Piping Plovers are regular around Cape May, but they can be difficult to spot hiding on the beach

The clock read 11:59 pm and my team and I were counting down the final seconds until the start of the World Series of Birding.  Our captain, Hope Batcheller, stood to my left along with fellow teammates Brendan Fogarty, Eric Gulson, and Jack Hruska as Team Redhead was ready to compete again in the Cape May County division of the 29th World Series.  Hope quietly called out,  “Midnight!” and our big day finally started.  Little did we know what an amazing day it was going to be!  At 12:05 a Yellow-billed Cuckoo called from the distant woods and as the night progressed we were able to tally some great species, giving us an excellent start.  At Tuckahoe WMA in the northern part of the county we heard Least Bittern and Eastern-screech Owl, and then we were excited to hear a Long-eared Owl hooting from the tree line (a possible first for Cape May during the World Series).  We spent the rest of the night in and around Cape May Point where we located American Woodcock, Yellow-breasted Chat, and several other important species.  Then morning hit.

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