Another Day Exploring Cape May, This Time Under Blue Skies And Brilliant Sunshine.

It was  still windy,  but the skies were clear,  when I awoke early Saturday morning at the Jetty Motel in Cape May New Jersey.  I was up early to watch the sunrise. After a cup of coffee in my room I walked to the beach across from the hotel but I didn’t see the sunrise.The sun was rising in the northeast behind the buildings of Cape May. Disappointed I decided to drive to the entrance to the South Cape May Meadows where I hiked the previous afternoon.

I was surprised with all of the cars in the parking lot.

A school bus unloaded a group of folks with binoculars and cameras. I learned it was the World Series of Birding sponsored by the New Jersey Audubon Society since 1984.  I learned this event attracts hundreds of birders from across the East Coast and New Jersey.   Teams  roam New Jersey and  the Cape May area and have a friendly competition to see which team finds the most species of birds. The money raised supports the New Jersey Audubon Society. I knew I wouldn’t be roaming the trails alone that day.

I left the parking lot and walked on the East  trail,

which took me to some open wetlands,and a bird observation deck.

Here I was able to see the sun rising in the northeastern sky.

I wasn’t seeing the water fowl I hoped to see on the ponds.

I continued my hike  to the East  Trail Spur where I saw a lot of birds last Fall.   They only migratory song  bird I saw was this common yellow throat singing in the shrubs along the trail.

I walked through the  lush green vegetation, I  took photos and identified some of the tree, flowers and plants in my blog from the previous afternoon. I came to a bridge over the ponds and here I saw both a great egret,

and a couple of snowy egrets wading in the morning sun.

I also saw  many  birds flying over head including including laughing gull,

this lesser black back gull and

a red tailed hawk.

I also saw this male mallard duck standing on the trail , flying off as I approached.

As I was walking back to the main trail, I heard, and saw, this yellow breasted chat, a first sighting for me. It was already a better day for finding birds then   on the windy and stormy Friday afternoon.

It was still very windy. I believe the wind  affects the birds activity. . Many of the  migrating song birds  fly at night and feed on insects in the morning before they continue on the journey. Unfortunately, there is not a  not of insect activity in the wind and rain.

As the sun warmed it up. and the wind subsided I saw a few more  migratory birds on the Dune Trail

including this prairie warbler,

this indigo bunting,

a few eastern towhees,

and this tree swallow nesting in one of the bird houses along the trail,

On the Plover pond I saw the mute swan I saw on Friday afternoon,

and this mallard duck swimming in the morning sunshine.

I continued my walk through the Cape May Meadows, encountering a few groups  of  friendly birders,  and approached  the famous Cap May Lighthouse.

The parking lot was empty early Saturday morning except for some school buses dropping off groups of birders participating in the World Series of birders. The  Cape May  Lighthouse towers 157 feet over the southern New Jersey shore. It was built in 1859 and is a popular tourist attraction. 

Near the lighthouse were a few purple martin towers and dozens of purple martins resting up after a journey from as far away as the forests of South America.  I am always amazed seeing this long distance travelers. Here is a link to a gallery on my web site with some more photos of the birds I saw on  this part of my 7 mile hike. Cape May birds part one May 10 2025. 

I walked past the towering Lighthouse,

and through a quiet residential neighborhood  that bordered the Cape. May State Park.

I was  headed to Lake Lily  recommended to me be a few of the birders I met earlier. It was about a half mile hike to the lake. The lake was beautiful,

but the only birds I saw were a few mallard ducks, some laughing gulls and this mourning dove.

I walked around the scenic lake,

and to  to the Cape May Bird Observatory  where I again encountered dozens of birders visiting Cape May.

I left the lake and walked back through the beautiful homes and gardens of the South Cape May neighborhood, and to the  Cape May Lighthouse. At the Lighthouse there were now many families enjoying the adjoining picnic grounds.

I   hiked back into the Cape May Meadows this time following Duck Pond and Monarch trail and boardwalks through the woodlands and wetlands. The strong May sun shone in the deep blue skies and warmed up the chilly morning air.

The trail continued through some woodlands and I walked under the red cedar, oak , pitch pine, gum and tulip trees.

. Sensitive ferns and eastern marsh ferns grew along the boardwalk.

 Philadelphia fleabane flowers were also blooming along the trail.

I saw  few more birds on my hike including a few white eyed vireos,

a great crested flycatcher,

field sparrows,

and a flock of Carolina chickadees.

I hiked back to the East Trail and to the bird blind I had visited earleir. The same water birds I saw the prvious day had returned,  including the large flock of  short billed Dowitchers ,

a solitary sandpiper,

and a few  greater yellowlegs.

As I watched the water fowl in the ponds a few snowy egrets,

and osprey and

 a few white ibises flew over head.   Here is a link to another gallery with some photos of the birds I saw on my hike.  Cape May birds part two May 10 2025.

I hiked through the meadows  in the brilliant  sunshine .

It was now late afternoon and I fisnished my hike back at the entrance to the South Cape May Meadows Preserve. I was hungry after my hike. I had walked over 7 1/2 miles. It was late morning and I found the Bella Vida Garden Cafe on N. Broadway not far from the parking lot. I had a great breakfast in this family style restaurant.

I was tired when I returned to my hotel. I edited some of the many photos I took. I wanted to rest, but it was a beautiful afternoon. So I made diners reservations for 5:30 and drove back to the South Cape May Meadows entrance for another hike around 3 p.m. .

It was a beautiful afternoon. I walked on the Main Trail this time,

and on another boardwalk that took me through some wetlands. I followed the boardwalk back to the Main Trail.

It was late afternoon and there wasn’t much bird activity in the wetlands or meadows but there were a lot of folks enjoying the beautiful afternoon sunshine, many of them birders.

I did see this brave red winged blackbird , defending its territory, and attacking a much larger crow.

I walked past the Plover Pond.

where I  saw a few  Forster’s  terns over the deep blue waters.

I was such a beautiful afternoon I hike further than I planned, another 2 1/2 miles. I now hiked well over 10 miles in the South Cape May Meadows. I was tired, and very hungry.  It was after 5 p.m. so I drove to the nearby  Sapore Italiano Restaurant located on N Broadway.Here I was served bu a friendly waiter and began my meal with a different and delicious seafood chowder.

My main course was an equally delicious linguine fra diavolo. It was a large prtion too so I didn’t have any dessert.

After eating I was tired after my long day exploring Cape May. But I had to watch the sunset and so I was walking back to the beach around 7 ;30 p.m and joined the large crowd that gathered to join in watching the sunset.

 The crowd was much larger than the previous night. There were people of all ages from infants to some folks who I am sure were in their 90’s.  I loved seeing all of the families on the beach.

I watched the sun set in the west. It was  another great ending to a long but rewarding day in Cape May. I was soon in my bed , with the windows open,  listening to the sounds of the ocean  as fell asleep. This is a link to a gallery on my web site with some more photos of the sunset and  from my hikes in Cape May . Cape May hikes  May 10 2025.

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” -Jacques Yves Cousteau

“The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul.” – Robert Wyland