Delaware Bay Shorebirds: An Introductory Birding Tour May 22—26, 2011
Posted by Michael O'Brien
Michael O'Brien
Michael O'Brien is a freelance artist, author, and environmental consultant living in Cape May, New Jersey. He has a passionate interest in bird vocalizations and field...Related Trips
It was a real pleasure to lead a tour to one of my favorite birding areas in the world, Cape May and the Delaware Bay, focused on one of my favorite groups of birds, shorebirds. Although this was a short tour, we were able to have repeated and prolonged views of large masses of migratory shorebirds at several different sites. Along the way, we enjoyed a nice sampling of other birds of the shore, marsh, and forests of southern New Jersey.
On our first day we headed straight to Fortescue Beach in Cumberland County. The tide was falling, which is prime time to see shorebirds feasting on recently exposed horseshoe crab eggs. At our first view of the bay we were greeted by masses of Semipalmated Sandpipers busily feeding along the shore and roosting on the higher beach right next to us. This afforded wonderful opportunities to study subtle plumage variation in this species, and practice distinguishing the similar but larger Sanderling. We moved farther down the beach and found numerous other shorebird species including several hundred Red Knots. Some of these "Robin Snipe," as hunters used to call them, were in stunning breeding plumage and allowed superb views. Here we also had the privilege to watch New Jersey Audubon's banding operation in progress and got to see several Semipalmated Sandpipers in hand—we even saw their "semi palms" (partially webbed toes).
By afternoon, when the tide was high, we headed to the impoundments at Heislerville Wildlife Management Area where shorebirds roost when nearby tidal flats are covered. We timed our visit perfectly, coinciding with the peak shorebird count of the season. It was simply staggering to see masses of shorebirds roosting right in front of us, including at least 50,000 Semipalmated Sandpipers, along with many hundreds of several other species! We patiently sifted through these flocks, studying the subtle differences between Semipalmated, Least, and White-rumped sandpipers, and looking at plumage variation in Short-billed Dowitchers. Eventually we came upon our prize for the day—two lovely Curlew Sandpipers! This species winters in Africa and nests in Siberia. Most migrate across Asia, but a very few seem to take the long route and show up along the Delaware Bayshore each spring.
On our next morning, we took a brief break from shorebirds at Cape May Point State Park where we found a few migrant and resident songbirds including Carolina Wren, Carolina Chickadee, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Indigo Bunting, and Orchard Oriole. Then we headed to the beach to see nesting Least Terns and American Oystercatchers. One of the highlights of the tour was watching a pair of Piping Plovers guarding two adorable little chicks, just hatched in recent days. They looked like fluffy little ping-pong balls on long orange legs!
In the afternoon we took a relaxing pontoon boat cruise through back bay marshes aboard the Osprey. There is no better way to see this habitat, and we enjoyed close views of nesting Common and Forster's terns, Ospreys, the world's largest colony of Laughing Gulls, Willets noisily defending their territories, several species of herons, and skulking Clapper Rails and Seaside Sparrows. We also found an abundance of migratory shorebirds, including numerous Black-bellied Plovers, Whimbrels, and Ruddy Turnstones.
On our final day we revisited the shores of Delaware Bay at Cook's Beach where we enjoyed more views of Red Knots and other shorebirds feasting on horseshoe crab eggs. We also spent a few hours exploring Belleplain State Forest. In the height of the breeding season, songbirds were conspicuous and we had nice views of Yellow-billed Cuckoo; Acadian and Great Crested flycatchers; Blue-winged, Yellow-throated, Prothonotary, and Worm-eating warblers; Ovenbird; and Eastern Towhee. And before heading back to Philadelphia, a swing through Avalon yielded nice views of nesting Yellow-crowned Night-Herons and two lingering Purple Sandpipers