BirdCapeMay.org: The year in bird photos


Snowy Owl
Photo credit: Mike Fritz and birdcapemay.org


This excellent birding blog recaps a fascinating 2009 in Cape May birding with a two-part "Year in Pictures."  Three excerpts follow: the Snowy Owls, the Ivory Gull and the Winter Storm.

Snowy Owls Dominate Early On

As many as 3 Snowy Owls took up residence in the Stone Harbor Point area during the winter of 2008-2009. This one was photographed by Mike Fritz as it sat atop the newly-constructed viewing platform at the Point. Sightings continued through mid-March.

 

 Young Ivory Gull.
Photo credit: Kevin Karlson and birdcapemay.org

"There's a WHAT in the harbor?!"

On the day after Thanksgiving, Jim Dowdell discovered what would quickly become one of Cape May's most famous vagrants. A young Ivory Gull had somehow made its way into Cape May Harbor, and soon after its discovery, hundreds of birders converged on the scene to catch a glimpse of the Arctic jewel. The bird moved to the Bree-Zee Lee Marina the next day, and proceeded to linger there for two weeks. Over a thousand birders from all over the country came to see the bird, which was likely the most viewed, and most photographed, Ivory Gull in history.

 

 Sandhill Crane
Photo credit: Mike Crewe and birdcapemay.org

Wicked Weather Brings Wacky Birds To The Lake

A cold and stormy December was punctuated by a rare early-winter snowstorm on the 19th. The storm resulted in a postponement of the Cape May Christmas Bird Count, and also brought some lingering birds to Lily Lake, which was kept free of ice by bubblers. In the days following the storm, notable birds such as Green Heron, Glossy Ibis, Long-billed Dowitcher and Sandhill Crane were all found at the lake. Perhaps even more remarkable was the Ruby-throated Hummingbird that continued to linger through the storm in West Cape May.



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Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 1/4/2010 10:00 AM
Categories: Birds
Tags: snowy owl ivory gull cape may hummingbird glossy ibis green heron sandhill crane
 

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