December 2020
The last month of 2020 saw the world still stifled by the COVID-19 pandemic, so my explorations of good ol' Cape May continued. The parade of northern irruptives kept coming, with Red Crossbills (left and below) taking the headlines. Of course December brings winter, which in Cape May means lots of wind, turbulent skies, and tumultuous seas. Winter is usually very quiet in our town, but we still had plenty of "urban refugees," folks fleeing from the cities for the relative peace and sense of safety provided by a small town. On the coldest and windiest days, however, it was easy to find blessed isolation.
Winter seas and skies, Cape May Point
Eurasian Wigeon
Gray Squirrel & Bayberries
Bald Eagle
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Great Egret
Male House Finch, left, and male Purple Finch, right
Clockwise from top left: Cedar Waxwing, Fox Sparrow, Purple Finch (female), Hermit Thrush, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Mockingbird
Northern Cardinal, left
Eastern Bluebird, below
Carolina Wren, right
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Ruddy Duck
Hooded Merganser
American Black Duck
Gadwall
Above: Orange-crowned Warbler
Right: Cape May Point Lighthouse at dawn
Far right: Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, just above the dark cloud, 12/21/20.