Spring is coming

Late last week there were reports of Piping Plovers arriving back in Cape May County.  I just love the Piping Plover.  It survives through great odds though their numbers are down. They have been seen at the South Cape Beach (the Meadows), Cook's Beach and also in Stone Harbor.   After getting off work I was off to SH Point to walk along the beach.  I was very happy to find 3 Piping Plovers (and probably more), some Semipalmated Plovers among the Sanderlings and Dunlin that were feeding along the water's edge.  There were hundred's of birds feeding and bathing on the beach in the waves.

Semi's Face off - Stone Harbor Beach

While at the beach yesterday the Semipalmated Plovers were fighting for feeding territory which is actually pretty funny considering how large the beach is in Stone Harbor.  Here are some of the pictures.

Semipalmated Plover with marine worm

Semipalmated Plovers face off

You had better watch out..

Never mind. I'm leaving...

Ok, so what are you looking at! Now I can forage in peace.

Nummy Island - Start of a great day of birding

When arriving on Nummy Island where the Terns were catching fish I went forward to walk along the side of the road so I could get in better range for pictures and almost walked on top of an American Oystercatcher nest.  Momma/Dad Oystercatcher was so buried I couldn't see the bird in amongst the wrack.  As the AO left the nest I caught a glimpse of her eggs so I took a quick photo before backing away from the area and letting Momma return to nest.  The AO returned quickly to the nest.

 The terns were fishing as were the Snowy and Great Egrets.  Almost every time the terns dived a fish was caught and across the way on the spit the egrets were feasting on small fish.

I saw Least Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, (left) a Tri-colored Heron, Greater Yellow Legs, Black-bellied Plovers, Dowitchers,  Red-winged Blackbirds, Willets, Laughing Gulls and more.

Further down the road the Black-crowned Night Heron was catching breakfast. It was fun to watch the BCNH catch the fish caught up in the green slime, get the fish out and eat it.