Avalon Seawatch -- Cape May Bird Observatory — Attraction in Avalon

Rode our bikes out here and parked up on 9th street. Beautiful clean sand, friendly beach-goers, and a well manicured beach.

“There is no better place on the eastern coast of North America to watch migrating loons, scoters, and other waterbirds than the Avalon Seawatch.

Among these waterbirds are loons, seaducks and other ducks, gannets, cormorants, gulls and terns, shorebirds, herons and egrets, jaegers, and even some alcids. The variety and sheer numbers usually makes for exciting birding, if you're there at the right time. Where else can you see 1,000 loons or 3,000 gannets in a single day.

The Seawatch on the north end of Avalon juts out into the Atlantic Ocean farther than almost any other point of land along the South Jersey shore. Waterbirds must fly around this point of land and in doing so come closer to shore.”...

It's a great spot for seabird migration provided you're really good at identifying seabirds in flight at a distance. The Audubon NJ staff at the count site probably won't interact with you at all or even say hello - pretty odd given that this is a 501c3 that list educational awareness as justification for its tax exempt status and it's an organization that needs donations and memberships to survive.

I was really hoping that the lack of interaction was a fluke, but after a few visits and different staff working at the counter shed, ignoring the public seems to be more Audubon policy as it has been consistent over a few years with different staff. There are two porta potties there and parking is...

Long before this was ever a "bird watching" place it was simply known as 8th Street Jetty. If you're a fisherman, you know this place. It offers fantastic fish holding structure that can be fished from the rocks themselves or from the beach. From early Spring through late Fall there is something to try for. Just be aware, the rocks are shifting and becoming increasingly dangerous. And if they are wet, they are very slippery. Proceed with caution. And if you're a bird watcher, well, there are lots of interesting birds that fly around...