Cape May, New Jersey: the Magic of Fall Migration

CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY: THE MAGIC OF FALL MIGRATION

A SPECIAL DEPARTURE FOR THE CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY CHAIRMAN ’S COUNCIL

SEPTEMBER 25–29, 2019

American Oystercatcher ©Michael O’Brien

VENT LEADERS: MICHAEL O’BRIEN & LOUISE ZEMAITIS CORNELL HOSTS: DR. JOHN FITZPATRICK & MARY GUTHRIE

LIST COMPILED BY: MICHAEL O’BRIEN

VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD.COM CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY: THE MAGIC OF FALL MIGRATION A SPECIAL DEPARTURE FOR THE CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY CHAIRMAN ’S COUNCIL

SEPTEMBER 25–29, 2019

This special departure for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Chairman’s Council was a short sampling of autumn birdlife on the Cape May peninsula, as well as a lens into the dynamics of migration. Migratory birds are creatures of the wind, and constantly moving targets. This is particularly true in fall, when immature birds undergo their first migration and are more prone to wind drift than adults. Which direction the wind blows dictates which types of birds are likely to show up in Cape May. As with all of our Cape May tours, we structured field time around weather and tide conditions in order to maximize birding opportunities.

Sharp-shinned Hawk ©Michael O’Brien

On our first morning, under light southwest winds, we opted to start in the dunes at Cape May Point. From this vantage point, right at the tip of the Cape May peninsula, we were in a prime location to view any migratory raptors that westerly winds might have drifted to the coast. Although stronger and more northerly winds might have produced more, we did have a solid raptor show, with repeated views of Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s hawks, Merlin, American Kestrel, and Osprey. We even had a beautiful juvenile Northern Harrier sail by! But the action over the water was just as exciting. From our dune vantage point, we had a commanding view of the “rips” at the mouth of Delaware Bay. On a falling tide, nutrient-rich waters from the bay meet those of the Atlantic Ocean, and provide rich feeding areas for fish and birds. On this day, gulls and terns were swarming over the rips, and were being chased by

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 2 Cornell Lab Chairman’s Council, Cape May, Magic of Fall Migration, 2019 several Parasitic Jaegers, which steal fish from their victims, a behavior known as “kleptoparasitism.” A captivating sight! Later that morning we made a special visit to New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Songbird Banding project. In-hand views of Merlin, Red-eyed Vireo, Carolina Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, and Northern Cardinal were highlights, for sure. But just as interesting was hearing about the goals of the banding project from Dr. David Mizrahi, NJ Audubon’s Vice President for Research and Monitoring, and also hearing about the “Internet of Wildlife” from Mike Lanzone, CEO of Cellular Tracking Technologies. Truly exciting and cutting-edge work! In the afternoon, we visited Cape May Point State Park and the hawk watch platform. Although southeasterly winds were not conducive to raptor migration, we enjoyed a nice selection of waterfowl on Bunker Pond and the nearby plover ponds, highlighted by a drake Eurasian Wigeon. This species is a rare but regular fall/winter visitor to Cape May. More surprising was a flock of twenty-five White Ibis that sailed overhead on their way across Delaware Bay! Our day wrapped up with an inspiring program by Dr. John Fitzpatrick, highlighting some of the exciting work going on at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Immature (brown-eyed) Red-eyed Vireo at banding demo ©Michael O’Brien

With overnight winds from the north (along with an abundance of birds showing on radar), we began our second day at Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area, where a complex of fields and woods provides excellent habitat for migratory songbirds. Although winds had switched to easterly by morning (drifting many songbirds back inland), we enjoyed a nice selection of migrants including a nonstop procession of Northern Flickers, along with Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Warbling and Red-eyed vireos, Brown Thrasher, and several warbler species. As the day warmed up, raptors began soaring, and we enjoyed excellent views of the first rising Sharp-shinned, Cooper’s, and Broad-winged hawks, Bald Eagle, and Osprey. Later at the hawk watch, we had more views of all of these, along with Red- tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, and Peregrine Falcon. With light winds, birds were soaring high, but the “ozone” was full of raptors, even on easterly winds! In the afternoon we enjoyed a marvelous boat Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 3 Cornell Lab Chairman’s Council, Cape May, Magic of Fall Migration, 2019 ride aboard the Osprey , exploring back-bay marshes from Cape May Harbor up to Nummy Island. As we weaved in and out of various tidal creeks, we encountered a wide diversity of herons, including scarcer species such as Yellow-crowned Night-Heron and Tricolored Heron. Meanwhile, the sky was peppered with hundreds of Tree Swallows foraging low of the marsh. Our cruise coincided with a rising tide, which served to push hundreds of shorebirds into a few concentrated flocks, making for ideal viewing. We couldn’t have asked for better studies of an impressive variety of shorebirds, including American Oystercatcher, Black-bellied Plover, Marbled Godwit, Red Knot, Semipalmated and Western sandpipers, Dunlin, and Short-billed Dowitcher. Many of these birds posed side by side for us, making for an ideal “classroom” session! We also enjoyed a large and noisy flock of Royal and Caspian terns, offering equally fine comparisons.

Marbled Godwit ©Michael O’Brien

We began our third day right on the beach in Cape May where we visited a roosting flock of Black Skimmers. These dapper birds feed mainly at night and spend the day trying to get some rest on the beach (though well-meaning beach goers flush them all too frequently). With a morning high tide and continuing southeast winds, we headed back to the marshes, this time with a visit to Stone Harbor. Our first stop was the Wetlands Institute, where areas of higher marsh provide roosting sites for shorebirds during high tide. We were pleased to find a large flock of “Western” Willets, the interior-breeding race of Willet, and a regular fall migrant on the Atlantic Coast. Hiding among the Willets, we were also pleased to find a single Long-billed Dowitcher, a scarce fall migrant through Cape May and an instructive contrast to the Short-billed Dowitchers we had seen the previous day. A stroll down the beach at nearby Stone Harbor Point was simply delightful. Flocks of Sanderlings filled the shoreline as they “chased the waves,” and with them were a good sprinkling of Western Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, and at least ten Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Back in Cape May, we finished the day back at the Coral Avenue dune crossing, where Louise gave a Monarch tagging demo, and where we enjoyed nice views of a pod of Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins, numerous Brown Pelicans, and some excellent studies of gulls and terns.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 4 Cornell Lab Chairman’s Council, Cape May, Magic of Fall Migration, 2019 On our final morning, we had time for one last outing before departures home, so we visited the South Cape May Meadows. Our one-mile walk around this freshwater marsh and pond system yielded several nice birds, including Pectoral and Least sandpipers, Greater and Lesser yellowlegs, Song and Savannah sparrows, Palm Warbler, and Bobolink. We also had some wonderfully close passes by Merlin and Peregrine Falcon, nicely capping off our Cape May experience.

Cape May Lighthouse ©Michael O’Brien

ITINERARY Day 1, September 25 : Arrivals in Philadelphia and transfers to Cape May; introductory group meeting at 6:00 PM and dinner at Blue Pig Tavern; night at La Mer Beachfront Inn, Cape May.

Day 2, September 26 : Breakfast at Uncle Bill’s; Coral Avenue dune crossing to view the “rips” of Cape May Point; passerine banding demo at South Cape May Meadows with Dr. David Mizrahi (Vice President for Research and Monitoring, NJ Audubon), Mike Lanzone (CEO, Cellular Tracking Technologies), and Blaine Carnes (2019 bander-in-charge, NJ Audubon); Cape May Bird Observatory Northwood Center; Cape May Point State Park (picnic lunch, hawk watch, and walk to “plover ponds”); afternoon program by Dr. John Fitzpatrick; dinner at Lucky Bones; night at La Mer Beachfront Inn, Cape May. Clear skies; 76-81˚; SW 10-15 mph, shifting to SE winds 15-18 mph.

Day 3, September 27 : Breakfast at Uncle Bill’s; Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area; Cape May Point State Park (hawk watch); lunch at Lucky Bones; back bay cruise (from Cape May Harbor to Nummy Island) aboard the Osprey with Barb Bassett, Mark Garland, and Capt. Bob Lubberman; dinner at Sapore Italiano; night at La Mer Beachfront Inn, Cape May. Clear to partly cloudy skies; 65- 75˚; winds NW overnight, shifting to E 5-10 mph.

Day 4, September 28 : Breakfast at Uncle Bill’s; Cape May City beach (skimmer flock); Wetlands Institute; Stone Harbor Point; Shell Bay Landing; lunch at Dock Mike’s; Cape May Bird Observatory Northwood Center; Coral Avenue Dune crossing (with Monarch tagging demo by Louise); dinner at

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 5 Cornell Lab Chairman’s Council, Cape May, Magic of Fall Migration, 2019 Pier House; night at La Mer Beachfront Inn, Cape May. Clear to partly cloudy skies; 72-82˚ F; SSE winds 10-15 mph.

Day 5, September 29: Breakfast at Uncle Bill’s; South Cape May Meadows; 10 am transfers to Philadelphia for departures home. Cloudy skies; 72-80˚ F; NE winds 5-15 mph .

KEY ( I ) = introduced

BIRDS

Waterfowl (Anatidae ) Canada Goose (Branta canadensis ) – Small numbers seen daily around Cape May. Mute Swan (Cygnus olor ) ( I ) – Introduced and thriving; numerous at Cape May Point SP. Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors ) – Small flock at Cape May Point SP.

Blue-winged Teal ©Michael O’Brien

Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata ) – Several at Cape May Point SP. Gadwall (Mareca strepera ) – Several at Cape May Point SP. Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope ) – One male in the “plover ponds” at Cape May Point SP; this species is a rare but regular visitor to New Jersey, and always exciting to see. American Wigeon (Mareca americana ) – Small numbers at Cape May Point SP and South Cape May Meadows. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos ) – Numerous around Cape May. American Black Duck (Anas rubripes ) – One at South Cape May Meadows. Northern Pintail (Anas acuta ) – Several at Cape May Point SP. Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca ) – Two at Cape May Point SP.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 6 Cornell Lab Chairman’s Council, Cape May, Magic of Fall Migration, 2019 Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae ) Rock Pigeon (Columba livia ) ( I ) – Numerous and seen daily. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura ) – Numerous and seen daily.

Cuckoos (Cuculidae ) Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus ) – One at Higbee Beach WMA.

Hummingbirds (Trochilidae ) Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris ) – One fly-by at Coral Avenue; one at Louise and Michael’s feeder.

Rails, Gallinules and Coots (Rallidae ) Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans ) – Seen briefly in flight at the Wetlands Institute; heard elsewhere. Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola ) – Heard at South Cape May Meadows.

Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae ) American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus ) – Amazing views of more than 200 on our Osprey boat cruise.

Plovers and Lapwings (Charadriidae ) Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola ) – Hundreds gathering to roost in the back bays on our Osprey boat cruise; a few elsewhere. Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus ) – Numerous at Stone Harbor Point where we watched them foraging alongside Sanderlings and Western Sandpipers. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus ) – Several at South Cape May Meadows.

Sandpipers and Allies (Scolopacidae ) Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa ) – Excellent views of 23 on the Osprey boat cruise. Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres ) – Close views of several at Cape May Harbor.

Ruddy Turnstones ©Michael O’Brien Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 7 Cornell Lab Chairman’s Council, Cape May, Magic of Fall Migration, 2019

Red Knot (Calidris canutus ) – Nice views of 40 seen from the Osprey . Sanderling (Calidris alba ) – Large flock at Stone Harbor Point. Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla ) – Nice views of several at the South Cape May Meadows. Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos ) – Four at South Cape May Meadows. Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla ) – Seen on the Osprey cruise and at Stone Harbor Point. Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri ) – Good numbers on the beach at Stone Harbor Point.

Roosting Western Sandpipers ©Michael O’Brien

Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus ) – Numerous on the Osprey cruise. Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus ) – Nice studies of a nonbreeding adult at the Wetlands Institute. Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria ) – One flyover at South Cape May Meadows. Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca ) – A few at several locations. Willet (Tringa semipalmata ) – Roosting flock of over 100 at the Wetlands Institute; all of these were of the prairie-breeding “Western” subspecies (T. s. inornata ). Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes ) – One at South Cape May Meadows.

Skuas and Jaegers (Stercorariidae ) Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus ) – We enjoyed watching several of these distinctive seabirds chasing gulls and terns in the “rips” off Cape May Point.

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers (Laridae ) Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla ) – Abundant and seen daily, with particularly large numbers feeding in the “rips” off Cape May Point. Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis ) – Small numbers at several locations; this species is abundant in the winter and numbers are growing daily at this time of year. Herring Gull (Larus argentatus ) – Numerous and seen daily. Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 8 Cornell Lab Chairman’s Council, Cape May, Magic of Fall Migration, 2019 Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus ) – Small numbers seen at several locations, with a maximum of ten at Stone Harbor Point. This primarily Eurasian species is not known to breed in North America but is regular and increasing as a nonbreeding visitor, likely from nesting areas in Greenland. Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus ) – Numerous and seen daily. Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia ) – Small numbers seen at several locations; numerous on the Osprey boat cruise. Common Tern (Sterna hirundo ) – Numerous in the “rips” off of Cape May Point; smaller numbers elsewhere. Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri ) – Abundant in the “rips” and in the back bays. Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus ) – Large numbers gathering at a roost site on the Osprey boat cruise; good numbers also in the “rips” off Cape May Point. This species does not usually breed in New Jersey, but is a common post-breeding visitor from nesting areas to the south. One color- banded juvenile we observed at Stone Harbor was banded as a chick on July 3, 2019 near Norfolk, Virginia!

Adult and juvenile Royal Terns, dispersed northward from nesting area in Virginia ©Michael O’Brien

Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger ) – We enjoyed close views of a roosting flock on the beach in Cape May City. These elegant birds feed mainly at night, skimming the surface of shallow waters where small fish rise to the surface.

Cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae ) Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus ) – Small flocks seen daily.

Pelicans (Pelecanidae ) Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis ) – An increasingly regular post-breeding visitor from nesting areas to the south; we saw them on several occasions, including seventeen in the “rips” from the Coral Avenue dune crossing.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 9 Cornell Lab Chairman’s Council, Cape May, Magic of Fall Migration, 2019

Herons, Egrets and Bitterns (Ardeidae ) Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias ) – Seen daily in small numbers. Great Egret (Ardea alba ) – Seen daily; particularly numerous in the back-bay marshes. Snowy Egret (Egretta thula ) – Seen daily; particularly numerous in the back-bay marshes. Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor ) – Several seen from the Osprey boat cruise and at the Wetlands Institute. Black -crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax ) – Several seen from the Osprey boat cruise and one at South Cape May Meadows. Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea ) – One juvenile seen from the Osprey .

Ibises and Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae ) White Ibis (Eudocimus albus ) – This southern species is normally a rare vagrant in New Jersey, but numbers have been increasing over the past few years, with particularly exceptional numbers in 2019. We saw them twice at Cape May Point, with fly-over flocks of three and twenty-five ! Such numbers would have been unimaginable just a few years ago but have become almost expected this year.

White Ibis ©Michael O’Brien

New World Vultures (Cathartidae ) Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus ) – Small numbers seen three out of four days. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura ) – Numerous and seen daily.

Osprey (Pandionidae ) Osprey (Pandion haliaetus ) – This steadily increasing species was a constant presence wherever we went, often in good numbers. The peak of their migration is in late September.

Hawks, Eagles and Kites (Accipitridae ) Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius ) – Nice views of a juvenile at the Coral Avenue dune crossing. Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 10 Cornell Lab Chairman’s Council, Cape May, Magic of Fall Migration, 2019 Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus ) – Small numbers seen daily; nice comparisons with the very similar Cooper’s Hawk at the Coral Avenue dune crossing. Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii ) – Seen every day. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus ) – Seen at several locations around Cape May; we enjoyed comparing adult and sub-adult feather patterns on two close birds at Higbee Beach. Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus ) – We enjoyed several nice studies of these small Buteos over Higbee Beach and Cape May Point.

Broad-winged Hawk ©Michael O’Brien

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis ) – Small numbers seen every day.

Kingfishers (Alcedinidae ) Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon ) – Seen at several locations, including close views from the Osprey .

Woodpeckers (Picidae ) Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus ) – Seen at several locations. Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens ) – Seen at several locations. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus ) – Seen every day, including a steady movement of northbound migrants in morning flight over Higbee Beach.

Falcons and Caracaras (Falconidae ) American Kestrel (Falco sparverius ) – Seen at several locations, including a steady movement of migrants over the Cape May Point dunes at Coral Avenue. Merlin (Falco columbarius ) – Seen every day, including nice comparisons with American Kestrel over Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 11 Cornell Lab Chairman’s Council, Cape May, Magic of Fall Migration, 2019 the Cape May Point dunes. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus ) – Seen every day and at many locations.

Vireos (Vireonidae ) Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus ) – Heard at Higbee Beach. Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus ) – Several at Higbee Beach and Cape May Point. We enjoyed seeing several of these birds in hand during our banding demo; all were brown-eyed immatures.

Crows, Jays, and Magpies (Corvidae ) Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata ) – Seen every day. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos ) – Seen every day. Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus ) – Seen every day, including good numbers roosting around Cape May Harbor.

Swallows (Hirundinidae ) Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor ) – Seen every day; they were particularly abundant over the back- bay marshes on our Osprey trip. This species stages along the Atlantic Coast in fall, with large numbers present from August to October.

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica ) – One late lingering individual seen from the Osprey ; this species is an early fall migrant, peaking in August.

Tits, Chickadees, & Titmice (Paridae ) Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis ) – Seen at several locations.

Wrens (Troglodytidae ) Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus ) – Seen every day; we heard their noisy songs and calls Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 12 Cornell Lab Chairman’s Council, Cape May, Magic of Fall Migration, 2019 wherever we went, and enjoyed seeing a juvenile in hand during our banding demo.

Gnatcatchers (Polioptilidae ) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea ) – Two at Cape May Point State Park.

Thrushes and Allies (Turdidae ) American Robin (Turdus migratorius ) – A later migrant through Cape May, this common species keeps a low profile in late September while they undergo flight feather molt. We saw singles only a handful of times.

Mockingbirds and Thrashers (Mimidae ) Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis ) – Seen every day. Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos ) – Seen every day; we saw numerous juveniles, which disperse from breeding areas to seek new territories. Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum ) – Nice views of several at Higbee Beach.

Starlings (Sturnidae ) European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris ) ( I ) – Seen every day.

Finches, Euphonias, and Allies (Fringillidae ) House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus ) – Seen at several locations.

New World Sparrows (Passerellidae ) Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla ) – Seen at Cape May Point SP and heard at South Cape May Meadows. Seaside Sparrow (Ammospiza maritima ) – Brief views at Nummy Island. Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis ) – One at Shell Bay Landing and several at South Cape Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 13 Cornell Lab Chairman’s Council, Cape May, Magic of Fall Migration, 2019 May Meadows. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia ) – Singles at Uncle Bill’s and South Cape May Meadows. This common species is lying low right now while undergoing flight feather molt.

Troupials and Allies (Icteridae ) Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus ) – Numerous at South Cape May Meadows where we had close fly- by views of birds coming and going from the reeds.

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus ) – Seen every day. Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula ) – Several flocks seen along roadsides. Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major ) – A specialty of coastal salt marshes; we saw them at several locations, including from the Osprey .

New World Warblers (Parulidae ) Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia ) – We had good views of this striking species at CMBO Northwood. Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas ) – Seen at several locations, including in hand at our banding demo. American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla ) – Seen at several locations, with best views at Higbee Beach and CMBO Northwood. Northern Parula (Setophaga americana ) – One at Higbee Beach. Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia ) – Immature female seen in hand at the banding demo. Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata ) – One at the Wetlands Institute. Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens ) – One female at CMBO Northwood. Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum ) – One at CMBO Northwood and several at South Cape May Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 14 Cornell Lab Chairman’s Council, Cape May, Magic of Fall Migration, 2019 Meadows.

Cardinals and Allies (Cardinalidae ) Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis ) – Numerous and seen every day, including one in hand at the banding demo.

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea ) – Seen at several locations.

Old World Sparrows (Passeridae ) House Sparrow (Passer domesticus ) ( I ) – A few seen every day.

MAMMALS Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis ) – Seen at several locations. Woodchuck (Marmota monax ) – One seen on transfer from Cape May to Philadelphia. Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus ) – Seen near our hotel in Cape May. Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus ) – A small pod seen in the Delaware Bay off of Coral Avenue dune crossing.

BUTTERFLIES Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes ) – Cape May Point Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus ) – Higbee Beach Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae ) – A southern immigrant, present in above average numbers this year. Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 15 Cornell Lab Chairman’s Council, Cape May, Magic of Fall Migration, 2019 Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos ) – Higbee Beach Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis ) – Higbee Beach American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis ) – Cape May Point Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui ) – Cape May Point; an immigrant, present in very large numbers this year.

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta ) – Cape May Point Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia ) – Seen at many locations; an immigrant from the south Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis ) – Cape May Point Viceroy (Limenitis archippus ) – Cape May Point, South Cape May Meadows Monarch (Danaus plexippus ) – Numerous locations, particularly around Cape May Point; Louise gave a nice tagging demo at the Coral Avenue dune crossing. Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus ) – Cape May Point; an immigrant from the south Sachem (Atalopedes campestris ) – Cape May Point; an immigrant from the south Ocola skipper (Panoquina ocola ) – Cape May Point; an immigrant from the south

DRAGONFLIES and DAMSELFLIES Common Green Darner (Anax junius ) – Higbee Beach and Cape May Point; a common migrant through Cape May Comet Darner (Anax longipes ) – Cape May Point; a very uncommon migrant Swamp Darner (Epiaeschna heros ) – Higbee Beach; this is our largest dragonfly Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia ) – Higbee Beach and South Cape May Meadows Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella ) – Higbee Beach Great Blue Skimmer (Libellula vibrans ) – Higbee Beach Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis ) – Higbee Beach and Cape May Point Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 16 Cornell Lab Chairman’s Council, Cape May, Magic of Fall Migration, 2019 Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis ) – Higbee Beach and Cape May Point Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens ) – Cape May Point and South Cape May Meadows; a common migrant through Cape May Carolina Saddlebags (Tramea carolina ) – Cape May Point and South Cape May Meadows; a common migrant through Cape May.

OTHER COOL INSECTS Davis’s Southeastern Dog-Day Cicada (Neotibicen davisi davisi ) – Steady buzz with piercing metallic crescendo, like a power saw. Coastal Scissor Grinder Cicada (Neotibicen latifasciatus ) – Slow pulsating buzz; our most common cicada Linne’s Cicada (Neotibicen linnei ) – Fast pulsating buzz

HERPS Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta ) – Several basking on Bunker Pond, Cape May Point SP Cope’s (Southern) Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis ) – Heard calling at South Cape May Meadows Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer ) – Heard at several locations Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans ) – One at Cape May Point SP Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog (Lithobates kauffeldi ) – Heard at Cape May Point SP; this species was recognized only recently, and ranges from New York to North Carolina.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 17 Cornell Lab Chairman’s Council, Cape May, Magic of Fall Migration, 2019