Thompson Beach Rd - early June

I went to Thompson Beach Rd in Cumberland County to check the bird activity after work one day. Once there I saw many Marsh Wrens flitting to and fro and enjoyed their singing. It was fun to see their nests build into the bushes at the side of the marsh. I also saw several Osprey nests with female Osprey sitting on nests and the males off getting meals for them. There were also Clapper Rails that were heard but not seen and many Barn Swallows flying about and nesting under the overlook structure. Pictured Marsh Wrens and nest plus an Osprey on nest.

Heislerville, Cumberland County

Each spring in Cumberland County near the Maurice River the shorebirds congregate by the 1000's in the impoundments in Heislerville. Here you can find Semipalmated Plovers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Dowitchers, Dunlin, Black Skimmers, Black Bellied Plovers and if you are lucky an oddball or two.
This year birders found both Curlew Sandpiper and Red-necked Phalarope. I was lucky enough to see the Curlew Sandpiper, a new life bird, with the help of another birder. I missed the Red-necked Phalarope.

But it's the spectacale of so many birds that is so impressive. They forage in the mudflats close to the road and allow you close access to study them. Then every once in a while the birds will be spoked and will take off in a cloud of birds, circling around before settling down again to rest or feed some more. It really is fantastic to see the masses of shorebirds all in one place. It's a not to be missed experience for beginning and seasoned birders alike.

Horseshoe Crab tagging - May 31 & June 2

Back in mid May, I saw an article in the Cape May County Herald titled "Want To Get Wet Tagging Horseshoe Crabs?" As I read the article, I learned they were looking for volunteers to go out to Kimbles Beach Rd on several specific evenings after sunset to tag the horseshoe crabs. The evenings targeted were the night before and after the full and new moons in May. I couldn't do the first 2 dates but the second 2 dates were open. I called Jenny and asked her if she'd like to join in the fun. The first night we went was May 31st. As the sun is setting, the representative from the Fish & Wildlife Service explains the procedure for the tagging. Then you break up into groups of about 5-6 people and off you go down the beach. The later it gets at night the more horseshoe crabs pile onto the beach at the high tide mark. We tagged 225 Horseshoe Crabs that first evening. I could have stayed longer but most of the group was ready to go. The first night there were 1250 crabs tagged in all.

I had such a good time the first evening I recruited friends, Charles and Danielle. I also mentioned it on FB and friends, Sheri & Barry came up from Baltimore to help out. Our group had about 7 people in it and we tagged 300 Horseshoe crabs. Even though there were less than half the volunteers on that second night there were still an impressive 1000 crabs tagged. Both nights were AWESOME!

When a tagged horseshoe crab is spotted you are asked to call and report the sighting. These sighting help the biologists studying them track their movements. It also allows the scientists to update their information on that crab. Horseshoe crabs have been tagged since 2001 in NJ.

Horseshoe Crabs

I thought I'd share some of the Horseshoe Crab pictures I took during the spawning in May. Horseshoe Crabs are drawn to the Delaware Bay to spawn in May and June. The highest numbers of crabs come ashore at the time of the full and new mooons during high tides.

As the larger female Horseshoe Crab come ashore, the smaller males hook onto the female and the tide ppulls them onto the beach. The female horseshoe crab will bury into the sand to lay her eggs while the males will crowd around her to fertilize the eggs. The eggs are small green BB-sized balls. The female Horseshoe Crab can lay up to 20,000 eggs at one time.

These pictures were taken at Reed's Beach where the waters were black because there were so many horseshoe crab eggs floating in the waves.

Reeds Beach, Delaware Bay & Red Knots

More magical pictures from Reed's Beach along the NJ Delaware Bay... AWESOME!!!
Shorebirds I saw eating the horseshoe Crab eggs were Red Knots, Ruddy Turnstones, Laughing Gulls, Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Dunlin, Sanderlings, Least Sandpiper and a Willet.

The Red Knots arrived

Last week the Red Knots, migrating from South America, arrived along the Delaware Bayshore. It's all timed with the full moon, high tides and the Horseshoe Crabs spawning. They fly straight through from the southern tip of South America not stopping until they arrive here. Like many migratory birds they also reduce the size of their digestive organs prior to migration. The Red Knots feed on Horseshoe Crab eggs for up to 2 weeks, often doubling their weight, so that they can fly another 3 to 6 days straight until they arrive at the Arctic to breed.

American Red Knot numbers have decreased significantly over the past decade becoming threathened with extinction due to the overharvesting of Horseshoe Crabs since the 1990's.


Several enviromental groups launched an initiative to halt the harvest of horseshoe crabs in Delaware Bay. After many years and much petitioning the NJ government did enact legistation to protect the Horseshoe Crabs to aid in the saving of the American Red Knots. Beaches along the Delaware Bay are closed to the public from early May through the second week of June to give the birds access to the Horseshoe Crab eggs without human interference.

Reed's Beach May 17

Last week I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Red Knots. Almost daily I would go check out Reed's Beach, Kimmel's Landing Rd or Cook's Beach checking for the shorebirds that make May a wonderful month to be a birder and photographer. One evening Jenny & I decided to take a drive up to Reed's Beach. There were a few Red Knots but there were lots of Ruddy Turnstones, Sanderlings and Laughing Gulls eating the horseshoe crab eggs on the beach.