Cape May Rarity

I spent three days last week (Thu-Sat) in southern New Jersey, primarily Cape May. Timing could not have been better. A strong cold front came through Thu-Fri, producing a fall out which Cape May birders are describing with terms such as "epic." More on this when my weekly column is posted Saturday.

On Friday afternoon, I was walking the yellow trail in Cape May Point State Park when a birder (Blake Mathys) waved me over to see a Common Ground Dove. I loaned him my cell phone, and he called in his sighting. The word spread quickly. In less than half an hour, some thirty people had made the 10-15 minute walk to the area where the dove was seen. It was only the 3rd New Jersey record for this dove. Its North American range is Florida and southern Texas.

Good birding!!