NJ - Cape May - Day 3 October 12th

American Kestrel (in migration) - Cape May Point State Park, NJ. October 12th, 2018. 
The CMBO counters tallied over 5400 for the day.

We met at 06:45 hours and headed over towards Higbee Beach for another attempt at the Morning Flight. Severe thunderstorms had awoken some of our party during the night but hadn't disturbed others, including me! On arrival at Higbee Beach dike we didn't even bother getting out vehicle as the whole area was being pounded by near gale force WNW winds. Instead we headed for the sheltered hedgerows and fields of Higbee Beach WMA but only found a single Eastern Phoebe. Having seen Black and Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed and Sharp-shinned Hawks, and Osprey on the move before sunrise we decided to head for the dedicated CMBO Hawkwatch Platform at Cape May Point State Park. Even though it was still relatively early, raptors were scattered all over the sky with flurries of American Kestrels, Merlins and Cooper's Hawks setting the theme for the rest of the day. Indeed, the day belonged to the small falcons and we had difficulty tearing ourselves away for brunch though we needn't have worried as raptors poured through at an even heavier rate in early afternoon. The end result, according to CMBO staff, was a new one day record for American Kestrel with over 5400 recorded but I think I was secretly more impressed with the Merlins that peppered the sky throughout the day sometimes playfully (and not so playfully) stooping at the thousands of Tree Swallows gathering over the dunes and bunker pond. Apparently the CMBO staff tallied almost 500 Merlins for the day!

Merlin  - Cape May Point State Park, NJ. October 12th, 2018. 

Migrant of the day for my money.

Osprey - Cape May Point State Park, NJ. October 12th, 2018. 

Great Blue Herons (in migration) - Cape May Point State Park, NJ. October 12th, 2018. 

Snow Geese with Canada Geese - Cape May Point State Park, NJ. October 12th, 2018. 

The specks all over this shot are Tree Swallows.

Snow Geese - Cape May Point State Park, NJ. October 12th, 2018. 

Tree Swallows - Cape May Point State Park, NJ. October 12th, 2018. 

Absolutely mesmerizing numbers of Tree Swallows passing through Cape May.

Eastern Phoebe - Higbee Beach WMA, Cape May Island, NJ. October 12th, 2018. 

Cape May Warbler - Cape May Point State Park, NJ. October 12th, 2018. 

This isn't to say that we weren't too overwhelmed to look at other birds during the course of the day and with a great selection of waterfowl on view at bunker pond that included Snow and Cackling Geese, Eurasian and American Wigeons, and Blue-winged and Green-winged Teals, we didn't have to go too far. Indeed, the state park was the place to be with Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos, and Blackpoll, Yellow-rumped, Nashville and Cape May Warblers all putting on a fantastic show and seemingly oblivious to the hordes of admiring birders.