Blog Day 9 April 28, More Sun and Heat
It almost seems unfair but this part of NJ is setting heat records each of the past few days. Granted that Atlantic City had a high of only 88 F but it was a record for the day. On Wednesday the 29th things began to change as the leading edge of that cold front
REED'S BEACH SAND DRIFTS
chased away the Bermuda High that was influencing our days here. It was the second Bermuda High in two weeks. So the days out with the wildlife were good indeed.
Coastal winds really change the temperatures from one side of the NJ Peninsula (Cape May County) to the other. As an example it was 93 F on the leeside (west coast) of the wind on Tuesday , while facing the wind at the water’s edge on the east coast it was 78 F That might be a difference of just a few (5) miles.
So Tuesday we got in some good birding while the sun was still shining and the temps were in the 80’s. A stop at the USPS to get stamps and mail some cards started things off. I see postal rates on cards go up a penny on May 11, so when you travel this summer add another penny to the rate. Then it was to the Cape May –Lewes (DE) Ferry facility. Now when I say “Facility” you all say “WOW”. This was the best. Ruth and I have been in Ferry facilities in Michigan, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, Labrador, Sydney and Caines Australia, Tobermory Ontario, Seattle WA, and Texas (Bolivar Peninsula and Aransas Pass), to mention most of them, and we have never seen a facility as clean, roomy, bright, cheery, or efficient as this one. The atrium is very spacious and light, there is a full service restaurant and cafeteria, with every dish you could imagine, a terrific gift shop, generous and well served ticket counters, and a second story lounge should one avail them selves of that. People would have no trouble returning to a facility like that. I’ll put a picture in when we depart the site.
Of course why did we go there on the third day of our six day stay here? It was to get our boarding in advance lest we miss arrangements. There was no hurry however, as there is little line at this time of the season. Actually I was the only one in the terminal at 9:00 Am that day. Sounds like that airport built for Senator? in some state recently where there were few customers in the multi million dollar facility? But this one gets busy with traffic soon for cross Delaware travelers.
Then we began in earnest the stops for the day. You see, Ruth and I seldom veer from the adventure of seeing the birds and animals in the wild. It is a special privilege we have been given and we are grateful for that time in our lives. We think of many of you on these days in the various spots that we visit. This day we split the time between the west coast (warmer) and the east (cooler) to both visit the Bay Shore on the Delaware Bay side (got your map out?) and the cooler Atlantic side. On the beaches on the west (less developed) there were a few shorebirds, but the biggest thrill came when we were eating lunch at the edge of a large salt marsh and a Clapper Rail just ambled across the road in front of us. Check one new addition this trip. The beaches along this side begin with well established homes, and further from Cape May they tend to become less refurbished and more original, “summery” cottages.
Coastal winds really change the temperatures from one side of the NJ Peninsula (Cape May County) to the other. As an example it was 93 F on the leeside (west coast) of the wind on Tuesday , while facing the wind at the water’s edge on the east coast it was 78 F That might be a difference of just a few (5) miles.
So Tuesday we got in some good birding while the sun was still shining and the temps were in the 80’s. A stop at the USPS to get stamps and mail some cards started things off. I see postal rates on cards go up a penny on May 11, so when you travel this summer add another penny to the rate. Then it was to the Cape May –Lewes (DE) Ferry facility. Now when I say “Facility” you all say “WOW”. This was the best. Ruth and I have been in Ferry facilities in Michigan, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, Labrador, Sydney and Caines Australia, Tobermory Ontario, Seattle WA, and Texas (Bolivar Peninsula and Aransas Pass), to mention most of them, and we have never seen a facility as clean, roomy, bright, cheery, or efficient as this one. The atrium is very spacious and light, there is a full service restaurant and cafeteria, with every dish you could imagine, a terrific gift shop, generous and well served ticket counters, and a second story lounge should one avail them selves of that. People would have no trouble returning to a facility like that. I’ll put a picture in when we depart the site.
Of course why did we go there on the third day of our six day stay here? It was to get our boarding in advance lest we miss arrangements. There was no hurry however, as there is little line at this time of the season. Actually I was the only one in the terminal at 9:00 Am that day. Sounds like that airport built for Senator? in some state recently where there were few customers in the multi million dollar facility? But this one gets busy with traffic soon for cross Delaware travelers.
Then we began in earnest the stops for the day. You see, Ruth and I seldom veer from the adventure of seeing the birds and animals in the wild. It is a special privilege we have been given and we are grateful for that time in our lives. We think of many of you on these days in the various spots that we visit. This day we split the time between the west coast (warmer) and the east (cooler) to both visit the Bay Shore on the Delaware Bay side (got your map out?) and the cooler Atlantic side. On the beaches on the west (less developed) there were a few shorebirds, but the biggest thrill came when we were eating lunch at the edge of a large salt marsh and a Clapper Rail just ambled across the road in front of us. Check one new addition this trip. The beaches along this side begin with well established homes, and further from Cape May they tend to become less refurbished and more original, “summery” cottages.
They are active, but maintained as needed for summer residents only. There is a lot of sand along the roads (See above) and like some of our (MI) Parks have wind fences to keep the drifting down some (see picture). Cape May NW Refuge has four or five sections along this side of the peninsula and we visited three of them, walking the trails, still trying to find those elusive warblers among other specie. There were few. The best sightings of the day came when we shifted to the east side and viewed the salt flats north of North Wildwood on a section called Stony Point and also on Nummer’s Island. Here we were able to pull over to the side of the road and concentrate on the grasses and small water ponds. It was here, also, that we identified the Black Bellied Plover, many Yellow legs (G and Lesser), a Whimbrel, Wilson’s Snipe (there are such birds) and the Least sandpiper. Then some time along the east shore at Stony gave us an American Oystercatcher and some Caspian Terns feeding on the ponds away from the ocean.
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HEREFORD HARBOR LIGHT (Cape May)
A last stop on Tuesday was the Lighthouse known as Hereford Harbor Light. This is the US Coast Guard station and (see) is a large brick building built much like the harbor lights at NYC (see www for pictures) . It appears the style is actually “castle like” in its structure including the apparent towers. The gardens here are especially manicured with the first yellow and red “peony “tulips we have seen. (double?).
Thus ended Tuesday except for learning to use the campgrounds “Linksys” rather than the very expensive “linkspot” (at $10, 00 / day!). I did finally master that.
Our campground even though filled with seasonal and full time trailers and homes is very quiet as weekenders are just beginning to filter in when we will be gone on Friday to the quiet shores of Delaware. This morning (Wed) our bird feeders that we have put up are attracting the Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, and Titmice. That is fun stuff from the kitchen window just 5 feet away!-
Thus ended Tuesday except for learning to use the campgrounds “Linksys” rather than the very expensive “linkspot” (at $10, 00 / day!). I did finally master that.
Our campground even though filled with seasonal and full time trailers and homes is very quiet as weekenders are just beginning to filter in when we will be gone on Friday to the quiet shores of Delaware. This morning (Wed) our bird feeders that we have put up are attracting the Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, and Titmice. That is fun stuff from the kitchen window just 5 feet away!-
RED BELLIED WOODPECKER AT TRL.
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