Cape May Fix

The Light House at Cape May Point, New Jersey

Today a blog called, CAPE MAY BLOG, Your Daily Cape May Fix, ran a story about me and my 10 recent posts after my visit to Cape May, New Jersey. So, check it out. You will learn a great deal about Cape May, and find out that there is a lot more to see there than birds. Of course, it's beyond me why anyone would want to see anything other than birds!

My 2 Days at Cape May: Part 10

Carolina Chickadee in New Jersey

Carolina Chickadee, Poecile carolinensis and Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus, are two very closely related and similar-looking birds. I find it very difficult to differentiate the two species visually. They can be separated by song, but I have to admit that I am not very good at that, either. The best way to identify them sort of feels like cheating, though. That way is to go by geography. As I sometimes say, "If the chickadee is in South Dakota, it's a Black-capped Chickadee. If it's in Arkansas, it's a Carolina Chickadee." So, when I was in Cape May, I just consulted the field guides. They told me that a chickadee in Cape May would be a Carolina Chickadee. Take a look at the two birds pictured here and see if you can tell them apart.  



Black-capped Chickadee in South Dakota



My 2 Days at Cape May: Part 9

Carolina Wren at Cape May

Carolina Wren is a bird we do not get to see in South Dakota. So, I am always happy to travel to a part of the country that is home to these energetic little birds. In Cape May I saw several Carolina Wrens and got a few good photos. Though I was there in early March, I found one of the wrens carrying nesting material. Spring is here! 

Carolina Wren with nesting material



Carolina Wrens are champion songsters. Here is a short video of a singing Carolina Wren.

My 2 Days at Cape May: Part 8

Brants

The Brant, Branta bernicla, is a common winter visitor on the Atlantic coast. It is a close relative of the Canada Goose, Branta canadensis. Brants breed in far northern Canada and Alaska. They are quite noisy, and the group I saw at Cape May constantly made loud cronk calls while swimming in the harbor. 



A group of Brants swimming in Cape May Harbor



My 2 Days at Cape May: Part 7

Ruddy Turnstone Trio

One of the birds I hoped to find at Cape May was the Ruddy Turnstone. I found four of these cute little shorebirds walking around on these algae covered rocks at Cape May Point. These birds are named for their ruddy coloration in breeding plumage, and for their habit of tipping over rocks and shells in search of food.



Ruddy Turnstone Quartet



My 2 Days at Cape May: Part 6

Northern Gannets off Cape May Point

Northern Gannets are currently migrating back to their breeding grounds on the rocky coast of eastern Canada. While I was at Cape May earlier this month, I saw many small groups of these seabirds flying just offshore, heading up the coast.  



Northern Gannet, Morus bassanus



My 2 Days at Cape May: Part 5

Red-throated Loon off a rock jetty at Cape May Point

My 2 days at Cape May happened to coincide with the Red-throated Loon migration that peaks in mid-March. For a landlubber who had seen only one Red-throated Loon in his entire life, the sight of hundreds and hundreds of these birds bobbing in the surf was quite a thrill. Most of them were quite far off, but every once in a while one would come in close to shore and provide a fantastic view. 




Red-throated Loon up close



My 2 Days at Cape May: Part 4

The dunes along the beach front at Cape May Point

The sand dunes along the beach are one of the most important features of the Cape May area. The dunes are also one of the most vigorously protected areas. Hefty fines are imposed on anyone who trespasses onto the dunes anywhere other than designated walkways. Sand dunes are important to birds and wildlife as well as humans. Dunes growing with native vegetation protect the land from storms and from wind and water erosion.



Path along the edge of the dunes, Cape May Light House in the distance

In addition to keeping people off the dunes, governments and private organizations have encouraged the planting of trees, shrubs and grasses that are native to the area. The above photograph shows the edge of a dune that has been planted with native vegetation on the property of the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge owned by The Nature Conservancy. 



City of Cape May posts these signs on the dunes



My 2 Days at Cape May: Part 3

Black Vulture soaring over Cape May, New Jersey

One of the birds I dearly wanted to see at Cape May was the Black Vulture. The first day I spotted a single Black Vulture soaring in a bright blue sky. The second day I found two Black Vultures just standing in someone's front yard. I thought they might be really ugly lawn ornaments until I saw them start to walk away. 

Black Vulture in a Cape May front yard

My 2 Days at Cape May: Part 2

Typical Cape May jetty with Cape May Point Light House in distance

Jetties are a common sight at Cape May. Along the beach front, you are always within a short walk of a jetty or two. The other common sight at Cape May is the Cape May Point Light House that can be seen from nearly any vantage point along the shore. 



Sanderling

The middle of March is a little early to see many shorebirds at Cape May. I did manage to find a few, however, including this cute little Sanderling. One thing I learned about Sanderling identification is that they do not have hind claws like other sandpipers. You can see in the above photo that the back of the foot is smooth, with no projecting toe. Sanderlings are well known for their running, or "chased by waves" behavior on the seashore. I shot this video that gives an idea of how they act on the beach.



My 2 Days at Cape May: Part 1

The beach and light house at Cape May Point, New Jersey

I just returned home after six days on the east coast. The highlight of the trip was the two days I got to spend looking for birds at Cape May, New Jersey. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Cape May, it is one of the premier birding destinations in North America. Famous ornithologists like John James Audubon, Alexander Wilson, Roger Tory Peterson, and David Allen Sibley all spent a great deal of time at Cape May. I only had two days, but I made the most of it, and found some tremendous birds. Over the next week or so you can go along with me as as we explore the birds and scenery of Cape May.    



Herring Gulls and Ruddy Turnstones on a jetty at Cape May



Bird Rock Stars VIII

Mourning Dove
Fort Randall Dam, South Dakota

This Mourning Dove looks like it is sitting on top of a mountain peak. However, it is just perched on a small rock in southern South Dakota. Sometimes rock stars have a way of making themselves appear more impressive than they really are.

Bird Rock Stars VII

Song Sparrow
Kansas City, Missouri

I suppose nowadays a rock star doesn't really need to be a great singer. I have heard "music" from rock stars that can't sing a lick. However, the Song Sparrow is a bird with a terrific singing voice. Yes, this is a Bird Rock Star that can really sing!

Bird Rock Stars VI

Snow Bunting
Sergeant Bluff, Iowa

This photo shows a Snow Bunting in a rather unusual location. Snow Buntings are usually found on barren, snow-covered fields. This one is standing on a chunk of broken concrete near a water treatment lagoon. This is a real concrete example of a bird rock star.

Bird Rock Stars V

Rock Wren
Oahe Dam, South Dakota

Rock Wrens are very aptly named. They are hardly ever found away from rocks. Rock Wrens live most of their lives in and around piles of rocks. These little birds have certainly earned the title of Bird Rock Stars.

Bird Rock Stars IV

Least Sandpiper
Capitol Lake, South Dakota

Least Sandpipers are usually found on sandy beaches. This one decided to get a little out of its element and try standing on a rock.

Bird Rock Stars III

A quintet of Double-crested Cormorants
Big Bend Dam, South Dakota

One brisk November morning I caught this group of five Double-crested Cormorants standing on some rocks in the Missouri River below Big Bend Dam. I think they look like a men's singing group ready to burst into song. Shh! They're about to start. "A one, and a two, and a..."

Bird Rock Stars II

Wood Ducks on the rocks
Capitol Lake, Pierre, South Dakota

Wood Ducks are some of my favorite subjects to photograph on rocks. I like the way the startling colors and patterns of the male Wood Ducks contrast with the stark barrenness of the rocks.

Bird Rock Stars I

Snowy Egret on the rocks
Lake Andes, South Dakota

I love taking pictures of birds on rocks. So, for the next week or so I am going to share some of my favorite photos of birds on rocks. We will call them Bird Rock Stars. First up is this wonderful Snowy Egret I caught doing a little dance on the rocks at Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge a few years ago. Don't you just love the golden dancing slippers?

Snowy Owl Number Eleven

Snowy Owl
March 6, 2012

The Snowy Owls are still around. I saw my eleventh Snowy Owl of the season tonight a few miles south of Pierre. Even though it made me late for dinner, I could not resist stopping to take a few pictures. It is still hard to believe how common these owls are this winter. I am going to enjoy them while I can. They won't stay here forever.

  

"A Thousand Times"

Post 1,000

Baltimore Oriole
Official 1,000th Post Bird

"May the Lord, the God of your ancestors,

increase you a thousand times

and bless you as He has promised!"

Deuteronomy 1:11

At the bottom of the screen in front of me is a little red button that says, "Publish Post." As soon as I click on that button, I will have published my 1,000th blog post on Ask the Birds and They Will Tell You. I have been thinking about this day for a long time, and wondering what I would write. I have heard it said that if you do something 30 times it becomes a habit.What does it become if you do something 1,000 times? Well, writing on this blog for over three years has become a blessing! I looked up the word, thousand, in the Bible, and discovered that thousand appears 249 times in the New International Version. My favorite is Deuteronomy 1:11. That is my prayer for all my readers this morning: "May the Lord, the God of your ancestors, increase you a thousand times and bless you as He has promised." His promises are wonderful. Dig into His Word, and He will show you.

God's blessings to all of you!

Here's Looking at You



Short-eared Owl looking right



Short-eared Owl looking left



Whenever I take pictures of owls I try to get the bird to look straight at the camera. I used to think owl pictures were no good if the owl was looking to the side. Today, though, I came across these two photos and decided maybe they weren't so bad after all. Owls have to stare at something. They might as well be staring at each other!

The Hawk and the Owl

Rough-legged Hawk, Buteo lagopus

In the late afternoons I can generally rely on seeing two birds on the roadside along Highway 53 in central South Dakota. I will see plenty of Rough-legged Hawks and Short-eared Owls. They hunt the same areas-- open grasslands-- but the hawks work the day shift while the owls handle the night shift. When I see them just before dark, I like to imagine that the Rough-legged Hawks are heading home while the owls are just showing up for work. Isn't it nice they can share hunting territories like that? 



Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus