Cape May for birders

Listed by National Geographic as a World’s Best destination for birding, Cape May is an iconic location for the migration enthusiast. The narrow peninsula is a natural bird funnel, bringing in songbirds during their spring and autumn (fall) migrations. As such, large numbers may occur in the right conditions and birding can be especially varied and enjoyable.

This is very much a location for the migration enthusiast, concentrating on autumn movement on the eastern Atlantic seaboard. Our time will be well spent, as we seek, find and identify dozens of warblers, vireos, thrushes, flickers, kingbirds, tanagers, orioles, raptors, seabirds and shorebirds. There are many possibilities, and we expect to see around 150 species, an impressive tally for such a small area!

Over twenty species of attractive American Wood-warbler are possible, including Pine, Blackpoll, Magnolia, Yellow-rumped, Black and White, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Yellow, Prairie, Nashville, Blackburnian, Bay-breasted, Tennessee and Cape May Warbler, Northern Parula, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat and Northern Waterthrush to name but a few. Often it is the sheer volume of birds which stand out, perhaps of just a single species. The good days are spectacular, and even on quieter days these brightly coloured group of birds always make an impression! 

The Cape May Hawkwatch platform is legendary, and here at the raptor capital of North America we might record Coopers, Sharp-shinned, Broad-winged, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Turkey and American Black Vulture, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Merlin and Peregrine. Waterbirds might include Semi-palmated and Grey Plover, Pectoral, Western, White-rumped, Semi-palmated and Least Sandpiper, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Short and Long-billed Dowitcher and American Oystercatcher. On the beaches a few post-breeding Piping Plovers may be present with Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, Solitary and Spotted Sandpiper plus Tricolored, Little Blue, Green and Great Blue Heron, Black-crowned and Yellow Crowned Night Heron, Great White and Snowy Egret.

Seawatching at this time of year from the Avalon watchpoint may produce Surf and Black Scoter, Great Northern Diver, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Black Skimmer, Royal, Caspian and Forster’s Tern, Pomarine and Arctic Skua, Laughing, Ring-billed and American Herring Gull. Storm-driven species in recent years have included Cory’s, Great and Manx Shearwater, Brown Booby and American Black Tern. Other birds might include Sora and Clapper Rail, Belted Kingfisher, Blue Jay, Carolina and House Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee plus Swamp, Savannah, Saltmarsh, Nelson's, Song, Field and Chipping Sparrow.

This really is a classic holiday in perhaps the world's most iconic destination to observe bird migration. For those who have poured over North American field guides and dreamt of finding these species, this is the perfect trip.

Enjoy your complimentary pre-flight overnight hotel before your holiday begins. Full details from our office! Read more about our Pre-flight Service here!

Day 1: Sat 20 September 2025 - UK – Philadelphia - Cape May
We take the morning flight to Philadelphia, board our vehicle and travel towards the birding hotspot of Cape May. Arriving at our accommodation late-afternoon, an evening stroll may be offered especially if we hear it's been a good day for migration!

Days 2 & 3: Sun 21 & Mon 22 September - The Cape May Peninsula
With a range of birding options and sites in close proximity to our base, our itinerary will be especially flexible. The daily options are given only as a rough guide and we are likely to visit the most productive sites several times. If migration is slower around the Point itself we can branch out a short distance to explore other great birding locations. Early morning visits to the fields, scrub and coastal woodlands of Higbee Beach, Cape May State Park and the South Cape Meadows are likely to be the most productive for migrant passerines. Our time will always be well spent in these areas, searching for and identify dozens of warblers, vireos, thrushes, flickers, kingbirds, tanagers, orioles and more. Return viists are likely and no two days are the same - there is always something new to see which is why local birders love Cape May!

Around 15 -20 species of North American Wood-warbler are possible on this tour, and our visit is timed try and offer the most variety. Likely are Prairie, Blackpoll, Yellow, Magnolia, Yellow-rumped, Black and White, Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green Warbler, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Northern Parula, American Redstart and Common Yellowthroat. Just about any of the others are also possible, and exactly which of the scarcer species make landfall is down to luck and the weather. Nashville, Connecticut, Blackburnian, Bay-breasted, Tennessee and Cape May Warbler are just a few which might occur - the latter an appropriate species to have on our checklists, but not always an easy bird to see at Cape May!

Other dream species high on the agenda for UK birders include Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Mourning Dove, Cedar Waxwing, Grey Catbird, American Robin, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting, Bobolink and Scarlet Tanager. Usually at least one or two of the Catharus thrushes turn up during this time period - Swainson’s, Hermit, Grey-cheeked, Wood, Veery and rare Bicknell's the species to consider. We should also see Red-eyed, White-eyed and Philadelphia Vireo, Eastern Pheobe, Brown Thrasher, Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglet. Migrant flocks of Tree Swallow draw our attention away from the vegetation, and we may also be faced with the surreal sight of a Northern Flicker or Yellow-bellied Sapsucker flying out over the sea! There are so many possibilities, and often it can be the sheer number of ‘fall’ migrants which amaze as well as the variety!

If the excitement in the bushes isn’t enough, as the air temperature rises we find ourselves drawn more and more to the skies. The Cape May Hawkwatch platform is legendary, and we plan to join the counting team several times during the tour. And while the variety isn’t huge, Cape May is dubbed the raptor capital of North America for one reason - the sheer volume! In the right conditions, literally hundreds of birds may fill the skies at one time and we brush up our identification skills for Coopers, Sharp-shinned, Broad-winged, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Turkey and American Black Vulture, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Merlin and Peregrine.

Day 4: Tue 23 September - Stone Harbor Wetlands and Avalon Point
In a change of scenery, we have the option to head north along the coast to explore the Wetlands Management Zone at Stone Harbor. Surrounded by mudflats and rich estuarine habitat, roosting waders can number into the thousands with a range of species possible. These include Semi-palmated and Grey Plover, Pectoral, Western, White-rumped, Semi-palmated and Least Sandpiper, Western Willet, Marbled Godwit, Short and Long-billed Dowitcher, and American Oystercatcher. On the beaches a few post-breeding Piping Plovers may still be present, and the saltmarsh creeks around Nummy Island may yield American Avocet, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, Solitary and Spotted Sandpiper. Also attracted to these habitats are Tricolored, Little Blue, Great Blue Heron, Black-crowned and Yellow Crowned Night Heron, Great White and Snowy Egret.

We also plan to sea-watch from Avalon Point and your guide will be on the lookout for favourable onshore winds which can push birds closer to land. Jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean, there is no better place on the eastern seaboard for observing migrant seabirds and the Observatory team annually records passage from late-September through to November. Likely species on the move include Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Surf and Black Scoter, Great Northern Diver, Brown Pelican, Double-crested and Great Cormorant, Black Skimmer, Royal, Caspian and Forster’s Tern, Pomarine and Arctic Skua. Offshore we should find Laughing, Ring-billed and American Herring Gull, while rarer storm driven species in recent years have included Cory’s, Great and Manx Shearwater, Brown Booby and American Black Tern.

Day 5: Wed 24 September - Cape May boat trip and 'off island' hot spots
Birding around Cape May rarely disappoints and changes daily. Repeated effort in already visited locations nearly always yields newcomers. As well as checking the point, valleys and fields, time today may be devoted to a boat trip into Jarvis Sound and the neighbouring saltmarsh for Sora and Clapper Rail, Green Heron, White Ibis, Belted Kingfisher and plenty more. Local species such as Blue Jay, Downy Woodpecker, Carolina and House Wren, Brown Thrasher, Northern Mockingbird, Tufted Titmouse and Carolina Chickadee, Common Grackle, Fish Crow, American Goldfinch and House Finch may also be targeted, and we will likely need more than one session to connect with Swamp, Savannah, Saltmarsh, Nelson's and Seaside Sparrow skulking around the tideline.

Day 6: Thurs 25 September - Delaware Bay boat trip and Cape Henlopen State Park
We catch the morning ferry across Delaware Bay, from Cape May to Lewes near Delaware. The 18 mile journey across the open water gives new opportunities for close encounters with seabirds, perhaps including Double-crested Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Gannet, Arctic Skua, Royal, Common and Forster’s Tern. By taking our vehicle, we have the opportunity to visit some of Delware’s excellent reserves too. At Cape Henlopen State Park, walking the Maritime forest trails we seek Hairy, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-breasted and Brown-headed Nuthatch - the latter does not occur on at Cape May. Also possible in the pine woods are...Pine Warbler, Eastern Bluebird, Chipping Sparrow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Blue Grosbeak as well as a range of migrant wood-warblers and flycatchers. We prioritise what we haven't already seen, with other options if time allows including Rehoboth Bay, Great Marsh Preserve or Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge for wetland and coastal birds. A great day out!

Day 7: Fri 26 September - Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
Another destination is the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, or to use its local name ‘Brigantine’. Located an hour north of Cape May, this vast and sensational site offers great birdwatching any time of year, and large numbers of wildfowl and waders pause here in autumn. American Black Duck, Wood Duck, American Wigeon, Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal may be seen dabbling in the wet meadows with Pied-billed Grebe in deeper water. Wader numbers and diversity are similar to other coastal sites, though may also include Killdeer and American Golden Plover in the fields. Such an abundance of prey in turn attracts hunting raptors with Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine and Merlin (of their respective Nearctic races) possible. Belted Kingfisher fish the creeks and pools with flocks of Boat-tailed Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird and several species of 'sharp-tailed sparrow' including Nelson's, Saltmarsh and Seaside frequenting the tide line. 

Day 8: Sat 27 September - Cape May Peninsula
Our last full day at Cape May, so we will be keen to stake out any Nearctic specialities we haven’t yet seen. Just imagine the celebrations on our final night if a Prothonotary or Chestnut-sided Warbler turned up!

Day 9: Sun 28 September - Final birding and departure
We may have some time for some early-morning birding around the point, before transferring to Philadelphia for our return, overnight flight to the UK arriving on Mon 29 September (day 10).

What's included in your holiday price:

• return scheduled flight from London –  Philadelphia. Airport taxes, transfers from and to airports (where appropriate).
• ground transportation as outlined in a modern and spacious air-conditioned vehicle.
• any ferry or boat trips.
• comfortable and spacious 'motel' style accommodation, close to the beach and birding opportunities on Cape May island.
• All meals (as specified), including breakfast, brunch and dinner. Note that our daily meal schedule differs from other tours in that we have will have a self-prepared picnic style breakfast in our room, followed by a large, mid-morning brunch. This is essential in order to make the most of the prime and always busiest period (6.30-9.30am) for bird activity and movement! 
• the services of your leaders.
• The Heatherlea Pre-Flight Service offers everything you need at the airport, including hotels, car parking, airport lounges, regional flights, and upgrades. Let Heatherlea take the strain! Pre-flight airport hotel and lounge included free of charge subject to terms and conditions. Read more.

Free Field Guide! ‘by David Allen Sibley is included in your holiday price. One copy per room booked.

What's not included in your holiday price:

• personal insurance, drinks and other personal expenses, ESTA costs where necessary, optional tips to the local guide, hotel/restaurant staff, and any other costs not specified as 'included'.

More holiday information

Accommodation is in motel style rooms, superbly located by the beachside. All have en-suite facilities and are comfortable to a good standard.
Food includes a self-prepared picnic breakfast, a large and hearty brunch and evening meal. Some meals will be at diners, all of which are excellent and there will never be a shortage of food! Vegetarian and other diets are welcome.
Walking A reasonable level of fitness is required for this tour, as we may be on our feet all day with much our birdwatching around Cape May point itself. Most of this will be on good paths or tracks on level ground, and we can expect to be covering a distance of up to 5 miles daily.
Weather can be variable and you should bring clothing for all conditions. Autumn temperatures at Cape May range from 10-25 degrees C, with rain, wind and sunshine all possible on the same day!
Insects There may be biting insects near marshy ground, though not usually as a major problem.
Group size is restricted to 12 clients maximum.
Flights return scheduled flights from London to Philadelphia and back to London. We may be able to offer flight arrangements from another airport and/or or quote without flights should you wish. If you wish to add an extension either before or after your holiday, please contact us and we will be happy to arrange this for you.
Visa Travellers are required to obtain authorisation (known as ESTA) before arriving at the airport and can apply online. The application process should take around 20 minutes, and authorisation is normally granted immediately but may take up to 72 hours. Once granted, authorisation is valid for two years. At the time of writing the Esta application charge is $21.

Your Leader

Mark Warren: Mark is one of our senior guides and is a dedicated, very experienced birder and tour Leader, with extensive wildlife knowledge and boundless enthusiasm. Busy guiding around the world, many Heatherlea clients love his tours!

A follower of wildlife from an early age, Mark's conservation roles included working for the RSPB in Cornwall, for two years at Fair Isle Bird Observatory, and for five years at North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory, serving him particularly well for his present role!