The Potomac Valley Audubon Society is sponsoring a hawk-watching trip to Cape May, New Jersey on Columbus Day weekend, Oct, 9-13.

Anyone with an interest is welcome to participate and there will be no fee. But participants will be expected furnish their own transportation and arrange for their own accommodations.

Hotel and motel reservations should be made now, because Cape May is a very popular destination in October. Those planning to use the Lewes-Cape May Ferry also need to make reservations early for the same reason.

The trip will be led by PVAS birding expert Sandy Sagalkin, and co-sponsored by the Washington County Bird Club.

The trip will focus on several hawk-watching sites in the Cape May area. It will offer good opportunities to see Peregrine Falcons, Merlins, American Kestrels, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Coopers Hawks, Bald Eagles, Northern Harriers and other raptors.

Those who participate will also be able to take advantage of a variety of free educational opportunities offered by the Cape May Bird Observatory and the New Jersey Audubon Society. Their offerings include such events as a Mini-Hawk ID workshop for beginners, a Hawk-banding demonstration, a Monarch tagging demonstration and bird walks that are open to the public.

The Cape May Bird Observatory website (www.birdcapemay.org) contains a list of Cape May hotels and motels which offer discounts to birders who are members of the Observatory. The savings can be significant enough that trip participants who are not already members may wish to join; this can be done easily online.

Mr. Sagalkin will be staying at Leith Hall, a Victorian B&B in Cape May that offers discounts to members of the Cape May Bird Observatory. Rooms can be booked there through their website at www.leithhall.com or by calling 609-884-1934.

Those who wish to participate should pre-register by contacting Mr. Sagalkin at 240-291-6465 or at monsansagalkin@myactv.net.