Let’s face it: January in Cape May County has its ups and downs. For those of us lucky enough to call this finger of sand home all year, we enjoy the respite offered by a temporary lull in our ever-growing tourism seasons. We can make left turns, find a place to park, and enjoy a peaceful meal or drink at our favorite year-round spots.
But then, there’s the other side of it. The days are short, the wind off the water is harsh, our favorite summertime spots are closed, and there just isn’t all that much to do—or is there?
For the adventurous, our county’s natural world offers much to see and enjoy during the winter season. My favorite area come January? Hands down, it’s the bayshore. Occupying a good-sized chunk of the peninsula’s western flank, the extensive salt marshes of the bayshore offer a remarkable amount of habitat and food for winter wildlife, and an equally beautiful backdrop for the winter naturalist looking to enjoy these treasures.
There’s myriad ways to enjoy this cornucopia, but perhaps none offer an experience as fully immersive as an evening at Jake’s Landing. Many reading this will know how to get there. If you don’t, ask the most outdoorsy person you know; they’ll almost certainly be able to tell you.
A south-pointing, dead-end road eventually arrives at Dennis Creek with a dramatic, 360-degree view of the bayshore. Saltmarsh surrounds on all sides, the Delaware Bay sits at most a couple miles to the west, and Belleplain State Forest awaits to the north. I like to arrive about an hour before sunset, on a sunny and calm evening—and yes, I know these have been rare so far this winter! The golden-hour light gives some life to the brown winter marsh, as Northern Harriers (marsh hawks) begin their final hunts, coursing back and forth over the cordgrass. These open-country raptors utilize the bayshore marshes each winter, primarily hunting small mammals.
As the sun lowers toward the bay, more and more life become apparent. A Bald Eagle, or maybe three or five, will likely fly past, with younger birds headed to their winter roosts while adults join their mates at nests (Bald Eagles are frequently our second-earliest nesting bird each year, behind only the Great Horned Owl). An ever-increasing parade of sandpipers, ducks, gulls, and others heads east, returning to overnight stays in the Atlantic Coast marshes or barrier islands after feeding on the bayshore’s riches all day.
As the sun finally sinks below the horizon, we await the grand finale. After what always feels like forever, a Short-eared Owl appears from its daytime roost, where it was no doubt tucked away in a high part of the marsh. On the best nights, we may luck into a close pass or two and get a look at the bold yellow eyes and tawny plumage, but far more often we’re left with the silhouette of a floppy, erratic-flying shape, cutting against the vivid colors in
the low, western sky. Like the harrier, these owls are also occupants of open spaces, and this stretch of marsh is among the region’s most reliable for finding the species.
Jake’s Landing, as with many other access points to the bayshore marsh, leaves us with lasting memories and visions each time we visit. Want to see for yourself but also want an interpretive experience? Need binouclars to borrow? Then join the Cape May Bird Observatory during one of our upcoming “Nightfall at Jake’s Landing” programs, scheduled for February 23, March 2, and March 9! Point your browser to www.birdcapemay.org or give us a call at 609-400-3868 to learn more.
