New Jersey: Fall Migration in Cape May - September 2026
Dates: September 20-26, 2026
Leaders: Louise Zemaitis & Michael O'Brien
E-bird
Total Species: 133 birds
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Overall Summary
Despite having a Nor’easter settled on the Jersey Shore for much of the week, our amenable group had a remarkably successful Cape May tour, logging an impressive 133 species. Reading the winds and tides as best we could, we found large concentrations of birds throughout the week while learning about the history of this National Historic Landmark City, with its Victorian architecture and fine eateries.
Massive flocks of birds concentrated by the wind were frequent sights on this trip. We marveled at thousands of Laughing Gulls feeding on the bayside creeks at Jake’s Landing and hundreds of Black Skimmers and a variety of gulls and terns roosting on the Cape May beachfront. On our “Osprey” boat cruise, a tornadic swirl of several thousand Tree Swallows was truly a sight to behold, as was a jetty loaded with spiffy American Oystercatchers. On our visit to Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, from the comfort of our vans, we enjoyed many hundreds of herons, egrets, ibises, terns, and shorebirds (fifteen species!), all huddled in spots out of the wind.
The conditions also brought us some nice surprises. We were pleased to find such uncommon species as Hudsonian Godwit and Red-necked Phalarope, both offshore migrants that were pushed to shore by the winds. We also enjoyed nice views of the usually stealthy Saltmarsh and Seaside sparrows, both appearing in openings out of the wind. A non-avian surprise, and a first for this tour, was an American Mink at Jake’s Landing.
When the winds turned more northerly, we enjoyed an excellent raptor show at Cape May Point. Northern Harriers and Peregrine Falcons flew high overhead, making a beeline for Delaware; Broad-winged and Sharp-shinned Hawks circled lazily overhead, seeking the last thermal in New Jersey; and Bald Eagles flushed flocks of gulls whenever they passed by. It was especially exciting to watch Merlins slice through the air hunting dragonflies or Cooper’s Hawks dash through the dunes in search of tired songbirds.
Northerly winds also brought us a wonderful influx of warblers and other songbirds one day, starting with “morning flight” at Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area, then proceeding to the sheltered areas at Cape May Bird Observatory, Lily Lake, and Cape May Point State Park, where songbirds had settled in to forage. One afternoon, we found ourselves in sunshine at Michael and Louise’s garden, where we viewed a lovely assortment of butterflies, including Cloudless Sulphur, Pearl Crescent, and the decidedly uncommon Common Checkered-Skipper.
It was a particular treat to watch fellow VENT leader Mark Garland demonstrate how to place cellular- and Bluetooth-enabled transmitters on two Monarchs for our group. Monarch CMP26-025-VENT chose to wait out the storm in Cape May, while CMP26-026-M&L flew across Delaware Bay in a record-breaking 26 minutes (no doubt aided by those northeast winds)! We then monitored its migration path, 502 km in four days, down to Point Lookout, North Carolina! We’re all cheering for its safe journey to Mexico.
Day-by-Day Summary
September 20 - Arrival in Philadelphia; introductory group meeting at 6:30 PM and dinner at Stinger’s Waterfront. Night at Home2 Suites, Ridley Park, PA.
September 21 - John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum; Jake’s Landing (Dennis Creek Wildlife Management); The Nature Conservancy’s South Cape May Meadows Preserve. Dinner at The Blue Pig Tavern, Congress Hall. Night at La Mer Beachfront Resort, Cape May.
September 22 - Cape May beachfront for skimmers; Birding by Boat back bay cruise on the Osprey with Captain Bob Lubberman; Project Monarch deployment with Mark Garland, Cape May Point State Park; Dinner at Sapore Italiano, West Cape May. Night at La Mer Beachfront Resort, Cape May.
September 23 - Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge wildlife loop drive; Cape May Point State Park Hawkwatch. Dinner at Freda’s Café. Night at La Mer Beachfront Resort, Cape May.
September 24 - Coral Avenue dune crossing, Cape May Point; Cape May Bird Observatory Northwood Center, Cape May Point; butterflies at Michael and Louise’s garden, West Cape May; Cape May Point State Park Seagrove Avenue trail to Lighthouse Pond; Dinner at The Pier House. Night at La Mer Beachfront Resort, Cape May.
September 25 - Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area; Cape May Bird Observatory Northwood Center and Lily Lake, Cape May Point; Nature Center of Cape May. Drive to Philadelphia. Dinner at Stinger’s Waterfront. Night at Home2 Suites, Ridley Park, PA.
September 26 - Departure from Philadelphia.
Wildlife Seen:
MAMMALS:
Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) – Seen daily in several locations.
Woodchuck (Marmota monax) – One seen from the van on our way back to Philadelphia.
Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) – Common Cape May resident.
American Mink (Neogale vison) – One crossed the road in the marsh at Jake’s Landing.
BUTTERFLIES:
Cabbage White (Pieris rapae) – Seen a couple of days.
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) – One in Michael and Louise’s garden.
Pearl Cresent (Phyciodes tharos) – One in Michael and Louise’s garden.
Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) – One at Cape May Point state Park.
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) – One in Michael and Louise’s garden.
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) – Caterpillars at South Cape May Meadows preserve and adults in Michael and Louise’s garden.
Monarch (Danaus plexippus) – A favorite migrant! Seen daily.
Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis) – Uncommon southern species. One in Michael and Louise’s garden.
Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) – One in Michael and Louise’s garden.
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris) – Seen on a couple of days.
DAMSELFLIES and DRAGONFLIES:
Rambur’s Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) – One in Michael and Louise’s garden.
Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile) – One in Michael and Louise’s garden.
Common Green Darner (Anax junius) – Seen in several locations.
Swamp Darner (Epiaeschna heros) – One in Michael and Louise’s meadow.
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) – One perched on the new ramp at Cape May Bird Observatory Northwood.
Common Whitetail (Libellula pulchella) – One in Michael and Louise’s garden.
Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) – One at Coral Avenue dune crossing.
Blue-faced Medowhawk (Sympetrum ambiguum) – One perched on Michael and Louise’s front steps and walkway.
Striped Saddlebags (Tramea carolina) – Uncommon southern species. Seen at Coral Avenue dune crossing.
Carolina Saddlebags (Tramea carolina) – Coral Avenue dune crossing.
OTHER COOL INSECTS:
Carolina Mantis (Stagmomantis Carolina) – One at John Heinz NWR.
Linne’s Cicada (Neotibicen linnei) – One on the nature trail at CMBO Northwood.