Cape May Point State Park

Natural Park · United States

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Photo © 8bit12man

Photo © 8bit12man — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where tidal marshes meet Atlantic dunes at the southernmost tip of New Jersey, Cape May Point State Park commands a landscape shaped by water, wind and the relentless exchange between seasons. The park's terrain is defined by salt marshes that rise and fall with the tides, interspersed with maritime shrubland and the remnants of coastal forest adapted to saline spray and sandy soils. Here, where freshwater streams drain toward the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, the Cfa climate delivers moisture year-round without a dry season—reliable precipitation and moderate temperatures sustain wetland vegetation, rushes and sedges that form the ecological heartbeat of this peninsula. The habitat supports a rich community of wading birds and waterbirds drawn to the shallow bays and creeks, small mammals navigating the marsh edge, and predatory birds that hunt across open water and grassland. Migratory songbirds and shorebirds use these wetlands as critical refueling stations during spring and autumn passages, making the reserve one of the Mid-Atlantic's most dynamic wildlife corridors.

For those seeking to photograph the interchange between land, water and sky in a genuinely biodiverse setting, Cape May Point delivers in nearly every season. The park's position at a migration bottleneck means arrival and departure periods—spring from March through May, autumn from August through October—bring concentrations of waders, raptors and songbirds that few other regional sites can match. The low light of dawn over the marshes, when mist rises from tidal creeks and birds begin their feeding rounds, rewards photographers with soft, rich illumination and dynamic movement. Winter visitors find quieter but equally rewarding birdwatching, with overwintering waterfowl and raptors patrolling the open water. A network of accessible trails and observation points puts visitors within range of active wetland life without requiring rugged backcountry skills, making Cape May Point an essential destination for photographers and naturalists who understand that coastal marshes, though understated, rank among North America's most productive and visually compelling wild spaces.

Website state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/capemay.html

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Bubo scandiacus

Aquila chrysaetos

Branta canadensis

Branta hutchinsii

Anser caerulescens

Cygnus buccinator

Cygnus columbianus

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

Mareca strepera

Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca penelope

American Wigeon

Mareca americana

Anas platyrhynchos

American Black Duck

Northern Pintail

Aythya valisineria

Aythya americana

Ring-necked Duck

Aythya collaris

Somateria spectabilis

Somateria mollissima

Melanitta perspicillata

Melanitta americana

Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalis

Bucephala albeola

Hooded Merganser

Lophodytes cucullatus

Common Merganser

Mergus merganser

Oxyura jamaicensis

Northern Bobwhite

Colinus virginianus

Meleagris gallopavo

Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles minor

Chuck-will's-widow

Antrostomus carolinensis

Chaetura pelagica

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus americanus

Zenaida macroura

Rallus crepitans

Rallus limicola

Porzana carolina

Common Gallinule

Gallinula galeata

Fulica americana

Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio martinica

Red-necked Grebe

Podiceps grisegena

Podiceps auritus

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

American Oystercatcher

Haematopus palliatus

Pluvialis squatarola

Charadrius vociferus

Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatus

Long-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus scolopaceus

Short-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus griseus

American Woodcock

Gallinago delicata

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

Tringa semipalmata

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Calidris canutus

Stilt Sandpiper

Calidris himantopus

Calidris alpina

Purple Sandpiper

Calidris maritima

Baird's Sandpiper

Calidris bairdii

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

White-rumped Sandpiper

Calidris fuscicollis

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Hydroprogne caspia

Chlidonias hybrida

Chlidonias niger

Sterna forsteri

Sterna dougallii

Thalasseus sandvicensis

Thalasseus maximus

Black-legged Kittiwake

Rissa tridactyla

Bonaparte's Gull

Chroicocephalus philadelphia

Black-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Leucophaeus atricilla

Franklin's Gull

Leucophaeus pipixcan

Ring-billed Gull

Larus delawarensis

Great Black-backed Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

American Herring Gull

Larus smithsonianus

Parasitic Jaeger

Stercorarius parasiticus

Red-throated Loon

Great Shearwater

Mycteria americana

Northern Gannet

Anhinga anhinga

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Double-crested Cormorant

Nannopterum auritum

American White Ibis

Eudocimus albus

Plegadis falcinellus

White-faced Ibis

Roseate Spoonbill

American Bittern

Botaurus lentiginosus

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Nyctanassa violacea

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor

Butorides virescens

Western Cattle Egret

Great Blue Heron

American White Pelican

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

Pelecanus occidentalis

Coragyps atratus

Pandion haliaetus

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Northern Harrier

Circus hudsonius

Mississippi Kite

Ictinia mississippiensis

Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

Red-shouldered Hawk

Zone-tailed Hawk

Buteo albonotatus

Swainson's Hawk

Buteo swainsoni

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

Rough-legged Buzzard

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

Red-headed Woodpecker

Melanerpes erythrocephalus

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

Downy Woodpecker

Dryobates pubescens

Northern Flicker

Colaptes auratus

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Falco columbarius

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Sayornis phoebe

Eastern Wood Pewee

Contopus virens

Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax traillii

Alder Flycatcher

Empidonax alnorum

Least Flycatcher

Empidonax minimus

Western Kingbird

Tyrannus verticalis

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus savana

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Myiarchus cinerascens

Great Crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus crinitus

Vireo olivaceus

Philadelphia Vireo

Vireo philadelphicus

Yellow-throated Vireo

Vireo flavifrons

Blue-headed Vireo

Vireo solitarius

White-eyed Vireo

Cyanocitta cristata

Corvus brachyrhynchos

Corvus ossifragus

Bombycilla cedrorum

Tufted Titmouse

Baeolophus bicolor

Carolina Chickadee

Poecile carolinensis

Black-capped Chickadee

Poecile atricapillus

Eremophila alpestris

Riparia riparia

Tachycineta bicolor

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Hirundo rustica

Petrochelidon fulva

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Regulus satrapa

Cistothorus palustris

Thryothorus ludovicianus

Troglodytes hiemalis

Northern House Wren

Troglodytes aedon

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher

Polioptila caerulea

White-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta carolinensis

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta canadensis

Certhia americana

Dumetella carolinensis

Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottos

Toxostoma rufum

Common Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Eastern Bluebird

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

Catharus guttatus

Catharus fuscescens

Turdus migratorius

Northern Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

Passer domesticus

Anthus rubescens

Haemorhous purpureus

Haemorhous mexicanus

American Goldfinch

Lapland Longspur

Calcarius lapponicus

Chondestes grammacus

Chipping Sparrow

Spizella passerina

Clay-colored Sparrow

Spizella pallida

Red Fox Sparrow

Passerella iliaca

Dark-eyed Junco

White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis

Saltmarsh Sparrow

Ammospiza caudacuta

Savannah Sparrow

Passerculus sandwichensis

Melospiza melodia

Lincoln's Sparrow

Melospiza lincolnii

Melospiza georgiana

Pipilo erythrophthalmus

Yellow-breasted Chat

Dolichonyx oryzivorus

Eastern Meadowlark

Sturnella magna

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

Icterus spurius

Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

Brown-headed Cowbird

Quiscalus quiscula

Seiurus aurocapilla

Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

Swainson's Warbler

Limnothlypis swainsonii

Tennessee Warbler

Leiothlypis peregrina

Orange-crowned Warbler

Leiothlypis celata

Nashville Warbler

Leiothlypis ruficapilla

Mourning Warbler

Geothlypis philadelphia

Common Yellowthroat

Geothlypis trichas

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Cape May Warbler

Setophaga tigrina

Northern Parula

Setophaga americana

Magnolia Warbler

Setophaga magnolia

Bay-breasted Warbler

Setophaga castanea

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

American Yellow Warbler

Setophaga aestiva

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Setophaga pensylvanica

Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga striata

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Setophaga caerulescens

Setophaga palmarum

Setophaga pinus

Setophaga coronata

Yellow-throated Warbler

Setophaga dominica

Prairie Warbler

Setophaga discolor

Black-throated Green Warbler

Setophaga virens

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

Western Tanager

Piranga ludoviciana

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

Spiza americana

Passerina caerulea

Passerina cyanea

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

Branta bernicla

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifrons

Cairina moschata

Histrionicus histrionicus

White-winged Scoter

Melanitta deglandi

Common Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula

Red-breasted Merganser

Mergus serrator

Common Pheasant

Phasianus colchicus

Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles acutipennis

Eastern Whip-poor-will

Antrostomus vociferus

American Black Swift

Cypseloides niger

Calliope Hummingbird

Selasphorus calliope

Rufous Hummingbird

Selasphorus rufus

Allen's Hummingbird

Selasphorus sasin

Black-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus erythropthalmus

Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica

Antigone canadensis

Aechmophorus occidentalis

Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

American Avocet

Recurvirostra americana

American Golden Plover

Pluvialis dominica

Charadrius melodus

Upland Sandpiper

Bartramia longicauda

Hudsonian Whimbrel

Numenius hudsonicus

Hudsonian Godwit

Limosa haemastica

Wilson's Phalarope

Phalaropus tricolor

Phalaropus fulicarius

Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatus

Calidris pugnax

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Calidris subruficollis

Western Sandpiper

Onychoprion fuscatus

Onychoprion anaethetus

Sternula antillarum

Sterna paradisaea

Hydrocoloeus minutus

Heermann's Gull

Larus heermanni

Larus hyperboreus

Long-tailed Jaeger

Stercorarius longicaudus

Pomarine Jaeger

Stercorarius pomarinus

Thick-billed Murre

White-tailed Tropicbird

Phaethon lepturus

Wilson's Storm Petrel

Oceanites oceanicus

Leach's Storm Petrel

Hydrobates leucorhous

Band-rumped Storm Petrel

Hydrobates castro

Black-capped Petrel

Pterodroma hasitata

Cory's Shearwater

Calonectris borealis

Sooty Shearwater

Manx Shearwater

Puffinus puffinus

Sargasso Shearwater

Puffinus lherminieri

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

Sula leucogaster

American Barn Owl

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Aegolius acadicus

Short-eared Owl

Eastern Screech Owl

Hairy Woodpecker

Leuconotopicus villosus

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Empidonax flaviventris

Acadian Flycatcher

Empidonax virescens

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Cassin's Kingbird

Tyrannus vociferans

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus forficatus

Tyrannus dominicensis

Eastern Warbling Vireo

Loggerhead Shrike

Lanius ludovicianus

Northern Shrike

Lanius borealis

Violet-green Swallow

Tachycineta thalassina

American Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Salpinctes obsoletus

Brown-headed Nuthatch

Hylocichla mustelina

Grey-cheeked Thrush

Catharus minimus

Bicknell's Thrush

Catharus bicknelli

Loxia curvirostra

Two-barred Crossbill

Loxia leucoptera

Plectrophenax nivalis

Grasshopper Sparrow

Ammodramus savannarum

American Tree Sparrow

Spizelloides arborea

Pooecetes gramineus

Seaside Sparrow

Ammospiza maritima

Nelson's Sparrow

Ammospiza nelsoni

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus

Rusty Blackbird

Euphagus carolinus

Brewer's Blackbird

Euphagus cyanocephalus

Boat-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus major

Worm-eating Warbler

Helmitheros vermivorum

Louisiana Waterthrush

Parkesia motacilla

Golden-winged Warbler

Vermivora chrysoptera

Blue-winged Warbler

Vermivora cyanoptera

Prothonotary Warbler

Protonotaria citrea

Connecticut Warbler

Oporornis agilis

Kentucky Warbler

Geothlypis formosa

Setophaga citrina

Townsend's Warbler

Setophaga townsendi

Cardellina canadensis

Wilson's Warbler

Cardellina pusilla

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Painted Bunting

Passerina ciris

Tadorna ferruginea

Eurasian Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Mangrove Warbler

Setophaga petechia

Virginia Opossum

Didelphis virginiana

Eastern Cottontail

Sylvilagus floridanus

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis

Ondatra zibethicus

Northern Short-tailed Shrew

Blarina brevicauda

Eastern Red Bat

Lasiurus borealis

Eptesicus fuscus

Silver-haired Bat

Lasionycteris noctivagans

Mephitis mephitis

North American River Otter

Lontra canadensis

Northern Raccoon

Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops erebennus

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

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