Cape May, Hawk Mountain & Bombay Hook Oct 12—19, 2006
Posted by Marshall Iliff
Marshall Iliff
Marshall Iliff, a lifelong nature lover, began birding at age 11 after attending a National Wildlife Federation Camp in the mountains of North Carolina. He attended VENT...Related Trips
We timed this year’s trip well. On the night we arrived in Philadelphia, a weak cold front pushed through. The next morning was slightly chilly with a light westerly wind, as we headed south towards Cape May. Our first birding stop was to check out a roadside Canada Goose flock near a New Jersey State Prison off Route 47. An odd goose was apparent at the front of the flock?a Greater White-fronted Goose. It was an adult bird with a bright orange bill (and thus a Greenland-breeding flavirostris). It turned out to be the rarest bird of the tour.
A rarer bird had been seen that morning at Cape May?a Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher?but it flew off to the north and was never seen again. The morning’s flight had been a good one with some 20,000 birds (mostly Yellow-rumped Warblers) leaving Cape May. At the lighthouse we found a corner that was literally hopping with birds and we stayed there until lunch; Blackpoll Warblers, Black-throated Blue Warblers, Brown Creepers, both kinglets, Hermit Thrushes, sparrows, and several other species all vied for our attention.
After lunch we enjoyed a sunny walk at the Villas Wildlife Management Area where a flock of 200 Palm Warblers held several other species of warblers, and some nice butterflies as well. Cape May is full of such surprises brought on the magic of the migration. One morning it was the Black-throated Blue Warbler pair feeding on porcelain berries at eye level; another morning it was watching the overhead migration of flickers and other birds crossing the Cape May canal from the Morning Flight Platform; another day it was trying to pick up the hawk stream high overhead; one evening it was a parade of Merlins streaking past; and another morning it was encountering a late Mourning Warbler in the field edges of The Beanery.
One afternoon we visited Brigantine, which became one of our highlights. Ducks were in abundance, as were herons, shorebirds, and terns. A cooperative juvenile Peregrine Falcon posed for scope views and then set off to terrorize the other birds. A nearby mixed flock of shorebirds held several White-rumped Sandpipers among Semipalmateds and Dunlin. Matt’s sharp eyes in the back of the van picked out a cryptic immature Black-crowned Night-Heron. On the Brigantine wildlife loop, there is always something special.
Our time at Cape May wrapped up with a tight cluster of Black Skimmers resting on the beach before we boarded the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. After a pizza lunch we squeezed in a little more birding. Brown-headed Nuthatches at Cape Henlopen were the target, and were so responsive that one actually pecked at my iPod speaker. We couldn’t ask for better looks at them, or at brilliant male Pine Warblers in the same area.
Our Bombay Hook day was certainly the most challenging. Intermittent rain plagued us all day and ranged from a light drizzle to a downpour. Despite the weather we managed to find some good birds and see some great sights. Avocet, Hudsonian Godwit, Stilt Sandpiper, and Short-billed Dowitcher were all new shorebirds for us on this day. The duck and goose numbers at Bombay Hook were staggering and the golden vista of the saltmarsh grasses added a scenic element to the day. Most memorable were fields blanketed by thousands of Snow Geese that rose up in a blizzard of white and a chorus of sound. In one such field one of the closer birds turned out to be a small Ross’s Goose that, despite the wind and rain, was actually quite easy to pick out in binoculars.
After a delicious crab lunch we made a stab at sharp-tailed sparrows, but the rain worsened and we went to plan B. A reported Barnacle Goose in Maryland tempted us to detour west, but luck was not on our side. Although we found many geese at Great Oak Pond, the Barnacle was not among them. Our day concluded with our grand finale dinner?one day early so that Libby could join?at the extravagant Fair Hill Inn. What a night!
Our final day at Hawk Mountain was a fitting grand finale. Atop the North Lookout we were treated to magnificent views of the fall palette of colors. Hawks were streaming by during our entire time up there. Most were Sharp-shinned Hawks, including many adults. Highlights were a Merlin, a couple of Peregrines, and our first ravens, along with a Bald Eagle and some great looks at harriers. The hike down was serene and wonderful in the October woods.
This was possibly the most good-natured group I’ve ever been with. By the end of the week together it felt like we were family. I hope to see some of you again soon!