ph_CcHCZY1I/TYAVyw4GL2I/AAAAAAAADKk/ltBnV3CSDT0/s1600/DSCN7848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ph_CcHCZY1I/TYAVyw4GL2I/AAAAAAAADKk/ltBnV3CSDT0/s400/DSCN7848.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The World Wildlife Fund is helping to protect threatened populations of Arapaima. This is a spectacular fish - the largest species of scaled fish in the world - and (of course) its very size has been its downfall as so-called 'sportsmen' began to flood in and pose with a dead one. Fortunately this is now properly controlled with a government licensing system and Arapaima numbers are beginning to recover. We actually came surprisingly close to one on one of the many ox-bow lakes in the area and just managed to see a flash of fins as a monster rose from the depths right beside our canoe!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CwRbi77ruEU/TYAV0a3BccI/AAAAAAAADKo/XsIjjkuxaAs/s1600/DSCN7849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CwRbi77ruEU/TYAV0a3BccI/AAAAAAAADKo/XsIjjkuxaAs/s400/DSCN7849.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Every day should start like this! Breakfast beside the Rewa River - with parrots, toucans, and genuinely wild Muscovy Ducks for company!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7-MILAzvuHE/TYAWE06rf8I/AAAAAAAADLA/NJpvpHjjX14/s1600/_MG_9242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7-MILAzvuHE/TYAWE06rf8I/AAAAAAAADLA/NJpvpHjjX14/s400/_MG_9242.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At Rewa, one of the treats was going out to a nearby Ox-bow lake to see the football-sized flowers and six-foot across leaves of the superb Amazon Water-lily. The flowers open in the evening and are pollinated at night by beetles. On the first night, the flowers are white (like this one) to attract the beetles. As dawn creeps on, the petals close up and trap the beetles inside for the day, thus ensuring pollination. On the second night, the flowers turn pink and re-open, releasing the beetles, who fly off to find another white flower and ensure cross-pollination. (You'll have to wait until the end to see pink ones!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qZH_16t1mA0/TYAWGd6tSBI/AAAAAAAADLE/DWMEMRITYB8/s1600/_MG_9250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qZH_16t1mA0/TYAWGd6tSBI/AAAAAAAADLE/DWMEMRITYB8/s400/_MG_9250.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yellow-rumped Cacique with its amazing sky-blue eye.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7tVTgG_QcBw/TYAWHlyHn-I/AAAAAAAADLI/9Ly8EyT709E/s1600/_MG_9287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7tVTgG_QcBw/TYAWHlyHn-I/AAAAAAAADLI/9Ly8EyT709E/s400/_MG_9287.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Blue-and-yellow Macaws as they should be seen - paired for life, calling raucously and enjoying the freedom of their homeland...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MjJLyINWvmQ/TYAWIrJSBpI/AAAAAAAADLM/8swPihDv0Ig/s1600/_MG_9297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MjJLyINWvmQ/TYAWIrJSBpI/AAAAAAAADLM/8swPihDv0Ig/s400/_MG_9297.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If there's one thing I could really do without in the rainforests of Guyana, it's those Red Howler Monkeys sounding off at first light every morning - this male looks particularly guilty!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JolyTF6JrM4/TYAq-VAGFmI/AAAAAAAADMA/zk18tvGCJq8/s1600/rainforest+school2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JolyTF6JrM4/TYAq-VAGFmI/AAAAAAAADMA/zk18tvGCJq8/s400/rainforest+school2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A special highlight of Rewa was being invited to the local primary school where I'm not sure that the kids knew what to make of us - but they all seemed to be having a good time!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZSuWgEOJc4o/TYAq_9JqYSI/AAAAAAAADME/6_wB3GBUC4w/s1600/rainforest+school4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZSuWgEOJc4o/TYAq_9JqYSI/AAAAAAAADME/6_wB3GBUC4w/s400/rainforest+school4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"I believe the children are our future </div><div style="text-align: center;">Teach them well and let them lead the way </div><div style="text-align: center;">Show them all the beauty they possess inside </div><div style="text-align: center;">Give them a sense of pride to make it easier</div><div style="text-align: center;">Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be...."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Written by Michael Masser & Linda Creed and originally sung by the great George Benson, the lyrics to <em>The Greatest Love Of All</em> are probably best known to most as sung by Whitney Houston. Whatever your take on it, the words are approriate more than ever today and it was wonderful to see the children of Rewa village being taught about their natural heritage so that they may respect and look after it and pass it on to their own children. In the picture here, some of them are up on the stage and singing a song that had been written especially for our visit. The song invited us to come to their village and see the Arapaima, Giant Otter and Harpy Eagle, which they had drawn for us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NyaHozk18AM/TYAWMEx56vI/AAAAAAAADLQ/1-1AKd0vIY8/s1600/_MG_9318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NyaHozk18AM/TYAWMEx56vI/AAAAAAAADLQ/1-1AKd0vIY8/s400/_MG_9318.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When you're walking trails that are visited by so few people, you never quite know what you are going to find. This male Little Tinamou was sitting on eggs right beside the trail up Awarmie Mountain and sat nervously as we all took a peak then went on our way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WcrOk9lXZAg/TYAWa2rSnkI/AAAAAAAADLU/MpkDg8Xq2Vo/s1600/_MG_9327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WcrOk9lXZAg/TYAWa2rSnkI/AAAAAAAADLU/MpkDg8Xq2Vo/s400/_MG_9327.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Awarmie Mountain is more a pimple really, but the surrounding land is so flat that you don't need to go very high before you get spectacular views of the rainforest and the Rupununi River.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-oYBJ0_mmE3A/TYAWdpiDK6I/AAAAAAAADLY/xXEc8u8CjjA/s1600/_MG_9334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-oYBJ0_mmE3A/TYAWdpiDK6I/AAAAAAAADLY/xXEc8u8CjjA/s400/_MG_9334.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another great view to distant horizons.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hzlToTRhs_Y/TYAWgDw3GMI/AAAAAAAADLc/PrTHmRxYFPc/s1600/_MG_9341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hzlToTRhs_Y/TYAWgDw3GMI/AAAAAAAADLc/PrTHmRxYFPc/s400/_MG_9341.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The extrusions of rock in southern Guyana create some fascinating places to explore - and great places for bats and all manner of other beasties to hide.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aMV3xjPI97U/TYAWkLXwLyI/AAAAAAAADLg/cDVlWTSoGQE/s1600/_MG_9348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aMV3xjPI97U/TYAWkLXwLyI/AAAAAAAADLg/cDVlWTSoGQE/s400/_MG_9348.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As we came back down Awarmie Mountain, this Ludovica Tigerwing was nectaring beside the trail. This is one of an interesting group of butterflies in the Monarch family which resemble poisonous Heliconiid butterflies - but are, in fact, themselves poisonous too. This form of mimicry is known as Mullerian Mimicry, where potentially poisonous/dangerous species resemble each other so that all benefit from the same predator protection.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JRPY55BSoX4/TYAnHkUhwCI/AAAAAAAADL8/FniKRu0zelk/s1600/_MG_9359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JRPY55BSoX4/TYAnHkUhwCI/AAAAAAAADL8/FniKRu0zelk/s400/_MG_9359.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As the sun got ever lower in the sky, our visit to Awarmie Mountain took an unexpected turn as we watched parties of Red-and-green Macaws fly right past us and settle in nearby Cecropia trees for the most terrible conversational din, before heading off to roost. A fantastic bonus to the tour. Scarlet and Blue-and-yellow Macaws came with them too. The sight of such awesome birds living free is an increasingly rare thing these days, but hope springs eternal in this magical land.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EpOSM4tXido/TYAWmZjyRvI/AAAAAAAADLo/VhdoS0IW8no/s1600/_MG_9361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EpOSM4tXido/TYAWmZjyRvI/AAAAAAAADLo/VhdoS0IW8no/s400/_MG_9361.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More Red-and-greens pass by on their way to roost. Every macaw we saw was flying in tandem with its soul mate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yem7Rh3c1dI/TYAWnkYKIZI/AAAAAAAADLs/e0CHofF-ZM4/s1600/_MG_9387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yem7Rh3c1dI/TYAWnkYKIZI/AAAAAAAADLs/e0CHofF-ZM4/s400/_MG_9387.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the thrill of the macaw roost, the day could only finish with a spectacular sunset over the river - you can just see the moon to the right there too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DtBSm6RiqSk/TYAWo0m4ITI/AAAAAAAADLw/Rt2mKbPwIEo/s1600/_MG_9390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DtBSm6RiqSk/TYAWo0m4ITI/AAAAAAAADLw/Rt2mKbPwIEo/s400/_MG_9390.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back in the boats, back on the Rupununi and back to Rock View! Time for some photos of Black Skimmers and Large-billed Terns on the way though.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-e3nYSsOBvTc/TYAWrcsj06I/AAAAAAAADL0/P70hWybYyFQ/s1600/_MG_9396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-e3nYSsOBvTc/TYAWrcsj06I/AAAAAAAADL0/P70hWybYyFQ/s400/_MG_9396.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More Black Skimmers, settling on a sand-bar.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-19oKLCw9gCU/TYAV23DLOgI/AAAAAAAADKs/aiu-2tIdpRQ/s1600/DSCN7918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-19oKLCw9gCU/TYAV23DLOgI/AAAAAAAADKs/aiu-2tIdpRQ/s400/DSCN7918.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Christina, Jeff and Megan hurtle back along the Rupununi...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-B98z7j7Pooo/TYAV5AgA-ZI/AAAAAAAADKw/UDFx_NBhznk/s1600/DSCN7920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-B98z7j7Pooo/TYAV5AgA-ZI/AAAAAAAADKw/UDFx_NBhznk/s400/DSCN7920.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The view from Rock View Lodge, across the savanna to Mt. Makarapan. The dirt in the foreground is the local airstrip!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZOyG50JJbcQ/TYAWsRUNn8I/AAAAAAAADL4/bY3C3Jn6Vxk/s1600/_MG_9405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZOyG50JJbcQ/TYAWsRUNn8I/AAAAAAAADL4/bY3C3Jn6Vxk/s400/_MG_9405.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And finally for this post, one of the Rock View locals - a <em>Tropidurus hispidus</em>. This is one of the collared lizards which has so many different English names that I almost lost the will to live trying to decide which one to use. Time for another Banks's!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next Post - Iwokrama and beyond.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-62706561422663628292011-03-07T23:10:00.001-05:002011-03-09T21:16:01.456-05:00Guyana - The RupununiThe Rupununi is an area of southern Guyana, mostly covered in grassy savanna, that surrounds the Rupununi River as it wends its way from the Kanuku Mountains to join the mighty Essequibo River. Having landed at Lethem and travelled east across the savanna in my last post, we were now back in the rainforest on the edge of the Kanuku Mountains. Awaking to a rainforest dawn, in a straw-thatched hut in a small clearing is a truly awesome experience. The bulk of the noises we were hearing were coming from one of the most famous of rainforest noise-makers - the Screaming Piha. This bird is not much to look at, but it has the most incredible call, made famous by many a film producer when searching for an inappropriate backing track!! Breakfast was punctuated by tales of tarantulas in the shower, bats in the ceiling and 10-inch centipedes on the floor - but it was all harmless stuff! We were to spend the day walking up through rainforest into the Kanuku Mountains to reach Jordan Falls, a waterfall only relatively recently discovered by the western world during an aerial survey project and still having been visited by less than 100 tourists! After our adventures at the falls, we headed back across the savanna, breaking our journey with a night with the caiman researchers at Yupukari and a wonderful breakfast with the remarkable Diana McTurk and her Giant Otters. So here's today's picture essay for you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--O-fo46xo8E/TXWWKlcsLVI/AAAAAAAADJE/vobJIhDXz-E/s1600/DSCN7715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--O-fo46xo8E/TXWWKlcsLVI/AAAAAAAADJE/vobJIhDXz-E/s400/DSCN7715.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maipaima Eco-Lodge sits in a tiny clearing in pristine rainforest. The lodge buildings are all on stilts as the river overflows here during the rainy season.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-chttod3j-j0/TXWWMMTL7gI/AAAAAAAADJI/5-avUntUcOs/s1600/DSCN7722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-chttod3j-j0/TXWWMMTL7gI/AAAAAAAADJI/5-avUntUcOs/s400/DSCN7722.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was no straightforward hike - even the very start of the hike saw us crossing a fallen tree over the river to get into the rainforest.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LqP8CB6eWhg/TXWWNQOP5cI/AAAAAAAADJM/5gYhiKTyNsM/s1600/DSCN7723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LqP8CB6eWhg/TXWWNQOP5cI/AAAAAAAADJM/5gYhiKTyNsM/s400/DSCN7723.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some of the enormous, buttressed trees that we passed in the lower section of our walk were well over 100 feet tall, their heads disappearing above the main rainforest canopy. Such trees offer some great opportunities for artistic photography.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PWnv_Kl1QJo/TXWWPAJaG3I/AAAAAAAADJQ/TyXvt3BMfu8/s1600/DSCN7732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PWnv_Kl1QJo/TXWWPAJaG3I/AAAAAAAADJQ/TyXvt3BMfu8/s400/DSCN7732.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Intricate roots weave their way into the ground from a rainforest giant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Mhn5bv3iU9c/TXWV0gOulJI/AAAAAAAADIQ/B58mihIpcEw/s1600/_MG_8888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Mhn5bv3iU9c/TXWV0gOulJI/AAAAAAAADIQ/B58mihIpcEw/s400/_MG_8888.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On one of biggest trees, we came across this lone Greater White-lined Bat (<em>Saccopteryx bilineata</em>) which was spending the day in a typical posture for the species. This is one of the group of species known as sac-winged bats and these animals habitually spend the day resting head down on a vertical surface (most often a tree trunk). Note the two pale lines down the back of this species.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-cGj_63tw4vQ/TXWV2EMsN2I/AAAAAAAADIU/pmNymbcKhyM/s1600/_MG_8902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-cGj_63tw4vQ/TXWV2EMsN2I/AAAAAAAADIU/pmNymbcKhyM/s400/_MG_8902.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Further up the trail, we detoured to an outcrop of large rocks, a number of which were to be a feature of this walk. Large caverns formed between the rocks offered dry roost sites for bats, such as these Seba's Short-tailed Bats which grinned at us as we peeked in on them - I'm sure I saw one wink at me too!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2hbTGL1VfbQ/TXWWQ6zY5FI/AAAAAAAADJU/3N-u-bdb9zc/s1600/DSCN7740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2hbTGL1VfbQ/TXWWQ6zY5FI/AAAAAAAADJU/3N-u-bdb9zc/s400/DSCN7740.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As well as the large rock outcrops, a seemingly never ending network of crystal clear streams needed to be crossed and re-crossed as we pressed on up the mountain. Here's just one of countless pictures I couldn't resist taking!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_CUFA3GYmt8/TXWWTdhVbSI/AAAAAAAADJY/dn3E98ffQJo/s1600/DSCN7754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_CUFA3GYmt8/TXWWTdhVbSI/AAAAAAAADJY/dn3E98ffQJo/s400/DSCN7754.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fording all those streams meant inumerable footwear changes - though in the end we gave up and just sacrificed sandals to the wet! Megan's still in repetitive footwear changing mode here, while our guide, Wally has seen it all before!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cxDdHfcdtf4/TXWWYEvBadI/AAAAAAAADJk/eKqXUGTCtPM/s1600/DSCN7797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cxDdHfcdtf4/TXWWYEvBadI/AAAAAAAADJk/eKqXUGTCtPM/s400/DSCN7797.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jordan Falls, our destination! We arrived late afternoon and sat out on the rocks while staff from the lodge cooked dinner in a make-shift kitchen that they have built just back under the trees. The waterfall drops in several stages and we were actually on a flattish section about half way up the falls - this picture is looking up towards the top, which is up beyond the trees here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jW2ORRnr4mo/TXWWVJjtE9I/AAAAAAAADJc/T24k7whoj4w/s1600/DSCN7772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jW2ORRnr4mo/TXWWVJjtE9I/AAAAAAAADJc/T24k7whoj4w/s400/DSCN7772.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As evening drew on, mist began to form in ribbons over the cool valleys below us and we sat on the rocks and listened to White Bellbirds chiming away in the forest. You can just see the rest of our group, sitting above the main drop of the falls which takes the river down through the valley ahead. We stayed here until well after dark and marvelled at an incredible sky full of stars, all free of artificial light polution (oh, and we sank a fair amount of Guyanan rum too - something that was to become a regular feature of this trip!!).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mbf_ISt1Z50/TXWWWuAQ35I/AAAAAAAADJg/p5hoikgFQIg/s1600/DSCN7782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mbf_ISt1Z50/TXWWWuAQ35I/AAAAAAAADJg/p5hoikgFQIg/s400/DSCN7782.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Frugal living! Yes, we really did spend the night in hammocks under a blue tarpaulin. Rough as it sounds, it was an incredible experience which was very restful until 12:30 when a heavy rainstorm had us all making sure that our overnight bags were safely in the dry!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wVRkYv-VXHc/TXWWZacWYWI/AAAAAAAADJo/ej-E6pSpY00/s1600/DSCN7808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wVRkYv-VXHc/TXWWZacWYWI/AAAAAAAADJo/ej-E6pSpY00/s400/DSCN7808.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After lunch back at the camp next day, we said fond farewells to the Makushi people who had looked after us during our stay at Maipaima.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ITQPMT7eCYo/TXWWbY0XzbI/AAAAAAAADJs/iDP6aHopoHA/s1600/DSCN7829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ITQPMT7eCYo/TXWWbY0XzbI/AAAAAAAADJs/iDP6aHopoHA/s400/DSCN7829.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With so many rivers and so few roads, travelling around Guyana by boat is pretty much an inevitability. It's certainly a pleasant way to get around and far better than bouncing around in four-wheel drive vehicles! Our next port of call was Caiman House at Yupukari where we spent the night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2q0KYRfy5_I/TXWV27gveOI/AAAAAAAADIY/yvObKkrWEjE/s1600/_MG_8933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2q0KYRfy5_I/TXWV27gveOI/AAAAAAAADIY/yvObKkrWEjE/s400/_MG_8933.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">During the evening at Yupukari, we went out with the research team who are studying Black Caimans. Using a lot of skill and guile, they catch the caimans after dark and bring them up to a nearby sandbank for processing. This male was about seven feet long and more than a handful - note the tape on the snappy jaws! The caimans are measured, weighed and various other sets of data collected. Each one is individually marked so that it can be identified if recaptured and the data is used to study populations, movements and various other things. It was quite an experience to get a chance to handle such amazing creatures...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FMqFElVFEDM/TXWV3arAdkI/AAAAAAAADIc/8ILCvPLQ2Mk/s1600/_MG_8952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FMqFElVFEDM/TXWV3arAdkI/AAAAAAAADIc/8ILCvPLQ2Mk/s400/_MG_8952.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Travelling by boat again the next day, we took time to enjoy some of the riverine wildlife. On this particular stretch, Cocoi Herons were plentiful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-v4cgBx0yT2U/TXWV4YM_VUI/AAAAAAAADIg/dUjsG1sjojE/s1600/_MG_9000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-v4cgBx0yT2U/TXWV4YM_VUI/AAAAAAAADIg/dUjsG1sjojE/s400/_MG_9000.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Also common along the river were Green Iguanas, some a good five feet long.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-VBnzS6gcGbA/TXWV6PiwFZI/AAAAAAAADIk/fhViWVdnEEg/s1600/_MG_9014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-VBnzS6gcGbA/TXWV6PiwFZI/AAAAAAAADIk/fhViWVdnEEg/s400/_MG_9014.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had a long way to travel today and left Caiman House at first light. We broke our journey for breakfast at Karanambu Ranch, a place that still has traces of a colonial past.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KvBgd32LFmo/TXWV7_2Z5HI/AAAAAAAADIo/rUwTfDCA4uY/s1600/_MG_9047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KvBgd32LFmo/TXWV7_2Z5HI/AAAAAAAADIo/rUwTfDCA4uY/s400/_MG_9047.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Breakfast at Karanambu Ranch was shared with the local residents; here, an adult and immature Red-capped Cardinal and a Palm Tanager (at the back) tuck in to bread scraps.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yT1GBxmD0WI/TXWWdXQitgI/AAAAAAAADJw/ajtQ__ikUqo/s1600/DSCN7837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yT1GBxmD0WI/TXWWdXQitgI/AAAAAAAADJw/ajtQ__ikUqo/s400/DSCN7837.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Karanambu is home to Diana McTurk, one of those extra special people that you chance upon just a few times in life. Diana has established a rescue centre for Giant Otters, which she works at rehabilitating back to the wild.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WuBIS9DStSY/TXWV9smNwXI/AAAAAAAADIs/ox7DU8YnzgQ/s1600/_MG_9062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WuBIS9DStSY/TXWV9smNwXI/AAAAAAAADIs/ox7DU8YnzgQ/s400/_MG_9062.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Diana currently has two young Giant Otters (yes, these really are not fully grown yet!) and we got a chance for a photo call when they were taken down to the river for their breakfast.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DotTa2zatls/TXWV-zOypAI/AAAAAAAADIw/lz4ry7Qtk-0/s1600/_MG_9087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DotTa2zatls/TXWV-zOypAI/AAAAAAAADIw/lz4ry7Qtk-0/s400/_MG_9087.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sFykJzbHH7g/TXWWA3s3O-I/AAAAAAAADI0/vk-QmpX8azM/s1600/_MG_9116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sFykJzbHH7g/TXWWA3s3O-I/AAAAAAAADI0/vk-QmpX8azM/s400/_MG_9116.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j6khxoKZl_4/TXWWCL1NcRI/AAAAAAAADI4/Q-8IkFeOqGY/s1600/_MG_9127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j6khxoKZl_4/TXWWCL1NcRI/AAAAAAAADI4/Q-8IkFeOqGY/s400/_MG_9127.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BPIrrIc-rZs/TXWWD9G2TQI/AAAAAAAADI8/EqJrTrHNsmE/s1600/_MG_9132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BPIrrIc-rZs/TXWWD9G2TQI/AAAAAAAADI8/EqJrTrHNsmE/s400/_MG_9132.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BJtvzy-tTQQ/TXWWF5YmHhI/AAAAAAAADJA/uzsvBYPt05Q/s1600/_MG_9153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BJtvzy-tTQQ/TXWWF5YmHhI/AAAAAAAADJA/uzsvBYPt05Q/s400/_MG_9153.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Giant Otters at six feet away are pretty awesome!!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-84170671078027930132011-03-06T08:38:00.000-05:002011-03-06T08:38:51.004-05:00Guyana!No posts for a while? Well, it's all been a bit hectic at work as I'm changing jobs, which currently means doing two jobs while a replacement is found for the one I'm leaving! On top of that, Megan and I headed down to Guyana a short while ago to check out the country with a view to running some tours them in the future - so there's been a lot of photographs to work through. Well, I know this is a Cape May blog, but there's no harm in sharing life experiences, so I'll do some gallery posts of Guyana to whet the appetite...<br />
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Our collective arrival in Guyana was somewhat convoluted as Megan had to arrive from Mexico via JFK, New York as a result of a change in flight times. This meant that we arrived on different days but we did meet up as planned, on the day that we were heading for the interior with the rest of our group. Arriving in Guyana, we soon found out what rainforest really was all about, as a 40-minute boat ride to our first lodge saw the heavens pummel us - and our gear! Luckily the boats has ample covers, otherwise we might just have well swum! Our first port of call was Arrowpoint Nature Resort, a small lodge beside a creek with beautiful views across riverine grassland and rainforest.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9jIz5gbzFB4/TXN3FzmWugI/AAAAAAAADHE/7e42nPeM6vg/s1600/DSCN7630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9jIz5gbzFB4/TXN3FzmWugI/AAAAAAAADHE/7e42nPeM6vg/s400/DSCN7630.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Arrowpoint has some nice patches of riverine grassland which offer wider vistas than are possible in a rainforest - and the birds are easier to see too! The tall grass in the foreground is used by the local Arawak people for making arrow shafts and gives the lodge its name.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-01ZKf3omhsY/TXN3I9xLyPI/AAAAAAAADHI/OJ2ilKi8Ues/s1600/DSCN7632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-01ZKf3omhsY/TXN3I9xLyPI/AAAAAAAADHI/OJ2ilKi8Ues/s400/DSCN7632.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Immediately behind the lodge, a series of trails runs through the forest and - as was to be the case the whole trip - our group were the only people here. The closest we came to a Jaguar this trip (as far as we know!) was when we found fresh footprints on this trail; it had just finished raining when we entered the forest, yet the prints were on top of the rain marks in the sand...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6cHKCSVZu5g/TXOCcWebezI/AAAAAAAADHQ/j_8yXHlaYfo/s1600/DSCN7638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6cHKCSVZu5g/TXOCcWebezI/AAAAAAAADHQ/j_8yXHlaYfo/s400/DSCN7638.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">... and here's one of them! Not easy to see, but it's as big as my hand - one heck of a kitty! There can be little doubt that this animal saw us, even though we didn't see him...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ql5VKymIbkA/TXN25Rgm6II/AAAAAAAADGs/Zu1LqAp_6lc/s1600/_MG_8761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ql5VKymIbkA/TXN25Rgm6II/AAAAAAAADGs/Zu1LqAp_6lc/s400/_MG_8761.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A male white-tailed Trogon right outside my room was the first of many on the trip.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-S5IqDNu7_JY/TXN28x4_LOI/AAAAAAAADG4/Cny15m5vTR0/s1600/_MG_8830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-S5IqDNu7_JY/TXN28x4_LOI/AAAAAAAADG4/Cny15m5vTR0/s400/_MG_8830.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Black-necked Aracari - these small toucans were seen regularly throughout our stay, often feeding on the fruits of Cecropia trees. This one was looking pretty soggy after a heavy shower!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-U_nObVSQxV8/TXN296yryNI/AAAAAAAADG8/5WJssYMLDeo/s1600/_MG_8837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-U_nObVSQxV8/TXN296yryNI/AAAAAAAADG8/5WJssYMLDeo/s400/_MG_8837.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Male Crimson-crested Woodpecker feeding on Moriche Palm fruits at Arrowpoint.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nCBT5bSxbjY/TXN267ntRLI/AAAAAAAADGw/_WV4IL66Tu0/s1600/_MG_8797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nCBT5bSxbjY/TXN267ntRLI/AAAAAAAADGw/_WV4IL66Tu0/s400/_MG_8797.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With not much in the way of reference, dragonflies were generally tough to identify - but this appears to be a female Schmidt's Skimmer (<em>Orthemis schmidtii</em>).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FzzHoB1N7ik/TXN27yba1HI/AAAAAAAADG0/e63R40C9OQg/s1600/_MG_8803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FzzHoB1N7ik/TXN27yba1HI/AAAAAAAADG0/e63R40C9OQg/s400/_MG_8803.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The huge, electric-blue Morpho butterflies that flap restlessly through the South American forests are truly awesome; but when they land, their sombre underwings allow them to almost disappear in the darkened forest understorey. This one is <em>Morpho menelaus</em>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--J1nkQiZFis/TXOGG-AUk6I/AAAAAAAADHU/OOYLwRYEYf0/s1600/_MG_8785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--J1nkQiZFis/TXOGG-AUk6I/AAAAAAAADHU/OOYLwRYEYf0/s400/_MG_8785.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are no hummingbird feeders at the lodges, so you have to work hard to get good views of hummers. This female Fork-tailed Woodnymph took a rest during a rain shower at Arrowpoint.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HgtEw3ruJ3A/TXN3Kf-pT3I/AAAAAAAADHM/kcitmUMqeUU/s1600/DSCN7639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HgtEw3ruJ3A/TXN3Kf-pT3I/AAAAAAAADHM/kcitmUMqeUU/s400/DSCN7639.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Arrowpoint at dusk. We rounded off our stay at Arrowpoint Nature Resort with dinner served on the river bank and a nice campfire roaring away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>From Arrowpoint we travelled by boat back to the main airport near the capital, Georgetown. Guyana has an abundance of rivers and boat trips were to be almost daily experiences for us - I must say, it's the first time that I've travelled to an airport by boat though! We were now heading south, into the interior and to places where few tourists have yet travelled. On our way down, we were scheduled to visit the remarkable Kaieteur Falls, but heavy rain and low cloud literally put a dampener on our visit - miss the falls or crash; hmmm, not a tough decision!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-N1zaUzacaUs/TXOHdc_MxpI/AAAAAAAADH8/xXhAKrLEEcg/s1600/DSCN7693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-N1zaUzacaUs/TXOHdc_MxpI/AAAAAAAADH8/xXhAKrLEEcg/s400/DSCN7693.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It takes about two hours to fly from the coast down to Lethem, a frontier town on the border with Brazil and the starting point of our adventures in Guyana. We flew in this 14-seater plane which gave plenty of opportunity for some aerial photography...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QS6cDM2UBR0/TXOHNRt2KlI/AAAAAAAADHg/RXbk_LgaLkM/s1600/DSCN7657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QS6cDM2UBR0/TXOHNRt2KlI/AAAAAAAADHg/RXbk_LgaLkM/s400/DSCN7657.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One thing that Guyana is justly famous for is its rainforest - millions of acres of them and almost all of it has never been logged - truly remarkable given the region's checkered colonial past. The government of Guyana has offered not to cut down the forest (a massive natural carbon soak) if the rest of the world would compensate it for the loss of potential income caused by this selfless act - the rest of the world hasn't answered...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JFSudmY00xs/TXOHPbqFfjI/AAAAAAAADHk/ojCZvKHz86w/s1600/DSCN7665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JFSudmY00xs/TXOHPbqFfjI/AAAAAAAADHk/ojCZvKHz86w/s400/DSCN7665.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can see a long way to the horizon at 10,000 feet and all you can see for much of the two-hour flight is rainforest; rainforest and rivers - we called this one the smiley river.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ErYcfru87QE/TXOHVXdu6qI/AAAAAAAADHs/8f2nlFsKwuc/s1600/DSCN7676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ErYcfru87QE/TXOHVXdu6qI/AAAAAAAADHs/8f2nlFsKwuc/s400/DSCN7676.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To the south of the country you pass through an area of natural grassland, where the soil is too thin to support forest. Much of this occurs along the Rupununi River and is consequently known as the Rupununi savanna. In this picture, the savanna can be seen stretching away into Brazil. The river here is the Mau, which forms part of the border between Brazil and Guyana.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4lNQfy80F9c/TXOHZpft4nI/AAAAAAAADH0/dtG1gStTY0A/s1600/DSCN7689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4lNQfy80F9c/TXOHZpft4nI/AAAAAAAADH0/dtG1gStTY0A/s400/DSCN7689.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rain showers are never far away at this time of year it seems - here's an aerial view of a shower in Brazil.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-M_gjHEv-Qas/TXOHXbvomMI/AAAAAAAADHw/-aeXDhSFGzE/s1600/DSCN7678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-M_gjHEv-Qas/TXOHXbvomMI/AAAAAAAADHw/-aeXDhSFGzE/s400/DSCN7678.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Much of the savanna grassland is now cattle ranching land, especially in Brazil. To prevent scrub cover developing and to regenerate the grass, fires are periodically set.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-t3_uVSG9kVY/TXOHbafZqmI/AAAAAAAADH4/WDE0laTIVAk/s1600/DSCN7691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-t3_uVSG9kVY/TXOHbafZqmI/AAAAAAAADH4/WDE0laTIVAk/s400/DSCN7691.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One thing to know about Guyana is that it has inherited certain things from its British colonial past. These include speaking English, and driving on the left!! To date this hasn't really been a problem as there are very few places where you can drive into neighbouring countries. However, Brazil recently funded a crossing point at Lethem and this fancy bit of road had to be put in. Beyond the bridge is Brazil, this side of the river is Guyana; Brazil drives on the right, Guyana drives on the left - you work it out!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FAZgR42RV2s/TXOHfsCF9-I/AAAAAAAADIA/6vBDngd7Nz8/s1600/DSCN7699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FAZgR42RV2s/TXOHfsCF9-I/AAAAAAAADIA/6vBDngd7Nz8/s400/DSCN7699.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We drove across the Rupununi savanna for a couple of hours or so to get to the village we were heading for, then another 40 minutes or so to the lodge, in the foothills of the Kanuku Mountains.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--rr_7_wMxnI/TXN2-rUJcuI/AAAAAAAADHA/V3-uVD4mB34/s1600/_MG_8859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--rr_7_wMxnI/TXN2-rUJcuI/AAAAAAAADHA/V3-uVD4mB34/s400/_MG_8859.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had a fair bit of ground to cover so couldn't stop for too much birding, but this Crested Bobwhite refused to leave until I had taken some pictures - albeit through the windscreen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sN_OmOj-E_Q/TXOHGm_mI2I/AAAAAAAADHY/AKFamJajPro/s1600/_MG_8865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sN_OmOj-E_Q/TXOHGm_mI2I/AAAAAAAADHY/AKFamJajPro/s400/_MG_8865.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wetlands a-plenty ensure that there are lots of waterbirds to enjoy. This juvenile Jabiru Stork was rummaging in a marsh for frogs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-aJrNmWTw_6U/TXOHHiU06VI/AAAAAAAADHc/gf_xNtxcdX4/s1600/_MG_8880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-aJrNmWTw_6U/TXOHHiU06VI/AAAAAAAADHc/gf_xNtxcdX4/s400/_MG_8880.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A quick birding session on a trail at the edge of the forest got us our first Black Nunbirds, a widespread species in Guyana.</div><br />
It had been a long day in the saddle and it was dark by the time we got to our lodge beside the little Maipaima River. We would have to wait for the morning to see just what was outside the door!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-46938969180474116792011-01-29T09:54:00.000-05:002011-01-29T09:54:52.482-05:00Feathered Cats and Hairy Trousers!January, sick and tired you been hanging on me...<br />
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Remember that old line from the song by Pilot in the 1970s? Well, this January has been a bit like that here. One snow storm after another just keep hitting us - with another forecast in the next couple of days. We haven't had any big falls of snow at Cape May (yet!) but what has fallen has just been so persistent due to the never-ending cold weather. We've had days and days on end where the temperatures haven't gone aboving freezing, making a walk along the beach not all that it should be!! According to my thermometer at home, our local temperatures have so far bottomed out at a pretty chilly 8F (-13C) which is certainly not what I was used to in the UK! Lakes remain frozen here and it's tough finding birds, though they are out there somewhere; recently I ran a two-day winter birds workshop and we certainly had a lot of nice birds, including a Grasshopper Sparrow (a new Cape May bird for me, having only previously seen it in Mexico), a nice gathering of 32 Tundra Swans up at Tuckahoe and some amazing close views of the seasuck flocks at Avalon, where masses of Surf and Black Scoters were courting and whistling and we enjoyed close encounters with Horned Grebe, both Red-throated and Great Northern Divers, a female Greater Scaup and a wonderful adult male Harlequin Duck.<br />
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So what else is new? Well, another new Cape May bird for me was Common Redpoll. This is the same species that we call Meally Redpoll in the UK and are more frosty than the Lesser Redpolls of Western Europe. Common Redpolls are irregular visitors this far south and some years there are none reported in Cape May. This has not been a big winter for them here, but there has been a scattering of reports of single-observer sightings, so it was nice to be in the right place at the right time when a party of six was found on the beach near Cove Pool. Here's a piece on the redpolls that I put together for our bird observatory blog:<br />
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The text message from Sam Galick said "core at grsp spot"; complete gobbledegook to most, but birders at Cape May instantly knew that he had found a Common Redpoll. When, just a few minutes later, the next message said "Make that 4 core feeding on goldenrod", I knew that this wasn't just another fly-over, single-observer sighting and I had to find an excuse to shoot over to the beach near Cove Pool. When I got there, Sam was still present and the redpoll count had increased to six! After a while Karl Lukens joined us and we were able to get excellent views of the birds as they fed on the copious amounts of Beach Goldenrod seed.<br />
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Common Redpolls choose to winter well north of Cape May in most years, but occasionally their winter wanderings (usually due more to food availability than weather) bring them down to the point. This winter has seen a fair scattering of reports of one to two birds, but almost always involving fly-overs or birds that moved quickly on and didn't stay to be enjoyed by the masses. This time though, this little party allowed close approach and it was even possible to name them to subspecies. These birds were of the more-expected nominate race <em>flammea</em>, a widespread form which breeds in northern birch and spruce forests around the globe, from Alaska eastward to, well, Alaska! There is something of a gap in the range, however, with different races breeding in Greenland and Iceland. The Greenland race, <em>rostrata</em>, has, according to Sibley's Birds of Cape May, been recorded just once at Cape May, with all other birds that could be assigned to race, being considered to be <em>flammea</em>. Greenland birds are typically large and chunky and clearly much browner and more smudgily marked than <em>flammea</em>. They have slightly heavier bills, a larger black bib under the bill and usually far less white on the rump - but (of course!) there are a few birds that seem somewhat intermediate and defy strict classification.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQhformAiI/AAAAAAAADEs/6lkHLgF6xh8/s1600/_MG_8662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQhformAiI/AAAAAAAADEs/6lkHLgF6xh8/s400/_MG_8662.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Ageing and sexing redpolls is notoriously difficult, unless dealing with a full-blown, rose-pink adult male. Birds with no pink below may be adult females, or first-winter birds of either sex. Due to molt timings of the various age-classes, generally the only safe ageing criterion is based on the shape of the tips of the tail feathers. I never really got an ideal look at this one, but it deem seem quite pointed and a little abraded, indicating that it is probably a first-winter bird.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQhgp7LBDI/AAAAAAAADEw/l1obYPUZQTQ/s1600/_MG_8672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQhgp7LBDI/AAAAAAAADEw/l1obYPUZQTQ/s400/_MG_8672.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>The same bird as above. Common Redpolls of the form </em>flammea <em>are usually intermediate in every way between the dark, heavy-billed</em> rostrata <em>birds of Greenland and the small-billed, frosty snowballs that are Arctic Redpolls.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQh7QDa4MI/AAAAAAAADE8/sJsVBHOH0fE/s1600/_MG_8722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQh7QDa4MI/AAAAAAAADE8/sJsVBHOH0fE/s400/_MG_8722.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>One useful fieldmark for separating Common and Arctic Redpolls is the presence or absence of dark shaft streaks on the under tail coverts. The broad-based, dark streak seen here would typically not be found in an Arctic Redpoll (and this photo shows that this is not an easy thing to assess in the field!).</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQhnssPQDI/AAAAAAAADE0/SywZMZlxS0k/s1600/_MG_8696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQhnssPQDI/AAAAAAAADE0/SywZMZlxS0k/s400/_MG_8696.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>The pink flush on the chest of this individual rules out a first-winter female Common Redpoll, but adult females can be this rosy so we are not much wiser on this one...</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQiK2tCg5I/AAAAAAAADFA/oQqLI-KqxLw/s1600/_MG_8728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQiK2tCg5I/AAAAAAAADFA/oQqLI-KqxLw/s400/_MG_8728.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>This bird has an extensive pink wash on the underparts, extending well down onto the flanks and indicating that it is almost certainly a male.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQiLx4tByI/AAAAAAAADFE/WodzqcGttsU/s1600/_MG_8733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQiLx4tByI/AAAAAAAADFE/WodzqcGttsU/s400/_MG_8733.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Another look at the same bird as in the last picture; note that the pink flush extends well up onto the face too.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>So what of the header for this post? Well, two new experiences for me this month involved peculiar-looking things in holes! Firstly, we learned that a friend of ours who lives just a couple of hundred yards away has a bird box in full view of her kitchen window - and in the box was a bird that had so far completely eluded me...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQmHrT3TkI/AAAAAAAADFI/EJJdwxRINJo/s1600/IMG_8543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQmHrT3TkI/AAAAAAAADFI/EJJdwxRINJo/s400/IMG_8543.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Looking at the box we could see Bev's resident, who had developed a routine of idly watching the world go by each evening before coming out to hunt. So what is it? With a flat face - and an ear sticking up at the back there - it just has to be a cat with feathers!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQmvH67CJI/AAAAAAAADFU/VpF5hxNf7LI/s1600/IMG_8545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQmvH67CJI/AAAAAAAADFU/VpF5hxNf7LI/s400/IMG_8545.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>A closer look - and it still looks like a cat with feathers! This is his (or her!) routine every evening; until eventually....</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQnDZH3ogI/AAAAAAAADFY/d4YCy8ZrQWg/s1600/IMG_8552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQnDZH3ogI/AAAAAAAADFY/d4YCy8ZrQWg/s400/IMG_8552.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>....he braves it and sticks his head right out. He sat like this for nearly half an hour, looking around, taking in the scenery, until eventually, it was dark enough for him to want to take on the world. This is my first Eastern Screech Owl a common bird but a small species and not at all easy to get a look at. They come in grey or rufous and this is one of the smart rufous morph birds.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>My other 'hole experience' came at Cape May Point - I won't say exactly where as there are a lot of people here who like to kill or maime small animals for no other reason than as a 'pleasurable passtime' - and it's legal!!! Any way, I have a thing about raccoons which fascinates me. They are amazingly adaptive animals and can certainly make nuisances of themselves if you're one of those people who can't be bothered to adapt your life to accomodate them. Well, I've still yet to get that desirable shot of a raccoon, but when I came across one curled up in an oak tree, I realised that my moment had come - but I didn't have my camera!!! Shooting back home for it, when I returned I discovered that the wonderful full face shot I was after probably wasn't going to happen. What was I faced with?....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQpBiCim5I/AAAAAAAADFc/eckY-GNfzzU/s1600/_MG_8743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQpBiCim5I/AAAAAAAADFc/eckY-GNfzzU/s400/_MG_8743.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>....a pair of hairy trousers!!!</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQpDo46XLI/AAAAAAAADFg/WkcGL9Ij6tE/s1600/_MG_8746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TUQpDo46XLI/AAAAAAAADFg/WkcGL9Ij6tE/s400/_MG_8746.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>This was a really bizarre experience as it took the raccoon some ten minutes to squeeze itself into the hole that really wasn't big enough for it's all too chunky body! It hung, head in the hole, legs waving in the air and, to be honest, just looking plain silly! But eventually, the furry bundle disappeared and no doubt curled up snug and warm until nightfall.</em></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-31480144016490599242011-01-03T21:46:00.000-05:002011-01-03T21:46:58.224-05:00Rounding Off the YearSo, another milestone achieved as we completed our first full calendar year at Cape May. It was a pretty amazing year, with all that snow last winter, then the very wet spring, followed by an above-average heat wave in summer. Such unpredictable and wildly changing conditions have all been forecast by those who know what they're talking about as being typical of accelerated climate change - as helped on by Man's continued abuse of the planet. But hey, those people who never studied meteorology and say it's all bunkum must surely be right, yes?!!<br />
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Any way, time to empty out my pending folder of pictures from December and to stride boldly into 2011, so here's my final diary round-up for 2010 and the final counts for the year and house list.<br />
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<strong>December 2nd</strong><br />
Not traditionally a month in which one hopes to find a rare bird, December opened with a blast for me as I found a White-winged Dove at the feeders right outside my office window!! Though White-winged Doves have turned up as vagrants a number of times around Cape May now, this is still a star find as their normal range brings them no closer to us than Texas! Unfortunately, the bird only stayed for about four minutes, long enough for my work colleague, Gail, to see it, but not even long enough for me to finish sending out a text message about it! Luckily, it turned up again a week later, then for a few more days after that, but mostly its visits were fairly brief and a lot of people unfortunately didn't get to see it.<br />
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Year bird: White-winged Dove<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TSKEPpKLOII/AAAAAAAADC8/HW89_VaQHw0/s1600/White-winged+Dove003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TSKEPpKLOII/AAAAAAAADC8/HW89_VaQHw0/s400/White-winged+Dove003.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My first shot at the White-winged Dove, perched a-top our feeder at work - not a bad break from wading through emails!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TSKEIFPQO9I/AAAAAAAADCY/RJ5vTVO7Fvo/s1600/blsk1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TSKEIFPQO9I/AAAAAAAADCY/RJ5vTVO7Fvo/s400/blsk1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">December 2nd is a pretty late date for this first-winter Black Skimmer to still be hanging out on a Cape May beach! These birds largely head south for warmer climes in the winter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TSKEJKm5-qI/AAAAAAAADCc/Bfn2KWitlS8/s1600/IMG_6988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TSKEJKm5-qI/AAAAAAAADCc/Bfn2KWitlS8/s400/IMG_6988.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A lunchtime check of the beach for gulls turned up surprisingly few birds, but these Turkey Vultures out on the sands made me think just how different birding can be in the USA compared with the UK!</div><br />
<strong>December 8th</strong><br />
A real cold turn to the weather and many of the lakes froze over locally, causing a shift around in the ducks and bringing good numbers of them to Lake Lily, in front of our information centre. Gadwall, American Wigeon, Hooded Mergansers and Ring-necked Ducks were all out on the lake this morning, keeping on the areas kept ice-free by the aerator bubble systems. Richard Crossley texted to say that four Sandhill Cranes had just flown south over his house, so it was just a matter of time before, wait for it, any minute now, yep, there they go, heading back north right over my office window! Winter birds were present at the feeders at work in good numbers today, with Fox Sparrows peaking at 14, at least five Purple Finches and a nice Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.<br />
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A lunchtime walk at the state park turned up some busy feeding parties of American Robins and Hermit Thrushes, single Grey Catbird and Brown Thrasher and a couple of Cedar Waxwings. A very late Pine Warbler was a pleasant surprise, but, conversely, the single Yellow-rumped Warbler present only served to highlight that species almost complete absence of late, when it would be usual for them to be wintering around here. My lunchtime highlight, though, came in the discovery of a roosting Long-eared Owl not far away, which kept its cool and remained on its perch for me to get some nice photos.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TSKEKdX8MxI/AAAAAAAADCg/IOwlCS_NIgY/s1600/IMG_7911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TSKEKdX8MxI/AAAAAAAADCg/IOwlCS_NIgY/s400/IMG_7911.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fox Sparrows are plentiful around Cape May in the winter and remain one of my favourite birds here. They're bigger and chunkier than the other sparrow species and are fun to watch as they employ their two-footed scratching technique.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TSKEK71DFWI/AAAAAAAADCk/i5Jfp162qWk/s1600/IMG_7945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TSKEK71DFWI/AAAAAAAADCk/i5Jfp162qWk/s400/IMG_7945.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finding an owl at a daytime roost is always a highlight and this Long-eared Owl brightened up my lunchtime walk no end. These North American birds are much greyer above than UK birds and have heavier blotching underneath.</div><br />
<strong>December 9</strong><br />
One bird certainly notable by its absence this winter is American Tree Sparrow. Though they are generally scarce in southern New Jersey these days (though once they were far more common), one usually expects to see a few, but one under the feeder at work today was my first this winter at Cape May - and it was gone the next day.<br />
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<strong>December 12</strong><br />
It's perhaps ironic that, on the very morning that I was staring at our feeder at home, wondering why we spent so much money feeding little but a mass of introduced House Sparrows, a Dickcissel goes and turns up! Generally a scarce but regular migrant through Cape May, winter records are rare, so we were pleased to have a special visitor. It remained with us into the New Year and delighted a good number of people that stopped by to see it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TSKEMHuBaHI/AAAAAAAADCs/iuZ8TogZ2Xw/s1600/IMG_7961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TSKEMHuBaHI/AAAAAAAADCs/iuZ8TogZ2Xw/s400/IMG_7961.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A brief glance could easily pass this bird off as a female House Sparrow, but the pointed tail, narrow flank streaks and suggestion of streaking in the crown are all suspicious....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TSKELTEh-MI/AAAAAAAADCo/u7EQyVS4xio/s1600/IMG_7960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TSKELTEh-MI/AAAAAAAADCo/u7EQyVS4xio/s400/IMG_7960.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....and it turns out to be a Dickcissel at our feeder - albeit a very unimpressive one!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TSKEM-4PlPI/AAAAAAAADCw/ix7RiWmNTNY/s1600/IMG_7975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TSKEM-4PlPI/AAAAAAAADCw/ix7RiWmNTNY/s400/IMG_7975.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">During December, it wasn't just us Humans who were keeping an eye on the local feeders; this smart adult male Sharp-shinned Hawk was particularly attracted to some tasty-looking birds at our work feeders....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TSKEN3l7N_I/AAAAAAAADC0/K_KZur0tZgQ/s1600/IMG_7984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TSKEN3l7N_I/AAAAAAAADC0/K_KZur0tZgQ/s400/IMG_7984.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....while this young Red-tailed Hawk spent many an hour right outside my office window, keeping a very close eye on the local Grey Squirrels (and me at times!).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TSKEOyDntZI/AAAAAAAADC4/EpT817WouNQ/s1600/IMG_8003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TSKEOyDntZI/AAAAAAAADC4/EpT817WouNQ/s400/IMG_8003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The return of the White-winged Dove allowed me to get slightly better shots of it, though the weather had been dreary and overcast throughout most of its stay, making photography tricky.</div><br />
<strong>December 16</strong><br />
Christmas Count Week started today, and saw three inches of snow falling. The White-winged Dove had become a little more predictable over the last few days, then promptly disappeared and didn't make it onto the count list, despite much searching! Our Dickcissel was more obliging though and even got onto the actual count day list. <br />
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Just for the record, the Christmas Bird Count at Cape May this year totalled 153 species of birds - not bad for the middle of winter at this latitude. In addition, Cape May County finished the year with a grand total of 330 species recorded within the boundaries of the county and the all-time number of species stands at 422.<br />
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We rounded off the year with a visit to the UK and a week spent with my relatives. The snowy weather in the UK was just like Cape May so there was no reprive for us, but at least it meant we didn't miss out on a few snowball fights! Daily Red Kites over the house and a flock of 54 Bohemian Waxwings in the local supermarket car park were nice highlights, as well as all that cosy Christmas stuff with the family!!<br />
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As for my own lists for the year; well, my Cape May County list finished on 291 species. As always, I missed a few due to other commitments (like work!) but I was pretty pleased with that total. I had quietly wondered whether it would be possible to see 300 species in the county during the course of a year and I think that it wouldn't be too difficult. There was a number of species that I could have made more of an effort to see without too much trouble and which would have taken me to the magic number. This coming year, I'll maybe give it a rest and have another go at it another time - or maybe I'll just enjoy finding my own birds!!<br />
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And the yard list? Well that stands at 145 species since we moved in last January - not a bad start!<br />
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<strong>HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL AND THANKS FOR FOLLOWING MY BLOG!!!</strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-13267013284086538852010-12-31T18:48:00.002-05:002011-01-01T18:50:15.850-05:00Plague!!The plague has desended!! We knew they would find us, sooner or later and today they found us with a vengeance!!! To what do I refer? Well, it's those greedy old grackles that ate us out of house and home up at Cape May Court House last winter. At that time, we were troubled by a flock of some 300 birds, but this time that seemed like a mere trifle!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5hyD8J9SI/AAAAAAAADAc/vqkp5INEtuE/s1600/IMG_8169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5hyD8J9SI/AAAAAAAADAc/vqkp5INEtuE/s400/IMG_8169.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>OK, we like them really, it's just that when they arrive at your feeders, it costs you a flippin' fortune!</em></div><br />
Having noticed all these birds at the feeder, I looked outside to see how many had descended on us this time and found myself spending an hour photographing a real avian spectacle. Indeed, there was so much going on out there that I could just so easily have been on the Serengeti!<br />
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<strong>Down at the waterhole....</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5h4gn-XpI/AAAAAAAADAw/R7FtqkBFKlI/s1600/IMG_8248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5h4gn-XpI/AAAAAAAADAw/R7FtqkBFKlI/s400/IMG_8248.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brown-headed Cowbirds, bathing in puddles in the road left by the melting snow, started a trend that others soon followed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5h08nRFUI/AAAAAAAADAk/gX0tX7elVgs/s1600/IMG_8185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5h08nRFUI/AAAAAAAADAk/gX0tX7elVgs/s400/IMG_8185.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Common Grackles, with their staring pale eyes join the cowbirds, along with a Red-winged Blackbird.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5hzsUm_sI/AAAAAAAADAg/OXt44TG90G4/s1600/IMG_8173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5hzsUm_sI/AAAAAAAADAg/OXt44TG90G4/s400/IMG_8173.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Common Starlings, Common Grackles and Brown-headed Cowbirds. I like this picture not because it shows the birds well (it doesn't!) but because it just shows the madness and mayhem that ensues when birds throw themselves whole-heartedly into a mass bathing session!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5h3e5v-yI/AAAAAAAADAs/NxWJtnPP-54/s1600/IMG_8229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5h3e5v-yI/AAAAAAAADAs/NxWJtnPP-54/s400/IMG_8229.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the bath, the towling down! Brown-headed Cowbirds crowded one of our Indian Bean Trees to have a good old preen after their soaking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5h2LeFAZI/AAAAAAAADAo/l4n1NRljxf8/s1600/IMG_8193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5h2LeFAZI/AAAAAAAADAo/l4n1NRljxf8/s400/IMG_8193.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One thing about Brown-headed Cowbirds that makes them easy to pick out from the other similar species round here is that they have the odd habit of sticking their tails up in the air when they are feeding on the ground!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Out on the plains....</strong></div>Walking down Bayshore Road, I soon found that this flock was to leave our old party of 300 in the shade!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5h6xPmFgI/AAAAAAAADA4/8wTri3-_5Bw/s1600/IMG_8282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5h6xPmFgI/AAAAAAAADA4/8wTri3-_5Bw/s400/IMG_8282.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Common Grackles massed across the road - and left this driver not knowing which side to drive down it seems!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5h5xl4aII/AAAAAAAADA0/Lv2Jlg4sQq4/s1600/IMG_8275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5h5xl4aII/AAAAAAAADA0/Lv2Jlg4sQq4/s400/IMG_8275.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sun on the backs of the Common Grackles picks out an array of blue, purple and bronze sheens as the birds twist and turn in the air with the passing of every car (and photographer!).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5h_EMp93I/AAAAAAAADBE/9UHQVLwg-ek/s1600/IMG_8356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5h_EMp93I/AAAAAAAADBE/9UHQVLwg-ek/s400/IMG_8356.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The birds along Bayshore Road gradually worked their way further off from our house, so I walked back and checked the fields along New England Road. Here, even more Common Grackles were steaming through the area and I reckoned some 1500 Common Grackles were in the vicinity of our house - but there was more!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5iD4AlaMI/AAAAAAAADBM/pMFyKMyIdo4/s1600/IMG_8393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5iD4AlaMI/AAAAAAAADBM/pMFyKMyIdo4/s400/IMG_8393.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Common Grackles tend to prefer the vicinity of trees and generally stick to the edges of fields, or even feed on the woodland floor. The larger fields along New England Road were avoided by them, but the air was still full of birds here and a closer look revealed that this was a large flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds and Red-winged Blackbirds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5iDGWXK3I/AAAAAAAADBI/dwf7IsP4vuo/s1600/IMG_8392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5iDGWXK3I/AAAAAAAADBI/dwf7IsP4vuo/s400/IMG_8392.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the male Red-winged Blackbirds really presented an awesome sight with dazzling red splashes of colour flashing from their gaudy epaulettes. This picture shows just a small part of the flock of some 500 Brown-headed Cowbirds and 1000 Red-winged Blackbirds feeding out on the fields - to add to the 1500 Common Grackles already seen!</div><br />
<strong>And with the flocks come the predators....</strong> <br />
<div style="text-align: left;">All this activity wasn't missed by the local predators either:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5h76fG3oI/AAAAAAAADA8/rWOijC2GTm4/s1600/IMG_8304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5h76fG3oI/AAAAAAAADA8/rWOijC2GTm4/s400/IMG_8304.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At least three Red-shouldered Hawks were along Bayshore Road, all calling noisily and seemingly having helped themselves to the bounty before them. I also saw a male Merlin shoot through the flock at one point, while several American Crows were getting in on the action, harassing the raptors and stealing scraps. Over on New England Road, three Red-tailed Hawks were following the flocks and I watched two of them having a real set too, rolling around and fighting over a dead Common Grackle (though too far off for pictures sadly).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>And finally....</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Again, just like the Serengeti, nature's clean up gang were on hand to tidy things up once everyone else had moved on!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5h9IaVR4I/AAAAAAAADBA/uf2jmgRADv0/s1600/IMG_8322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TR5h9IaVR4I/AAAAAAAADBA/uf2jmgRADv0/s400/IMG_8322.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At least 20 American Black Vultures and eight Turkey Vultures were hanging around the scene, knowing that there would be some pickings to polish off at the end of the day. These guys were biding their time on a house roof.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, you never know what's going on outside if you don't go and look and the sight of at least 3000 birds clean-sweeping the area was pretty amazing, especially with all the predator stuff going on as well. In addition to all this, a passing flock of 13 Buff-bellied Pipits on Bayshore Road was a nice bonus, as was a group of at least five Eastern Meadowlarks feeding in the field along New England Road. A nice way to round off the year!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>HERE'S TO THE NEXT ONE!!</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-78745525498332038602010-12-18T16:42:00.000-05:002010-12-18T16:42:32.374-05:00Cooter!Cooter is back. If you don't know who Cooter is, Cooter is a Great Black-backed Gull who spends the winter with us here at Cape May Point and he's a gull who has developed a particularly nasty habit. He eats coots for breakfast! Well, pretty much any time of day really, but early morning raids do seem to be his stock in trade. OK, we don't know whether Cooter is a he or a she really, but somehow he seems too brutal to be a lady...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQ0n1sV-8II/AAAAAAAAC_w/yzSI4B5zZS8/s1600/IMG_5716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQ0n1sV-8II/AAAAAAAAC_w/yzSI4B5zZS8/s400/IMG_5716.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The first sign that Cooter is around is usually when you notice all the ducks panicking on Lighthouse or Bunker Pond in Cape May Point State Park. Here, Cooter drops in on the only American Coot that had ventured into the middle of the pond. The disappearing coot is responsible for the splash on the right as it dives for cover. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQ0n4cnCVfI/AAAAAAAAC_0/lEW_5FZqZkA/s1600/IMG_5721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQ0n4cnCVfI/AAAAAAAAC_0/lEW_5FZqZkA/s400/IMG_5721.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Cooter waited patiently an inordinate amount of time; the sort of waiting that only predators, and bad guys in movies, seem capable of, but the coot inevitably had to come up for air. I think that coots are pretty much doomed here as the ponds are very shallow and full of copious amounts of water weed. Thus coots have no escape; they're not agile enough in flight to escape and they can't escape under water because the water weed impedes their movement too much.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQ0n5G74pXI/AAAAAAAAC_4/LnVOxKN4AcM/s1600/IMG_5725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQ0n5G74pXI/AAAAAAAAC_4/LnVOxKN4AcM/s400/IMG_5725.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The coot is undoubtedly injured but begins to fight back. Gull fans will be pleased to see Cooters moult timing here - with P2 missing and P1 still old (the rest of you have nodded off so I'll leave it at that for now!)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQ0n6skeiAI/AAAAAAAAC_8/kzbUe7GmZfA/s1600/IMG_5729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQ0n6skeiAI/AAAAAAAAC_8/kzbUe7GmZfA/s400/IMG_5729.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>In classic defensive pose, American Coots roll over to use their feet - with sharp, raking claws - to fight with each other. However, I think this tactic just doesn't work against something as big as a Great Black-backed Gull....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQ0n8HqHq_I/AAAAAAAADAA/dGt64GnexTg/s1600/IMG_5732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQ0n8HqHq_I/AAAAAAAADAA/dGt64GnexTg/s400/IMG_5732.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>....because the gull has a much longer reach and can now get to the coot's exposed under belly. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQ0n9oeVtcI/AAAAAAAADAE/CyE-WHW_Kd8/s1600/IMG_5734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQ0n9oeVtcI/AAAAAAAADAE/CyE-WHW_Kd8/s400/IMG_5734.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The poor coot is mortally wounded with nowhere to go....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQ0n-3BHCKI/AAAAAAAADAI/vL_F6bOvePA/s1600/IMG_5742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQ0n-3BHCKI/AAAAAAAADAI/vL_F6bOvePA/s400/IMG_5742.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>....and Cooter deals the fatal blow. It's not a nice thing to watch a poor little coot be dispatched in this way, but it is, of course, the way of the world as the web of life goes on all around us.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-43960390071620758192010-12-10T23:53:00.000-05:002010-12-10T23:53:33.353-05:00November's Peaks & TroughsWith the manic excitement of October to compete with, November was perhaps always going to be an anti-climax, but the month did have its high points. November can be an interesting month at Cape May for wildlife - or at least for birds, as most other things are hunkering down for the winter as the first frosts begin to bite. Typically, the first week can still produce a little of the feel of late October as late migrant songbirds continue to move through, to be gradually replaced by movements of ducks. Then there is the rarity season; strange, out-of-range species can and do pop up from time to time and November certainly has a good track record for producing the unexpected. So, here's November's highlights, as my Cape May year list begins to draw to a close:<br />
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<strong>November 1st</strong><br />
The mayhem of the last few days of October was now behind us and songbirds continued to return to more expected levels. However, the Hawkwatch team were kept busy and I managed to find two Golden Eagles today, one flying south which I saw from my office window (that's a list that's growing nicely now!!) and another which I found at lunch time from the Hawkwatch Platform. Today was also a good day for Eastern Bluebirds as good numbers seemed to be heading south (this is typically a pretty late migrant). I say seemed to be as bluebird migration can be tricky to monitor because the birds often pass very high overhead and more often that not, it's a case of recording ones you hear rather than see. This year, though, several took up temporary residence on wires along Bayshore Road and at least 35 were present not far from our house today.<br />
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<strong>November 2nd</strong><br />
A pre-work walk at the state park was rather quiet, though two Eurasian Wigeons and a male Lesser Scaup were with the regular ducks on Lighthouse Pond. After work, I did a sundown vigil at the Migratory Bird Refuge which proved to be a good move. As the sun painted the whole sky a million shades of orange, an American Bittern and six Black-crowned Night Herons flew up from the cattails to continue their southward journey and a seemingly endless stream of ducks came into the ponds from their more secluded daytime hang-outs to feed under the safety of darkness. Northern Pintail, Mallard, American Wigeon and Green-winged Teal appeared in good numbers and put on a fabulous show.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL1GfVCiTI/AAAAAAAAC98/6ooMQO2pBNU/s1600/IMG_6200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL1GfVCiTI/AAAAAAAAC98/6ooMQO2pBNU/s400/IMG_6200.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This female Eurasian Wigeon, paired with a male American Wigeon, has been on Lighthouse Pond for a while now. Not all identification features can be seen here, but notice that the head has a rusty tone to it, matching that of the body. Female American Wigeons usually have a head that is a beige or fawn colour which contrasts with the body.</div><br />
<strong>November 3rd</strong><br />
More signs of impending winter as I noted the first two female Buffleheads and a pair of Hooded Mergansers on Lake Lily.<br />
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<strong>November 6th</strong><br />
The first chunky Fox Sparrow returned to our yard today and a nice first-winter White-crowned Sparrow was with it.<br />
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<strong>November 7th</strong><br />
A cold and windy day, but the wind brought birds to Cape May Point, including a good scattering of Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks and good numbers of itinerant Turkey Vultures. A Pine Siskin at work continued what has been a good autumn so far here for this northern species that doesn't always get down to Cape May and both White- and Red-breasted Nuthatches were at the feeders. At lunch time, the odd, pale Red-tailed Hawk that has been hanging out at the state park was trapped by the hawkbanders and brought to the Hawkwatch Platform for release, so I got a chance to get a close look at this unusual bird. Much talk has gone on about the correct term for the condition of this bird, and I don't think any real conclusion was reached. Albino birds - with all white plumage and pink eyes - are easy, but there's a whole host of other conditions that can occur within a bird's DNA and which can have a strange effect on the colour and or markings of the bird. Finally today, as if another sign of winter were needed, I heard Snow Geese passing high overhead at 11;15PM as I lay in bed - always a chilly sound!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL2e_FE68I/AAAAAAAAC-E/4Y204zEDJ5w/s1600/IMG_6266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL2e_FE68I/AAAAAAAAC-E/4Y204zEDJ5w/s400/IMG_6266.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Male Red-tailed Hawk at Cape May Point State Park with aberrant, light plumage.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL2fyCQ4fI/AAAAAAAAC-I/LJHeifOYcxY/s1600/IMG_6274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL2fyCQ4fI/AAAAAAAAC-I/LJHeifOYcxY/s400/IMG_6274.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The same male Red-tailed Hawk, seen from above. This bird has been surprisingly confiding and has been hanging out at the state park for a while now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL2dzglZCI/AAAAAAAAC-A/5Q_YNwUzaPQ/s1600/IMG_6204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL2dzglZCI/AAAAAAAAC-A/5Q_YNwUzaPQ/s400/IMG_6204.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For comparison, here's a 'normal' juvenile Red-tailed Hawk at the state park, which has more saturated brown in the plumage.</div><br />
<strong>November 9th</strong><br />
A rather late Lark Sparrow had been seen at Cape May Point State Park yesterday, so I popped in there before work this morning to see if it was still around. There was no sign, but I did make up for missing the bird by finding a nice Ash-throated Flycatcher. This is one of those western species which is famous for turning up in November. Somehow, some species that should be heading south from the Rockies to warmer climes for the winter, seem to find there way to Cape May by some strangely circuitous route. Unless we are able to satellite tag these birds, we may never know by which route they arrive, or even where they go after they leave us. While there, a superb Golden Eagle cruised right over the car park - it's turning into an amazing autumn for that species - while at work, the feeders attracted at least five Pine Siskins and three Purple Finches.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL3vgBmprI/AAAAAAAAC-U/eTW6PmkL-pM/s1600/atfl1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL3vgBmprI/AAAAAAAAC-U/eTW6PmkL-pM/s400/atfl1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ash-throated Flycatcher at Cape May Point State Park. I found this bird right by the entrance gate while looking for a Lark Sparrow - a nice result! Though it was the second one of the autumn, no 'twitch' can compare with finding your own!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL3wadJcTI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/LpSq_x7uNSA/s1600/atfl2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL3wadJcTI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/LpSq_x7uNSA/s400/atfl2.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ash-throated Flycatcher is one of a tricky group of tyrant flycatchers which need a careful look to be sure of the species. Call can be useful, but migrants are often silent. This bird was easy though; note how little yellow there is underneath and note how the dark brown on the outer web curves across the inner web towards the tip of the outer tail feather.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL3t6w_iYI/AAAAAAAAC-M/pS8BEXwE8kw/s1600/goea1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL3t6w_iYI/AAAAAAAAC-M/pS8BEXwE8kw/s400/goea1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This Golden Eagle was a real bonus to my pre-work birding this morning as it cruised right over the car park at the state park</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL3uRlAgZI/AAAAAAAAC-Q/rdDwsuO1Kt4/s1600/goea2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL3uRlAgZI/AAAAAAAAC-Q/rdDwsuO1Kt4/s400/goea2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another shot of the same juvenile Golden Eagle as above.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL5I5csMYI/AAAAAAAAC-c/OGP4Lf6fB24/s1600/IMG_6313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL5I5csMYI/AAAAAAAAC-c/OGP4Lf6fB24/s400/IMG_6313.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">American Goldfinches have been flocking to the feeders at work of late and occasionally bringing with them less common birds - though here they are joined by one of the local Carolina Chickadees.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL5KHIS7bI/AAAAAAAAC-g/HquXBgQ15W4/s1600/IMG_6382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL5KHIS7bI/AAAAAAAAC-g/HquXBgQ15W4/s400/IMG_6382.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's been a great autumn for Pine Siskins, little streaky finches that ship out of the north-west when the living gets tough up there.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL5KznqsGI/AAAAAAAAC-k/VVwM611CMbI/s1600/IMG_6390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL5KznqsGI/AAAAAAAAC-k/VVwM611CMbI/s400/IMG_6390.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our resident female Red-bellied Woodpecker at work continues to pull contortions to get food from feeders that really were only meant for birds half her size!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><strong>November 10th</strong><br />
This week's Wednesday walk was preceded by a quick look for Long-eared Owls. These owls pass through Cape May in unpredictable numbers each autumn, migrating at night and hiding in dense vegetation during the day. As they are easily disturbed at roost and need to rest during the day, roost locations are generally not disclosed here, to allow the birds some peace. However, it doesn't hurt to keep an eye out of you happen to be in a likely-looking spot and this morning I actually flushed one from some trees by mistake. I was stood watching some other birds for several minutes, when suddenly a gentle wing-snap right above me head caught my ear. It was a Long-eared Owl which had actually been in a thick patch of cover right over the trail and had probably sat, hoping I wouldn't see it (which I hadn't done until it flew!), but who probably lost his bottle after I had stood there for a while. North American birds appear to be much greyer than the birds I am used to in the UK, which gives them a really quite different feel.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL8-o5WuMI/AAAAAAAAC-0/x2rSpzPSMSE/s1600/pisi1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL8-o5WuMI/AAAAAAAAC-0/x2rSpzPSMSE/s400/pisi1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pine Siskin in the American Holly right outside my office window.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL9Ac-qHrI/AAAAAAAAC-4/OEbUhXoYyG4/s1600/pisi2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL9Ac-qHrI/AAAAAAAAC-4/OEbUhXoYyG4/s400/pisi2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another Pine Siskin at work. I'm still scratching my head a bit on how to age and sex this species as the books seem to be a little unhelpful. This bird was noticeably much browner than all the other birds present on the feeders.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL9BjfbiwI/AAAAAAAAC-8/-FSYbbHHgMo/s1600/Wood+Duck003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL9BjfbiwI/AAAAAAAAC-8/-FSYbbHHgMo/s400/Wood+Duck003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, an adult breeding-plumaged Wood Duck is a fine sight, and I did see one on Lake Lily, but I only managed to get photos of this scruffy old moulting bird. Still, he'll get there eventually!</div><br />
<strong>November 11th</strong><br />
A phone call from Tony at the Hawkwatch Platform alerted me to a Golden Eagle that was heading towards the Northwood Center - and sure enough there it was; by the time I had grabbed my camera and we all ran outside, it was drifting right over Lake Lily towards us with a loose party of Turkey Vultures. This was a really quite amazing bird, a juvenile with an exceptional amount of white in the wings, making it look particularly attractive. In the afternoon, nine Hooded Mergansers and three Lesser Scaup appeared on Lake Lily, while at lunchtime, I shot down Sunset Boulevard for some quick photos of my second Western Kingbird of the year - another one of those November western specials!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL6JhTrdOI/AAAAAAAAC-o/J-l47uk2clE/s1600/Golden+Eagle120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL6JhTrdOI/AAAAAAAAC-o/J-l47uk2clE/s400/Golden+Eagle120.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This juvenile Golden Eagle passed right over the Northwood Center and was one of the real highlights of the whole autumn. Juvenile Goldies vary considerably in the amount of white that they show in the wing and this one really must be at the very extreme of whiteness - compare it with the more typical bird above.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL6Rhab37I/AAAAAAAAC-s/VjT8bpNnwU4/s1600/Golden+Eagle112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL6Rhab37I/AAAAAAAAC-s/VjT8bpNnwU4/s400/Golden+Eagle112.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There's something pretty magnificent about Golden Eagles and there's certainly something pretty magnificent when you can get them flying right past your office window!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL8D20RpkI/AAAAAAAAC-w/j2f4gXum8y0/s1600/IMG_6591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL8D20RpkI/AAAAAAAAC-w/j2f4gXum8y0/s400/IMG_6591.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Western Kingbird on Sunset Boulevard - a tricky bird to photograph because, although it was nice and approachable, the problem with birds on roadside wires is that if you get too close, you end up get a nice shot of their bellies and not much else!</div><br />
<strong>November 29th</strong><br />
Having returned from our Thanksgiving trip down to South Carolina, this morning was the first chance I had had to go and see what was happening with the Cave Swallows over in town, along the seafront. Cave Swallows were once an extreme vagrant to Cape May from the far south-west of North America, but these days, one or two are pretty much expected in November. However, this year they went really crazy and turned up in unusually high numbers, with perhaps 80 or so birds being recorded over the Thanksgiving weekend. Sadly, the drastic change in weather which brought some bitterly cold nights was having a dire effect on these birds and I heard many stories of individual Cave Swallows just dropping dead onto the ground from their chosen nighttime roost site in the roof eaves of Congress Hall. The poor things looked so pathetic and many a local birder had a collection of little corpses in their home freezer, waiting to be sent to a museum. Most of the birds had gone by this morning - hopefully some had managed to fly on southward and they hadn't all succumbed - but I was lucky enough to find six further along the seafront near the Sea Crest Inn, which were decidedly less moribund and were hunting actively, low over the duneside vegetation. They took preening breaks on a nearby balcony which allowed me to get some quick shots of them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQMCjqcLtmI/AAAAAAAAC_I/Dd8R1lioo0A/s1600/Cave+Swallow009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQMCjqcLtmI/AAAAAAAAC_I/Dd8R1lioo0A/s400/Cave+Swallow009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A not too unhealthy-looking Cave Swallow along Beach Avenue. Let's hope this one made it back to the deep south.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQMCkm28hXI/AAAAAAAAC_M/d0PRUjF-NN4/s1600/Cave+Swallow012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQMCkm28hXI/AAAAAAAAC_M/d0PRUjF-NN4/s400/Cave+Swallow012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Young Cave Swallows on a balcony along Beach Avenue - so tough for them to find food when all the habitat is gone...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQMClc596XI/AAAAAAAAC_Q/Gre9EvNArVc/s1600/Coopers+Hawk056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQMClc596XI/AAAAAAAAC_Q/Gre9EvNArVc/s400/Coopers+Hawk056.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just when the Cave Swallows needed Mother Nature to extend a helping hand, she deals them a Cooper's Hawk. Of course, the natural world is always tough; it is, after all, survival of the fitest and it doesn't take long for a local predator to spot an easy feeding opportunity. This female Cooper's Hawks spent a couple of days skitting around the rafters and window ledges of Congress Hall for an easy meal.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL9_eJ0XOI/AAAAAAAAC_A/VsI4o12KZB0/s1600/IMG_6617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL9_eJ0XOI/AAAAAAAAC_A/VsI4o12KZB0/s400/IMG_6617.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the wonderful show of white flowers from the Frost Asters in October, our meadow turned a bright golden brown in November as autumn tints developed in the Virginia Beard-grass. Sad that some people hate this wonderful display from a native species and would rather have boring, invasive alien grasses, shorn within an inch of their lives and devoid of any value to anything but humans....</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL-B9-zvbI/AAAAAAAAC_E/QEQqZi9SmR8/s1600/IMG_6504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TQL-B9-zvbI/AAAAAAAAC_E/QEQqZi9SmR8/s400/IMG_6504.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So tiny, yet so amazing. The parting shot for this post is this Ruby-crowned Kinglet in our garden. These birds have passed through in their thousands this autumn and a few still hang out here despite the ever more chilly conditions. Species as vulnerable as this survive purely by producing as many young as possible and hoping that the law of averages dictates that some will make it back to breed next year. A thought-provoking example of life on the edge....</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-35388858779096635272010-12-02T23:48:00.004-05:002010-12-08T22:52:32.457-05:00Southward Bound!As a short reprive from Cape May, I thought I would put in a post about our Thanksgiving excursion to relatives down in South Carolina. For me, this was quite an experience; the journey down was just under 600 miles - a journey that would be impossible in the UK without falling off the end of the island and getting the car very wet!! We started on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, where small numbers of Snow Buntings were moving north up the Delaware Bay as we crossed and a nice flock of 30 Buffleheads - with all but two being adult males - greeted us on the far side. Travelling down the full length of the Delmarva Peninsula, we passed through Delaware and Maryland and reached the amazing Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, an amazing engineering feat across the nation's biggest river estuary. As we crossed, Brown Pelicans were mixing it with Northern Gannets and diving for fish just 30 feet or so off the side of the road! Southward from here, we passed the Great Dismal Swamp (what a great name!) then gradually made our way across North Carolina and into South Carolina. Quite a drive!!<br />
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Here's a few pictures from the drive down:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhmYKNypLI/AAAAAAAAC8E/pBsLx6t_nnM/s1600/IMG_6626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhmYKNypLI/AAAAAAAAC8E/pBsLx6t_nnM/s400/IMG_6626.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes, Denali came too! Here he is getting his first sighting of the Cape May Ferry Terminal</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhmZMudEII/AAAAAAAAC8I/LHcH7URGNPE/s1600/IMG_6635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhmZMudEII/AAAAAAAAC8I/LHcH7URGNPE/s400/IMG_6635.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Considering it was the day before Thanksgiving, it was surprising how quiet the crossing was - we didn't see a single other person on the whole crossing!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhmZ7bvULI/AAAAAAAAC8M/PH4jAW-lOLs/s1600/IMG_6644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhmZ7bvULI/AAAAAAAAC8M/PH4jAW-lOLs/s400/IMG_6644.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Looking back at Cape May Point from the Delaware Bay. The two obvious 'towers' are the water tower at the Magnasite Plant (left) and Cape May Lighthouse (right).</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhmasJ-AzI/AAAAAAAAC8Q/XwmaybQZ-xw/s1600/IMG_6653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhmasJ-AzI/AAAAAAAAC8Q/XwmaybQZ-xw/s400/IMG_6653.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mid-channel, we were joined by an American Goldfinch (here sitting on one of the deck chairs) that rode the ferry to Lewes with us. A female House Sparrow came all the way over from Cape May, finding plenty to do behind the bar!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhmbI7ZpwI/AAAAAAAAC8U/mV1eTtR1byU/s1600/IMG_6665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhmbI7ZpwI/AAAAAAAAC8U/mV1eTtR1byU/s400/IMG_6665.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Denali got confused by seeing a sign for Norfolk....</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhmb9VtDrI/AAAAAAAAC8Y/dtUu2BNcn8Q/s1600/IMG_6667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhmb9VtDrI/AAAAAAAAC8Y/dtUu2BNcn8Q/s400/IMG_6667.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Seems like some companies on the Delmarva have just the right name for the job!....</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhmcqjZ-_I/AAAAAAAAC8c/5FrV5yAr3zY/s1600/IMG_6674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhmcqjZ-_I/AAAAAAAAC8c/5FrV5yAr3zY/s400/IMG_6674.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another highlight for Denali, the Chesapeake Bay.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhmdotLkPI/AAAAAAAAC8g/4evwDyZox3M/s1600/IMG_6680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhmdotLkPI/AAAAAAAAC8g/4evwDyZox3M/s400/IMG_6680.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is an amazing feat of engineering. Each side took four years to build, the eastern half built from 1960-1964 and the western half built from 1995-1999. The crossing from shore to shore is 17.6 miles with the bulk being long, tressled sections; in addition, there are two tunnel sections which allow for shipping channels.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">While we were down south, I skipped out of a shopping excursion and went to visit the magnificent forests of Congaree Swamp. I could wax all poetical about this amazing place, which I first visited three years ago, for hours but instead, I suggest you visit the official website for the area at <a href="http://www.nps.gov/cong/index.htm">http://www.nps.gov/cong/index.htm</a>, where you will find out just how fabulous a place it is. This forest was so inaccessible in the past, that it never got logged out and currently, six species of tree (Deciduous Holly, Laurel Oak, Loblolly Pine, Swamp Tupelo, Sweetgum and Water Hickory) are listed from here as the tallest specimens in the USA for their respective species. Many areas have a canopy height of around 120 feet, while a number of individual trees reach over 160 feet! The bulk of the area is swamp and wet woodland along the Congaree River and most of the lakes in the park are old river meanders that have become ox-bows. I walked some 10 miles of trails while I was there, so here's some picture highlights.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhmeqBrB1I/AAAAAAAAC8k/bndMPiL66Yo/s1600/IMG_6716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhmeqBrB1I/AAAAAAAAC8k/bndMPiL66Yo/s400/IMG_6716.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Near the entrance to Congaree Swamp, I came across this Southern Red Oak, covered in great veils of Spanish Moss - a real sign of the south. Spanish Moss is a strange plant that is actually in the same family as the Pineapple!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhp98doF0I/AAAAAAAAC8o/h2zMV4hkKH0/s1600/IMG_6720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhp98doF0I/AAAAAAAAC8o/h2zMV4hkKH0/s400/IMG_6720.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">It seemes appropriate that this Spanish Moss was in a churchyard, as the great curtains of hanging vegetation certainly create a cathedral-like atmosphere. This strange plant is not a parasite on the tree, it gets all of its nutrients and water from the air and has no roots.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhp_-yyZ7I/AAAAAAAAC8s/DUW0yMUj8kE/s1600/IMG_6732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhp_-yyZ7I/AAAAAAAAC8s/DUW0yMUj8kE/s400/IMG_6732.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The first part of Congaree is visited via a raised boardwalk which, in some places, is some eight feet above the ground - and the water does rise that high at times!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqBnO2qSI/AAAAAAAAC80/uBRF8ca7K6U/s1600/IMG_6795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqBnO2qSI/AAAAAAAAC80/uBRF8ca7K6U/s400/IMG_6795.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Having reached lower ground and left the high boardwalk, its the swampy areas that really catch the eye, for here there are enormous Swamp Tupelos with fabulous buttressed trunks and stately Bald Cypresses with fluted bases to their trunks.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqJcZE9RI/AAAAAAAAC9I/E8me_PCBo-8/s1600/IMG_6873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqJcZE9RI/AAAAAAAAC9I/E8me_PCBo-8/s400/IMG_6873.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This duo of Swamp Tupelos stood either side of an old river meander. Both were more than six feet across at the base.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqCsVCgWI/AAAAAAAAC84/Nmf7EjPkgHg/s1600/IMG_6805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqCsVCgWI/AAAAAAAAC84/Nmf7EjPkgHg/s400/IMG_6805.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A sunny day after most of the leaves have fallen is always a good time for photos of reflections - as here in Cedar Creek.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqElZ_FgI/AAAAAAAAC88/0GNrT7Z8MWI/s1600/IMG_6816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqElZ_FgI/AAAAAAAAC88/0GNrT7Z8MWI/s400/IMG_6816.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tree reflections in Wise Lake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqQ6d1tuI/AAAAAAAAC9c/OJZ0ZPHvFfs/s1600/IMG_6894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqQ6d1tuI/AAAAAAAAC9c/OJZ0ZPHvFfs/s400/IMG_6894.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More reflections in Cedar Creek, this time showing the fluted trunk bases of Bald Cypresses.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhy4bSwvtI/AAAAAAAAC9o/7HZjbq8aL_0/s1600/IMG_6842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhy4bSwvtI/AAAAAAAAC9o/7HZjbq8aL_0/s400/IMG_6842.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Bald Cypresses of Congaree produce some extensive stands of 'knees', the famous extensions of the roots found in this species which are believed to help provide oxygen to the roots. Strange as it may seem, plants need oxygen at the roots, even though they grow below ground. Usually the soil is open enough for them to obtain this, but in swampy ground this is not always the case so strategies to cope with this have to be developed. Some of the cypress knees at Congaree are over six feet tall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqH4JkVpI/AAAAAAAAC9E/ezdR_wDhkoQ/s1600/IMG_6853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqH4JkVpI/AAAAAAAAC9E/ezdR_wDhkoQ/s400/IMG_6853.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What really makes the difference for wildlife between a managed and a natural woodland, is the amount of decaying wood found in the latter. This Bald Cypress stump may have died 100 years or more ago but it still provides food for a wealth of other organisms.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqGXuiQRI/AAAAAAAAC9A/cIxjtaFmcog/s1600/IMG_6849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqGXuiQRI/AAAAAAAAC9A/cIxjtaFmcog/s400/IMG_6849.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This strange pool of water in an otherwise dry-looking area caught my eye. I was amazed to find that it was actually the remains of a long dead Bald Cypress, the hollow rim of the old trunk forming a wooden suround to the pool. Fabulous to see a woodland that is left long enough for such pools to develop, which must be ideal places for salamanders as well as many other animals.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqAQAIBtI/AAAAAAAAC8w/6O3uVkZY5Ys/s1600/IMG_6757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqAQAIBtI/AAAAAAAAC8w/6O3uVkZY5Ys/s400/IMG_6757.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One obvious beneficiary of decaying wood are the woodpeckers. Congaree is alive with them and I saw five species on my visit. Best of all are the mighty Pileated Woodpeckers (this is a male), of which I saw at least ten. This is North America's equivalent of Europe's Black Woodpecker - but with a wonderfully mad hair cut!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqMFWSWrI/AAAAAAAAC9Q/lqAFbbiGpX0/s1600/IMG_6883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqMFWSWrI/AAAAAAAAC9Q/lqAFbbiGpX0/s400/IMG_6883.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Signs of another species of woodpecker - Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers famously drill these horizontal rows of holes in tree trunks, from which they tap the rising sap of the tree. These holes are on an American Holly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqK3_J1wI/AAAAAAAAC9M/8F6n1lxOk7s/s1600/IMG_6881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqK3_J1wI/AAAAAAAAC9M/8F6n1lxOk7s/s400/IMG_6881.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Leaf litter left on the ground and not 'tidied' away provides a great home for all sorts of creatures and produces humus for plants to grow in. Here, the leaves of Sweetgum, Swamp Chestnut Oak, Shumard's Oak and American Beech can be seen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqNscKl6I/AAAAAAAAC9U/bX9xbb4AaTI/s1600/IMG_6887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqNscKl6I/AAAAAAAAC9U/bX9xbb4AaTI/s400/IMG_6887.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The longer trails are nicely low-key and blend in with the surroundings. Here a rustic wooden bridge crosses a small creek.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqPorjxGI/AAAAAAAAC9Y/-2LjeCwfvgk/s1600/IMG_6889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqPorjxGI/AAAAAAAAC9Y/-2LjeCwfvgk/s400/IMG_6889.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Variety is the spice of life and an amazing range of trees make Congaree a wonderfully varied place to visit. Here, the stark white trunk of an American Plane (strangely and erroneously called a Sycamore in North America!) stands out against a deep blue sky.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqSJg58qI/AAAAAAAAC9g/d7Ku5xbOTRY/s1600/IMG_6904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqSJg58qI/AAAAAAAAC9g/d7Ku5xbOTRY/s400/IMG_6904.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now and then, a gap in the canopy - usually created by a falling tree - allows a forest giant to be seen in all its glory. I roughed out the height of this Loblolly Pine as being over 140 feet with the first branches appearing at some 80 feet from the ground - an amazing piece of wood!!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqTNSe7LI/AAAAAAAAC9k/0l1jx9DQI0o/s1600/IMG_6908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPhqTNSe7LI/AAAAAAAAC9k/0l1jx9DQI0o/s400/IMG_6908.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Like Spanish Moss, the appearance of wild palms in the countryside is a sure sign of being down south. The Dwarf Palmetto forms some quite sizeable colonies in parts of Congaree Swamp.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-87688908938972657362010-11-29T23:11:00.000-05:002010-11-29T23:11:05.261-05:00October part 2Well, yes, another blog post and I've fallen behind again! Thanksgiving crept up on me and I didn't get October finished before I was heading off south for a few days. Still, that means there will be a post about something other than Cape May shortly, but for now here's the rest of October (much abridged of course to get it all in!).<br />
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<strong>October 13th</strong><br />
After a few days hanging out with friends and doing a few other things, it was back to the birding today with the Wednesday morning walk producing the first American Coot of the autumn and two male Ring-necked Ducks on Lighthouse Pond. Sharp-shinned Hawks were moving in good numbers, along with a handful of Broad-winged Hawks, while Yellow-rumped Warblers seemed to be everywhere and numbers of Swamp and Song Sparrows, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets and Brown Creepers were up.<br />
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On the way home, a magnificent juvenile Peregrine of the big and impressive tundra breeding race was on a powerline pole on Sunset Boulevard. I spent some minutes getting as close as I dared with the camera, only to find that it was perfectly happy to sit and stare at me while I stood immediately beneath it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPR1NGx19UI/AAAAAAAAC7Y/tdKMZq526fo/s1600/IMG_5213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPR1NGx19UI/AAAAAAAAC7Y/tdKMZq526fo/s400/IMG_5213.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>A prey's-eye view of a mighty tundra Peregrine - what a fabulous bird!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPR2YVwNURI/AAAAAAAAC7w/SxofNzLTcMc/s1600/IMG_5196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPR2YVwNURI/AAAAAAAAC7w/SxofNzLTcMc/s400/IMG_5196.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>This bird even let me walk around the back for some more shots!</em></div><br />
<strong>October 17th</strong><br />
A very wintery feel to the birds at Higbee's Beach this morning with Yellow-rumped Warblers dominating. A good number of Dark-eyed Juncos also moved through and at least five Purple Finches were down in the trees (the first of what was to be an amazing autumn for this species)<br />
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Year bird: Purple Finch<br />
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<strong>October 18th</strong><br />
I decided to head up onto Higbee Dike today rather than tramping the fields - and it proved to be a good move! The highlight of a great morning flight was a Northern Shrike - a real rarity here at Cape May and the first for quite some years. It flew right by us, landed on the reeds on the north side of the impoundment, then eventually headed off northward, over the canal. This morning I also notched up my first Cape May Pine Siskins - though little were we to know at the time that it was to be a bumper season for them. Red-breasted Nuthatches were passing us by at a rate of knots and the day ended with a record count for Cape May of 220 - as well as a record count of 23 White-breasted Nuthatches. A single Rusty Blackbird was my first of the season and Purple Finches continued to build up in numbers with the first one noted at the feeders at work today. <br />
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A visit to the Hawkwatch Platform lunch time proved a good move as I was there when a Golden Eagle was found, a Bald Eagle which had just been trapped by the hawk banders was brought along for release and a Clay-coloured Sparrow decided to hang around long enough for me to get a picture. A late Nashville Warbler was also present, lurking down in the weedy edge to the marsh.<br />
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Year birds: Pine Siskin, Northern Shrike, Golden Eagle, Clay-coloured Sparrow<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPR2PaQUQ0I/AAAAAAAAC7k/WZGTCcjS1O4/s1600/DSCN7206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPR2PaQUQ0I/AAAAAAAAC7k/WZGTCcjS1O4/s400/DSCN7206.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Almost dejavu!! Almost exactly a year since the Golden Eagle was trapped at Cape May, I find myself looking at another eagle in the hand - this time a juvenile Bald Eagle... </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPR2RaiKTMI/AAAAAAAAC7o/bLMdY4lYgAc/s1600/IMG_5336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPR2RaiKTMI/AAAAAAAAC7o/bLMdY4lYgAc/s400/IMG_5336.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Arthur discovers that Bald Eagles can be as much of a handful as Golden Eagles!</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPR2OBhKxVI/AAAAAAAAC7g/6A8Xnn2AYEs/s1600/DSCN7199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPR2OBhKxVI/AAAAAAAAC7g/6A8Xnn2AYEs/s400/DSCN7199.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Jordan prepares the Baldie for take-off...</em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPR2TL-g_fI/AAAAAAAAC7s/XkAw7aR1dpA/s1600/IMG_5348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPR2TL-g_fI/AAAAAAAAC7s/XkAw7aR1dpA/s320/IMG_5348.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Just time for a close-up before the bird is released.</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><strong>October 19th</strong><br />
A quiet day, but a pair of Purple Finches in one of our Silk Trees saw another species added to the garden list.<br />
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House bird: Purple Finch<br />
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<strong>October 20th</strong><br />
This week's walk saw a continuation of the swarm of Yellow-rumped Warblers at the state park and an impressive movement of Buff-bellied Pipits though, as usual, they all flew straight through. Several Northern Harriers, including two full adult males, passed us by and an amazing flock of some 40 Pine Siskins was feeding on Giant Sunflower heads with American Goldfinches. Three Purple Finches were now visiting the feeders at work.<br />
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<strong>October 22nd</strong><br />
On and on, this autumn just doesn't seem to want to end! The autumn migration of songbirds at Cape May this year has been truly amazing nd doesn't look set to stop yet. The best thing of all for me is that nearly all of the big falls have happened on a Friday which is one of my regular days off! Can't complain about that!<br />
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For this morning, my diary says: Higbee's was heaving....in fact so many birds were moving through that it was down right dangerous at times! Chipping Sparrows seemed to predominate today (apparent from the expected Yellow-rumped Warblers and American Robins) and there was good numbers of White-throated, Swamp, Song and Field Sparrows too, as well as my first Lincoln's Sparrow of the season. A big raptor floght took place today over home, which included five Bald Eagles during the relatively short time that I was looking, while Tree swallows seemed to be massing all over Cape Island. Our afternoon saw us at The Beanery, where we enjoyed a Western Kingbird that Pat Sutton had found; here too we found plenty of sparrows, including at least three Vesper Sparrows and I flushed a Lapland Longspur from the old Pumpkin patch. Weird sight of the day was of a flock of 15 Surf Scoter which hurtled high overhead, heading south and which may well have passed over our house!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPR0wHcG25I/AAAAAAAAC7U/A4HbjrbYI50/s1600/IMG_5611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPR0wHcG25I/AAAAAAAAC7U/A4HbjrbYI50/s400/IMG_5611.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Always nice before breakfast! A juvenile Bald Eagle gets escorted off the patch by American Crows. This bird flew right over my head as I was cycling back home from Higbee's Beach.</em></div><br />
Year birds: Western Kingbird, Lapland Longspur, Lincoln's Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow<br />
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<strong>October 23rd</strong><br />
Another good day for birds around home as a Northern Goshawk powered its way south less than 100 yards to the west of our garden and Megan pulled the biggie out of the hat by spotting a Golden Eagle heading towards us!! We watched it pass right overhead and continue northward over the canal - awesome! Later, I counted 23 White-throated and two White-crowned Sparrows at our feeding station, with Song, Field and Swamp Sparrows also in the yard.<br />
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Year bird: Northern Goshawk<br />
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<strong>October 24th</strong><br />
Early morning saw masses of American Robins pouring through the garden, along with Chipping Sparrows and a few Purple Finches; a Pine Siskin called overhead but I didn't clap my eyes on it. Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers fed in good numbers in our meadow and five White-crowned Sparrows were at the feeders. In the evening, a Wilson's Warbler was a late addition to our garden list. A real highlight for me this evening came when we were on our way home from friends and a Coyote crossed the road less than a half mile from our house - the first I have ever seen (at last!!).<br />
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<strong>October 25th</strong><br />
I had just got to The Beanery and inadvertently flushed a male Northern Harrier at lunch time, when I got word of an American Golden Plover. Heaidng over to the South Beach, I soon found the bird, with a party of 12 Grey Plovers and a single Dunlin. The plovers were a little skittish but I did manage some reasonable pictures of the 'goldie'.<br />
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Year bird: American Golden Plover<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPRzg3QeWPI/AAAAAAAAC7I/LtdQr2cVsTM/s1600/IMG_5850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPRzg3QeWPI/AAAAAAAAC7I/LtdQr2cVsTM/s400/IMG_5850.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Juvenile American Golden Plovers can be rather grey in colour, making them tough to spot amongst flocks of Grey Plovers. Note that this bird is clearly smaller than the Grey Plovers behind (Black-bellied Plovers in the USA) and note the smaller bill and more obvious white supercilium behind the eye.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPRzilIynZI/AAAAAAAAC7M/DDka08CEjVQ/s1600/IMG_5874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPRzilIynZI/AAAAAAAAC7M/DDka08CEjVQ/s400/IMG_5874.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPRzkGsWqZI/AAAAAAAAC7Q/i0bV33o6mbU/s1600/Am+G+Plover016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPRzkGsWqZI/AAAAAAAAC7Q/i0bV33o6mbU/s400/Am+G+Plover016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>A couple more shots of the American Goldie. I thought I'd missed this one for the year as they are regular but not common here and usually pass through much earlier in September or early October.</em></div><br />
<strong>October 28th</strong><br />
Today my diary says: It's been a lot slower for birds for a couple of days - little was I to know what was about to happen!! My evening began with a Cave Swallow at the state park before we headed over to a friend's house for our final big get-together of the autumn season. It was not long before very obvious 'migratory restlessness' was overcoming large numbers of American Robins shortly before the sun set, but even this was not enough to warn us of what was to come. However, having Scott shove his iphone in my face and say "Look at that, have you ever seen it right across the bay before?!" was enough to warn us all! Scott was checking the local dopler radar courtesy of the internet and the signs were ominous. The broad front of migrating birds was stretched out right across the waters of Delaware Bay.... Now go to my 'Ultimate Migration' post to see what hit us!!<br />
<br />
Year bird: Cave Swallow<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPR1pz8keoI/AAAAAAAAC7c/P7bKX4G_mg0/s1600/IMG_5094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TPR1pz8keoI/AAAAAAAAC7c/P7bKX4G_mg0/s400/IMG_5094.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Taken from the comfort of my office chair! This female Red-bellied Woodpecker has been systematically emptying the bird feeders and stuffing sunflower seeds into any nook and cranny she can find in the building - it's costing us a fortune!!</em></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-24522884115591930452010-11-19T12:21:00.000-05:002010-11-19T12:21:03.643-05:00Migration Mayhem Continues...If September had been good for migration this year, then October was spectacular. End to end, it produced an amazing number of great birding days as the weather continued ideal for falls of migrants, day after day after day, until we began to think that there really couldn't be any more birds left in Canada! So, as with the last post, here's a very much abridged diary of October highlights - but with more pictures this time!<br />
<br />
<strong>October 2nd</strong><br />
After a brief respite from birds while we had wet and windy weather, a cold front swept through Cape May overnight and yet again the birds arrived in force. There was nothing particularly noteworthy at Higbee's Beach this morning, but common birds were everywhere and included my first-of-season Grey-cheeked Thrush, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow and Northern Wren. The bulk of birds today consisted of both Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, Indigo Buntings, Northern Flickers and Blue Jays. Highlights for me were two Yellow-billed Cuckoos, several Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and two Blackburnian Warblers. A magic day continued at work in the evening with the now expected warbler show in the trees along East Lake Drive, which today included three Blackburnian and a Bay-breasted Warbler and oodles of regular stuff.<br />
<br />
House bird: Golden-crowned Kinglet<br />
<br />
<strong>October 3rd</strong><br />
A walk around the garden before work revealed four species of woodpecker out there, including our first Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (the others being Northern Flicker and Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers). Other nice yard birds included Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Brown Thrasher, Swamp Sparrow and Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers. Michael O'Brien's timing was (almost) perfect this morning as I walked into work at 9AM and immediately got a message saying that an American White Pelican had landed in the bay, just off Coral Avenue - two minutes from work! A quick bit of back-pedalling and I was soon looking at what is a very scarce bird at Cape May - and even rarer south of the canal. The bird drifted on the tide and gave great scope views, before work beckoned; Michael reported a second bird that flew in and joined the first shortly after I left.<br />
<br />
Year bird: American White Pelican<br />
House bird: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker<br />
<br />
<strong>October 5th</strong><br />
A pre-work walk at the Migratory Bird Refuge turned out to be a good move as migrants were a-hopping! A good passage of American Kestrels was taking place, at least five Sora Rails called from the marsh and swamp and Savannah Sparrows were plentiful. Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets were heading south in small groups and five Wilson's Snipe and a Long-billed Dowitcher were in the pools.<br />
<br />
After work, one of our regular frisbee sessions was interrupted periodically as we counted Great Blue Herons rising out of the marsh and heading out over the bay. By the time dusk had fallen, we had counted 292 Great Blues heading out over the bay, including a single flock of 30 which made a fine sight as they circled way out over the water. In addition, four Brown Pelicans and many Double-crested Cormorants headed southward too. Last knockings at home, against a wonderful orange sunset, saw an American Woodcock whizz over the garden and a Black-crowned Night Heron rose from its daytime roost in the woods beyond our garden, called a few times, then almost got taken by a mighty female Peregrine that raked right across the sky - what an end to the day!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TOavm8vZOcI/AAAAAAAAC6k/wZnI3w562nE/s1600/DSCN7023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TOavm8vZOcI/AAAAAAAAC6k/wZnI3w562nE/s400/DSCN7023.JPG" width="291" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's not all birds! This male Dot-lined White was found soon after emergence from its chrysalis at the state park before our frisbee game.</div><br />
<strong>October 6th</strong><br />
Today started early for me as I was woken up at 6AM by the local Coyote pack howling outside - what a start to the day!! Two pairs of Great Horned Owls were calling at each other too. Several American Kestrels and two Northern Harriers passed over the garden. My Wednesday walk highlighted with two Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the beach and three Broad-winged Hawks overhead.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TOawj1qWztI/AAAAAAAAC6o/zhi_XDn1ITc/s1600/DSCN7085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TOawj1qWztI/AAAAAAAAC6o/zhi_XDn1ITc/s320/DSCN7085.JPG" width="234" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TOawmOTzTQI/AAAAAAAAC6s/q1PW6MH_RNM/s1600/DSCN7091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TOawmOTzTQI/AAAAAAAAC6s/q1PW6MH_RNM/s320/DSCN7091.JPG" width="234" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A lunchtime walk at the state park turned up a mating pair of Chinese Praying Mantises for me. This non-native species is the largest mantis found in Cape May and so far the only species I have seen here. Note how much larger the female is and note that colour is not any use in identifying species here - though many people here think that it is.</div><br />
<strong>October 8th</strong><br />
Action stations! Another northwest front brought a mass of birds our way, with the Morning Flight counter totting up some 36,000 birds heading north in the first couple of hours of daylight! When I got up this morning, I immediately noticed big numbers of American Robins moving through the area (in all directions it seemed!) so I thought I ought really stay around the house and see what tunrs up - and what a great move it proved to be! In actual fact, I had things that I needed to do, so I only spent a chunk of the morning and a half hour or so in the evening looking for birds, but remarkably I chalked up 74 species, over, in or around our garden. From an amazing early morning movement that saw 14 species of warbler in the garden, through an excellent mid-morning raptor movement that included three Bald Eagles and at least 26 Broad-winged Hawks going over, to a sunset moment that added American Woodcock and two Common Nighthawks drifting over, it had been an amazing day - and all rounded off with a great meal at the Mad Batter's with Ralph and Brenda Todd who had been over here from the UK to enjoy the highlights of a Cape May autumn.<br />
<br />
So here's the full list for the garden for today:<br />
<br />
Canada Goose - 31<br />
Double-crested Cormorant - 3<br />
Turkey Vulture - 12<br />
American Black Vulture - 8<br />
American Kestrel - 6<br />
Merlin - 1<br />
Peregrine - 3<br />
Osprey - 4<br />
Bald Eagle - 3<br />
Northern Harrier - 5<br />
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 35<br />
Cooper's Hawk - 12<br />
Red-shouldered Hawk - 2<br />
Broad-winged Hawk - 26<br />
Red-tailed Hawk - 7<br />
Killdeer - 2<br />
American Woodcock - 1<br />
Laughing Gull - 2<br />
American Herring Gull - 1<br />
American Mourning Dove - 55<br />
Common Nighthawk - 2<br />
Belted Kingfisher - 1<br />
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2<br />
Yelow-bellied Sapsucker - 4<br />
Downy Woodpecker - 1<br />
Northern Flicker - 5<br />
Eastern Phoebe - 1<br />
Eastern Wood Pewee - 1<br />
Red-eyed Vireo - 1<br />
Blue Jay - 60<br />
American Crow - 10<br />
Fish Crow - 3<br />
Cedar Waxwing - 4<br />
Carolina Chickadee - 4<br />
Tree swallow - 200<br />
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 12<br />
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 15<br />
Carolina Wren - 2<br />
Northern House Wren - 1<br />
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 3<br />
White-breasted Nuthatch - 1<br />
Grey Catbird - 1<br />
Northern Mockingbird - 4<br />
Brown Thrasher - 3<br />
European Starling - 20<br />
Eastern Bluebird - 1<br />
American Robin - 450<br />
House Sparrow - 15<br />
American Goldfinch - 2<br />
House Finch - 1<br />
Tennessee Warbler - 1<br />
Nashville Warbler - 1<br />
Northern Parula - 6<br />
Blackpoll Warbler - 1<br />
Magnolia Warbler - 4<br />
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 4<br />
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 50<br />
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1<br />
Palm Warbler - 6<br />
Black-and-white Warbler - 5<br />
American Redstart - 10<br />
Ovenbird - 1<br />
Northern Waterthrush - 4<br />
CommonYellowthroat - 4<br />
Red-winged Blackbird - 100<br />
Common Grackle - 2<br />
Bobolink - 6<br />
Song Sparrow - 3<br />
Swamp Sparrow - 1<br />
White-crowned Sparrow - 1<br />
Field Sparrow - 1<br />
Eastern Towhee - 1<br />
Dickcissel - 1<br />
Northern Cardinal - 6<br />
<br />
House birds: Eastern Phoebe, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Dickcissel, White-breasted Nuthatch,, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Wood Pewee, Broad-winged Hawk, Nashville Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Common Nighthawk<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TOas-UsncfI/AAAAAAAAC6c/Y4Cl7lDb_YE/s1600/DSCN7107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TOas-UsncfI/AAAAAAAAC6c/Y4Cl7lDb_YE/s400/DSCN7107.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Considering that our management policy for our meadow so far has been one of 'hands-off' to see what develops, we have been pleasantly surprised with how it is developing. In October it looked pretty spectacular when all the Frost Aster came into flower. It's been nice that so many neighbours have stopped by to say how good it's looking too - including one of the local township commissioners!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TOatAF-CDuI/AAAAAAAAC6g/O2UDNq5ieSY/s1600/039+White+M+Hairstreak004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TOatAF-CDuI/AAAAAAAAC6g/O2UDNq5ieSY/s400/039+White+M+Hairstreak004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Butterflies have made the best of our garden already this year, including this White-M Hairstreak that I found on October 10th.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TOaxQrtzxgI/AAAAAAAAC6w/5Cm-hnrrANc/s1600/IMG_5059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TOaxQrtzxgI/AAAAAAAAC6w/5Cm-hnrrANc/s400/IMG_5059.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yep, another day, another Cape May lighthouse-sunset shot!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TOaxRhnFcWI/AAAAAAAAC60/21gk56Wyn48/s1600/IMG_5068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TOaxRhnFcWI/AAAAAAAAC60/21gk56Wyn48/s400/IMG_5068.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Alternatively, another day, another Sunset Beach sunset shot!! Both these pictures were taken on the same day - I particularly liked the Double-crested Cormorants enjoying the view from the concrete ship.</div><br />
OK - this is getting long-winded again - so I'll break October here and finish it off in the next post in a couple of days.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-69223806874269369412010-11-16T20:25:00.000-05:002010-11-16T20:25:49.659-05:00Ancient History!Well, I did try and keep up with a diary this year but you know what? There was just too much going on! It really was such a spectacular autumn this year that I was either out in the field or at work - no time for getting much down in writing. So in a vain attempt to catch up here - some six weeks late! - are my diary highlights for September. I'll get on with October pretty sharpish too then maybe, if the wind and rain that's currently thrashing against the window carries on, just maybe I'll be up to date for five minutes!<br />
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<strong>September 1st</strong><br />
September saw a continuation of the great autumn migration that had started in August. This morning, Bobolinks were pouring out over the bay, with several hundred noted; a scattering of Palm and Yellow Warblers were along the dunes; a single Marbled Godwit flew over and three Buff-breasted Sandpipers were on the South Beach. A small warbler flock in the state park included Blackburnian, Black-throated Green and Blackpoll Warblers and Northern Parula.<br />
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In the evening, the trees at work held Scarlet Tanager, 6+ Red-eyed Vireos, Cape May, Black-and-white and Prairie Warblers, Northern Parula, American Redstart and Blue-grey Gnatcatcher.<br />
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<strong>September 2nd</strong><br />
Nice morning at Higbee's Beach with good numbers of Northern Waterthrushes and Red-eyed Vireos, both species showing well too. Also three Philadelphia Vireos - the first time I have seen multiples of this species in a morning here - Chestnut-sided Warblers, several Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, two Veeries and a sudden increase in Northern Parulas with at least 10 seen. Add on Least Flycatcher and Blue-winged Warbler and it was a good pre-work walk! Two Baltimore Orioles were in the garden in the evening as I went out to look offshore at the threat of Hurricane Earl which was getting a few people in an early panic. My reward was a windy beach with a Lesser Black-backed Gull on it...<br />
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<strong>September 3rd</strong><br />
Today was the day that never was; hurricane Earl had threatened big problems for us but stayed well offshore and today was just a typical dull day - a damp squib and not even that damp! A few seabirds rode out the wind on the beaches and I finally added Sandwich Tern to my Cape May list.<br />
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Year list - Sandwich Tern<br />
<br />
<strong>September 4th</strong><br />
A top birding day! The cold front and associated northwesterlies that had kept Earl offshore instead brought us lots of birds. I started at Sunset Beach in case any seabirds had been blown into the bay but little was moving, though a Buff-breasted Sandpiper flew right down the beach past me. At Coral Avenue, the male King Eider that had been summering just around the corner was swimming by and flocks of Bobolinks and Eastern Kingbirds were much in evidence. Over at Higbee's Dike, I arrived too late for the bulk of a good morning flight, but did pick out a secind Buff-breasted Sandpiper for the day as well as a fly-by Olive-sided Flycatcher. Flycatchers abounded in the fields and I worked through some of the more obliging birds, tallying eight Least, two Yellow-bellied and four Alder Flycatchers - the latter two both new Cape May birds for me. Warblers included two Cape Mays and a nice Canada. In the afternoon, I rounded off a day of end to end birding at the Migratory Bird Refuge with two Baird's and at least eight Pectoral Sandpipers, a Wilson's Phalarope and a Wilson's Snipe. Best of all though was the time spent photographing six Buff-breasted Sandpipers on the beach (I've already spoiled you all with pictures of these!).<br />
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Year list - Olive-sided Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher<br />
<br />
<strong>September 5th</strong><br />
Pretty much a continuation of yesterday at Higbee's this morning with plenty of flycatchers and warblers again, the latter including Ovenbird and Worm-eating Warbler. A perched Common Nighthawk was drawing an appreciative crowd in the first field.<br />
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<strong>September 6th</strong><br />
Even work days produce the good sometimes; just six feet from my office window is a little Sassafras tree and today, just that one little tree attracted two Veeries, several Red-eyed Vireos, two Great Crested Flycatchers and a female Black-throated Blue Warbler - oh well, if I must go to work, at least I can make the best of it!!<br />
<br />
<strong>September 8th</strong><br />
The state park walk before work provided two Brown Pelicans offshore, two Sandwich Terns on the beach and a few Palm Warblers now building up in the dunes. There had been a notable increase in Blue-winged Teal, a breeding plumaged Wood Duck was new and eight Northern Shoveler had arrived. Today was also the first time that I finally saw the fourth Black-bellied Whistling-duck that had turned up from who knows where (and I wonder where they are now!). What was to become an amazing run of warblers in the trees at work over much of the autumn really began in earnest today with 2 Black-throated Blue 6 Yellow, 1 Chestnut-sided, 2 Cape May and 1 Blackpoll Warblers and three Northern Parulas present. Also the vanguard of what was to become an impressive Red-breasted Nuthatch movement.<br />
<br />
<strong>September 10th</strong><br />
Warblers dominated the scene today, both at Higbee's Beach early morning and at work in the evening. As well as good numbers of those already mentioned, Tennessee Warblers were showing well at both locations and two Nashville Warblers were seen at Higbee's.<br />
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In the afternoon, a sandcastle session at Stone Harbor was deemed to be a good idea for all the family. And so it was, but it also got us some nice views of a few Red Knot, Western and Semipalmated Sandpipers, American Oystercatchers, Semipalmated Plovers and Sanderling.<br />
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Year list - Nashville Warbler, Western Sandpiper<br />
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<strong>September 11th</strong><br />
Another great Higbee's Beach morning after the third consecutive day of perfect, migrant-bringing northwesterlies. There was so many birds around this morning that it took us some 20 minutes just to get into the first field from the car park, as parties of Common Yellowthroats and Palm Warblers worked through the knee high vegetation on either side of the track. A nice adult Canada Warbler was our reward for working through them methodically.<br />
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In the evening, Cape May Warbler and Alder Flycatcher were both new birds for our garden list and two Green Herons flew south.<br />
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House list - Alder Flycatcher, Cape May Warbler<br />
<br />
<strong>September 12th</strong><br />
There were so many birds around today that even my lunch time stroll from work saw me not knowing which way to point the camera lens! I sat on the boardwalk trail at the state park and had up to 10 Prairie Warblers feeding in the weeds right in front of me, some coming to within six feet! A careful walk 'off piste' turned up a couple of Veeries and an Ovenbird lurking away from the noisy tourists. In the evening, it took me an inordinate length of time to tear myself away from the bird flocks at work - and the crowds gathering to enjoy them. Highlights among the masses for me were a smart Blackburnian Warbler and a fly-over Solitary Sandpiper.<br />
<br />
<strong>September 13th</strong><br />
With my good mate Richard over from the UK with his family, there was no excuse not to be out every morning during this amazing birding bonanza. Today we did our usual pre-9AM walk at Higbee's Beach and, though the winds were 'wrong' for a fall today, we nevertheless had some good birds, including Black-billed Cuckoo, Warbling and Philadelphia Vireos and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Ovenbird and Swainson's Thrush were highlights later at the state park and my diary makes the first mention of a notable increase in Monarch numbers today - we were not to know at the time just what was to come!<br />
<br />
Year list - Warbling Vireo<br />
<br />
<strong>September 14th</strong><br />
Richard and I checked the Migratory Bird Refuge before I needed to head off for work. A quick circuit gave us three Pectoral Sandpipers, one Long-billed Dowitcher, one Solitary Sandpiper and an amazing Sora Rail which trotted out into the full sun right beside us - of course, as I was heading for work, where do you think my camera was? Yes, tucked up snug and warm in its case....<br />
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Year list - Sora<br />
<br />
<strong>September 15th</strong><br />
A superb pre-work state park walk this morning that gave us a total of 88 species - a new high for my Wednesday morning walks. Some 50+ Palm Warblers were in the dunes, along with a very lost male Black-throated Blue Warbler (that ought really to have been in an oak tree somewhere else!), while American Kestrels, Merlins, Ospreys and Sharp-shinned Hawks seemed all to be almost constantly in sight. Duck number slowly continue to increase and a nice range of shorebirds on the pools included two White-rumped, one Pectoral and four Stilt Sandpipers and a lone Long-billed Dowitcher among the more expected Short-billeds. But the highlight of the morning staggered us and was totally unexpected....<br />
<br />
Melissa Roach, our Hawkwatch counter this year, called in a Wood Stork - a species that really should have been in the Florida Everglades!!! We were only about 300 yards from the Hawkwatch Platform but couldn't see the bird; worse still, it was next reported as visible from the Migratory Bird Refuge - the other side of us; we were stuck in the middle and couldn't see the bird. Next we hear, it's moving off over the water - waahh!! Well, we put that one down to experience, but then, about 10 minutes later, the news comes over again - Wood Stork now circling over the lighthouse - with a Bald Eagle!! I spun round; right there, there's the lighthouse. It's only 200 yards away from us, maybe less. Why can't we see the bird! We can, there it is. A Wood Stork right overhead - and no camera!!!!<br />
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Year list - Wood Stork<br />
<br />
<strong>September 18th</strong><br />
A topsy turvy day as birding is supposed to be best first thing, but today it started slowly and gradually got better and better. The winds were in the right quarter to bring birds to Higbee's Beach but, for some reason, it just didn't happen, though we did get a Bay-breasted Warbler and two Philadelphia Vireos. Raptors built up nicely during the day though, with a nice party of 10 Broad-winged Hawks, one Red-shouldered Hawk, plenty of Sharp-shinned Hawks and Ospreys, at least five Northern Harriers and a couple of Bald Eagles.<br />
<br />
Today's big story I have already covered - the start of the big Monarch event. Richard, Sam and Tom were here to see the start of it but the awesome exodus was to happen the next day, after they had headed for home. Other highlights late in the day for me were three Striped Saddlebags (a southern species with only a handful of records from New Jersey) and the first Least Bittern I've seen at Cape May for a number of years.<br />
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Year list - Least Bittern<br />
<br />
<strong>September 19th</strong><br />
The big Monarch day - as you may recall!! I on't go over it again - but it was pretty special. Today's other highlight for me was a Hudsonian Godwit on Bunker Pond, an uncommon bird at the point.<br />
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<strong>September 20th</strong><br />
A busy work day today - all those birds means lots of visiting birders and lots to do! Still, worth adding in here my first-of-season Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Yellow-rumped Warbler today - both signs that we are getting well into the autumn period now and summer is fast becoming just a memory.<br />
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<strong>September 21st</strong><br />
A real day of 'Octoberyness' today, which started with a Brown Creeper at home first thing. Migrants were thin on the ground at Higbee's this morning, but variety was good with a fly-over Dickcissel (thank heavens for that farting flight call!), two first-of-season Eastern Phoebes, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Megan's patience with me finally paid off as she found her third Connecticut Warbler of the year and I finally latched on to this one! Connecticut Warblers are famous for simply disappearing shortly after the first person claps eyes on them and they're usually not the sort of bird to bother chasing after - you have to be there at the time!<br />
<br />
Year list - Connecticut Warbler<br />
House list - Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch<br />
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<strong>September 26th</strong><br />
Today saw the start of the 'Magic Tree' attraction at work, as a superb array of warblers and other insectivorous birds flocked to one of the elms to pick off the mass of woolly aphids on the trunk. Most of these I covered in an earlier post; it really was a spell-binding time.<br />
<br />
So there's September, just to keep the diary going. Most of the picture highlights have already been posted, so I'll move on to October and include some more photos there. What I really need is a lie down to recover from it all!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TOMuDxPo5mI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/KEa0xELSfQI/s1600/IMG_3647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TOMuDxPo5mI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/KEa0xELSfQI/s400/IMG_3647.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Just so there's a picture to look at! Here's a cute little Common Yellowthroat that I just couldn't fit into any of the earlier September posts. Although it's not the greatest picture of a yellowthroat, I like the way it sums up autumn migration here at Cape May. Here's a tiny bird, miles from were it was borne, miles from where it's headed and just looking so small in a big world, fighting against the weather that brought it to Cape May. But to make it really poignant for this year - there's a Monarch in the background, just waiting for its turn in the limelight too....</em></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-63846085020966262022010-11-02T17:59:00.001-04:002010-11-07T18:03:08.819-05:00Ultimate Migration!It’s hard to know what to call this weekend; how to give a title to a blog about one of the most awesome weekend’s birding ever at Cape May. Yes, there have been bigger morning flights here – much bigger – over the years. But usually the birds just keep on moving. This time, the weather and timing of the bird movements meant that the birds dropped right in on Cape May Point and stayed here. <br />
<br />
It started on Thursday evening, after the last of our autumn get-togethers, with a series of texts from the local insomniacs, alerting us all to a large volume of birds calling overhead as they passed over Cape May beach front in the dark. It seems that the movement continued all night and we were all up before it was light on Friday morning. I went out into the back garden as the first pale streaks of dawn crept across the eastern sky and at first it was quiet – annoyingly quiet given all the messages coming from the beach front! But that quickly changed and before long I had notched up 50 American Woodcocks passing over our house and dropping into the woods just to the north of us. With them came a scattering of passerines, most of which appeared to be Hermit Thrushes judging from their overall size and shape. This was exciting, but the word on the streets was that ‘on the streets’ was where we needed to be, so Megan and I drove into town to see what was happening: what we found was truly awesome. Thousands upon thousands of birds were carpeting Cape May, from Bayshore Road, all the way through West Cape May and right through the City of Cape May. We were driving at 15mph, at times much less, as clouds of birds swept through the area. Driving down Jackson Street, we stopped by the crossing with the pedestrian precinct and it was as though people were throwing buckets of dead leaves along the street, that were being swept along in the winds that funneled between the buildings; but the dead leaves were birds, scattering in their hundreds as a pedestrian walked through.<br />
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It was getting light now and it was easy to see that the birds were orientating themselves and heading for patches of cover and for green lawns. Masses of Chipping Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos and American Robins were swarming over the lawns as we headed back through town and continued on towards Cape May Point. Our progress was very slow! Every inch of the way there seemed to be birds, all looking for somewhere safe to get out of the way of the birds of prey that were waking to a smorgasbord of breakfast items! Right in the centre of Cape May Point, among the streets and houses, we came across a male Northern Harrier on the Pavilion Circle, eating an unfortunate sparrow – but it was soon robbed by a passing Turkey Vulture. Initially I was surprised by how few birds had been killed on the roads (I had only picked up one Hermit Thrush and a Virginia Rail) but then we ran across Tony Leukering who had a bagful of sad corpses – Tony had come further than us on the main roads where no doubt cars were driving faster. Also, now that it was getting light, we could see American Crows picking off the victims before we got to them. (By the way, we're not that gruesome; the ones picked up in good condition are sent up to the natural history museum in Philadelphia for their study skin collection.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNBmN8eezpI/AAAAAAAAC38/CrJ8eD_uups/s1600/IMG_5913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNBmN8eezpI/AAAAAAAAC38/CrJ8eD_uups/s400/IMG_5913.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Tough to pick out in the dull light of dawn, but all those brown blobs are sparrows (mostly White-throated Sparrows here) and roadside verges were littered with birds like this everywhere we went.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNBwvqCAPMI/AAAAAAAAC4A/0nrPoSXpf1w/s1600/IMG_5900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNBwvqCAPMI/AAAAAAAAC4A/0nrPoSXpf1w/s400/IMG_5900.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>On the Pavilion Circle, this young male Northern Harrier was quick to make the best of the easy pickings. Harriers will often hunt at very first light and at dusk, when their prey is most vulnerable.</em></div><br />
<em> </em>Our next stop was the dune cross-over at Coral Avenue and here, the spectacle of masses of moving birds rivaled the Monarch movement we had seen a month earlier. Swarms of Red-winged Blackbirds, Tree Swallows and House Finches dominated the movement, while Yellow-rumped Warblers were almost queuing up to find a perch. Parties of Buff-bellied Pipits hugged the beach front and at least 50 went by in the relatively short time that we were there.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNBzX_JL2hI/AAAAAAAAC4g/v4uGYfpM_wU/s1600/IMG_5907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNBzX_JL2hI/AAAAAAAAC4g/v4uGYfpM_wU/s400/IMG_5907.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Coral Avenue shortly after sunrise - memories of the Monarch migration as waves of Red-winged Blackbirds sweep along the dunes.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNBzZ_1gYoI/AAAAAAAAC4k/wdxOGVBy6Hw/s1600/IMG_5910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNBzZ_1gYoI/AAAAAAAAC4k/wdxOGVBy6Hw/s400/IMG_5910.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>More and more Red-winged Blackbirds sweep over the pines before lifting higher to take on Delaware Bay and continue south.</em></div><br />
It was all too much for words, but now reality kicked in, as work beckoned! Great stories poured in to the Northwood Center about the spectacle that continued all day as the birds had settled in the area to feed. How many birds were there? Well I guess we will never know for sure, but those who toured Cape May Point and got a feel for what was going on overall, were talking of A MILLION BIRDS…<br />
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My next opportunity to enjoy this fantastic flight of birds came on Saturday morning as another monster movement took place. Instead of the expected exodus of birds, the continuing cold front and associated north-west winds just continued the bird fest! Megan had headed off on a trip, so I was left to check out what was happening Saturday morning on my own. I decided this time to see what our own plot of land had to offer and it seemed as though this time, the centre of Cape Island was getting as many birds as the coast line. There were too many birds, tucked into too many thick clumps of grass and bushes to be exact with numbers, but my estimates of birds in our garden excluding the ‘locals’ were:<br />
<br />
Eastern Phoebe 1<br />
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 35<br />
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1<br />
Brown Thrasher 1<br />
Hermit Thrush 20<br />
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1<br />
Yellow-rumped Warbler 100<br />
Palm Warbler 10<br />
Song Sparrow 20<br />
Swamp Sparrow 35<br />
White-throated Sparrow 400<br />
Dark-eyed Junco 50<br />
Chipping Sparrow 10<br />
Field Sparrow 2<br />
Clay-coloured Sparrow 1<br />
Eastern Towhee 1<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNB-T-ux76I/AAAAAAAAC4o/GSbFeTbm7Do/s1600/IMG_5670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNB-T-ux76I/AAAAAAAAC4o/GSbFeTbm7Do/s400/IMG_5670.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Ruby-crowned Kinglet. These little gems have been flocking all over the point lately and are amazingly confiding, often feeding within three feet of people.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNB-XE0Ov2I/AAAAAAAAC4s/7mSR0ZtFQKM/s1600/Palm+Warbler008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNB-XE0Ov2I/AAAAAAAAC4s/7mSR0ZtFQKM/s400/Palm+Warbler008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Palm Warblers are relatively late migrants, though most have already passed through now. Even so, at least 10 were in our yard on the Saturday morning.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNB-YnVetZI/AAAAAAAAC4w/_3WaIOPDODI/s1600/Clay-c+Sparrow017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNB-YnVetZI/AAAAAAAAC4w/_3WaIOPDODI/s400/Clay-c+Sparrow017.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>With all these goodies around, there just had to be something new for our garden and it came in the shape of a Clay-coloured Sparrow. I didn't get a photo of our one, but here's one that I photographed at the Hawkwatch just a few days earlier.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNB-aGn2FUI/AAAAAAAAC40/vbHSOHljLl0/s1600/Chipping+Sparrow012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNB-aGn2FUI/AAAAAAAAC40/vbHSOHljLl0/s400/Chipping+Sparrow012.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Chipping Sparrows abounded in their thousands on the Friday morning, less so on Saturday. This one was at Higbee's Beach and I put it in here for comparison with the Clay-coloured Sparrow as they are closely related species and very similar in appearance. A key feature seen easily here is the dark loral stripe of Chipping Sparrow, which runs from the eye to the bill base.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Quite a haul! In contrast to Friday, White-throated Sparrows and Hermit Thrushes seemed to dominate Saturday's fall; both had been present the day before but not so obviously dominant. Work beckoned again and news of ‘tidal waves’ of sparrows at Higbee’s Beach drifted through. Other goodies were found; a Henslow’s Sparrow (the first for 22 years here), Common Ground Dove (only the third state record), Western Kingbird and Yellow Rail; and the birds of prey swarmed overhead.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCBmr6iUjI/AAAAAAAAC5E/QYOZ-Ma0IyY/s1600/IMG_6082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCBmr6iUjI/AAAAAAAAC5E/QYOZ-Ma0IyY/s400/IMG_6082.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Hermit Thrushes are usually solitary feeders that like to keep themselves to themselves and spend most of their time feeding in cover. Morning Flight counter Tom Johnson recorded at least 100 Hermit Thrushes on the short stretch of dirt road down to Higbee's Dike on Saturday morning.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCArfocMoI/AAAAAAAAC48/KE8J3mKJ0tg/s1600/IMG_5953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCArfocMoI/AAAAAAAAC48/KE8J3mKJ0tg/s400/IMG_5953.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Wonderful Yellow-rumped Warblers resting and taking the sun at Cape May Point State Park.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCAtGkpaeI/AAAAAAAAC5A/ZcqSaZm1-3w/s1600/IMG_6026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCAtGkpaeI/AAAAAAAAC5A/ZcqSaZm1-3w/s400/IMG_6026.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Yellow-rumped Warblers simply swarmed around Cape May over the weekend in seemingly uncountable numbers. Here is a part of a flock of 90 of them feeding on fallen juniper berries under just one tree at the state park.</em></div><br />
Sunday saw a lessening of birds, but there was still plenty to be enjoyed – and for me a light at the end of the tunnel! This incredible fall out of birds had not come at a good time for me, as this weekend was our annual ‘Autumn Weekend’, a three-day event of programmes, talks and walks, which meant the staff here all had to work through it all – fine if you’re leading a walk but not so good if you’re indoors!! So, 4.30PM Sunday I got out to the fields at Higbee’s at last for a proper look without having to clock watch. Luckily for me, I ran into Jim Danzenbaker and together we worked the near corner of Tower Field and eventually got superb views of the Henslow’s Sparrow which had surely been the one bird that just shouldn’t be missed. Even now, Tower Field rustled! There were so many sparrows feeding there that you could hear them feeding! The rustling of little feathered bodies poking through the grass and nibbling at seeds. And above them all, three Northern Harriers caused havoc as they continued to hunt well into the fading light of evening.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCCRM2M8JI/AAAAAAAAC5I/6g7iwZj8FmY/s1600/IMG_6157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCCRM2M8JI/AAAAAAAAC5I/6g7iwZj8FmY/s400/IMG_6157.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Hermit Thrushes solitary and skulking? Well here's seven taking a drink from a puddle in the car park at Higbee's Beach - another five were at the other end of the puddle to the left!</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCAF9EK3PI/AAAAAAAAC44/dOPgWHLNOMk/s1600/IMG_6134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCAF9EK3PI/AAAAAAAAC44/dOPgWHLNOMk/s400/IMG_6134.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Henslow's Sparrow was the real prize of the weekend as it is a declining species which is likely to get less regular as the population contracts. This was the first one found at Cape May for 22 years.</em></div><br />
So just what figures did the counters come up with for this weekend? Well here’s some statistics to put it all into perspective:<br />
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<strong>Friday 29th</strong><br />
Seawatch - 21,093 birds, including 116 Wood Ducks, 6,389 Surf Scoters, 1,662 Black Scoters (plus 2,120 Surf/Black Scoters), 115 Red-throated Loons, 76 Common Loons, 9,503 Double-crested Cormorants, 24 Great Blue Herons, 59 Great Egrets, 16 Black-crowned Night Herons, 300 Yellow-rumped Warblers.<br />
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Hawkwatch – 1,096 raptors counted, including 8 Bald Eagles, 88 Northern Harriers, 556 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 241 American Kestrels, 41 Merlins, 13 Peregrines<br />
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Morning Flight – 145,484 birds counted on the morning flight, plus many other birds in the area, including 16 Eastern Phoebes, 73,570 American Robins, 63,640 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 335 Chipping Sparrows, 400 Song Sparrows, 300 White-throated Sparrows, 3,397 Dark-eyed Juncos, 5,000 Red-winged Blackbirds, 237 Rusty Blackbirds, 533 Pine Siskins and 400 American Goldfinches.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCE7QvIzgI/AAAAAAAAC5g/qM3lcNLLYkg/s1600/Broad-winged+Hawk030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCE7QvIzgI/AAAAAAAAC5g/qM3lcNLLYkg/s400/Broad-winged+Hawk030.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Broad-winged Hawks weren't a major part of this weekend's fall out, but there was still a few around to enjoy. Here's part of a flock of 65 (plus one Turkey Vulture) that passed over the Northwood Center.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCE9BhJX5I/AAAAAAAAC5k/fOwVTHKr_PM/s1600/IMG_5095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCE9BhJX5I/AAAAAAAAC5k/fOwVTHKr_PM/s400/IMG_5095.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>And here's a closer look at a Broadie!</em></div><br />
<strong>Saturday 30th</strong><br />
Seawatch – 12,372birds counted, including 249 Wood Ducks, 4138 Surf Scoters, 1,243 Black Scoters, 194 Red-throated Loons, 517 Northern Gannets, 4,124 Double-crested Cormorants.<br />
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Hawkwatch – 919 raptors counted, including 10 Bald Eagles, 105 Northern Harriers, 455 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 115 Red-tailed Hawks.<br />
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Morning Flight – 60,000 birds counted (no individual species totals have been made available though).<br />
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<strong>After note:</strong>The dust still hasn’t settled, as the Hawkwatch counters tallied 189 Northern Harriers and an impressive 11 Golden Eagles on Monday – I saw three of the Golden Eagles, including one which flew right past my office window and became the 97th species for my office window list!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCDGB1kkYI/AAAAAAAAC5M/VDxPtvy09No/s1600/IMG_5587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCDGB1kkYI/AAAAAAAAC5M/VDxPtvy09No/s400/IMG_5587.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Sparrow flocks are always worth scanning for the less common species. This first-winter White-crowned Sparrow was at the state park....</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCDHfkCIuI/AAAAAAAAC5Q/6BJBOR_HuQo/s1600/IMG_5627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCDHfkCIuI/AAAAAAAAC5Q/6BJBOR_HuQo/s400/IMG_5627.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>....while this Vesper Sparrow was one of four that we found at The Beanery. Note the white eyering on an otherwise rather plain head, and the white outer tail feathers.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCDxIsfm9I/AAAAAAAAC5U/ZWPDqHp0Nus/s1600/White-breasted+Nuthatch020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCDxIsfm9I/AAAAAAAAC5U/ZWPDqHp0Nus/s400/White-breasted+Nuthatch020.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Being in the office didn't take me completely out of the picture; this smart White-breasted Nuthatch was right outside my office window....</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCDy6RoboI/AAAAAAAAC5Y/o19OoyjPyn4/s1600/IMG_5399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCDy6RoboI/AAAAAAAAC5Y/o19OoyjPyn4/s400/IMG_5399.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>....and the bird feeders at work did a good job in pulling in lots of great birds, including a handful of Purple Finches that were heading south.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCDzoAXYjI/AAAAAAAAC5c/yS0jHj7-I6Q/s1600/IMG_5410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCDzoAXYjI/AAAAAAAAC5c/yS0jHj7-I6Q/s400/IMG_5410.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Female Purple Finches could be confused with House Finches, but note this bird's heavy streaking below and its clearly-marked, white supercilium running back from the eye.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCFuPkK0MI/AAAAAAAAC5o/GsMRE7phseY/s1600/Eastern+Bluebird006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCFuPkK0MI/AAAAAAAAC5o/GsMRE7phseY/s400/Eastern+Bluebird006.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>As I write this on Tuesday evening (before going out for a slap-up get-together to say thanks to the wonderful seasonal staff we've had this year!) things are definitely quietening down, but the past two evenings have seen some lovely groups of Eastern Bluebirds gathered along Bayshore Road and lining my route home from work.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCFwlZxvzI/AAAAAAAAC5s/vyXZy_tHh44/s1600/Sunset099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TNCFwlZxvzI/AAAAAAAAC5s/vyXZy_tHh44/s400/Sunset099.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>And just to rub it in yet again; yes, you get some fabulous sunsets here, especially when a tall sailing ship cruises through your viewfinder on a lightly-rippled Delaware Bay.</em></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-9970304781752559602010-10-26T19:06:00.001-04:002011-03-24T20:25:24.418-04:00The Candy Store & Migrants Beyond Belief!Each autumn, some little spot at Cape May Point becomes <em>the</em> place to look for southbound migrants. This year, that spot was the very plave where I work. The garden of the Northwood Center hosted an amazing array of birds daily for some five weeks and, for a while at least, it looked like it would never end! Most years one or two of the stately Siberian Elms, that have been widely planted in gardens because they are resistant to Dutch Elm Disease, plays host to waves of migrants and this year, that special tree - the Magic Tree - was right outside our window! So why Siberian Elms? Well for two reasons, both involving insects. Siberian Elms often ooze sap from their trunks and major side branches for some reason that remains a mystery to me and this sap attracts insects - which in turn attracts the birds. In addition, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are attracted to the sap too. Secondly, elms are primary or secondary hosts for a number of aphid species, some of which arrive on the elm trunks in huge numbers in the autumn - especially the group of insects known as woolly aphids. In fact, the generation of these insects that visits elm trunks is the winged generation, which is not woolly but that's just nature being complicated again!<br />
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So how did this manifest itself at the Northwood Center? Well, just take a look at this batch of pictures, all taken from the kitchen window at work!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdTwXZw5oI/AAAAAAAAC2k/QrRmUcIE3VE/s1600/Black-th+Blue+Warbler012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdTwXZw5oI/AAAAAAAAC2k/QrRmUcIE3VE/s400/Black-th+Blue+Warbler012.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Male Black-throated Blue Warbler. Contra what many people believe, many North American wood-warbler males retain full - or nearly full - breeding-type plumage throughout the year once they have reached maturity and are thus pretty smart even in autumn.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdUUUxF-MI/AAAAAAAAC2o/36_Do6Nmr2s/s1600/IMG_4778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdUUUxF-MI/AAAAAAAAC2o/36_Do6Nmr2s/s400/IMG_4778.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>OK, this one's certainly not a bright boy, but it is our namesake bird so we always like to see them here. This is a first-winter female Cape May Warbler coming to the Candy Store.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdU6oX0SNI/AAAAAAAAC2s/ZcIKIUzsOtM/s1600/IMG_4707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdU6oX0SNI/AAAAAAAAC2s/ZcIKIUzsOtM/s400/IMG_4707.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>A dapper Northern Parula clings to the vertical trunk to get at the treats lurking in the bark fissures.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdVQASNdII/AAAAAAAAC2w/rXtjt16yXcQ/s1600/IMG_4727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdVQASNdII/AAAAAAAAC2w/rXtjt16yXcQ/s400/IMG_4727.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>An old favourite of mine, a young Magnolia Warbler.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdVsOl5y1I/AAAAAAAAC20/zzy18mSTsKg/s1600/IMG_4746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdVsOl5y1I/AAAAAAAAC20/zzy18mSTsKg/s400/IMG_4746.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>A potential trap for the unwary. This Yellow Warbler had a dark mark on its crown which superficially made it look like a Wilson's Warbler, a species that's not common here - though regular in small numbers.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdWHYDn34I/AAAAAAAAC24/IOD0n2aBh5g/s1600/IMG_4661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdWHYDn34I/AAAAAAAAC24/IOD0n2aBh5g/s400/IMG_4661.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Another Magnolia Warbler stops by, this one more subtly streaked on the flanks.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdWdBpmk4I/AAAAAAAAC28/YlDtXMFu228/s1600/IMG_4608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdWdBpmk4I/AAAAAAAAC28/YlDtXMFu228/s400/IMG_4608.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>A different Cape May Warbler, this time a young male with much more yellow in its plumage - but no orange cheek patch yet.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdW0o2-xGI/AAAAAAAAC3A/l6lArLBPpP4/s1600/IMG_4704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdW0o2-xGI/AAAAAAAAC3A/l6lArLBPpP4/s400/IMG_4704.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>And just to show that it wasn't just warblers that came to the Candy Store; a Brown Creeper - one of four that spent more than a week with us.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdXImopnRI/AAAAAAAAC3E/EvCuIdwDsXQ/s1600/IMG_4767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdXImopnRI/AAAAAAAAC3E/EvCuIdwDsXQ/s400/IMG_4767.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Red-breasted Nuthatches have been literally pouring through the area in recent weeks, with some particularly impressive counts coming from Higbee's Dike.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdXav7f4kI/AAAAAAAAC3I/lO6nsgRuTIA/s1600/IMG_4681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdXav7f4kI/AAAAAAAAC3I/lO6nsgRuTIA/s400/IMG_4681.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>A final little gem at the aphid feast - a male Downy Woodpecker attempts to look like a Constable painting!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdZ-MRduwI/AAAAAAAAC3M/z1K_7Q7_t4Y/s1600/IMG_3780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdZ-MRduwI/AAAAAAAAC3M/z1K_7Q7_t4Y/s400/IMG_3780.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>And while queueing for their turn at the ultimate feast, many other birds roved through neighbouring trees, such as this Tennessee Warbler in a Grey Poplar next to my car....</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdaeeQespI/AAAAAAAAC3Q/9UhwMcQ-dVk/s400/IMG_3763.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>....and this first-winter Chestnut-sided Warbler in the same tree - at times it really was difficult to know which way to turn!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdaz_ROlqI/AAAAAAAAC3U/ElXxxFGHgBg/s1600/Blackburnian+Warbler018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdaz_ROlqI/AAAAAAAAC3U/ElXxxFGHgBg/s400/Blackburnian+Warbler018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Meanwhile, this young Blackburnian Warbler typically favoured nearby conifers.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Elsewhere, Cape May Point State Park's conifer stands which usually serve us proudly, seemed deprived of birds for some reason this year. However, I did pay a few lunchtime visits and came up with one or two secretive gems while everyone else was watching birds around Lake Lily.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdbrrWoiPI/AAAAAAAAC3Y/mx-QWBVF1eE/s1600/IMG_3721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdbrrWoiPI/AAAAAAAAC3Y/mx-QWBVF1eE/s400/IMG_3721.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Reward for quietly waiting in the shadows of the thicker clumps of trees came first in the form of this unusually obliging Veery....</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdcDPZ7fgI/AAAAAAAAC3c/jYFaOwc9V1Y/s1600/IMG_3739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdcDPZ7fgI/AAAAAAAAC3c/jYFaOwc9V1Y/s400/IMG_3739.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>....then I came across this wonderful Ovenbird which walked up a sloping branch and stared back at me just long enough for a few shots. The extremely low light levels made photography difficult and this retiring forest-floor dweller proved a tricky subject, but I don't think I did too badly. I certainly would have been happy with this shot if I had been back on my local patch on the clifftops in Norfolk!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdczRYm9GI/AAAAAAAAC3g/E0bu-sQ-TtY/s1600/IMG_3644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdczRYm9GI/AAAAAAAAC3g/E0bu-sQ-TtY/s400/IMG_3644.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Walking back through the more open wetland trails in the state park, I discovered that Prairie Warblers were all over the place, feeding low down in weedy corners. I liked capturing the moment that these two suddenly realised that they were working the same patch! These two are probably both first-winter birds - the left one a male, the right one a female.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdc2iDR0vI/AAAAAAAAC3k/Fyi2unIQK7o/s1600/IMG_3680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdc2iDR0vI/AAAAAAAAC3k/Fyi2unIQK7o/s400/IMG_3680.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Just to round off, here's a couple of shots of a really obliging Prairie Warbler that fed close to me as I just sat quietly on the edge of the boardwalk.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdc4khQC_I/AAAAAAAAC3o/xzaQN1gjLKc/s1600/IMG_3692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMdc4khQC_I/AAAAAAAAC3o/xzaQN1gjLKc/s400/IMG_3692.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Well, September really is the peak month for the wood-warblers here and already I can't wait for next year to get another full dose of them. But, hey, we've got October to get through yet, with all those raptors and sparrows, then the ducks arriving to take us into November.....Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-12089570334374018972010-10-22T17:48:00.000-04:002010-10-22T17:48:27.184-04:00The Cape May EffectHere's a post I originally put up on the Cape May Bird Observatory site, but I thought I'd put it up here too - with a few words changed to account for it being some weeks back now!<br />
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One Saturday night back in September I did a bad thing, a very bad thing; I forgot an evening engagement with friends, good friends. How and why did this happen? Well quite simply, I was in heaven. Heaven is a strange place; it can be anywhere, any place, any time; but you know when you are there. And for all of us, heaven is a different place - but it definitely exists, because I was there, that Saturday evening. On that evening, just for a short while of less than an hour, heaven was on Cape May's South Beach. It involved being barefoot on warm sand, having a camera in-hand and having shorebirds so close that you could hear their tiny feet pattering on dry sand as they trotted by (have you ever heard that sound?). When you are in heaven, everything else goes on hold because time stands still. No-one else was there in my heaven, just me, just the focus of my attention, but if you missed it, if you had to be back for dinner on time, here's what you missed.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMIEripE2jI/AAAAAAAAC1k/eGWdwhdUWQk/s1600/IMG_2816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMIEripE2jI/AAAAAAAAC1k/eGWdwhdUWQk/s400/IMG_2816.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>A juvenile Semipalmated Plover, so young that it doesn't know to keep its distance from me, but instinctively knowing that a tide-washed strandline is the place to be to find juicy sandflies. Adult Semipalmated Plovers are wonderful with their bold black and white head pattern; but juveniles are more subtle, in shades of coffee-brown and with delicate pale fringes to the back feathers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMIFJAv6udI/AAAAAAAAC1o/Yz0Mdmgr4tM/s1600/IMG_2941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMIFJAv6udI/AAAAAAAAC1o/Yz0Mdmgr4tM/s400/IMG_2941.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The real object of my desire that night was a party of six Buff-breasted Sandpipers. These are birds of the high Arctic tundra which make a staggering migration southward, to winter on the grasslands of northern Argentina. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMIFY6aUSFI/AAAAAAAAC1s/5ZadyY11saY/s1600/IMG_2895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMIFY6aUSFI/AAAAAAAAC1s/5ZadyY11saY/s400/IMG_2895.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>They are with us at Cape May so fleetingly, yet they are such a special bird that they touch our lives with their presence.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMIFsebhV-I/AAAAAAAAC1w/ysd2Ix8kh10/s1600/IMG_2935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMIFsebhV-I/AAAAAAAAC1w/ysd2Ix8kh10/s400/IMG_2935.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Perhaps the most amazing thing of all about such long distance migrants, is that this group of six birds were all youngsters; first-timers, heading for Argentina with no parental guidance at all. Something to sit and contemplate for a moment....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMIF9FhqH7I/AAAAAAAAC10/m9JeFLMyo-0/s1600/IMG_2925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMIF9FhqH7I/AAAAAAAAC10/m9JeFLMyo-0/s400/IMG_2925.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>So why do Buffies pick Cape May as a stop-over on their long journey? For the same reason that we all do; it's heaven on earth for everyone who comes here - at some point, at some moment in time.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMIGIYgsfHI/AAAAAAAAC14/61D9Kxrk7e8/s1600/IMG_2818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMIGIYgsfHI/AAAAAAAAC14/61D9Kxrk7e8/s400/IMG_2818.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>And my friends? I saw them today - they forgave me - though they won't let me forget it for a while!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMIGdSlsxuI/AAAAAAAAC18/9WUhEBKq1bU/s1600/IMG_2958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TMIGdSlsxuI/AAAAAAAAC18/9WUhEBKq1bU/s400/IMG_2958.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cape May on a warm, sunny, September evening - would you want to be anywhere else?</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-35164152464721653822010-10-14T23:01:00.000-04:002010-10-14T23:01:19.833-04:00Those Cruel Flycatchers...A magnificent rush of birds at Higbee's Beach WMA on September 4th included a veritable 'fall-out' of <em>Empidonax</em> flycatchers which was bound to result in folks deciding either to get stuck in to a thorny identification challenge, or to go home and have a second breakfast! I did both, so here's some photos from the former (no pictures of the latter sadly!). Those who haven't ventured into the murky world of the Tyrant Flycatchers are probably blissfully unaware of this annoyingly tricky family of birds, which includes a number of species that are pretty much like the New World equivalent of those 'little brown jobs' that we like to call warblers in the UK. I thought it would be particularly poignant to cover them this autumn as there has been an Alder Flycatcher on Blakeney Point in Norfolk which caused much consternation for those not familiar with this group. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLe5oP3AzzI/AAAAAAAAC08/dkutFu4Dl3U/s1600/IMG_2598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLe5oP3AzzI/AAAAAAAAC08/dkutFu4Dl3U/s400/IMG_2598.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>Though taken from behind and with the head slightly turned away, this is clearly a Least Flycatcher, the most common <em>Empidonax</em> encountered at Higbee's Beach. Note the rather large-headed look (relative to the size of the body), the obvious eye-ring (especially behind the eye) and the rather small bill. Importantly, photographing it from behind allows us to see the very short primary projection of this species. The 'primary projection' refers to the length of primaries that can be seen extending beyond the tertials (the tertials are the three innermost - ie nearest the body - secondaries which tend to close over most of the primaries and secondaries when the wing is closed).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLe5-fEbfRI/AAAAAAAAC1A/umx1flj9Sus/s1600/IMG_2600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLe5-fEbfRI/AAAAAAAAC1A/umx1flj9Sus/s400/IMG_2600.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I put up the picture above first so that it could be compared with this picture. This is the same bird, on the same perch. However, I think that if I was faced with just this photo, I may well struggle to identify this bird as a Least Flycatcher! Least is typically rather upright in stance, yet here it is almost horizontal. Also, with the wing tips moved out from the body, they are casting a shadow on the side of the rump, making the bird appear to have a longer primary projection than it actually does. A flattening of the crown feathers has also given the bird a smaller-headed appearance. Lesson 1: It pays to watch a bird for a while before you try to give it a name. Lesson 2: It's not always a good thing to name a bird from a single photograph!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLfBS9tlgxI/AAAAAAAAC1Q/zc-gs7U0jqg/s1600/Least+Flycatcher033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLfBS9tlgxI/AAAAAAAAC1Q/zc-gs7U0jqg/s400/Least+Flycatcher033.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's another Least Flycatcher in a more typical view, showing the relatively large and rounded head typical of the species, the short primary projection and the classic eyering which extends out into a 'teardrop' at the back of the eye.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLe6P7IHuOI/AAAAAAAAC1E/fdxJ-gaKVPo/s1600/IMG_2605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLe6P7IHuOI/AAAAAAAAC1E/fdxJ-gaKVPo/s400/IMG_2605.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>Much scarcer than Least Flycatchers at Higbee's Beach, Yellow-bellied Flycatchers can look structurally rather similar, being small and with a relatively large, rounded head. Yellow-bellies have a longer primary projection than Least, but are more easily told by their overall yellow wash to the underparts which extends right across the face on this individual. Essentially, a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher should show a throat that is the same colour as the breast - Least has a yellowish (or white) breast and clean white throat. Note also here the slight crest. Yellow-bellied Flycatchers prefer to hunt unobtrusively within woodland and thicker cover, so are perhaps more regular at Cape May than records suggest as they will be less readily found than Least Flycatchers.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLe6m2R0D0I/AAAAAAAAC1I/Z80Rv32FCtY/s1600/IMG_2645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLe6m2R0D0I/AAAAAAAAC1I/Z80Rv32FCtY/s400/IMG_2645.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>And so to a really thorny issue! Whatever happened to Traill's Flycatcher? Well in case you didn't know, it got split up into Willow and Alder Flycatchers and the two species remain a real problem to separate, being best told in spring when singing, or in the hand using a complicated biometric formula based on the wing and bill. There are general trends though and, although there is much overlap, a bird showing pretty much the full suite of Alder characteristics - like this one - probably is one. Note the relatively small bill (foreshortened here but even so, it's not particularly long), rounded head, fairly distinct eyering (paler and more obvious than the lores) and slightly olive tone to the upper parts of this bird. All features that are more typical of Alder than Willow (although none of which in isolation are diagnostic I should add). Four birds like this were together along one of the Higbee's hedgelines this morning.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLe6-59KBII/AAAAAAAAC1M/L0713ic0fRI/s1600/IMG_2626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLe6-59KBII/AAAAAAAAC1M/L0713ic0fRI/s400/IMG_2626.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>But the reason why I feel quietly confident about the bird above being an Alder Flycatcher is because of this picture. The outer part of a bird's wing - its 'hand' consists of the longest flight feathers, the primaries. The relative shapes and lengths of these feathers varies from species to species and this - at least in part - makes up the birds wing formula. Typically for songbirds, Empids have a 10th (outermost) primary that is much shorter than the ninth primary. In Willow/Alder flycatchers, the 9th, 8th and 7th are of similar length and thus form a slightly rounded 'wing point'. The following primaries (6th to 1st numbered inwardly) are then progressivley shorter. Here, the bird has ruffled its wing and the short 10th primary can be seen. Most importantly, its length relative to the other primaries can be judged. So, the 9th primary can't be seen here as it is slightly shorter than - and thus hidden by - the 8th. Thus the 8th primary is the longest we can see here, with the tip of the 7th just next to it. Carrying on from there, we can see that the 10th is noticeably longer than the 5th, coming closer to the tip of the sixth in length - though still shorter than the sixth. This difference in length - which if the bird were held in the hand could be taken as a measurement in millimetres - coupled with the bill length (which certainly looked relatively short on this bird) gives us a formula which sorts out the 'Traill's' pair pretty well - making this an Alder Flycatcher.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLfB5gt9cXI/AAAAAAAAC1U/nD3N7sFEhwA/s1600/Acadian+Flycatcher001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLfB5gt9cXI/AAAAAAAAC1U/nD3N7sFEhwA/s400/Acadian+Flycatcher001.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not a great picture due to poor photographic conditions deep in the woods, but here's an Acadian Flycatcher, taken on the breeding grounds at Belleplain State Forest, Cape May back in the summer. Though the bird is half hidden, this picture does show nicely the long primary projection typical of Acadian Flycatcher - compare with the 'stumpy' Leasts above.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, hopefully, if you're in the UK, this has been food for thought if you saw the Blakeney bird! All the pictures of that bird show an absolute classic Alder Flycatcher which - as Michael O'Brien so rightly said to me the other day - is harder to tell from Least than Willow when it comes to plumage, while the structure sorts Alder from Least easy enough. Sorting this group has been a long time coming, but most birders here at Cape May deal with them well enough. Right, that's the dull little birds done, there'll be some more glamorous birds in the next post I hope!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-65977378686196978512010-10-09T16:42:00.004-04:002010-10-10T10:20:36.207-04:00Full CircleSeptember 1st finally arrived; the day I came full circle and completed my first full year working at Cape May. And what a year it's been! Record snowfalls, a hideously wet spring, then the summer drought with temperatures reaching 100F - quite a variety of experiences for sure. So now September has come and gone again and, with it being the peak period for bird migration, it's been pretty much impossible to find time to write a blog - especially as I was trying to keep a diary going! So, I'll cobble together some highlights of the season over the next few posts to give an idea of the wonders of a Cape May autumn (and there's still plenty to come yet!).<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLB9ocsKDaI/AAAAAAAACxw/9qexR3uJtbI/s1600/IMG_3701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLB9ocsKDaI/AAAAAAAACxw/9qexR3uJtbI/s400/IMG_3701.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the amazing Monarch departure, it went a little quiet for these amazing long-distance travellers for a while; but small numbers still continued to pass through and their black-and-orange colours always look good when they are feeding at the Giant Sunflowers in the Cape May Point State Park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCbnsr-jJI/AAAAAAAACx8/sIf7Wygx8XY/s1600/083+Monarch015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCbnsr-jJI/AAAAAAAACx8/sIf7Wygx8XY/s400/083+Monarch015.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One useful thing to know about Monarchs though and that is that not everything you think is a Monarch, is a Monarch! So here's a classic Monarch from below, feeding at Japanese Honeysuckle - but compare it with the next picture...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCcSmOu6gI/AAAAAAAACyA/Qy-MkCUP0k8/s1600/IMG_2394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCcSmOu6gI/AAAAAAAACyA/Qy-MkCUP0k8/s400/IMG_2394.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...still looks like a Monarch - or does it? This in fact is a butterfly called a Viceroy which isn't even in the same family as a Monarch (it's actually related to the fritillaries and admirals) and yet looks pretty similar. Similar enough, in fact, that once a predator has learned that Monarchs are poisonous and should be left alone, they leave Viceroys alone too. Initially this was thought to be one of the most basic forms of mimicry, called Batesian Mimicry, where a harmless species looks like a poisonous one and thus benefits from this arrangement by not being eaten. In fact, it turns out that Viceroys are poisonous too - so called Mullerian Mimicry - where harmful animals with similar traits look similar, that way the message gets across quickly and they're all left alone; sort of benefits both sides really! To most predators, the two butterfly species above look similar enough that they are considered to be the same thing. With our more discerning eye, we see many differences, the most obvious being the extra black line across the middle of the Viceroy's wing. There are other subtle differences too, in the arrangement and shape of the white marks for example.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCflflLtYI/AAAAAAAACyE/fVEPaEcGxnk/s1600/073+Viceroy007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCflflLtYI/AAAAAAAACyE/fVEPaEcGxnk/s400/073+Viceroy007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From above, the same differences as can be seen from below are evident, with the line across the hindwing on this Viceroy being the most obvious feature.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCflyica-I/AAAAAAAACyI/bURhmWy6x9g/s1600/083+Monarch005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCflyica-I/AAAAAAAACyI/bURhmWy6x9g/s400/083+Monarch005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Monarch top side - compare with above. You can also tell male and female Monarchs apart from each other. This is a male, as told by the narrow black veining and the two round, black dots on the hindwings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvnL17r2I/AAAAAAAACyQ/OqPBJrJlmLA/s1600/070+Common+Buckeye023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvnL17r2I/AAAAAAAACyQ/OqPBJrJlmLA/s400/070+Common+Buckeye023.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Butterfly migration hasn't been all about Monarchs this year, however. Common Buckeyes have been staggeringly abundant - even as I write in early October there is 100 or more in our meadow, feeding avidly at the Frost Aster flowers. I took a photo of this one as it paused on a fence post and posed nicely for me along Yale Avenue.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvuKQxalI/AAAAAAAACzM/UXmUgkoH3Eg/s1600/IMG_3777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvuKQxalI/AAAAAAAACzM/UXmUgkoH3Eg/s400/IMG_3777.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">With all the Monarchs around, eyes were on the butterfly world and, with the added attention, several less common species were found. I found this Pipevine Swallowtail in the state park on September 13th and managed just one quick shot before it sped off across Lighthouse Pond. This is only the second time I've seen this species, and the first time I've managed to get a photo!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvqux8O6I/AAAAAAAACyo/WZF8OmS4B-g/s1600/DSCN6834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvqux8O6I/AAAAAAAACyo/WZF8OmS4B-g/s400/DSCN6834.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our own butterfly garden is still at very humble beginnings, but the mass of plants we've been given by friends and neighbours has certainly got us off to a good start. In this bed, a Mexican Sunflower stands tall above New England Aster and Red Sage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCv06r4WQI/AAAAAAAAC0E/OneKzFmmg8U/s1600/Sunflowers3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCv06r4WQI/AAAAAAAAC0E/OneKzFmmg8U/s400/Sunflowers3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">And here's some of the competition trying to attract butterflies too! The show of wild Giant Sunflower at the state park has been spectacular this year, especially when they were adorned with Monarchs!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvo7orG5I/AAAAAAAACyg/vhK1xTeX65w/s1600/07855+Snowberry+Clearwing+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvo7orG5I/AAAAAAAACyg/vhK1xTeX65w/s400/07855+Snowberry+Clearwing+1.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another insect mimic that isn't quite what it seems! This may look like a bumble bee, but notice the long antennae. This is a Snowberry Clearwing - a species of hawkmoth - which is able to fly by day unmolested as it looks like a bee, so is left alone. Unfortunately this is yet another of those New World things that has been wrongly named and now it's too late to change; the clearwings are actually a completely different family of moths, unrelated to the hawkmoths. This should best be called Snowberry Beehawk as it is closely related to the Beehawk moths of the Old World. This is a common species around Cape May and best told by its black legs (though the light shining on them makes them look pale in places here). The similar Hummingbird Clearwing has white legs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvmsS4j4I/AAAAAAAACyM/6ED51JpdTwg/s1600/43+Black+Rat+Snake024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvmsS4j4I/AAAAAAAACyM/6ED51JpdTwg/s400/43+Black+Rat+Snake024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Still on things in our garden, our local Black Rat Snake turned up again recently, hanging out for a few days in one of our Norway Maples. With the migration of tree-loving warblers now under way, it made me wonder whether his ploy of hanging out in the trees was to have a go at catching small birds for lunch.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCv1R-tJTI/AAAAAAAAC0I/Ef7ZuU-_0Qw/s1600/Veery003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="292" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCv1R-tJTI/AAAAAAAAC0I/Ef7ZuU-_0Qw/s400/Veery003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Something that struck me this month was how small birds have a habit of always managing to get something between you and them when they flit through the trees and seemingly pick a spot to land at random. How do they do that? Are they that good at calculating sight lines that they can pick a spot on a branch, knowing that they'll be at least half hidden from view behind a leaf or twig? So it seems, as it just happens so often. Now, having covered that, I have an excuse for some dodgy pictures of birds half hidden by other objects! Here's a Veery, one of the small <em>Catharus</em> thrushes and a master at the art. This one was in the small Sassafras tree that is just a couple of feet from my office window - good job the camera was handy!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvsaKqMtI/AAAAAAAACy4/08zN5LmaXQo/s1600/IMG_2457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvsaKqMtI/AAAAAAAACy4/08zN5LmaXQo/s400/IMG_2457.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Another sneeky peeper, this Philadelphia Vireo came in nice and close but - typically - never quite gave itself up to the camera lens and always managed to keep a leaf or twig between us. It's been a particularly good autumn for this species which is regular but never common at Cape May.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvrcC3lXI/AAAAAAAACyw/kJSCC8eQSd4/s1600/Great+Cr+Flycatcher001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvrcC3lXI/AAAAAAAACyw/kJSCC8eQSd4/s400/Great+Cr+Flycatcher001.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Again, a perfectly positioned bird! This Great Crested Flycatcher was in a mixed flock which came in close when I was luring them in with a bit of 'pishing' but it still strapped a piece of juniper to its face!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvqGwFpxI/AAAAAAAACyk/erjCAUXAgXw/s1600/Carolina+Chickadee037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvqGwFpxI/AAAAAAAACyk/erjCAUXAgXw/s320/Carolina+Chickadee037.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">But just to show that it can be done, here's a Carolina Chickadee - a species that seems to like us so makes a bit more of an effort to pose nicely! This bird was in the same flock as the flycatcher above but came to within a couple of feet of me, which meant I had to back off to get it in focus!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvyfr-d1I/AAAAAAAACzw/kuQC5AxfFmk/s1600/Northern+Waterthrush010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvyfr-d1I/AAAAAAAACzw/kuQC5AxfFmk/s400/Northern+Waterthrush010.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Now here's a bird that set me thinking about how field guides are written. Shouldn't we have illustrations that show the birds as you would see them in the field? Well, here's a typical view of a Northern Waterthrush - if only I could have a pound - or a dollar - for every one I've seen like this!!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvtcSQZwI/AAAAAAAACzE/oMHeR09OR2k/s1600/IMG_3129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvtcSQZwI/AAAAAAAACzE/oMHeR09OR2k/s400/IMG_3129.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Eastern Kingbirds start to move south relatively early and numbers at Cape May peak in late August. Higbee's Beach is a great place to see this species then, when up to 300 can be gathered in the Sassafras trees were they feed avidly on the ripening fruits. As most birds will have finished breeding by this time, I was surprised to find this young Eastern Kingbird which had clearly not long left the nest, judging by its stumpy wings and tail. Surprising because of the date as it was September 7th when I chanced upon this little chap near Rio Grande.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvrPaHISI/AAAAAAAACys/8uc6qfLxOwE/s1600/Forster's+Tern024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvrPaHISI/AAAAAAAACys/8uc6qfLxOwE/s400/Forster's+Tern024.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">With the tourist season not quite over and guests staying with us, we took the opportunity to hire some kayaks and see the harbour and backbays of Cape May from a different angle. One of my favourite shots from the day out was of this Forster's Tern which really didn't seem bothered by us in our kayaks - I guess it could clearly tell from the way we were floundering around that we weren't a threat to it! I actually took this picture with a little point-and-shoot Pentax I have, but which is ideal for kayaking as it's waterproof!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvx7ywAEI/AAAAAAAACzs/GDNUzUM1UAo/s1600/LB-b+Gull021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="234" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvx7ywAEI/AAAAAAAACzs/GDNUzUM1UAo/s320/LB-b+Gull021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I haven't said much about life on the beaches of late, though to be honest most beaches are best avoided during the summer! So, here's a few pictures from the sandy strands of Cape May Point. This Lesser Black-backed Gull was one of the first of a good run of this species this autumn and turned up on September 2nd, being one of four present that day. Although a European species, Lesser Black-backs are expected here each autumn and it seems likely either that a small breeding population has become established - perhaps in Greenland - or that birds have established a regular migration route which takes them to wintering grounds in the Caribbean and Florida.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvsgsQQnI/AAAAAAAACy8/WPOL62iHyDc/s1600/IMG_2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvsgsQQnI/AAAAAAAACy8/WPOL62iHyDc/s320/IMG_2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">A flight shot of the same Lesser Black-backed Gull reveals how messy they can look when in full moult during late summer. This is clearly a third calendar year bird, moulting into its adult-type grey wing feathers for the first time. Notice how the flight feather moult starts with the innermost primaries and works sequencially outwards. It has re-grown the first three completely, the fourth is almost fully re-grown and the fifth (with a neat black and white tip) is getting there too.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvtM1P0kI/AAAAAAAACzA/I4JepXT_XPc/s1600/IMG_2532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvtM1P0kI/AAAAAAAACzA/I4JepXT_XPc/s400/IMG_2532.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">While on the subject of gulls, I dropped in this shot of a worried-looking Ring-billed Gull. There was a very real threat of Hurrican Earl making landfall somewhere close to Cape May at one point and all the emergency services were on stand-by. During the height of it all on September 2nd I took a stroll along a breezy but wonderfully empty beach and found this guy digging in behind a wall of strandline debris just in case!! And that was it - Hurricane Earl, a damp squib in my book, and not even damp actually!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCv0My61vI/AAAAAAAAC0A/wKkZuTJET5E/s1600/Sandwich+Tern005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="292" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCv0My61vI/AAAAAAAAC0A/wKkZuTJET5E/s400/Sandwich+Tern005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Despite Hurricane Earl fizzling out to nothing locally, a lot of seabirds were pushed onto Cape May's beaches to ride out the worst of the weather. After a number of near misses which were starting to get a tad annoying, I finally bumped into a Sandwich Tern off Coral Avenue, courtesy of Michael O'Brien. Of course, after that, the inevitable happened and I then ran into one or two more over the following few days. This ringed adult was on the beach near 2nd Avenue Jetty. This is an uncommon species in Cape May with just one or two wanderers reaching here in late summer each year from breeding grounds much further south.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvz0_a03I/AAAAAAAACz8/6h-3V5dbhi0/s1600/Royal+Tern060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvz0_a03I/AAAAAAAACz8/6h-3V5dbhi0/s400/Royal+Tern060.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While enjoying skimmers and terns on the beaches on September 9th, I was intrigued by the bird on the left. These are clearly both Royal Terns, a common species at Cape May, though not a regular breeder with us at present. What intrigued me about the bird on the left is just how relatively dainty it looks when compared with the typical bird on the right. While Royals Terns do vary a little in size, bill size is one of the features that is used to define the West African population from the Western Atlantic population in the USA. This smaller-billed bird would certainly not look out of place in The Gambia where I have seen many birds of the race <em>albidorsalis</em> and it does make me wonder whether some of them make it across the Atlantic on the back of stormy weather. Something to ponder upon over a few beers I think!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvzOsEyTI/AAAAAAAACz0/TkDZkfXVqPE/s1600/Red+Knot154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="292" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvzOsEyTI/AAAAAAAACz0/TkDZkfXVqPE/s400/Red+Knot154.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The wide expanses of intertidal flats and beaches around Stone Harbour are great places for shorebirds and a few Red Knot were on their amazing southbound migration from the High Arctic to South America and had dropped in for a refuel last time I was there. This is clearly an adult with remnants of its rufous breeding plumage still showing. Note the old and very worn wing coverts with their very pointy tips, the result of the softer parts of the feathers wearing away and just leaving the central shafts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvzuUA1MI/AAAAAAAACz4/WpoMuz-rJKo/s1600/Red+Knot156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="291" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvzuUA1MI/AAAAAAAACz4/WpoMuz-rJKo/s400/Red+Knot156.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">In contrast to the adult above, here's a far more dapper looking juvenile Red Knot with its neat chevrons along the flanks and tidy rows of round-tipped wing coverts. Such differences in wear between adults and juveniles at this time of year can be a useful way to age birds where plumage markings are much more similar between different-aged birds than they are in Red Knot.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvu-myzjI/AAAAAAAACzQ/iPpBceHDCrc/s1600/IMG_3943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvu-myzjI/AAAAAAAACzQ/iPpBceHDCrc/s400/IMG_3943.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Another long-distance migrant that is quite common at Cape May during August and September is Pectoral Sandpiper - here a very neat juvenile (look at those smart wing coverts!). These birds go well south into South America and have the long wings typical of such long-haul travellers.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvvIELeBI/AAAAAAAACzU/pa-9p5F-KCM/s1600/IMG_4359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvvIELeBI/AAAAAAAACzU/pa-9p5F-KCM/s400/IMG_4359.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the star turns of this year's autumn migration here and an uncommon species in Cape May - at least south of the canal - was this moulting adult Hudsonian Godwit. Yet another long-distance migrant, this bird spent time hanging out at Bunker Pond and couldn't have been more obliging. The bill seems to be particularly long on this individual which suggests that it is probably a female.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvv83Nc3I/AAAAAAAACzc/l2ueOcwLoAY/s1600/IMG_4460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvv83Nc3I/AAAAAAAACzc/l2ueOcwLoAY/s400/IMG_4460.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">A bird that is easily missed here is Sora Rail, as they so often prefer to keep themselves tucked away in marshside vegetation - though they're pretty easy to hear! This one bucked the trend and spent the best part of a week feeding right out in the open on Lighthouse Pond during late September.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvvnqd8pI/AAAAAAAACzY/-HPfM71TiIo/s1600/IMG_4420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvvnqd8pI/AAAAAAAACzY/-HPfM71TiIo/s400/IMG_4420.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well Cape May is, after all, all about migration and September is the peak month for the movement of American Kestrels - though October is continuing to be good for them this year too. On October 20th, Megan and I went down to Sunset Boulevard in the evening where up to 40 American Kestrels had been gathering to feed on grasshoppers in the open, short grassland there. It was getting late by the time we got down there, but here's just a few of a party of seventeen which were strung out on wires near the Magnasite Plant and put on a fabulous display. With Merlins zipping through every few minutes too, it really was a treat!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLDTfNUw5HI/AAAAAAAAC0M/IHD6yIRbqVI/s1600/IMG_4825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="292" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLDTfNUw5HI/AAAAAAAAC0M/IHD6yIRbqVI/s400/IMG_4825.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As if we needed signs from the birds that October was only just around the corner, a nice Blue Jay movement took place on September 29th and my Wednesday walk started with a wonderful flock of 147 of them flying around the lighthouse and seeming a bit unsure what to do next. Blue Jays are poorly equipped for taking the Delware Bay on so many probably head back up the shore to cross further north where the bay is much narrower. That morning, we had at least 300 Blue Jays looping around Cape May Point with some bigger flocks coming a few days later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvxGAD2DI/AAAAAAAACzk/zHThDqUBOeI/s1600/IMG_4837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="291" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TLCvxGAD2DI/AAAAAAAACzk/zHThDqUBOeI/s400/IMG_4837.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Another sign of late fall - come late September, come the kinglets. This Ruby-crowned Kinglet was part of the vanguard of what is proving to be a very good autumn for this species.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-77526811662251023052010-09-28T21:01:00.000-04:002010-09-28T21:01:08.025-04:00Monarchs Happened....Monarch butterflies are well known as one of the world's great migratory insects and Cape May always sees a lot of Monarchs passing through each autumn, but this autumn we experienced something very special. Weather conditions set just right for an awesome gathering of Monarchs at Cape May Point this year, with a period of gentle northerly and north-westerly winds first ensuring that butterflies were on the move and heading for southern New Jersey. But then things changed; the weather turned against the migrants; a stornger westerly element in the wind would have meant that any Monarchs trying to cross the Delaware Bay would risk being blown out to sea, so it was time to hang out until conditions changed. And hang out they did; Monarchs drifted slowly west along the southern tip of Cape May Point then turned in to the well-treed properties behind the dunes. And here they waited, spending the day feeding on the flowers in the State Park and in private gardens around the point. What came next was truly amazing as Monarchs gathered to roost for the night, then headed out the next day. Here's a summery of the weekend of September 18th and 19th in pictures.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKEHybMvRI/AAAAAAAACvM/3weMlLt61yI/s1600/IMG_3964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKEHybMvRI/AAAAAAAACvM/3weMlLt61yI/s400/IMG_3964.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>We knew they were coming; we all knew they were coming, but we could have no idea just how many Monarchs would be at Cape May Point by Saturday evening. It all started with a wonderful flight of Monarchs, all drifting south to the point, then west along the dunes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFM4eIxXI/AAAAAAAACwI/dZvERtUQpqE/s1600/IMG_3980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFM4eIxXI/AAAAAAAACwI/dZvERtUQpqE/s400/IMG_3980.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By Saturday lunchtime, reports of 'roosts' were reaching the Hawkwatch Platform. In fact, these were insects gathering at rich food sources which, at this time of the year, often means Common Ivy - a plant which bears flowers in autumn and fruit in late winter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFNQ126hI/AAAAAAAACwM/8d8LPAnt3po/s1600/IMG_4035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFNQ126hI/AAAAAAAACwM/8d8LPAnt3po/s400/IMG_4035.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As the sun started to lower in the western sky, there was the opportunity for some fun with backlit individuals...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFNzAKp2I/AAAAAAAACwQ/SRPtfrDIXIE/s1600/IMG_4041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFNzAKp2I/AAAAAAAACwQ/SRPtfrDIXIE/s400/IMG_4041.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...then backlit groups.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFOpv-JkI/AAAAAAAACwY/chAKsQMzAP4/s1600/IMG_4085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFOpv-JkI/AAAAAAAACwY/chAKsQMzAP4/s400/IMG_4085.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">But soon it was clear that a major roost was developing in Stites Avenue - a location favored in previous years. The roost typically began on evergreen Red Cedars and American Holly, but soon spread to this Black Cherry as space ran out...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKI4qiA9fI/AAAAAAAACxA/hcCMlz2WbZI/s1600/IMG_4089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKI4qiA9fI/AAAAAAAACxA/hcCMlz2WbZI/s400/IMG_4089.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...then to this ornamental privet...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFOZlmMVI/AAAAAAAACwU/7A1XVuXxHSE/s1600/IMG_4046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFOZlmMVI/AAAAAAAACwU/7A1XVuXxHSE/s400/IMG_4046.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">...and eventually even to the bare branches of a stand of White Poplars.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFPjXX6BI/AAAAAAAACwg/sumT34gd6c0/s1600/IMG_4113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFPjXX6BI/AAAAAAAACwg/sumT34gd6c0/s400/IMG_4113.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">06:30 Sunday morning saw people gathering in Stites Avenue again and even as the first light cut across the point, butterflies were getting restless and were itching to get going.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFQHm-qII/AAAAAAAACwk/KoQqgIw8pCI/s1600/IMG_4128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFQHm-qII/AAAAAAAACwk/KoQqgIw8pCI/s400/IMG_4128.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By 07:00 the sun was hitting the tree tops and wings were beginning to vibrate as flight muscles were warmed.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFQtNmyDI/AAAAAAAACwo/XTY_8txXlko/s1600/IMG_4156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFQtNmyDI/AAAAAAAACwo/XTY_8txXlko/s400/IMG_4156.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Ever more and more butterflies worked their way into the sun to get warm and ready for flight.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFQy2VNdI/AAAAAAAACws/_2hKAtVth0w/s1600/IMG_4162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFQy2VNdI/AAAAAAAACws/_2hKAtVth0w/s400/IMG_4162.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The start of the big lift was not far away as the vanguard tested the air currents.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFRme8vpI/AAAAAAAACww/a1f6Dhe02A4/s1600/IMG_4177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFRme8vpI/AAAAAAAACww/a1f6Dhe02A4/s400/IMG_4177.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The moment before lift off, with most of the Monarchs now fanning their wings. Wondering what the tree is by the way? Well, with such a heavenly sight it can surely only be one thing - yes, it really is <em>Ailanthus altissima</em>, the Tree of Heaven.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFRybkYLI/AAAAAAAACw0/QjGlCnyF-bg/s1600/IMG_4201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFRybkYLI/AAAAAAAACw0/QjGlCnyF-bg/s400/IMG_4201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">With the roosts now up in the air, the dune crossover was the place to be, as butterflies tested the air currents and waited for the right moment. I call this picture simply "Look Mark, a Monarch!"</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFSWHT4vI/AAAAAAAACw4/Zy8l7kJjgdA/s1600/IMG_4223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFSWHT4vI/AAAAAAAACw4/Zy8l7kJjgdA/s400/IMG_4223.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Traditional passtimes continued on the beach, but what a morning to be there!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFSowqYNI/AAAAAAAACw8/2H1uEskTteQ/s1600/IMG_4231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TKKFSowqYNI/AAAAAAAACw8/2H1uEskTteQ/s400/IMG_4231.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">After some pretty amazing point counts, when Tom Johnson did a quick 360 degree estimate of 5200 butterflies passing Higbee Dike and Monarchs were passing along the beach at Coral Avenue at a steady 700 per minute, the main event suddenly happened right before our very eyes. At around 08:00 the wind shifted a little, from roughly Northwest to Northeast. I felt the change on the back of my neck and at the very same moment Monarchs just happened. That sums it up for me - Monarchs happened! An uncountable mass of black and orange simply left New Jersey and headed out across Delaware Bay. How many? We'll never know, but figure on 100,000 butterflies from our one viewpoint - then add on all the ones around the corner! Later that day, we heard that Cape Henlopen naturalists - over on the other side of the bay in Delaware - reckoned on half a million Monarchs passing them that day....</div><br />
That's it. Just time to add that the comments uttered at the time were all part of the occasion; Michael O'Brien: "No rarity is better than a migration event". Vince Elia: "I'm so speechless, I can't stop talking!". And I know that Vince was speechless because I heard him telling everyone!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-87295918693984339732010-09-18T23:15:00.000-04:002010-09-18T23:15:43.210-04:00August PotpourriSome odds and ends of photos and wildlife moments drifted by during August without making it into my diary, so here's a potpourri of photos, just for the sake of it!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUc7EnVsnI/AAAAAAAACq0/jmtRbSEJ0f4/s1600/069+Painted+Lady014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUc7EnVsnI/AAAAAAAACq0/jmtRbSEJ0f4/s400/069+Painted+Lady014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This year has been a very poor year for Painted Ladies and this individual, which I found taking salts out on the sands at Two-mile Beach, was only the third I had seen all year. Some years there are big invasions if this species from the south but 2010 will go donw as a quiet year for them, at least at Cape May. Notice the four, blue-centred eyespots on the underside of the hindwing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUc6S7_mEI/AAAAAAAACqs/4Z1eFyOpzh8/s1600/068+American+Lady+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUc6S7_mEI/AAAAAAAACqs/4Z1eFyOpzh8/s400/068+American+Lady+2.JPG" width="292" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For direct comparison with the Painted Lady above, this is an American Lady. Note that the eyespots on the underside of the hindwing are bigger, but there are only two of them. This female was egg-laying on one of the species favourite larval food plants - Sweet Everlasting (Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium). Indeed, she was so engrossed in her duties that I was able to move the plant around to get better light while she stayed onboard!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUc73GutSI/AAAAAAAACq8/-aJY2LFElhk/s1600/075+Tawny+Emperor002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUc73GutSI/AAAAAAAACq8/-aJY2LFElhk/s400/075+Tawny+Emperor002.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A Hackberry tree at Higbee's Beach has a wound in the trunk that has been leaking sap for some time now. Several butterfly species have been feeding on this sap, including this Tawny Emperor, a high-flying species which until now I had not photographed. The rich orange colour distinguishes it from the Hackberry Emperor that I featured earlier in the year.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUc80iYpfI/AAAAAAAACrE/jaAfPiZLQNg/s1600/099+Common+Sootywing009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUc80iYpfI/AAAAAAAACrE/jaAfPiZLQNg/s400/099+Common+Sootywing009.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While on the subject of butterflies, this Common Sootywing visited our new butterfly garden on August 27th and was a new species for our garden list. I have heard that these seem to be very scarce this year so it was nice to spot this one in our own garden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUc-81XD2I/AAAAAAAACrU/BKgaZL7zu9s/s1600/08316+White-marked+Tussock+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUc-81XD2I/AAAAAAAACrU/BKgaZL7zu9s/s400/08316+White-marked+Tussock+2.JPG" width="292" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I put this picture in as an example of how you always need to keep your eye in when looking for wildlife experiences. Megan and I were cycling along Sunset Boulevard one evening when I spotted this strangely hairy willow leaf as we whizzed by. Going back to check, I found it wasn't all that it might seem!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUc-GKkIQI/AAAAAAAACrM/Fmm0kvHgBLQ/s1600/08316+White-marked+Tussock+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" qx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUc-GKkIQI/AAAAAAAACrM/Fmm0kvHgBLQ/s400/08316+White-marked+Tussock+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's what I found on the back side of the leaf - the larva of the White-marked Tussock, an unremarkable moth but a very smart caterpillar!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUc_ssQd1I/AAAAAAAACrc/emtGptZ04eY/s1600/Birds181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUc_ssQd1I/AAAAAAAACrc/emtGptZ04eY/s400/Birds181.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On August 19th, the recent rains after a prolonged hot, dry spell had a predictable effect on the local ant colonies - the emergence of thousands of winged ants, scattering to the four winds to spread their kind across the face of the earth. With the ants came birds to eat them and this gathering of hungry Laughing Gulls was an amazing sight over Bayshore Road.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUdAqXDoaI/AAAAAAAACrk/5LJv_V3cFYI/s1600/DSCN5804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUdAqXDoaI/AAAAAAAACrk/5LJv_V3cFYI/s400/DSCN5804.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Other insects during the month included this giant of a wasp - a Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus) which had set up a home in our front lawn. This species digs a hole in the ground, then furnishes side chambers with crickets and grasshoppers. The prey items are captured and stung, the stung paralysing but not killing them; each paralised insect is placed in a side chamber and becomes food for the wasps young. This female was always aware of my presence when I was photographing her and she often stopped what she was doing to turn and watch me; but she never showed any sign of aggression towards me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUdB4H3LJI/AAAAAAAACr0/edYBduBOptM/s1600/Greenhouse+Camel+Cricket+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" qx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUdB4H3LJI/AAAAAAAACr0/edYBduBOptM/s400/Greenhouse+Camel+Cricket+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nor for the squeamish this one!! Greenhouse Camel Crickets are abundant insects in basements and outhouses in New Jersey - and the Northwood Centre is no exception!! Numbers of these insects explode late summer and it can be kind of creepy having to pass a wall full of them to get to the stock room!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUdC9kJOnI/AAAAAAAACr8/4iObhunhbUw/s1600/IMG_1272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" qx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUdC9kJOnI/AAAAAAAACr8/4iObhunhbUw/s400/IMG_1272.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another high summer speciality is the Fence Lizard which can be found rather sparingly along the dunes and other hot, sandy places around Cape May. This species is relatively easy to creep up to and with care can be watched at close range as it hunts small insects.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUdGfTFsDI/AAAAAAAACsU/zBw2Mw-XX9g/s1600/IMGP0467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUdGfTFsDI/AAAAAAAACsU/zBw2Mw-XX9g/s400/IMGP0467.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the great things about having visitors to stay is that you get round to doing some of the touristy things that go on close to home; those things that normally you just wouldn't get round to. So, after a year of living at Cape May, we finally got round to going up the famous lighthouse at Cape May Point. The view from the top was amazing as the local area is so flat and you can see for miles. I took a complete 360 degree panorama from the top, but here's a couple of shots of the State Park to whet your appetite - first up, a view of Lighthouse Pond....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUdILpqwVI/AAAAAAAACsc/s7OY2b5wKuc/s1600/IMGP0477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUdILpqwVI/AAAAAAAACsc/s7OY2b5wKuc/s400/IMGP0477.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....and here, the famous Hawkwatch Platform (foreground), Bunker Pond just beyond and, off in the distance, Cove Bay and 2nd Avenue Jetty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUdDnQIvYI/AAAAAAAACsE/uFjzzEdS45M/s1600/IMG_1517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUdDnQIvYI/AAAAAAAACsE/uFjzzEdS45M/s400/IMG_1517.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes, there were birds in Cape May in August, with a trickle of early migrants noted on most dates. This Yellow-billed Cucko was a nice find for me in a Black Walnut tree near Higbee's Dike.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUdEu6_gyI/AAAAAAAACsM/ej2IxeRX8MQ/s1600/IMG_1560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUdEu6_gyI/AAAAAAAACsM/ej2IxeRX8MQ/s400/IMG_1560.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A light passage of small parties of Glossy Ibises added a different perspective to birding in the UK! This youngster was feeding quite happily in the main channel at Cape May State Park and wasn't too bothered by me taking photos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUdJ--nq2I/AAAAAAAACsk/Hv-DqmMWVP4/s1600/SGMnuta30.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUdJ--nq2I/AAAAAAAACsk/Hv-DqmMWVP4/s400/SGMnuta30.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Much maligned and often used inappropriately for boring lawns, grasses are actually fabulous plants and exhibit great diversity in colour and form. When viewed in close-up, the flowers of Indian-grass are really quite complex and fascinating. A wonderful field of this native tall-grass prairie species can be seen at The Beanery.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUdK0Gp8KI/AAAAAAAACss/cfB4m1i1mS4/s1600/SGMnuta35.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUdK0Gp8KI/AAAAAAAACss/cfB4m1i1mS4/s400/SGMnuta35.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Indian-grass against the light with the flower heads standing out like silver beacons.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUdBBjrubI/AAAAAAAACrs/sv0h_qcddxs/s1600/Grass13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" qx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJUdBBjrubI/AAAAAAAACrs/sv0h_qcddxs/s400/Grass13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Low light at sunset and a fine stand of Satmarsh Cockspur-grass at the Migratory Bird Refuge makes an ideal combination for working on arty colour and form pictures.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-4891029586953867592010-09-17T14:59:00.001-04:002010-09-18T16:07:58.680-04:00August Diary & Snake EncountersI know, I know, I keep saying I'm going to catch up with blog posts and I'm not - in fact, I think I'm getting further behind! We've just been so busy with people coming to visit and stay with us, so we've been having lots of fun with great friends. Well, with September now more than half over, here's some diary notes from August.<br />
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<strong>August 1st</strong><br />
We can go back out onto the porch! In deference to our noisy and boisterous Caroline Wrens, we've left them in peace with their brood of youngsters in the hanging basket, but they all fledged and headed out into the rose patch and the great beyond. Good luck guys!<br />
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<strong>August 2nd</strong><br />
After a number of failed attempts over the past few weeks, I finally chanced upon the 1st-summer male King Eider that has been hanging out on the concrete ship. The Black-bellied Whistling-ducks continue to grace Cape May Point State Park and a Black-crowned Night Heron called as it passed over our house in the twilight. (I think the night heron was a new bird for our yard list but I've lost track a little!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJO3yLY24tI/AAAAAAAACp8/1VqsdODXxSY/s1600/Black-bellied+W-duck189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" qx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJO3yLY24tI/AAAAAAAACp8/1VqsdODXxSY/s400/Black-bellied+W-duck189.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Typical view of the whistling-ducks! As they settled into their stay and made themselves at home, our three visitors from the deep south took to spending much of the day asleep and thus presumably were mostly feeding at night - a major problem for a photographer!</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJO30mjeuOI/AAAAAAAACqU/lYvIBcFUyx0/s1600/Black-bellied+W-duck220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" qx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJO30mjeuOI/AAAAAAAACqU/lYvIBcFUyx0/s400/Black-bellied+W-duck220.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>After much waiting and perseverance, I finally got some worthwhile photos of these smart birds - here seen during a visit from the state park to the Migratory Bird Refuge.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJO31Q_aQjI/AAAAAAAACqc/9gi3l8C5TGo/s1600/Black-bellied+W-duck234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJO31Q_aQjI/AAAAAAAACqc/9gi3l8C5TGo/s400/Black-bellied+W-duck234.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>A closer look....</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJO3zPYBJ-I/AAAAAAAACqE/qpBp8UsE6ZY/s1600/Black-bellied+W-duck197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" qx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJO3zPYBJ-I/AAAAAAAACqE/qpBp8UsE6ZY/s400/Black-bellied+W-duck197.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>...and a bit of a tiff maybe?!!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJO32UvqmSI/AAAAAAAACqk/BMcKUKsmGpw/s1600/Black-bellied+W-duck275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJO32UvqmSI/AAAAAAAACqk/BMcKUKsmGpw/s400/Black-bellied+W-duck275.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Then a little bit of action, with some feeding, a scratch....</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJO3z9WUODI/AAAAAAAACqM/eXncV8kib9M/s1600/Black-bellied+W-duck208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJO3z9WUODI/AAAAAAAACqM/eXncV8kib9M/s400/Black-bellied+W-duck208.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>....and a nice leg stretch.</em></div><br />
<strong>August 7th</strong><br />
Autumn lurks right around the corner and the first real push of migrants through Higbee's Beach happened this morning. Yellow Warblers, Indigo Buntings and Cedar Waxwings were very obvious around the field edges, a group of four Green Herons flew over and a look at the birds passing over Higbee Dike gave me such goodies as Prothonotary Warbler, Black Tern, Marbled Godwit, Northern Waterthrush and a Lark Sparrow.<br />
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Year Bird: Lark Sparrow<br />
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<strong>August 11th</strong><br />
The number of birds homing in on the stranded fish as Bunker Pond continues to dry out reached an impressive peak today with 118 Great and 65 Snowy Egrets, two Little Blue and 10 Great Blue Herons. Two Gull-billed Terns were also present, while a Peregrine and three Broad-winged Hawks overhead were an early insight into the raptor migration yet to come.<br />
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<strong>August 12th</strong><br />
A real change in the weather as we had our first rain for a long, long time. Bunker Pond will probably start to fill up now and the wildlife spectacle will fall away there but today, at least, the egret extravaganza continued. With the rain having died out, butterflies were out en masse feeding at the flowers and dragonflies were looking for a late breakfast. A nice find for me along the state park trails was a single plant of Rattlesnake-master. All the old natural history books wax poetical about the spectacle of Rattlesnake-master, blooming in profusion in the Cape May wetlands; sadly, after the housing developers have got fat from draining and building on the sites, this species now seems to be extremely rare here and this single plant is all I have found so far.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJO15skr4BI/AAAAAAAACps/vjPTj2yEXFw/s1600/ERYaqua4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" qx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJO15skr4BI/AAAAAAAACps/vjPTj2yEXFw/s400/ERYaqua4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Rattlesnake-master - believe it or not, this is a member of the carrot family and is closely related to Sea Holly which grows on coastal dunes in Europe (including the UK).</em></div><br />
<strong>August 18th</strong><br />
Rain, rain, go away! It's funny how quickly one can get bored with rain - even when it's the first rain for several months! It rained quite persistently from late yesterday afternoon, through the night and pretty much throughout the day today. Despite the weather, one of my scheduled walks still had a few takers, so we found some cover and managed a little bit of birding before we called it a day. A Black Tern, two Belted Kingfishers and 17 Stilt Sandpipers were our reward for braving the elements and, despite the weather, there was a reasonable movement of passerines first thing with Yellow and Prairie Warblers moving through the low vegetation and Bobolinks passing overhead.<br />
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Passerine numbers were good during the afternoon at work with 10+ American Redstarts and at least four Black-and-white and two Yellow Warblers in the trees and at least 10 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at the feeders. In the evening, I got a 'half-tick' when I heard my first Eastern Screech Owl calling outside a friend's house; I say half a tick as I have never yet seen this species and really want to clap eyes on one before I feel I can safely count it.<br />
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<strong>August 20th</strong><br />
Well it looks like the Higbee's season is really under way now as typical August species flooded through the fields this morning: Bobolinks, Blue-grey Gnatcatchers, American Redstarts and Black-and-white Warblers led the charge, with Chestnut-sided and Blue-winged Warblers as bonus finds. Perhaps the weirdest sight this morning was of an Eastern Kingbird chasing a Chimney Swift low across the field right in fornt of us and coming well down below treetop height. Eastern Kingbirds are often boisterous like this, but it amazed us that it was managing to keep up with a rather panic-stricken swift! A single Wild Turkey was lurking at a regular spot not far from our house too.<br />
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<strong>August 21st</strong><br />
A slightly quieter Higbee Dike today, but a good passage of Barn Swallows was taking place, with a few Purple Martins mixed in. An early Red-breasted Nuthatch hinted at a good year for that species and I notched up my first Black-throated Blue Warblers of the autumn. At least 20 Blue-grey Gnatcatchers whizzed past the dike while I was there too. Five Wild Turkeys were a nice find early morning, so it looks like there is still one family hanging around south of the canal.<br />
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<strong>August 23rd</strong><br />
I took an evening stroll this evening, simply because it was one of those evenings when it was warm, calm and you just wanted to be out, enjoying the world. It was so nice that it actually got dark before I got home, but one of the highlights of the walk came after dark, when I discovered that Comb Jellies were washing up along the tideline. The water was absolutely full of these nocturnal feeders, that come to the surface after dark to feed, when they are safer from predators. What was so amazing about them is that Comb Jellies emit pulses of bioluminescence like flashes of blue-white lightening and could be provoked into doing this by giving them a gentle prod. I went for a swim and was soon surrounded by flashing lights - awesome!<br />
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<strong>August 26th</strong><br />
After a few busy work days, I got down to Higbee's Beach again this morning, starting the day off well with a Northern Bobwhite which was running along the road in front of me for a while before it whipped up and flew off over a hedge. Higbee's had many American Redstarts moving today and I got subliminal glimpses of Blackburnian and Worm-eating Warbler at the dike. In the fields, Red-eyed Vireos and Blue-grey Gnatcatchers were plentiful and the first mini-fall of 'Empids' took place. 'Empids' or Empidonax flycatchers are a nightmare group. It's a genus of several species of small, brown or olive flycatchers which all look, well, identical to be honest; but with patience and luck, good views can help to sort most of them out. Today, a couple of Least Flycatchers came my way, plus at least three others which were either Willow or Alder Flycatchers, but I never really got a good enough look at them.<br />
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<strong>August 30th</strong><br />
I didn't manage an early start at Higbee's Beach this morning (I've never been good at those very early starts which is a bit of a drag for a birder!!) but enough text messages came through to make me shoot down quickly before work. I did get a look at a Baird's Sandpiper that was lurking on the canal impoundment and a good rush of warblers included both Magnolia and Cape May Warblers and Northern Waterthrushes.<br />
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In the afternoon, a general southerly drift of birds produced a nice gathering of warblers and other songbirds at work and at least three Yellow Warblers, lots of American Redstarts, two Blackburnian Warblers, two Northern Parulas, Eastern Wood Pewee and an Eastern Kingbird were present. A Yellow Warbler flew into one of the store windows but recovered OK and flew off seemingly having survived the ordeal. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJOkCrmKU3I/AAAAAAAACos/cTOXyDNSpJI/s1600/IMG_2298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJOkCrmKU3I/AAAAAAAACos/cTOXyDNSpJI/s400/IMG_2298.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>A Yellow Warbler, probably with a headache. This little chap survived an all too close encounter with a window and eventually flew off seemingly OK.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJOkDrzVc-I/AAAAAAAACo0/yiTpzSPL84I/s1600/IMG_2301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJOkDrzVc-I/AAAAAAAACo0/yiTpzSPL84I/s400/IMG_2301.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>In the heat of late afternoon, the bird baths at the Northwood Center can draw a crowd; today it was standing room only as four American Redstarts and a Northern Parula piled in to cool off - here, one of each turn themselves into soggy fluffballs!</em></div><br />
In the evening, we went over to the Migratory Bird Refuge, where four Buff-breasted Sandpipers were feeding on the beach and a Long-billed Dowitcher was in the main pond. Only a single Least Tern remained, the bulk having headed south already, but five juvenile Black Skimmers was encouraging as this species seems to be having a hard time locally. At the end of the walk, we chanced across a smart Merlin which was catching dragonflies by sailing out from the top of a large elm tree. <br />
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Year birds: Baird's Sandpiper, Cape May Warbler, Buff-breasted Sandpiper<br />
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<strong>August 31st</strong><br />
Another example of that great line - what a difference a day makes. Megan and I gave Higbee's fields a good going over and got a great list of warblers for our efforts which included large numbers of American Redstarts and Northern Waterthrushes and included a cracking male Black-throated Blue Warbler and two Tennessee Warblers. We heard at least eight Veeries calling from thick cover but didn't see any, notched up three Great Crested Flycatchers and a Northern Flicker and enjoyed a flock of some 200 Eastern Kingbirds which always gathers here this time of year to feed on Sassafras fruits. In the last field we checked, a flock of Bobolinks was feeding in the planted Sorghum which was now producing copious seed; after a few minutes we heard a distinctive farting noise and there was a young Dickcissel, sitting up in the crop.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJO19k3QCMI/AAAAAAAACp0/2jUEDeRcVC8/s1600/IMG_2355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJO19k3QCMI/AAAAAAAACp0/2jUEDeRcVC8/s400/IMG_2355.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Young Dickcissel at Higbee's Beach - now a scarce but annual migrant through Cape May. We use four-letter codes as a quick way to text sightings of good birds at Cape May. The codes are made up of the first four letters of the species name - I got some stick when I texted this one out!!</em></div><br />
My office window has certainly been the place to be this week - though of course I am far too busy to be looking out of it (just in case the boss is looking in!!!). Today's bundle of goodies included Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireos, two Common Yellowthroats, two Baltimore Orioles and several American Redstarts and Black-and-white Warblers.<br />
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Year birds: Veery, Philadelphia Vireo<br />
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<strong>Snakes On Everything (with apologies to Little Feat!)</strong> <br />
Cape May has two black snake species, which can be notoriously difficult to tell apart. I've read through the available field guides and remained confused as to how best to tell Black Racer from Black Rat Snake, save for the fact that rat snakes have keeled scales and racers don't. That is to say, a rat snake's scales have a crease for want of a better word, down the center so that the scale is keeled like an upturned boat. Here's some close-ups of the two species to show this point, though note that the keel can be extremely hard to see in the field under typical viewing conditions (even more so if you are running away!). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJOkcPLfOOI/AAAAAAAACpk/dgzeEwm_lyE/s1600/43+Black+Rat+Snake016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJOkcPLfOOI/AAAAAAAACpk/dgzeEwm_lyE/s400/43+Black+Rat+Snake016.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Close up of Black Rat Snake scales, Bayshore Road, Cape May. Note the keel or line which runs down each scale and mostly dies out before reaching the tip of the scale. In this picture, the front of the snake is to the right.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJOkY7P_asI/AAAAAAAACpM/gdrm6ekT4-Y/s1600/37+Black+Racer008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" qx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJOkY7P_asI/AAAAAAAACpM/gdrm6ekT4-Y/s400/37+Black+Racer008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Black Racer scales, The Beanery, Cape May. Note the lack of a keel. The scales also seem to be slightly narrower in profile which might be a useful ID feature, though it would need the observer to be very familiar with both species. In this picture the front of the snake is to the left.</em></div><br />
Typically, the books say that Black Rat Snakes have much more extensive white on the belly which comes well up onto the throat and even onto the sides of the mouth. Black Racers have some white but it tends to be less extensive. This seems OK but I hate comparative 'tendencies' like this as you may need to have both species present before you can make a 'more than/less than' judegement call.<br />
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Looking at photos of the two species, I can see that there appears to be a clear difference in head shape between them which seems to hold at all ages. This head shape difference is not mentioned in any of the books that I have read but I think it is worthy of testing. Though the head may be difficult to see properly if the snake has been disturbed and is moving away, practice and familiarity should make it possible to tell the two apart more easily than by using the scale keels alone. Give it a go, and let's see if it works! It's perhaps worth adding that, in my experience, Black Rat Snakes are overwhelmingly the more common of the two species around Cape May, being found in pretty much any habitat and commonly found around houses and backyards. To date I have only seen two Black Racers, one at The Beanery and one at Higbee's Beach WMA, so it may be that they prefer open fields and woodland edge.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJOkaPsozSI/AAAAAAAACpU/X8snWKB3Zhg/s1600/37+Black+Racer010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" qx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJOkaPsozSI/AAAAAAAACpU/X8snWKB3Zhg/s400/37+Black+Racer010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><em>Head of adult Black Racer at The Beanery. Notice that the line of the brow starts to angle down towards the tip of the nose just in front of the eye (where you can see yours truly reflected!). This gives the snake a rather snub-nosed look.</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJOkbDRF9qI/AAAAAAAACpc/UgAG25XB3TU/s1600/42+Black+Rat+Snake001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" qx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJOkbDRF9qI/AAAAAAAACpc/UgAG25XB3TU/s400/42+Black+Rat+Snake001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><em>Head of adult Black Rat Snake, CMBO Northwood Center, Cape May Point. In contrast to the racers, the rat snake's nose seems to be in line with its eye and the brow line continues in a straight line, only dipping down right at the end, beyond the nostrils. Incidentally, note the extensive white coloration, extending well up past the mouth to the bottom of the eye and around the nostril on this individual.</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJOkGFDfLUI/AAAAAAAACpE/OjTi8oxLWG4/s1600/DSCN6354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TJOkGFDfLUI/AAAAAAAACpE/OjTi8oxLWG4/s400/DSCN6354.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><em>Juvenile Black Rat Snake, Bayshore Road, Cape May. Notice that the brow line runs straight out to the nose without bending down until past the nostrils, at the very tip of the nose, just like in the adult above. Note also that rat snakes tend to have paler irides than racers, but this may not always be so obvious as here.</em><br />
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This head shape difference does seem to be a useful feature and should be useable to identify photos, where the snake is often not close enough for the scales to be checked accurately for keels.<br />
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BIG PS: Neither of these species is poisonous!! However, Black Rat Snakes will not hesitate to attack if they feel cornered - as I found out a few years ago at the State Park!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-22298060465636624682010-09-07T21:34:00.002-04:002010-09-17T10:52:38.991-04:00Summer Sun and Shorebirds on the MoveYes, the second half of July was marked by two things – day after day of weather in the high eighties Fahrenheit and the arrival of shorebirds, heading south from Arctic breeding grounds. For me it was a good period too for botanising and for just generally being outside – though the heat did get pretty oppressive at times. So, on with the diary for the second half of July. <br />
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<strong>July 18th</strong><br />
A red letter day for Cape May as Kathy Horn, local birder and one of our volunteers, found three Black-bellied Whistling-ducks on Bunker Pond – only the third record ever for New Jersey and the second for Cape May. Needless to say there was a mad rush to get there before they disappeared – little was I to know at the time that they would still be present in September!! While I was there, a single Stilt Sandpiper flew over with a Lesser Yellowlegs.<br />
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Year Bird: Stilt Sandpiper<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbXrugWURI/AAAAAAAACkk/RW0-REVy158/s1600/Black-bellied+W-duck016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbXrugWURI/AAAAAAAACkk/RW0-REVy158/s400/Black-bellied+W-duck016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Black-bellied Whistling-ducks on Lighthouse Pond, Cape May Point State Park. If accepted as genuine wild birds, this will constitute only the third accepted record for New Jersey of a species normally found no closer than Texas. Acceptance seems pretty much guaranteed however, as there as been quite an influx of these birds into the eastern seaboard of the USA this year. When they first arrived, they were pretty wary and spent most of their time keeping themselves at a distance from people. Here's a typical view of them in the background, up-ending and showing their black bellies and white buts.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbXsdvr_fI/AAAAAAAACks/2zDD6JBvcDI/s1600/Black-bellied+W-duck021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbXsdvr_fI/AAAAAAAACks/2zDD6JBvcDI/s400/Black-bellied+W-duck021.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>As time passed, they became gradually more confiding, until one day I chance upon them close to the small hide overlooking Lighthouse Pond. Though they were against the light and their full colours could not be appreciated, they still made a fine sight.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbXu-S97eI/AAAAAAAACk8/HFa3ceylubg/s1600/Black-bellied+W-duck062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbXu-S97eI/AAAAAAAACk8/HFa3ceylubg/s400/Black-bellied+W-duck062.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>A little bit of action here, and a look at the white stripe that runs the length of the wing.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbXv_TLkKI/AAAAAAAAClE/552nN8Sqzog/s1600/Black-bellied+W-duck084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbXv_TLkKI/AAAAAAAAClE/552nN8Sqzog/s400/Black-bellied+W-duck084.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>The whistling-ducks seemed eventually to settle into a routine of sleeping for much of the day and - presumably - feeding at night. However, on this occasion, I did catch some bathing activity.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbXxWQsxrI/AAAAAAAAClM/3i21RsPwI3I/s1600/Black-bellied+W-duck110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbXxWQsxrI/AAAAAAAAClM/3i21RsPwI3I/s400/Black-bellied+W-duck110.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>After bathing, the birds emerged from the water for a bit of a preen and a sort out of the feathers. Note the long legs, typical of whistling-ducks, which are actually more closely related to swans than to other ducks.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbXyks2JSI/AAAAAAAAClU/QKdBXjfYD80/s1600/Black-bellied+W-duck147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbXyks2JSI/AAAAAAAAClU/QKdBXjfYD80/s400/Black-bellied+W-duck147.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I spent ages waiting for all three ducks to look up at one and the same time from their busy preening session, but this was the best I managed - there's always one isn't there!</div><br />
<strong>July 19th</strong><br />
I checked Bunker Pond before work and found the three whistling-ducks still present. The low water levels on the pond continue to attract a great range of birds this year and this morning I found three Pectoral Sandpipers, one White-rumped Sandpiper, two Semipalmated Sandpipers and a nice group of feeding Short-billed Dowitchers. In addition, a count of 11 Great Blue Herons certainly showed that they are on the move now as this species doesn’t breed in Cape May County. Another quick look at Bunker Pond after work added a nice, chubby, Long-billed Dowitcher to the list.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbcllr7_kI/AAAAAAAACm8/gjseV0WnHvQ/s1600/Long-billed+Dowitcher018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbcllr7_kI/AAAAAAAACm8/gjseV0WnHvQ/s400/Long-billed+Dowitcher018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Long-billed Dowitcher kipping on Bunker Pond. This species is regular in very small numbers at Cape May, where Short-billed Dowitchers far outnumber them and pass through in large flocks. This Long-bill spent much of its time feeding with a group of Short-billed Dowitchers but I just didn't get a photo opportunity until it was resting - then the Shorties all moved away!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbcbSTSuGI/AAAAAAAACl8/35Xa6NSXGQk/s1600/IMG_1320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbcbSTSuGI/AAAAAAAACl8/35Xa6NSXGQk/s400/IMG_1320.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Adult Least Sandpiper at Bunker Pond - note the olive-green legs which set it apart from all the other small 'peeps' which have black legs (though beware of mud!).</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbcagu7UeI/AAAAAAAACl0/p3q8PI60HD0/s1600/IMG_1315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbcagu7UeI/AAAAAAAACl0/p3q8PI60HD0/s320/IMG_1315.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>A close-up of the above Least Sandpiper. This time of the year, a juvenile shorebird would have feathers all of the same age and thus all showing a similar pattern and amount of abrasion. In this adult, you can see many old feathers that it wore throughout spring and early summer as its breeding plumage. The feathers are marked in brown, buff and black, helping the bird to blend in on the mosaic of colours found on the Arctic tundra where it breeds. New, non-breeding feathers are coming through now though, scattered amongst the old feathers and easily spotted with their squared off ends, not yet worn down to a point. The new feathers are plainer, grey-brown and ideal camouflage for when they are spending the winter on open muddy areas.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbccTHgRBI/AAAAAAAACmE/I6DSo13bPEg/s1600/IMG_1337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbccTHgRBI/AAAAAAAACmE/I6DSo13bPEg/s400/IMG_1337.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Moulting adult Semipalmated Sandpiper. The different-aged feathers give the bird a rather ragged look, unlike the neat rows of same-aged feathers that juveniles wear.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbcdHs1U_I/AAAAAAAACmM/MnXIOlX8nwY/s1600/IMG_1378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbcdHs1U_I/AAAAAAAACmM/MnXIOlX8nwY/s400/IMG_1378.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Adult Lesser Yellowlegs. Again, note the mix of grey and black feathers on the upperparts. As if long-distance shorebird migration was not already miracle enough to contemplate, add in the fact that adults depart first, leaving the youngsters to head thousands of miles south to traditional wintering grounds all on their own - with no map!!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbcegUB00I/AAAAAAAACmU/IKghWZe4VFY/s1600/IMG_1419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbcegUB00I/AAAAAAAACmU/IKghWZe4VFY/s400/IMG_1419.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Good feeding opportunities can be few and far between, especially at the Migratory Bird Refuge where the habitat is struggling to survive the on-going over-use of chemical weed control. Here a White-rumped Sandpiper (right) faces off against a subservient Semipalmated Sandpiper (need I add that they are both adults?!).</em></div><br />
Recently I’ve had to take great care watering the hanging baskets on the porch as a pair of Carolina Wrens decided that one of them looked like an ideal place for a nest! The first egg hatched today though, so it looks like the parents are going to be pretty busy over the next couple of weeks!<br />
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Year Bird: Long-billed Dowitcher<br />
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<strong>July 21st</strong><br />
Herons are certainly on the move now, with 25 Snowy Egrets and 23 Great Blue Herons on Bunker Pond, as well as a juvenile Little Blue Heron and an adult Green Heron. Songbird migrants were on the move this morning with at least 12 Yellow Warblers a Blue-grey Gnatcatcher and five Ruby-throated Hummingbirds passing overhead first thing. Another sign of autumn was the arrival of the first parties of Sanderlings on South Beach.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbckpv6sWI/AAAAAAAACm0/p119Km_fDtk/s1600/IMG_1584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbckpv6sWI/AAAAAAAACm0/p119Km_fDtk/s400/IMG_1584.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Little Yellow nectaring at Camphorweed flower. For butterfly fanatics, one of the great finds of the year was the discovery that Little Yellows had returned to the point after an absence of six years or so. This species is mostly a southern breeder and is right on the edge of its range here. The larvae feed on Partridge-pea and it's probably no coincidence that the food plant is just getting going at Cape May Point State Park again after much of it was lost as a result of the habitat destruction caused by the Army Corps of Engineers when they re-profiled the beach.</em></div><br />
<strong>July 22nd</strong><br />
A quick look at Sunset Beach early evening revealed a huge influx of Spot-winged Gliders with several hundred of them moving north in the time I was there. Although a few probably breed locally, large numbers of these insects push north from the southeastern states at this time of year and these were probably benefiting from south-west winds blowing them our way. I put up a picture of one of today’s Spot-winged Gliders on the ‘Here by Dragons’ post in August.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbcYRMvVDI/AAAAAAAAClk/xqp7XUG1UmQ/s1600/Dinner001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbcYRMvVDI/AAAAAAAAClk/xqp7XUG1UmQ/s400/Dinner001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Not that we need an excuse for a get together over a great meal, a bunch of us decided that we would go out to celebrate the six-month anniversary of last November’s Ivory Gull – so a crab meal at Sharkey’s over at the Bree-zee Lee was the obvious place to go and we ate a few crabs and sunk a few beers in honour of our illustrious visitor!</em></div><br />
<strong>July 24th</strong><br />
A day spent doing work on the house, but we did take time out to go and see one of two Upland Sandpipers that turned up at the State Park. These are uncommon migrants here as the eastern population has almost entirely died out due to loss of grassland habitat that they need for breeding.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbb-lYRXBI/AAAAAAAAClc/bRfXAbmrQIM/s1600/Carolina+Wren045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbb-lYRXBI/AAAAAAAAClc/bRfXAbmrQIM/s400/Carolina+Wren045.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Eyes still closed and having a well-earned nap, three of the five Carolina Wren chicks can just be seen here.</em></div><br />
<strong>July 26th</strong><br />
Bunker Pond gets a mention again, as the egret count increased to 58 Great Egrets along with a scattering of Little Blue and Great Blue Herons and Snowy Egrets. After a flash storm late yesterday, large numbers of Swamp Darners were noticed with at least 30 hunting in the lee of our big Chinese Elm. Today, the whole of Cape May Point seemed to be awash with Swamp and Green Darners and a few Wandering Gliders.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbcZsDdPbI/AAAAAAAACls/oUtkEUEAjRw/s1600/DSCN5411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbcZsDdPbI/AAAAAAAACls/oUtkEUEAjRw/s400/DSCN5411.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>As heron and egret numbers built up, someone commented that Bunker Pond looked like the African Rift Valley!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbchsqokPI/AAAAAAAACmk/wsXUwQXX3s0/s1600/IMG_1501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbchsqokPI/AAAAAAAACmk/wsXUwQXX3s0/s400/IMG_1501.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Great Egret numbers built up quickly as the hot, dry summer left thousands of fish stranded in the rapidly-shrinking Bunker Pond.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbcje2c4eI/AAAAAAAACms/tC9w83CyvoY/s1600/IMG_1513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbcje2c4eI/AAAAAAAACms/tC9w83CyvoY/s400/IMG_1513.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>A closer look revealed that many of the fish being caught were Green Sunfish. Sadly, a lot were too big for the egrets to take on and, having been speared and left for dead, they were then abandoned. Still, nature doesn't like waste and there was plenty of Laughing Gulls and Terrapins on hand to take on the scraps.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbcgEVd9_I/AAAAAAAACmc/APzomTVNH_w/s1600/IMG_1488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/TIbcgEVd9_I/AAAAAAAACmc/APzomTVNH_w/s400/IMG_1488.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>With ever-growing mouths to feed back at the nest, Ospreys were quick to spot the feeding opportunities on offer at Bunker Pond and some days five or six could be seen hunting there.</em></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795663124759871116.post-6162215903836213132010-08-26T00:21:00.001-04:002010-08-26T00:23:01.790-04:00Summer Doldrums - well, almost!I can't believe that we're fast approaching the back end of August and I haven't found time to write about July yet! For the birder, mid-summer is certainly a relatively quiet time and this, coupled with the fact that it can become boring after a while having to cope with tourists illegally and very persistently cycling on the wrong side of the road (something I've never witnessed anywhere else in the world so seemingly a Cape May speciality when it comes to lunacy!), would suggest that there's ample time to catch up at home. But the trouble with me is that summer brings out the wild plants and insects and all that other stuff that's out there. So while birders have a breather, I'm still being manic! I've managed to get photos of some 450 species of plants here so far so maybe I'll find time to post some pictures up sooner rather than later. For now, here's a quick summary of early July's highlights from my wildlife diary.<br />
<br />
<strong>July 1st</strong><br />
A quiet start to the month as it was a work day, but a lunch time walk around one of my favourite ponds turned up a nice surprise for me in the shape of a Four-spotted Pennant. This is a dragonfly that I wasn't expecting to see as I hadn't heard it mentioned by any of the local wildlife folk, but it occurs regularly in small numbers here, where it is at the very northern limit of its range. In New Jersey, the species has only been recorded from Cape May and Cumberland county and is very local here, but it occurs with some regularity at ponds down here near Cape May Point and I found several pairs in tandem with the females egg-laying.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXddZS7NwI/AAAAAAAACe8/qdrm8Mee9SY/s1600/160+Four-spotted+Pennant001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXddZS7NwI/AAAAAAAACe8/qdrm8Mee9SY/s400/160+Four-spotted+Pennant001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Male Four-spotted Pennant - a well-named species!</em></div><br />
<strong>July 4th</strong><br />
As I'm now living in the USA, I of course have to mention Independence Day! Actually, it was a great day for many of us down here for another reason as our good friend Scott recently reached his 40th birthday so a great crowd of us gathered today for one of Scott's 'Specials'. He's an amazing cook (always great people to know!) and he turned out an amazing spit roast, roasting a whole suckling pig and serving up on Michael and Louise's porch - what a day!<br />
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<strong>July 5th</strong><br />
The sun beat down on my head from an almost cloudless sky; I wanted shade, but I knew that if I moved, I would be spotted and the dramas playing out before me would come to a sudden end. From my lofty position, a group of hunters had gathered and were lying in wait beneath me. Their prey needed to get into the area to feed, but each time one tried, a predator would break ranks and dart for it. If they were too slow, they would soon be eaten; a short distance in front of me another drama was playing out. A single large predator had cornered a number of its prey and had them penned in; periodically it made sudden, startlingly dramatic lunges to take out one of its victims. Finally, to my right another lone predator, this time a prowler, stalking very slowly, at times motionless, at other times creeping forward inch by inch, ever in search of its prey which it was trying to ambush from within dense vegetation.<br />
<br />
So where was I? The Serengeti? The Maasai Mara? Nope - this was lunch time on one of the little metal bridges at The Nature Conservancy's Migratory Bird Refuge off Sunset Boulevard. The first scenario wasn't a line of crocodiles waiting for wildebeast to cross the river, it was a line of Green Sunfish, waiting for any opportunity to grab the pairs of Common Bluet damselflies that were trying to lay eggs in the area. The second scenario saw a single large fish, the water just too murky to determine exactly what it was, hunting minnows in the shallows; finally, the third scenario involved all the stealth and guile of a Northern Water Snake as it patrolled for sticklebacks amongst submerged waterweed.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXc_w9AFBI/AAAAAAAACes/Xj15vRNo1T4/s1600/fish1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXc_w9AFBI/AAAAAAAACes/Xj15vRNo1T4/s400/fish1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><em>Green Sunfish lying in wait for lunch</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXc-pibXPI/AAAAAAAACek/N21gH5yqpqE/s1600/damsels1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXc-pibXPI/AAAAAAAACek/N21gH5yqpqE/s400/damsels1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>The hunters become the hunted. Tandem pairs of Familiar Bluets have to run the gauntlet of the local fish population if they want to ensure that their species survives. More often than not, it is the damsels that are doing the hunting.</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXdB2LmcFI/AAAAAAAACe0/19XcRAZWnE0/s1600/snake1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXdB2LmcFI/AAAAAAAACe0/19XcRAZWnE0/s400/snake1.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>A Northern Water Snake pauses for air during its underwater sorties. Water snakes can often be seen hunting fish and can hold their breath for several minutes at a time.</em></div></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><em> </em>Sometimes - especially when it's hot - it's good to just sit and watch from a suitable vantage point and it's amazing what you can see. The various hunting strategies taking place at a single small bridge in Cape May just shows how nature has found a way to fill every niche, to take advantage of every opportunity. You don't have to go to Africa to see nature red in tooth and claw - and you don't have to be David Attenborough to witness it first hand!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>July 6th</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">Things are starting to happen back at the point it seems; after a lengthy period with no rain, many of the pools are now low in water and the muddy edges are rich in juicy benthic invertebrates (that's all the little things that live in ooze!). I stopped in at Bunker Pond before work and managed to get there in time to see two Gull-billed Terns that Scott had reported. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXcTmmUCvI/AAAAAAAACeU/i51h60iNN40/s1600/gullbill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXcTmmUCvI/AAAAAAAACeU/i51h60iNN40/s400/gullbill.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>This pair of Gull-billed Terns breezed in and out of Bunker Pond a number of times but seldom stayed for long and were easily missed if you didn't just happen to be close by.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">A nice array of shorebirds was there too and the season's first returning Short-billed Dowitchers were busy seeking out a breakfast of tasty water creatures, plying through the water with a methodical sewing machine action with their bills. Meanwhile, two Greater Yellowlegs were more actively seeking small fish in the shallows.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXcWnZsQ6I/AAAAAAAACec/3Fxd2_xLbQc/s1600/dows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXcWnZsQ6I/AAAAAAAACec/3Fxd2_xLbQc/s400/dows.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Short-billed Dowitchers winging in to Bunker Pond</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>July 8th</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">Well who would have thunk! After going the whole spring period listening to the near-deafening chorus of Spring Peepers without ever get even the briefest glimpse of one, Megan chanced upon one which had been attracted to our back door light after dark in search of an insect meal. Clearly it never pays to give up!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXYKr9TBqI/AAAAAAAACdc/1U8-Hp5NP4U/s1600/90+Spring+Peeper002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXYKr9TBqI/AAAAAAAACdc/1U8-Hp5NP4U/s400/90+Spring+Peeper002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>A Spring Peeper at our back door - who would have thought that a frog so small could make such an almighty din!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXYMHSGWlI/AAAAAAAACdk/iKVtECKhmbg/s1600/90+Spring+Peeper003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXYMHSGWlI/AAAAAAAACdk/iKVtECKhmbg/s400/90+Spring+Peeper003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Another view of the Spring Peeper, showing the hallmark dark X on the back</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>July 9th</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">Today's highlight was certainly most unexpected as I spent most of the day at home while the builders got stuck into putting the walls in for our new bathroom. In the afternoon, I needed to run out to the shops for a few things, so took the opportunity to walk around a nice area of rough scrub and wetland which is right next to the shops - always handy! Dragonflies abounded and Seaside Dragonlets were super abundant, giving me the opportunity to photograph a number of females in their various colour forms. But the unexpected treat here was a nice White-lined Sphinx (hawkmoth to us Brits) which was quite approachable and probably only recently emerged.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXX0A_ivNI/AAAAAAAACdU/ztl9ZlfrIwU/s1600/07894+White-lined+Sphinx+17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXX0A_ivNI/AAAAAAAACdU/ztl9ZlfrIwU/s400/07894+White-lined+Sphinx+17.JPG" width="292" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>White-lined Sphinx - a nice reward for me for doing the shopping!</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>July 10th</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">For the first time in months, we had a proper drop of rain today to alleviate the sweltering heat that was building up. It rained for most of the afternoon and at least meant I could skip watering can duties for a day! Somewhat annoyingly though, we had a barbecue to go to in the evening but, ever resourceful, our friend and host Shawn made good use of his spacious double garage and barbecued in the dry! Luckily it brightened in the evening and we took a turn around the garden for some wildlife viewing. The day had started really well too, as a Green Heron flew over our back garden and a number of other birds showed up around the house including a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, a party of five Orchard Orioles which were most likely a local family group, plus a pair of Blue Grosbeaks which searched avidly through the copious amount of Wild Carrot flowering in our meadow at present. What was interesting is that two juvenile Brown-headed Cowbirds accompanied the grosbeaks and almost certainly these two were raised by the grosbeaks, as cowbirds are brood parasites like Common Cuckoos, laying their eggs in other birds nests and leaving the hosts to do the parenting. It was certainly noticeable that the young cowbirds not only stuck closely to the pair of Blue Grosbeaks, but also seemed to mirror exactly their foraging and feeding behaviour.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>July 11th</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">A quiet day at work, but in the evening after dark, I thought I heard something rummaging around outside. Grabbing the torch I crept round the side of the garage and there was the masked bandit who had been pinching our juicy white mulberries! A Raccoon was caught in the act, though he thought that if he hid his eyes behind a leaf we wouldn't be able to see him!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXXZeTKDOI/AAAAAAAACdM/n8re0MBnj8Y/s1600/51+Northern+Raccoon012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXXZeTKDOI/AAAAAAAACdM/n8re0MBnj8Y/s400/51+Northern+Raccoon012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Ronnie Raccoon goes large - I wouldn't mind if he just asked first!!</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>July 12th</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">Today was a day that would clearly demonstrate that nature is finely-tuned, seemingly always on a knife-edge and easily tipped over the edge (that's probably enough metaphors for now I think!). We had noticed a steadily-increasing gathering of Laughing Gulls over Lake Lily in front of the store during the afternoon of the 11th but didn't think anything of it. A couple of locals stopped in to say they had never seen such a gathering over the lake before and what did it mean. I had been saying that they were probably responding to a ready food supply - perhaps an insect hatch of some sort, but this morning the truth was clear. I got out of my car to be hit by a whiffy, fishy stench and a glance at the lake revealed water-lily pads where there had not been any the day before. A closer look showed these lily pads to actually be fish, floating side up at the surface and all dead. Hundreds of fish and no clear reason why. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXal4cam5I/AAAAAAAACd0/O_Sq8N6_z74/s1600/Lake002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXal4cam5I/AAAAAAAACd0/O_Sq8N6_z74/s400/Lake002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Dead and dying fish clutter the surface of Lake Lily</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We called New Jersey DEP to get them to take samples for testing; meanwhile, the local community organised a clean up and did a very thorough job over the following 36 hours. Oxygen starvation was considered the most likely cause and this was confirmed a few weeks later, though with added complications. Initially it was thought that the long run of hot weather probably caused this (though we doubted this was the whole story as it had been cooler for a couple of days prior to this happening) and it was probably complicit. But the experts considered that the confirmed oxygen shortage was more likely due to an increase in other gases in the water as a result of a mass die-off of submerged vegetation which had been treated with an aquatic herbicide; in addition, the recent rains may well have washed potentially harmful chemicals off nearby properties (house-proud locals here are far more prone to dumping poisons on their lawns than us Brits) which probably also compounded the issue. All in all, an unfortunate combination of three unrelated incidents, any one of which, in isolation, probably wouldn't have been a problem, but together proved just too much for the ecosystem - which now of course needs time to recover.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXanc-H0FI/AAAAAAAACd8/RU8e2IcoTqg/s1600/Blue+Gill+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXanc-H0FI/AAAAAAAACd8/RU8e2IcoTqg/s400/Blue+Gill+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Bluegill - a common fish around Cape May in still, freshwater</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXbq_zrYTI/AAAAAAAACeM/hCWoamcp9AQ/s1600/Largemouth+Bass+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXbq_zrYTI/AAAAAAAACeM/hCWoamcp9AQ/s400/Largemouth+Bass+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Largemouth Bass are native further west in North America but have been widely introduced for fishing purposes throughout the continent. This and the Bluegill constituted the vast majority of dead fish at Lake Lily.</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>July 14th</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">The changeable weather continues, with more rain today, but such conditions get the migrants moving and shorebirds continue to headline the bird show that is taking place daily at Bunker Pond as water levels remain low - though creeping back up a little at present. At lunch time, the Migratory Bird Refuge had a marked increase in Least Sandpipers with at least 30 scurrying around on the dry mud. A Spotted Sandpiper and a few Short-billed Dowitchers were in the wetter east side and a Whimbrel flew overhead, calling. Herons are starting to move now too and I totted up three Green and five Great Blue Herons durng the course of the day.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXaAvT4mAI/AAAAAAAACds/0RFVmcX91yo/s1600/Whimbrel005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXaAvT4mAI/AAAAAAAACds/0RFVmcX91yo/s400/Whimbrel005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Shot against the light so a bit grainy after I tweeked the picture a little, but at least you can see that it's a Whimbrel - though the classic lack of a white rump which distinguishes this form from European Whimbrels is sadly not visible here.</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>July 15th</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">Songbirds are showing evidence of movement now, with three Yellow Warblers feeding in our rose patch today and two Brown Thrashers also appeared which I don't think were local to us as I haven't seen any for some time.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>July 17th</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">Tony and I put our exploring shoes on today and headed north into the great outdoors. We took a tip-off and went to see a small cluster of Crested Fringed Orchids not far from the county airport and also chanced across a nice population of Red-banded Hairstreaks feeding on the sweet-smelling pepperbush flowers. This proved to be a really nice spot which we returned to a couple more times later in the summer. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXd5wpoHOI/AAAAAAAACfE/bX-f55HMb14/s1600/PLTcris1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXd5wpoHOI/AAAAAAAACfE/bX-f55HMb14/s400/PLTcris1.JPG" width="292" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Crested Fringed Orchid - a gem that is fast disappearing from Cape May and may well soon disappear for good from the county.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXhnyzyQ8I/AAAAAAAACgE/6VGffJSrHyw/s1600/IMG_1447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXhnyzyQ8I/AAAAAAAACgE/6VGffJSrHyw/s400/IMG_1447.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>An awful picture, taken in a dark forest! This female Mocha Emerald constitutes the third record for Cape May county of this species - my mate Tony beat me to it with two earlier this year! Note the peg-like ovipositor near the end of the abdomen and the brownish cast to the wings.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXl_nCanfI/AAAAAAAAChE/O9uk4WycdV4/s1600/LILsupe5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXl_nCanfI/AAAAAAAAChE/O9uk4WycdV4/s400/LILsupe5.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Surely a garden escape?! But no, American Turk's-cap Lily is native here and grows here and there in sunny glades.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXmAxPSAeI/AAAAAAAAChM/F25I1FP2ClQ/s1600/LILsupe7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXmAxPSAeI/AAAAAAAAChM/F25I1FP2ClQ/s400/LILsupe7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Another Turk's-cap shot. Sadly the flowers are short-lived and it was pure chance that we timed the discovery of this colony just right.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Later we headed into the north of the county and explored some fabulous sphagnum bogs. Sadly this habitat will soon be lost in Cape May county it seems as no habitat management is currently carried out. The sphagnum bogs mostly occur in old commercial cranberry bogs but now that harvesting has stopped, the areas are not managed and scrub encroachment is rapidly threatening them all. An all too familiar story...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXfEX-pQ3I/AAAAAAAACfM/7-QLu5F3zoA/s1600/Bog006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXfEX-pQ3I/AAAAAAAACfM/7-QLu5F3zoA/s400/Bog006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Sphagnum bog in Cape May County - a naturalists heaven!!</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXfTYcqHsI/AAAAAAAACfU/CSmlVWPpO9U/s1600/127+Dion+Skipper005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXfTYcqHsI/AAAAAAAACfU/CSmlVWPpO9U/s400/127+Dion+Skipper005.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Dion Skipper feeding at Carolina Redroot - both classic acid bog species. Note the skippers long, black tongue reaching into the tubular flowers for nectar.</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXfUbpLKcI/AAAAAAAACfc/ZN8bSVytQ0w/s1600/150+Elfin+Skimmer016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXfUbpLKcI/AAAAAAAACfc/ZN8bSVytQ0w/s400/150+Elfin+Skimmer016.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>I know that Elfin Skimmer has featured just recently but they're just too great to resist!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXfVEBs8cI/AAAAAAAACfk/Iexx5jaQ_nU/s1600/150+Elfin+Skimmer021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXfVEBs8cI/AAAAAAAACfk/Iexx5jaQ_nU/s400/150+Elfin+Skimmer021.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>I did manage to photograph a female Elfin Skimmer this time - all 0.8 inches of it!</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXfbJVgXGI/AAAAAAAACfs/MkojBjKCBF8/s1600/LOPaure4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXfbJVgXGI/AAAAAAAACfs/MkojBjKCBF8/s400/LOPaure4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>One of the very special plants of the acid bogs here is Golden Crest, a widespread but localised member of the Lily family. We found some quite large stands of plants that had finished flowering, but the silky white stems and heads of fruiting bodies looked great when viewed against the light.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXfcf-CyiI/AAAAAAAACf0/1R8leqcUMGQ/s1600/LOPaure8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXfcf-CyiI/AAAAAAAACf0/1R8leqcUMGQ/s400/LOPaure8.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Miraculously, we found just one plant of Golden Crest with a single flower still out!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXfeMH7OPI/AAAAAAAACf8/7ClHfl_kahs/s1600/NYAodor14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXfeMH7OPI/AAAAAAAACf8/7ClHfl_kahs/s400/NYAodor14.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Pause for reflection... American White Water-lily</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Bugging Out</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">Just to finish off, here's a collection of buggy pictures to enjoy - some are good reasons to go out to the woods, some are good reasons to stay at home and bolt the door!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXhpucywqI/AAAAAAAACgM/aDX_7ZB18Vg/s1600/IMG_9330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXhpucywqI/AAAAAAAACgM/aDX_7ZB18Vg/s400/IMG_9330.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Numbers of Spicebush Swallowtails are now really starting to increase and will peak in August. This is one of the commonest butterfly species in Cape May and can be seen throughout the county during the summer months.</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXhqwKg0FI/AAAAAAAACgU/ofDyLcMYJGA/s1600/IMG_9362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXhqwKg0FI/AAAAAAAACgU/ofDyLcMYJGA/s400/IMG_9362.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Ah, they're just great! Dragonflies simply swarm through Cape May during the summer giving some great photographic opportunities. This female Needham's Skimmer posed beautifully for me against a rich green backdrop that set her off fabulously.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXl9BVVakI/AAAAAAAACg8/DBAMCcgI84s/s1600/Agel+Agelenopsis+pennsylvanica011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXl9BVVakI/AAAAAAAACg8/DBAMCcgI84s/s400/Agel+Agelenopsis+pennsylvanica011.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>OK, back indoors, quick!! Common Grass Spiders are very common around Cape May and make obvious webs, often out in the open on lawns (hence the English name). They are related to the funnel-web spiders and make a similar web, with a flat sheet radiating out from a tunnel of silk within which they hide and wait for struggling prey to set off the trigger lines. This is one of the biggest spider species in Cape May - but harmless, honest!</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXhtkS60cI/AAAAAAAACgc/Fd5hlYkJcM0/s1600/DSCN3721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXhtkS60cI/AAAAAAAACgc/Fd5hlYkJcM0/s400/DSCN3721.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Talking of swarming.... If you look carefully you can see at least seven mosquitoes hard at work on this poor little chap! You can also tell from the size of the mozzies on his head that this is a real baby Box Tortoise with a lot of growing to do.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXhwZhfnyI/AAAAAAAACgs/TtYk0OfdrDI/s1600/DSCN3788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXhwZhfnyI/AAAAAAAACgs/TtYk0OfdrDI/s400/DSCN3788.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Another summer swarmer - Lone Star Tick. Once you get your eye in, you can spot ticks waiting on the grass stems to latch onto any passing moving object. Notice how the front legs are posed to grab on. Ticks are certainly a good reason to avoid the woods in summer, but they can be avoided if you're careful.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXhuxD7MNI/AAAAAAAACgk/jI7Np6YET4o/s1600/DSCN3777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXhuxD7MNI/AAAAAAAACgk/jI7Np6YET4o/s400/DSCN3777.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Revenge can be sweet - if a little harsh at times perhaps! We were getting particularly pestered by Deer Flies one day and Tony managed to swat one; we offered it up to some predatory Water Striders in a trackside puddle and this one jumped on it with glee! Note the sucking, needle-like proboscis of the Water Strider. I'm also always amazed at the gaudy patterns of the eyes of these biting flies.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXnyHRIT_I/AAAAAAAAChU/3Rzo5Tkvke4/s1600/Robber+Fly019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXnyHRIT_I/AAAAAAAAChU/3Rzo5Tkvke4/s400/Robber+Fly019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Another lethal predator who's on our side! There are dozens of robber fly species to sort our here, many very difficult or impossible to identify in the field. This hairy-faced chap (or chapess) is</em> Promachus rufipes<em>. Robber flies are voracious predators of other insect species and are very common throughout the summer here.</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXhyX7tXgI/AAAAAAAACg0/y6rObQgssBM/s1600/DSCN3816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6mH3sGkGTeE/THXhyX7tXgI/AAAAAAAACg0/y6rObQgssBM/s400/DSCN3816.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Let's finish on a high note! A great way to interact with butterflies - like this Dun Skipper - is to offer them some mineral salts to enjoy. I licked the tip of a finger and offered it to this skipper and he was over the moon!</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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