In winter they form small flocks, often hanging out in grassy or bare earth fields, marshes, or even car parks. They are tough, handling the coldest weather, huddled up in loose groups always facing into the wind. In summer, they separate into pairs, breeding in lots of places that you […]
One of my favorite birds is the Great Northern Diver, or as it is called in America, the Common Loon. Both names of this species are quite informative. As Great Northern Diver suggests, it is a big bird that is found in the north, and it dives for food. This […]
At the north end of the county, Jakes Landing Road, part of the Dennis Creek Wildlife Management Area, meets Route 47 just south of the turning to Woodbine (Washington Avenue). About a mile and a half long, this road has been famous among birders, fishermen, and hunters for decades. A […]
The movement of sand down the shoreline, known as longshore drift, creates an ever-changing landscape at Stone Harbor Point and the North Wildwood inlet. Every year both these places get closer; perhaps they will meet one day! While the steady southward movement of sand is obvious, one big storm could […]
When most people go to buy a home, they look for a general area, a nice house, often somewhat near work, and where amenities are good for their life. For me, it is a Google Earth pick. Where is the best place for birds and migration? Then I look for […]
Most of Cape May County is bordered by marshes both on the bay and the ocean. They are such beautiful places. Really high tides just before sunset on the coastal marshes is one of my favorite experiences in the area. The sun reflecting off glass-like water and dark green marshes […]
A drive up the Delaware Bay in spring can be one of the most unforgettable local experiences on any scale. The spectacle of Red Knot, Sanderlings, Semipalmated Sandpipers, and Ruddy Turnstone jammed on a beach feasting and fighting for their caviar, Horseshoe Crab eggs, can be amazing. I say “can […]
Over the years I always lived in West Cape May, or south of the canal. And I believed people should need a passport to come over either of the two bridges that cross the canal—and that is from an Englishman. Now I live in “north” Jersey, north of the canal […]
Eastern Screech Owls are widespread throughout most of eastern North America, and there are quite a few pairs in the Cape May woodlands. Of course, you would not know it as they only come out after dark and are so rarely seen. About eight inches long, or cardinal-sized, they are […]
I have a problem remembering yesterday, yet I remember the first time coming to Cape May and America like it was yesterday and, yes, it was a long time ago. Bright, sunny, vibrant beaches and the sound of Laughing Gulls are the images that come up right away. There was […]
I love to go for walks around the fields in summer, particularly before it gets too hot. The vegetation is always green in summer, and flowers change from week to week. It tends to be quiet, most tourists preferring bed, breakfast or the beach. A stroll to Hidden Valley, The […]
I always tell people who are thinking about birds to get a plan on how to look at them, so you don’t skip straight to color and miss all the important stuff: Size, shape, behavior, probability and then patterns of color. Today, let’s look at the Sanderling using these characteristics. […]
You are walking down the street and a blur flashes past. What was that? That’s a fast insect. Then you come to your senses.
Balls of fluff, Saw-whets are one of the cutest birds around—or so you would think. Pound for pound they are possibly the most ferocious of predators, killing mostly mice but also other birds and insects. Saw-whets arrive in Cape May in October and sometimes go through in hundreds. If you […]
It’s just getting dark when they start. A loud two-note whistled will’s-widow that on some nights goes on incessantly; I hope it’s not just outside your house! If it is, you will also get to hear the chuck that’s inaudible when it’s further away. It’s named after this song Chuck-will’s-widow, […]
It is one of those birds that sneak under the radar for just about everyone. At about six inches and staying well tucked away in bushes, prickly thickets, and woodland, it is found in just about every spot except for marshes and downtown Cape May. Having said that, the White-eyed […]
If you look up into the sky on a beautiful fall day you will typically see squadrons of medium-sized black and white birds flying over. Dozens, hundreds, sometimes thousands, of these round-winged beauties steam overhead with steady wingbeats. They reach the water and clog up the airways as they decide […]
As I have got older in life, I have begun to realize just what an impact our history has on shaping how we act and think, even today in this era of information. Although America is a young country, it has quite a rich history in regard to birds. When […]