TRIP REPORT

NEW JERSEY, U.S.A.

12 MAY TO 22 MAY 2013

GLYN SELLORS & CHRIS SELLORS

YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER,

BELLEPLAIN STATE FOREST

FLIGHT FROM HEATHROW TO NEWARK LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL,

ARRIVING AT 13.30 LOCAL TIME. ( 1.5 HOURS TO CLEAR CUSTOMS )

WE TOOK THE SHUTTLE TO AVIS TO COLLECT OUR MEDIUM SIZED CAR

- THEN DROVE FOR APPROX. 3 HOURS TO CAPE MAY – CHECKED IN AT

THE STAR INN HOTEL FOR 10 NIGHTS. QUITE A SMALL ROOM, BUT VERY

CLEAN WITH A REALLY NICE SHOWER – TOWELS CHANGED TWICE

DAILY & BED SHEETS CHANGED EVERY DAY. WE HAD VOUCHERS FOR

BREAKFAST ACROSS THE ROAD AT CONGRESS HALL – EXCELLENT

FOOD – THE EVENING MEALS WERE VERY GOOD AS WELL, THOUGH A

BIT PRICEY – SO WE DIDN’T EAT THERE EVERY NIGHT.

THIS PART OF NEW JERSEY IS FAIRLY EASY TO BIRD, ALL THE NATURE

RESERVES ARE WITHIN A FEW MILES OF CAPE MAY – HEISLERVILLE IS

JUST OVER THE BORDER IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY, BUT THAT’S ONLY

45 MINUTES’ DRIVE FROM CAPE MAY. BRIGANTINE IS IN ATLANTIC

COUNTY, ABOUT 1.5 HOURS’ DRIVE NORTH EAST OF CAPE MAY.

THE WEATHER WAS VARIABLE – 19C TO 29C. ( NOT MUCH RAIN )

NOTE: CHRIS & I BOTH HAD DEER TICKS ON US ON THIS TRIP – CHECK YOURSELF EVERY NIGHT & REMOVE THEM WITH TWEEZERS &

VISIT THE LOCAL PHARMACY FOR ANTIBIOTICS – OR AS SOON AS YOU

GET HOME VISIT YOUR GP – THERE ARE WARNING SIGNS ABOUT TICKS-

( CHECK ON THE INTERNET ABOUT LYME DESEASE )

LIST OF NATURE RESERVES VISITED

BELLEPLAIN STATE FOREST – EXCELLENT FOR BREEDING WARBLERS

ETC.

JAKE’S LANDING – SEASIDE SPARROWS, CLAPPER RAILS & MARSH

WRENS.

BEAVER SWAMP WMA

CAPE MAY BIRD OBSERVATORY

CAPE MAY NWR

REED’S & COOK’S BEACHES – WADERS ( SHOREBIRDS )

FORSYTHE ( BRIGANTINE ) NWR – TERNS, SKIMMERS & WADERS

( SHOREBIRDS ) ETC. – SUPERB RESERVE – YOU CAN DRIVE ALL THE

WAY AROUND – 8 MILES.

AVALON – JUST NORTH OF STONE HARBOUR

STONE HARBOUR – ANOTHER GOOD WADER ( SHOREBIRD ) SITE – JUST

WALK ALONG THE BEACH.

NUMMY’S ISLAND

OCEAN DRIVE, CAPE MAY

HIGBEE BEACH, CAPE MAY PARK

CAPE MAY POINT STATE PARK

THE MEADOWS, CAPE MAY

THE BEANERY, CAPE MAY

YOU CAN COLLECT A MAP FROM THE

VISITORS’ CENTRE ON EAST LAKE DRIVE.

FACTS & FIGURES

HOTEL & CAR PARKING AT HEATHROW - £130

FLIGHTS FROM HEATHROW TO NEWARK LIBERTY INT. - £ 550 EACH

RETURN

CAR HIRE ( AVIS ) £ 290 FOR 10 DAYS

ACCOMMODATION – STAR INN, CAPE MAY - £ 40 PER NIGHT ( B & B )

TOTAL COSTS

APPROX. £ 3000

BOOKS

THE SIBLEY FIELD GUIDE TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA

MAPS

MICHELIN – MID-ATLANTIC, ALLEGHENY HIGHLANDS

SYSTEMATIC LIST

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER ( COMMON LOON ) – 1 OVER CAPE MAY

BEACH

WESTERN GREBE – 1 ON THE SEA OFF CAPE MAY BEACH – QUITE A

SCARCE BIRD IN THIS AREA

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT

GREAT BLUE HERON

GREAT EGRET

SNOWY EGRET

GREEN HERON – 1 CAPE MAY LIGHTHOUSE & 1 HEISLERVILLE

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON – BREEDING COLONY AT

HEISLERVILLE

GLOSSI IBIS – GOOD NUMBERS AT BRIGANTINE

MUTE SWAN

CANADA GOOSE

BRANT – STILL A FEW AT STONE HARBOUR

MALLARD

AMERICAN BLACK DUCK – 3 HEISLERVILLE

GADWALL

AMERICAN WIGEON – 3 CAPE MAY LIGHTHOUSE

BLACK SCOTER – SEVERAL IMMATURE BIRDS HEISLERVILLE

RUDDY DUCK

TURKEY VULTURE

OSPREY – FAIRLY COMMON

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK

RED-TAILED HAWK

WILD TURKEY

CLAPPER RAIL – 3 HEISLERVILLE & SEVERAL JAKE’S LANDING

GREY PLOVER ( BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER )

KILLDEER – COMMON

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER – COMMON

PIPING PLOVER – C.4 CAPE MAY LIGHTHOUSE & 2 STONE HARBOUR

AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER – FAIRLY COMMON

GREATER YELLOWLEGS – FAIRLY COMMON HEISLERVILLE &

BRIGANTINE

LESSER YELLOWLEGS – 2 BRIGANTINE

SPOTTED SANDPIPER

WILLET – COMMON

WHIMBREL – C. 20 BRIGANTINE

TURNSTONE ( RUDDY TURNSTONE )

SANDERLING

KNOT ( RED KNOT ) – 1000S FEEDING ON HORSESHOE CRAB EGGS –

REED’S & COOK’S BEACHES - UNFORTUNATELY FENCHED-OFF – NOT

IDEAL FOR PHOTOGRAPHY

DUNLIN

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER – C. 20 ON OUR LAST DAY - BRIGANTINE

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER – 1000S HEISLERVILLE & BRIGANTINE

WESTERN SANDPIPER – 1 STONE HARBOUR

LEAST SANDPIPER – 100S RATHER THAN 1000S HEISLERVILLE &

BRIGANTINE

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER – 1000S HEISLERVILLE & BRIGANTINE

WILSON’S SNIPE

BONAPARTE’S GULL – 3 FIRST-SUMMERS CAPE MAY LIGHTHOUSE & 1

FIRST-SUMMER HEISLERVILLE

LAUGHING GULL – VERY COMMON

RING-BILLED GULL – C. 6 HEISLERVILLE

HERRING GULL

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL

GULL-BILLED TERN – C. 10 BRIGANTINE

FORSTER’S TERN – COMMON

LEAST TERN

BLACK SKIMMER – C. 50 BRIGANTINE

MOURNING DOVE

YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO – 1 HIGBEE BEACH, CAPE MAY & 2

BELLEPLAIN STATE FOREST

CHIMNEY SWIFT – COMMON

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD

RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER

DOWNY WOODPECKER – FAIRLY COMMON

HAIRY WOODPECKER

NORTHERN FLICKER

EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE

EASTERN PHOEBE

GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER

EASTERN KINGBIRD

WHITE-EYED VIREO

RED-EYED VIREO – BELLEPLAIN STATE FOREST

BLUE JAY

AMERICAN CROW

RAVEN

CLIFF SWALLOW – SEVERAL THE MEADOWS, CAPE MAY

SAND MARTIN ( BANK SWALLOW )

TREE SWALLOW

PURPLE MARTIN – COMMON

CAROLINA CHICKADEE

TUFTED TITMOUSE

WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH – 2 BELLEPLAIN STATE FOREST

MARSH WREN – C. 10 JAKE’S LANDING

CAROLINA WREN – COMMON

HOUSE WREN – CHAFFINCH-LIKE SONG

BLUE-GREY GNATCATCHER

EASTERN BLUEBIRD

WOOD THRUSH – 2 BELLEPLAIN STATE FOREST

AMERICAN ROBIN – VERY COMMON

GREY CATBIRD

NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD – VERY COMMON

BROWN THRASHER – 1 BRIGANTINE

CEDAR WAXWING – 3 BRIGANTINE

STARLING

YELLOW WARBLER – VERY COMMON

MAGNOLIA WARBER – 2 HIGBEE BEACH, CAPE MAY

BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER – 1 HIGBEE BEACH, CAPE MAY – 1

AT THE VISITORS’ CENTRE

BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER – 1 SINGING AT THE VISITORS’

CENTRE

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER

PINE WARBLER

PRAIRIE WARBLER – C. 10 HIGBEE BEACH, CAPE MAY

YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER – 1 BELLEPLAIN STATE FOREST

BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER

PROTHONOTARY WARBLER – 1 BELLEPLAIN STATE FOREST

WORM-EATING WARBLER – C. 6 BELLEPLAIN STATE FOREST

COMMON YELLOWTHROAT

NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH – 1 AT THE VISITORS’ CENTRE

LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH – 1 BELLEPLAIN STATE FOREST – THIS WAS

A NEW BIRD FOR ME – AT LAST!

OVENBIRD –COMMON, BUT STUNNING!

HOODED WARBLER – C. 3 BELLEPLAIN STATE FOREST

SCARLET TANAGER – 2 BELLEPLAIN STATE FOREST

BLUE GROSBEAK – 2 BELLEPLAIN STATE FOREST & 1 HIGBEE BEACH,

CAPE MAY

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK – MALE AT THE VISITORS’ CENTRE

INDIGO BUNTING

NORTHERN CARDINAL

EASTERN TOWHEE

CHIPPING SPARROW

FIELD SPARROW – C. 4 HIGBEE BEACH, CAPE MAY

SEASIDE SPARROW – C. 10 JAKE’S LANDING – RATHER DULL!

SONG SPARROW

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW – 1 CAPE MAY LIGHTHOUSE – SCARCE IN

SPRING

WHITE-THROATED SPARROW

ORCHARD ORIOLE – 3 CAPE MAY LIGHTHOUSE

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD

COMMON GRACKLE

BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE

BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD

HOUSE SPARROW

AMERICAN GOLDFINCH

HOUSE FINCH – INTODUCED

MAMMALS

EASTERN CHIPMUNK

GREY SQUIRREL

RACCOON

EASTERN COTTONTAIL

REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS

DIAMOND-BACKED TERRAPIN

BULLFROG

BUTTERFLIES

BLACK SWALLOWTAIL

EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL

www.glynsellorsphotography.com

glynsellors@aol.com

KEEP SCROLLING FOR IMAGES

GLOSSY IBIS, BRIGANTINE

PRAIRIE WARBLER, HIGBEE BEACH

YELLOW WARBLER, CAPE MAY

MARSH WREN, JAKE’S LANDING

AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, CAPE MAY

LEAST TERN, CAPE MAY

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, CAPE MAY

DUNLIN, BRIGANTINE

WILLET, BRIGANTINE

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, BRIGANTINE

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, BRIGANTINE

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, CAPE MAY

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, CAPE MAY

AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, CAPE MAY

SANDERLING, CAPE MAY

FIELD SPARROW, HIGBEE BEACH

BLUE GROSBEAK, HIGBEE BEACH

AMERICAN ROBIN, CAPE MAY

PIPING PLOVER, CAPE MAY LIGHTHOUSE

LAUGHING GULL, CAPE MAY

YELLOWTHROAT, CAPE MAY

MOURNING DOVE, BRIGANTINE

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT,

BRIGANTINE

TURNSTONE, BRIGANTINE

GULL-BILLED TERN, BRIGANTINE

PURPLE MARTIN, BRIGANTINE

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, BRIGANTINE

SNOWY EGRET, CAPE MAY

LESSER YELLOWLEGS, BRIGANTINE

BLACK SKIMMER, BRIGANTINE

WILLET, BRIGANTINE

DUNLIN, BRIGANTINE

LEAST SANDPIPER, CAPE MAY

LAUGHING GULL, CAPE MAY

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, HEISLERVILLE

YELLOWTHROAT, CAPE MAY

FORSTER’S TERN, CAPE MAY

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, STONE

HARBOUR

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, STONE

HARBOUR

BRANT, STONE HARBOUR

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, STONE

HARBOUR

LEAST TERN, CAPE MAY

LEAST TERN, CAPE MAY

CHIMNEY SWIFT, CAPE MAY

WORM-EATING WARBLER, BELLEPLAIN

WORM-EATING WARBLER, BELLEPLAIN

HOODED WARBLER, BELLEPLAIN

YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER,

BELLEPLAIN

YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER,

BELLEPLAIN

OVENBIRD, BELLEPLAIN

OVENBIRD, BELLEPLAIN

BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER,

BELLEPLAIN

GREATER YELLOWLEGS, BRIGANTINE

SECOND-SUMMER RING-BILLED GULL,

HEISLERVILLE

GREATER YELLOWLEGS, HEISLERVILLE

FIRST-SUMMER RING-BILLED GULL,

HEISLERVILLE

GREATER YELLOWLEGS, HEISLERVILLE

GREY PLOVER, HEISLERVILLE

KILLDEER, HEISLERVILLE

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, BRIGANTINE