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.

Birding Benny's Landing Rd

Monday afternoon, Tuesday both morning and afternoon, I stopped by Benny's Landing Road salt marshes to bird. I was there for 2 low tides and one high tide. Birding at high tide brings the birds closer in some instances or just changes the species of birds you see. Lots of variety of sandpipers were there - Least Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Spotted Sandpipers(1), Black-bellied Plovers, Dunlins(2), Dowitchers and Whrimbrels(3). Then best of all I saw about 5 Clapper Rails(4,5). I believe I saw one two times & one (that hangs out in the same place) I saw each of the 3 times I visited the area. There were Glossy Ibis(6), Snowy & Great Egrets and lots of Barn Swallows fliting about the marsh.
(Picture order corresponds to the named bird.)

Kayaking Sunday & Monday (May 15 & 16)

Sunday and Monday I kayaked the Cape Island Creek behind/beside Cape May with my sister, Jenny. We kayaked at low (starting to rise) tide to see the shorebirds feeding on the mudflats. The weather was in the mid 60's with a nice breeze to keep the bugs away. We saw Semipalmated Plovers(1), Semipalmated Sandpipers(2), Least Sandpipers, Willet, Clapper Rail(3), Forster's Terns, Least Terns, Short-billed Dowitchers(4 & 5), Laughing Gulls, Snowy & Great Egrets, Osprey along with other birds and gulls. (Numbers correspond to pictured bird)

and in my backyard...

I've been having visitors to my backyard the past week. In addition to the regular birds I have had a pair of Mallard Ducks coming by to eat at the base of my birdfeeders. After visiting me they fly over and have a swim in my neighbors pool! Jenny would love them to nest here whereas I like an occasional visit. The squirrel has been coming for a bite to eat and then has a drink or two from my fountain. The House Finch is an all year visitor.