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Avalon Seawatch

Cape May, NJ





 Avalon Seawatch
Cape May Bird Observatory sea watch staff member maintains a lonely watch from early morning to dark.


History
In 1978, Dave Ward, an Avalon resident, began a part-time watch that monitored most peak fall flights past the Avalon peninsula. Careful records were kept and reported in the American Birding Association magazine. In 1992 the Cape May Bird Observatory took over the effort and assigned a full time staff member to record the number of species migrating past the point in fall. This data is used to monitor changes in the Atlantic flyway migration.

Avalon Seawatch Participation
The seawatch is held every day dawn to dusk from September 22 until December 22. Any number of people can join for an hour, a day or longer. The site is accessible by car and appropriate for those confined to wheelchairs. Bring your own scope and a lawn chair. By December it will be pretty cold so dress warmly.
What Can You See
Major species counted passing the point are: Red-throated Loons, Common Loons, Northern Gannet, Double-crested Cormorants, Brant Goose, Surf Scoter, Black Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Parasitic Jaeger, Common Eider, King Eider (rare).

The author spent three days at the watch in early October 2004. It was warm, sunny and most pleasant. I was impressed with the numbers of Black Scoters counted. Of course we see Black Scoters off the New England coast, but they are greatly outnumbered by White-winged and Surf. Staff members were most helpful and patient with newcomers explaining how to identify the flying birds. One of the highlights of my time at the seawatch was a Peregrine Falcon chasing a Flicker across the water and over the beach. The Falcon lunged at the Flicker repeatedly and missed. When last seen the pair were headed over the town. One day produced 3 Parasitic Jaegers.

Avalon Directions
Avalon is located on the Atlantic coast about 20 miles north of Cape May, New Jersey. Take Exit 13 off the Garden State Parkway and drive across the bridge into Avalon. Turn left at the second light on Dune Drive and follow it almost to the end. Make a right turn on 7th Street and find the parking lot on the left. The watch takes place in the parking lot at the sea wall. Construction of the sea wall may change the layout in the next year. Check with the CMBO.

Page author: Emmalee Tarry