Empids, Prothonotary Warbler, a Bittern and a Rail, June 1, 2012

Posted on June 1, 2012 by

Mike Newlon had a calling Least Bittern at the Great Swamp Wildlife Observation Center (“The Blinds”) on Long Hill Road, Harding Township this morning, June 1. An Acadian Flycatcher was also heard opposite the restrooms.

At Lord Stirling Park on May 31, Mike heard a Virginia Rail calling “kid-dic-ki-dik-ki-dic….”. Also present were Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Prothonotary Warbler (“Heard only, not singing much”), Common Raven and typical species of the area.
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From Tim Vogel:

June 1, 2012 – Great Swamp – just past headquarters entrance road at first bridge.
Prothonotary Warbler – singing

Also non-avian reports that I’ve been waiting to post:
5/26 – Long tailed Weasel – Snake Hill Rd. Rockaway Township
5/27 – Wood Turtle – Between Green Pond Rd and behind 84 Lumber, Rockaway Twsp. (Beaver Brook Creek)
5/28 – Wood Turtle – dead (road kill) – Taylor Rd, Off Berkshire Vally Rd. Jefferson Township (Fish and Game property)
5/28 – Bear – my yard, Cedar Lake, Denville

- Tim Vogel
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From Harvey Tomlinson:

Alder Flycatcher continues at Lord Stirling along the stretch of boardwalk that heads west from the “Dance Floor”. Was actively hunting and calling yesterday (May 31) at 4 PM.
- Harvey

[Editor’s note: see Alan Boyd’s report from May 30]
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The same day Alan was having two Alder Flycatchers at Lord Stirling Park (May 30), Jeff Ellerbusch was enjoying another singing and calling Alder Flycatcher at Finderne Wetlands in Bridgewater Township.

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Alder Flycatcher, etc. at Lord Stirling Park, May 30, 2012

Posted on May 30, 2012 by

From Alan Boyd:

Hi Jonathan,

I spent quite a bit of time along the Passaic River this morning but had no luck with either the Prothonotaries or the Red-headed Woodpeckers. I did have three different Barred Owls, a Raven, a Red-shouldered Hawk, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo and an Alder Flycatcher.

Alan Boyd
Flanders

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Mississippi Kite report from Great Swamp N.W.R., May 29, 2012

Posted on May 29, 2012 by

There was a third-hand report of a Mississippi Kite hunting the fields near the Fenske Visitor’s Center on Pleasant Plains Road in the Great Swamp at approximately 2:00 this afternoon. Three birders searched between 4-5:00 without relocating it.

Addendum: Jim Mulvey wrote that he talked with a couple at the bridge (North Gate) on Pleasant Plains Road who said that they had seen the Mississippi Kite toward the Fenske Center around noon and that it was flying around with 2 Redtails and a Vulture. Jim wasn’t fortunate to see it himself. The couple may have been the original people who reported the sighting.

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Birds at Black River WMA, Chester Township, May 28, 2012

Posted on May 28, 2012 by

Highlights include Acadian Flycatcher, Hooded Warbler and Chestnut-sided Warbler. The walk started at the railroad bed at Pleasant Hill Road and continued for approximately 1.25 miles – then, a right turn up the slope at the underground cable right-of-way and across the power-line cut on a white blazed trail. The Chestnut-sided Warbler was at the power-line cut. The Acadian Flycatcher and Hooded Warbler were beyond the power-line cut at the point where the cable path continues straight and the white blazed trail bears left 90 degrees. Here is a brief sound file of the Acadian Flycatcher.

Here is the species list:
8 Wood Duck
1 Mallard
5 Wild Turkey
1 Great Blue Heron
2 Mourning Dove
4 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Downy Woodpecker
7 Eastern Wood-Pewee
1 Acadian Flycatcher
2 Willow Flycatcher
2 Great Crested Flycatcher
1 Eastern Kingbird
2 Yellow-throated Vireo
2 Warbling Vireo
15 Red-eyed Vireo
4 Blue Jay
6 American Crow
2 Tree Swallow
20 Barn Swallow
5 Tufted Titmouse
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
4 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
15 Veery
8 Wood Thrush
6 American Robin
10 Gray Catbird
15 Ovenbird
1 Black-and-white Warbler
4 Common Yellowthroat
1 Hooded Warbler
7 Yellow Warbler
1 Chestnut-sided Warbler
2 Eastern Towhee
3 Song Sparrow
5 Swamp Sparrow
1 Scarlet Tanager
1 Northern Cardinal
30 Red-winged Blackbird
6 Brown-headed Cowbird
2 Baltimore Oriole

Submitted by Jonathan Klizas

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Common Loons on Morris lakes, May 24, 2012

Posted on May 24, 2012 by

After yesterday’s Black Skimmer report from Spruce Run in Hunterdon County, there was hope that the southeasterly component to the weather of recent days might drop a tern species or something else of interest into a Morris County lake. No terns today, but Lake Parsippany had a basic plumaged Common Loon. Lake Musconetcong had two Common Loons: one in basic, the other in alternate plumage. Also present were Bank, Barn, Tree and N. Rough-winged Swallows along with Purple Martins.

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Yesterday from Ken Hart:
This morning (May 23) between 8-9 AM the following birds were present at Chimney Rock, surrounding the parking lot at the end of Miller Road:
Blue Grosbeak
American Redstart (quite a few– 8 or 9?– all females)
Worm-Eating Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (female, building a nest)
Red-Eyed Vireo
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Wood Thrush

This evening, there was a Swainson’s Thrush in my yard on Black River Road, Long Valley.

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Mourning Warbler in Somerset County, May 23, 2012

Posted on May 23, 2012 by

The first Mourning Warbler (MOWA) of 2012 in either Morris or Somerset County was at Sourland Mountain Preserve this morning accessed from East Mountain Road in Hillsborough Township. The male was heard and seen amongst the Multiflora Rose along the wood’s edge in the field west of, or up the slope from, the pond. After singing repeatedly, the MOWA popped up on a tree branch posed for a few seconds and was quickly chased to another corner of the field by a male Common Yellowthroat. Other than that, a quick trip around the parking area produced the typical species of the area.

As the comment below states:
Correction! This is not the 1st Mourning Warbler for Somerset County in 2012. Mike Hiotis had one at Chimney Rock on May 11 as reported on…mocosocobirds.com on May 12.

Submitted by Jonathan Klizas.

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White-rumped and Semipalmated Sandpipers in Bernardsville, May 22, 2012

Posted on May 22, 2012 by

Bernardsville will never be confused as being a shorebird hotspot, nor will any location in Morris or Somerset Counties. There are marshes, flooded fields, and an occasional mudflat that may hold a few shorebird gems but the Bernardsville Quarry on Old Quarry Road may be the least likely spot one could think of to find shorebirds. Yet, this afternoon, Joe Pescatore texted me that he had flushed 3 White-rumped Sandpipers in the rocky confines of the Quarry. We were unable to relocate them finding only 2 Spotted Sandpipers. In the early evening, Simon Lane visited the Quarry. Not only did he find the 3 White-rumped Sandpipers but 17 Semipalmated Sandpipers to boot! Who needs mudflats? Earlier, Joe also saw a Cliff Swallow amongst the Northern Rough-winged, Tree and Barn Swallows. Later, Simon added Common Nighhawk to the Quarry’s day list.

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Images of the Red-necked Phalaropes at Negri-Nepote on May 21, 2012

Posted on May 22, 2012 by

Tom Ostrand generously sent mocosocoBirds the pictures at the bottom of this web page of the 5 Red-necked Phalaropes at Negri-Nepote Grasslands in Franklin Township on May 21, 2012.

Here is Tom’s account:
“I got there about 6:05pm. There were two birds present; a few minutes later another 3 flew in. Arlene (Oley) arrived at 6:20, and we both watched all 5 until 7:00.”

Here is a link to Tom’s video of the Phalaropes feeding. Also in his gallery are photos of one of the Red-necked Phalaropes encounter with an alleged Snapping Turtle.

Andrew Lucas and this writer were at the Negri-Nepote pond at 6:30 this morning, Tuesday, May 22. Only a Greater Yellowlegs and Spotted Sandpiper were present. As expected, the Phalaropes have moved on.

Photos by Tom Ostrand – Click on the photo for a larger image.

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Red-necked Phalaropes at Negri-Nepote, Franklin Township (again!), May 21, 2012

Posted on May 21, 2012 by

This news did not reach a wide audience. Today, Jim Hayes eBirded 3 Red-necked Phalaropes seen at approximately 4 p.m. on May 21 at the pond at Negri-Nepote Grasslands in Franklin Township. Arlene Oley heard the news while observing the continuing Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at Schoolhouse Road in Franklin Township. She visited Negri-Nepote and found 5 Red-necked Phalaropes: 3 females and 2 males. Arlene announced these via text to KEEKEEKERR at 6:45. Here is Arlene’s description as she posted it on the New Jersey Birders page on Facebook: “Five Red-necked Phalropes seen this afternoon at Negri-Nepote, 3 females, 2 males. One got pulled down by a snapper but was able to escape as the snapper started swimming across the water, seemingly unharmed as it joined the four who had flown during the episode – it was a WOW observation.” Upon reading the KEEKEEKERR announcement, Simon Lane raced down to Negri-Nepote at dusk, but alas, the Phalaropes were gone.

On May 1 of this year, Jimmy Lee found and Jeff Ellerbusch witnessed a Red-necked Phalarope in the same pond at Negri-Nepote. Here is the post. Unfortunately, that individual flew before others could see it (this writer was screaming down I-287 when the text came that the Phalarope was seen flying south, non-stop).

And so it goes; and so they went. Again.

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Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and Cattle Egret Updates; Red-headed Woodpeckers and other notes, May 21, 2012

Posted on May 21, 2012 by

As of this afternoon, the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was working the field along Schoolhouse Road in Franklin Township. Scott Barnes texted on NORTHNJBIRDS that it was: “in the northwest corner of the field near some construction equipment.”
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The Cattle Egret (CAEG) of Melanie Lane in Hanover Township was seen as late as 4:50 p.m. Jamie Glydon, who found the CAEG earlier in the day, and this observer could not relocate it at 3:30 p.m. After inspecting possible locations in the nearby area, I decided to go back to Melanie Lane. Lo and behold, the Cattle Egret was standing in the parking area birders use for Melanie Lane Pond and from which we had departed a few minutes earlier! It then flew to the GE Aviation end of the grass field it seems to favor. Apparently the CAEG can be missed if it is in the taller grasses. In addition, the GE parking lot is private and you WILL be asked to leave during working hours. No matter, the CAEG is visible from the Melanie Lane Pond side of the field or from the road.
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Reports from yesterday, May 20, 2012:

From Harvey Tomlinson:

Hi Jonathan,
Sunday morning went to Lord Stirling in hopes of finding the Red-headed Woodpecker pair, but after 1 1/2 hrs of up and down the river from the beaver dam to the east tower – nothing. I did find the Male Prothonotary Warbler, and 3 Northern Waterthrushes who appeared to be on territory. The Barred Owls have a new location. Saw 1 youngster and heard 2 more. – Harvey
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From Tim Vogel:

Tourne Beaver Swamp – May 20, 2012
Hooded Merganser (3 females) no male in two weeks.
Also, they were quite a distance from the tree that they were hanging around the past few weeks.
Red-headed Woodpecker – 1 adult – one may be on the nest.
Black-billed Cuckoo – 1 calling on ridge.
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Submitted by Jonathan Klizas

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