Date: Mon, 20 Dec 1999
From: Shawneen Finnegan/Paul Lehman
To: NJ Birds Mailing list
Subject: Eared Grebes and Cape May CBC
The two Eared Grebes found on 18 December by Dasey and Driscoll on Lakes Bay near Atlantic City were still present in the same area on 20 December. Take the Black Horse Pike (Rte 322) east through Pleasantville, toward Atlantic City. When adjacent to the northwest corner of the bay turn right (south) on either Venice or Granada and go just one block and park near the bay. (These streets are two or three blocks before you come to the multi-story Hampton Inn.) We saw the two birds together about 200 yards straight offshore (south) from Venice and Granada. There were about 15+ Horned Grebes as well on the bay. Obviously the birds can move around this whole part of the bay, but this particular spot is as good a place as any to scan the entire area.
Farther south, on Sunday the 19th, the Cape May CBC recorded 158+ species, including a (continuing) Cave Swallow (over the state park), Lark Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, Piping Plover, 2 Blue-winged Teal, Blue-headed Vireo, Nashville and 7+ Orange-crowned Warblers, Lapland Longspur, Baltimore Oriole, Dickcissel, Long-eared Owl, two flocks of Red Crossbills, 8 Black Skimmers, and 4+ Marbled Godwits.
--Paul Lehman