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.