• Fall Migration at Eastern North America’s most legendary migration hotspot
• Masses of warblers, vireos, tanagers, cuckoos, thrushes and sparrows at Higbee Beach
• Shimmering flocks of shorebirds along beaches
• Impressive flights of raptors over hawkwatch
• Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow in coastal wetlands
• Seawatches for shearwaters, Great Cormorants and Northern Gannets

Cape May, New Jersey is undoubtedly one of the best places in North America to study the spectacle of bird migration.

The geography of Cape May explains the phenomenon of migration that takes place here almost year round. Cape May Point sits on the north side of Delaware Bay. Any birds moving through New Jersey will eventually find themselves at Cape May Point where they stock up on food and rest before making the journey across Delaware Bay.

One of the most exciting aspects of birding here in October is the passage of large numbers of raptors. On this tour we will spend time enjoying impressive flights of Peregrine Falcons, Broad-winged Hawks, Ospreys, Black and Turkey vultures, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Northern Goshawks and an array of other raptors over the tip of Cape May Point as they search for thermals to aid them in their flight across the bay. If you want to learn about raptor identification this will be a fantastic trip for you!

Sea watches are most productive from Cape May at this time of year and we should be rewarded with Northern Gannets, Great Cormorants, Parasitic Jaegers, Royal and Caspian terns, Common Eiders and much more. Migrant traps such as Higbee Beach and Hidden Valley will be checked for migrant songbirds such as Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Pine Warblers, Eastern Towhees and Gray-cheeked Thrushes.

Local beaches are home to large populations of migrant and wintering shorebirds such as American Golden-Plover, American Oystercatcher, Red Knot and Purple Sandpiper. With a little luck we may find one of America’s oddest shorebirds, the American Woodcock.

We will spend a day exploring the Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge where thousands of shorebirds will be present. Rarities often occur here! Thousands of wintering Snow Geese and Brant should also be present along with Canada and Cackling Geese. Vast marshes at Brigantine are home to one of the few American endemic bird species, the Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow. Other wetland birds to see include Clapper Rail, Boat-tailed Grackle and Seaside Sparrow.

Do not miss out, book early!

Itinerary

Day 1 – Saturday, Sept. 19

Our tour begins today in Philadelphia where we meet as a group in the afternoon. We’ll then make the two hour drive to Cape May, where we will spend the night.

Day 2 - 5 – Saturday, Sept. 20 to Wednesday, Sept. 24

Over the course of three days we’ll explore what is most likely the greatest fall birding location in North America, the Cape May Peninsula. Mornings will begin at Higbee Beach where the oceanside trees will be alive with migrants. Up to 20 species of warbler are possible including Blackpoll, Pine, Palm and Prairie! Vireos, including White-eyed, Philadelphia, Blue-headed and Red-eyed are possible, as are Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Brown Thrashers and brilliant Scarlet Tanagers.

We’ll typically have lunch at a café in the delightful town of Cape May before heading out for an afternoon visit to the Hawk Platform. Raptor migration will be in full swing and we’ll enjoy migrating Broad-winged Hawks, Northern Harriers, Ospreys, Black Vultures and Peregrine Falcons, amongst others.

Sea-watching from shore has proven to be very productive from the Cape May area. Northern Gannets, Parasitic Jaegers, Great Black-backed Gulls, Royal Terns and perhaps a Great Cormorant are possible. Beaches will hold lingering migrant and wintering shorebirds such as American Oystercatcher, Red Knot and White-rumped Sandpipers. Black Skimmers are common at Stone Harbor, where they breed by the thousand in the summer. The assortment of waders at Cape May is also impressive and includes Black-crowned Night-Heron, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron and American Bittern. Nights in Cape May.

Day 6 – Thursday, Sept. 25

We will spend the entire day at the Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge along the coast, North of Cape May. Here, thousands of shorebirds can be present on any given day and rarities are always possible. Extensive marshes are home to the elusive Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow, and some wintering Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrows. Seaside Sparrows are fairly common here as well. Great numbers and varieties of ducks and geese will be enjoyed here, including Snow Geese and Brant.

In the late afternoon we’ll drive back to Philadelphia and spend the night. Tour concludes tonight in Philadelphia.