Cape May's Hawkwatch tower is located within Cape May Point State Park. The official fall hawk watching season takes place from September 1 - November 30. The species of hawks that come through any given hawk watch generally vary throughout the hawk watching season and there are a number of species that come through here. When we were there, the species that I remember best were the number of Sharp-shinned Hawks and Cooper's Hawks that offered nice comparisons, "gray ghost" male Northern Harriers, and Merlins darting through. One of the Merlins flew so close to my ear that I heard it and felt the wind off of its wings! While on the platform we also saw American Kestrels, Peregrine Falcons, Broad-winged Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, and Bald Eagles. The official hawk counters were great and happy to answer any questions and point out differences between the similar species between the flurries of activity. Below is the tally of birds that is kept updated throughout the season. More information about the this hawk watch can be found here. Hawkwatch International also has lots of good information and can help you find a hawk watch close to you. If you can't participate in one, you can also follow the daily counts of any of their hawk watches.
When we were there in late October of 2016 for the 40th Anniversary of the Cape May Hawkwatch, the weather was variable with decent temperature swings and frequent rain, but generally cold. Nonetheless, the hawks were moving through and we had a good time. Cape May is known for its hawk watch in the fall. Hawks do not like to cross open water while migrating. There are a few exceptions, like falcons or young hawks without experience, but generally the rule holds. During migration, they use thermals to rise into the air and glide long distances. Since thermals are created by heat rising off of the ground they disappear over open water, which instead serve as heat "sinks". When hawks lose the thermals, it requires an increased expenditure in energy since they have to power their own flight rather than ride the warm air currents. Peninsulas concentrate hawks since their choices are to either follow the shore and fly around the water barrier or cross the water at the end of the peninsula and fly the shortest distance possible over the water. Cape May's Hawkwatch tower is located within Cape May Point State Park. The official fall hawk watching season takes place from September 1 - November 30. The species of hawks that come through any given hawk watch generally vary throughout the hawk watching season and there are a number of species that come through here. When we were there, the species that I remember best were the number of Sharp-shinned Hawks and Cooper's Hawks that offered nice comparisons, "gray ghost" male Northern Harriers, and Merlins darting through. One of the Merlins flew so close to my ear that I heard it and felt the wind off of its wings! While on the platform we also saw American Kestrels, Peregrine Falcons, Broad-winged Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, and Bald Eagles. The official hawk counters were great and happy to answer any questions and point out differences between the similar species between the flurries of activity. Below is the tally of birds that is kept updated throughout the season. More information about the this hawk watch can be found here. Hawkwatch International also has lots of good information and can help you find a hawk watch close to you. If you can't participate in one, you can also follow the daily counts of any of their hawk watches. There are trails and good bird watching all around the hawk watch platform. There are ponds to the left and in front of the platform. The ocean is a short walk to the right. With all of the different habitats, warblers, sparrows, shorebirds, waterfowl, loons, herons, egrets, gulls, and more can be found. There is even a harbor defense battery, called Battery 223, within the park's grounds. The weather can change very quickly, so be prepared! The Cape May Lighthouse also has a very nice museum that highlights the environment and history of the area. My favorite displays were of the beautiful hand carved and painted birds. Some showed the shorebirds that can be found on the beaches and others showed breeding birds with their nests and eggs. Some of the specimens in the museum can even be found nearby on the beach. The area around Cape May Point State Park is also known for its good birding locations and includes South Cape May Meadows and Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area. Although I have highlighted shorebird and hawk migrations in these two posts about Cape May, they are also known for migrating warblers, owls, sea birds, and butterflies, including the Monarch Butterfly. Monarch Butterfly was seen along a beach path on Seven Mile Island, but we also saw them at the Cape May Hawkwatch and they can be found throughout Cape May during their migration. Below is the view from the Avalon Swatch, located on Seven Mile Island, which takes place from September 22 - December 22 each year. More information can be found here.
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