Fall is a great time to get outdoors! I mean October Fall. Not late September Fall, which can be confused for “Indian Summer, or November Fall, when my thoughts have already drifted toward stuffing my gut with turkey, and well, stuffing!
I mean Autumn-real Fall, past the autumnal equinox fall. That special, exciting window of time that brings the brilliant colors of our deciduous trees to a peak. The short period that prompts raptors, summer songbirds, monarchs and dragonflies to grab those cool winds coming down from Canada and begin their long journeys south. The one month on the calendar that’s celebrated with hayrides, corn mazes, haunted houses, apple festivals, fantastic fishing and the Great Pumpkin! I love October Fall!
As a birder, the fall migration can be almost overwhelming. Where should we go? What birds should we target? Should we seek out the majestic birds of prey as they travel down the mountain ridges and coastlines, or the excitement of flocks of vivacious songbirds that stop to forage in the trees and shrubs, or even a few late shorebirds wading the wetlands in search of a final meal before their long trip. Well, we’re very fortunate here in the Eastern U.S., that, with a little planning, you can see them all in one or two days!
Our plan was simple. There would be three of us-wife, Theresa, sister, Cathy and myself. We chose a weekend in mid-October (real fall!) and packed clothes for any kind of weather-hot, cold, wind, rain, or even snow. We loaded up enough snacks, munchies and drinks for two days and headed down into Delaware, with stops at Bombay Hook NWR and Prime Hook NWR, before resting for the night in Lewes, DE. Our first day brought bright sunny skies and warm 68 degree temps, the birding was great along the auto tour in Bombay Hook. The gravel road takes you through tidal marshes, freshwater wetlands, meadows and lowland forests. We tallied Bald Eagles, Long-billed Dowitchers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, American Avocets, Great and Snowy Egrets, Great-blue Herons, Pintail, Ruddy Ducks, Savannah Sparrows and Northern Harriers for our trip list. We also generously donated (each) a half pint of blood to the salt marsh mosquitos that tenaciously found their way in to our truck! Yes, even in October! After a quick lunch, we hit the road again, with a short stop at Prime Hook NWR. The winds had not let up, but we were able to have good looks at Belted Kingfisher, Common Terns, Osprey and the best bird of the day, a Great-horned Owl, that was resting comfortably in a large oak watching a handful of birders, watching it!
After a great BBQ and ribs dinner, and a few cold beverages, we hit the sack. Our next stop-the world famous Cape May Point!
As we woke early in the am, we were glad we packed a variety of clothing. The temps overnight dropped almost twenty degrees and we were dealing with 20-30 mph winds. We boarded the Cape May-Lewes Ferry and started the 14-mile trip across the bottom of the Delaware Bay, toward “The Point.” As the ferry pitched back and forth in 4′-5′ waves, the three of us stumbled around the outside deck like drunken sailors headed home for the night! Wobbling back and forth, we managed to add Herring gulls, Great black-backed Gulls, Laughing gulls and a few small, Yellow-rumped Warblers (struggling to fly just above the waves, alongside our moving boat) to our trip list. 
Cape May did not disappoint. The hawk watch was packed with enthusiastic birders with binoculars and scopes pointed toward the northern horizon. Hundreds of Sharp-shinned hawks flew past all morning, many of them gliding just above our heads. Mixed in with the “sharpies” were Cooper’s Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrels, Merlins, Bald Eagles, Osprey, Northern Harriers and Turkey and Black Vultures. In addition, hundreds of Yellow-rumped warblers and Tree Swallows were flying everywhere in the strong wind, while Northern Shovelers, a Pied-billed Grebe, Tundra Swans, Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon and a rare Eurasian Wigeon, fed non-stop in the small lake in front of the hawk watch. We ventured out to the beach to see the waves crashing in, snap a few photos and caught sight of a small flock of Brant battling the strong, gusty winds over the Atlantic Ocean. As we looked back toward the parking area, with the historic lighthouse towering over everyone, we decided it was time to head back to PA. We had a great time together, saw some excellent birds and ate lots of good food. Cape May Point SP is a great destination for birding-especially if you plan your trip in the Real Fall! Thanks T and Cathy for two days of awesome, outdoor fun! I can’t wait for our next adventure!
