Subject: Cape May Nature Notes

From: Hank Brodkin <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 25 May 1995 16:59:33 -0700

The following has been excerpted with permission from the Cape May Bird
Hotline as transcribed for the Birdeast Mail List.

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- Transcript
Hotline:      Cape May Birding Hotline
Date:         May 25, 1995
Number:       609-884-2626
To Report:    609-884-2736
Coverage:     Cape May, Cumberland and Altantic Co., NJ
Compiler:     Cape May Bird Observatory staff
Transcriber:  Laurie Larson ([email-masked])

You have reached the Cape May Birding Hotline, a service of
the New Jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird Observatory.
Highlights of the week ending May 25, 1995, include: RUFF,
MISSISSIPPI KITE, SOOTY SHEARWATER, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE,
BLACK-NECKED STILT, WHITE-WINGED TERN in Delaware, news of
spring migrants, an announcement about Higbee Beach, local
nature notes.

(Bird Stuff Deleted - hb)

The State of New Jersey has closed Higbee's Beach parking
lots for the summer. This does not mean that Higbee is
closed, just the parking lots. You can still bird and
butterfly the area- but you must be dropped off, or ride a
bike, or park at the Hidden Valley parking lot further
along New England Road. The parking lot closures are the
state's attempt to address illicit activities that occur
there during warm summer months.

Local nature notes follow. Belleplain State Forest is
beautiful now, Mountain Laurel is just coming into bloom
and lines many of the roadways. During the May 20-21 Spring
Weekend, many observers noted migration or immigration of
butterflies involving QUESTION MARKS, COMMAS, MOURNING
CLOAKS, & RED ADMIRALS. A total of 35 species of
butterflies were noted in the County and as far north as
Brigantine.

The weekend marked the emergence of the first SOUTHERN
CLOUDYWINGS, LEAST SKIPPERS, and ZABULON SKIPPERS, as well
as the first movement north of CLOUDED SULFUR, AMERICAN
SNOUT, and SACHEM. Some of the spring specialties were
still flying, such as BROWN ELFIN, PINE ELFIN, & FROSTED
ELFIN, FALCATE ORANGE-TIP, & COBWEB SKIPPER. A CMBO
butterly walk at Jakes Landing on May 24 discovered numbers
of MONARCH eggs and a few tiny caterpillars on Common
Milkweed, as well as 100+ webbed-together leaves on very
young thistle plants; these house the caterpillar stage of
PAINTED LADY butterflies, which as adults were scarce over
the spring weekend.

Bob Barber, author of the study of Cumberland County's
Dragonflies, discovered yet another new species for the
list on May 21: a BANNER CLUB-TAIL. This rare dragonfly is
only known from 4 sites in New Jersey, and is now gone from
2 of those. Nationwide, it is only found in 5 states, with
most sightings occurring in Mississippi.

The Cape May birding hotline [(609) 884-2626] is a service
of Cape May Bird Observatory and includes sightings from
Cape May, Atlantic, and Cumberland counties and adjacent
areas. Updates are made on Thursday evening, more often if
warranted. [Compiled by CMBO staff; transcribed by L.
Larson ([email-masked]).] Please report
sightings of rare or unusual birds to CMBO at (609)
884-2736. Thank you for calling; good birding.

- End transcript