Cape May Bird Observatory (9/20/2014) - Whiskered Tern day
It was an eventful day. Had a bit of car trouble on the way down and repair shop replaced sensor. Forty-five minutes later trouble started again and Karen thought it might be transmission. (Update 10/30/14: transmission eventually died and now Karen is driving a new Toyota Corolla)
Fun day as far as birding goes. It seems there was a Whiskered Tern sighted at the Cape May observatory in the a.m. long before we got there. It was chased back and forth by a dozen or so intrepid birders. Long story short: Whiskered Tern came back with a few other terns and flew directly over the observatory. Although neither of us were able to identify the Whiskered from the other Terns (it all happened so fast), if the sighting holds up (and it did) I told Karen, she'll be able to tell her grandchildren that she was there when the third sighting *ever* of the Whiskered Tern was made in USA! How neat is that?! :o)
Fun day as far as birding goes. It seems there was a Whiskered Tern sighted at the Cape May observatory in the a.m. long before we got there. It was chased back and forth by a dozen or so intrepid birders. Long story short: Whiskered Tern came back with a few other terns and flew directly over the observatory. Although neither of us were able to identify the Whiskered from the other Terns (it all happened so fast), if the sighting holds up (and it did) I told Karen, she'll be able to tell her grandchildren that she was there when the third sighting *ever* of the Whiskered Tern was made in USA! How neat is that?! :o)
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Turkey Vultures - At a stop on the way down, approx. 35 still left on the roof when I decided to take count. One by one they tested the thermals and took off over a 45 minute period.
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They replaced the sensor after telling us that certain transmission codes always point to the sensor.
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What maybe looks like a 1931 Ford Model A Town Sedan.
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Jimsonweed (Datura) in a landscaped bed.
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Jimsonweed - All parts of the plant are extremely poisonous - the leaves and stems, the flowers, the seeds, and even roots.
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Like always, we enjoyed the hawkwatch and looking for waterfowl and other birds in between raptor sightings. While Karen stayed at the hawkwatch mom took a walk on the boardwalk trail.
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Eastern Carpenter Bee
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American Lady on Common Boneset
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Arrowwood berries - Virtual brownie points awarded if you can find the Stink Bug and the Potter Wasp!
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Everything is going to seed this time of year.
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Northern Bayberry
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Maryland Meadowbeauty
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Trumpet Creeper blossom
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Mallow seed pod, no blossoms but lots of pods - this looks so "alien" to me
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Gerardia
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Hot dog on a stick
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Whiskered Tern: The bird we *didn't* see. - Photo by Mike Crewe (Programs Director, Cape May Bird Observatory, Cape May, NJ)
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Mute Swans were miles away, but had to save this photo crop because of the upturned wings. :o)
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Cape May Lighthouse - view from the pavilion next to the hawkwatch. Time to go home.
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