Every fall, Cape May becomes one of the best places in North America to watch birds. The town sits at the very tip of New Jersey, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic. Migrating birds heading south run out of land here, so they gather, rest, and feed before moving on.
The result is a front-row seat to migration. From September through November, you can see hawks streaming overhead, songbirds dripping from the dune thickets at dawn, and flocks of seabirds working the ocean. The best days often follow a cold front, when northwest winds push birds toward the Cape.
Whether you're a lifelong birder or just curious, here's where to go and what to look for.
Where to Go
Cape May Point State Park and the Hawk Watch Platform. This is the heart of fall birding on the Cape. Official counters tally migrating raptors from the platform each day through the season, and they're happy to help newcomers spot and identify what's overhead. Walk the park's trails and ponds afterward for ducks, herons, and songbirds, with the Cape May Lighthouse as your backdrop.
The Nature Conservancy's Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge (the Meadows). A flat, easy trail winds past ponds, marsh, and dunes to the beach. It's excellent for ducks, egrets, shorebirds, and hawks hunting over the open fields. Bring a scope if you have one.
Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area. Come at first light. Songbirds that migrated overnight drop into the dune forest and fields here, so the "morning flight" can be spectacular. Warblers, sparrows, kinglets, and thrushes all pass through, and Higbee is also a good place to watch dragonflies and monarch butterflies on the move.
Cape May Bird Observatory's Northwood Center. Stop in to check recent sightings, pick up maps, and ask about guided walks and fall programs run by NJ Audubon. It's a smart first stop on any birding day.
Avalon Seawatch. A little north of Cape May, this ocean-facing count point is the place for seabirds in late fall. Dress warm and bring a scope. Gannets, loons, and sea ducks pass close to shore on the right days.
What You Might See
What you'll find shifts week by week, but October is one of the richest months of the season.
Raptors: sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks, American kestrels, merlins, peregrine falcons, ospreys, northern harriers, and bald eagles. Kestrels and merlins can pass in impressive numbers on good days.
Songbirds: yellow-rumped, palm, and black-throated blue warblers; white-throated, swamp, and Lincoln's sparrows; golden-crowned and ruby-crowned kinglets; and several thrushes.
Shorebirds and waders: sanderlings, dunlin, black-bellied plovers, and American oystercatchers on the beaches, with great egrets and herons in the marshes.
Waterfowl and seabirds: brant, pintails, and green-winged teal in the ponds and bays, then gannets, scoters, and loons offshore as the season goes on.
Owls: northern saw-whet owls move through later in the fall, and NJ Audubon often runs banding programs. Check their schedule for availability.
The Cape also hosts a monarch butterfly migration in early fall, a nice bonus if you have non-birders along.
Tips for a Great Birding Day
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Start early. Dawn is when songbirds are most active, and hawk flights build as the day warms.
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Watch the wind. Northwest winds after a cold front often bring the biggest flights.
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Dress in layers. It can be cool and breezy at the Point, even on sunny days.
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Bring binoculars, a field guide or bird ID app, water, and a snack.
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Check recent sightings on eBird or with the Cape May Bird Observatory before you head out.
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Be a good steward. Stay on the trails and respect posted closures to protect habitat and the birds.
Cape May is a place that rewards slowing down. Spend the morning at the Point, take a long lunch in town, and catch the last light over the Meadows.
We'd love to host you for your next migration trip. Reach out for questions, or click here to book!