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Date: Wed, 09 May 2001 16:18:30 -0400
From: Paul Lehman
To: NJ Birds Mailing list
Subject: SABINE'S GULL in Cape May Co.
NJBIRDS:
Amazing. Now in addition to the Cave Swallow (not seen today), White Ibis (present today through at least early afternoon), and White-faced Ibis (see below), there is now also a SABINE'S GULL in Cape May County. This bird was found in the afternoon by Marshall Iliff and Alan Shreck at the "free bridge" that runs between Stone Harbor and Nummy's Island, feeding in the water on the north side of the bridge with a bunch of Laughing Gulls. It was still present as of two hours later. It is either a second-year bird, or an adult that still hasn't molted in most of its alternate head plumage. The head is a mottled, grizzly gray and white, but the rest of the plumage and the bill are typical of a full adult.
The White-faced Ibis at the frshwater pond on the right side of the road approaching Reed's Beach has come and gone from that pond several times since first being found in the late morning. Good numbers of Glossies use that pond for drinking, bathing, and some feeding, and they come and go throughout the day. When they leave, they all head for the various large marshes along the nearby Delaware Bayshore and are very difficult to see well. So anyone interested in seeing the White-faced should likely just stay at the pond and watch the birds coming and going. The White-faced has a red eye, white (not pale blue) that encircles the entire eye and face, a bit more white on the forehead than most Glossies, and bright red "knees" but dull-colored remainder of the legs.
--Paul Lehman