Yellow-throated Warbler Hybrid – Apr. 22, 2018

Posted on April 22, 2018 by

Yellow-throated Warbler is an uncommon migrant in Morris and Somerset Counties. The past two days saw an unusual number of reports in the area. In these two counties, Yellow-throated Warbler reports totaling greater than zero is unusual.

Yesterday at Lord Stirling Park, Bernards Township, a Yellow-throated Warbler was observed closely and well-described by Ben Barkley. That is interesting enough in itself.

Today, April 22, a different Yellow-throated Warbler was viewed in the afternoon and photographed by Simon Lane and earlier by Tom Smith which show a possible hybrid between a Yellow-throated Warbler and a Yellow-rumped Warbler.

As always, click on the photos for a larger image.

Yellow-throated Warbler Hybrid, Lord Stirling Park, Apr. 22, 2018 (photo by Simon Lane)

Below is a photo of a classic Yellow-throated Warbler at Colonial Park, Franklin Twp. in 2014. Many of you may remember this individual. Note the solid yellow neck and upper breast and the white abdomen.

Yellow-throated Warbler, Franklin Twp., NJ, Apr. 16, 2014 (photo by Bill Dix).

Below is the Lord Stirling bird today with a necklace where some yellow should be.

Yellow-throated Warbler Hybrid, Lord Stirling Park, Apr. 22, 2018 (photo by Tom Smith)

Yellow-throated Warbler Hybrid, Lord Stirling Park, Apr. 22, 2018 (photo by Tom Smith)

Thickening the plot, note the faint yellow rump patch. Yellow-throated Warblers do not have yellow rump patches.

Yellow-throated Warbler Hybrid, Lord Stirling Park, Apr. 22, 2018 (photo by Tom Smith)

Putting these characteristics together equals a possible, if not probable, Yellow-throated Warbler and Yellow-rumped Warbler hybrid.

mocosocoBirds will attempt to get more information about this hybrid combination.

View local eBird checklists in the mocosocoBirds region via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

The mocosocoBirds Facebook page is located here and also posts timely information not found on the mocosocoBirds web site.

@mocosocoBirds at Twitter is another communications stream. Instant field reports and links of interest are tweeted throughout the day. The latest tweets appear on the sidebar of this page. One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

Finis

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Little Gull in Somerset County – Apr. 15, 2018

Posted on April 15, 2018 by

The summer tease of the previous two days left in a hurry Sunday morning, April 15. The temperature was 40 F degrees, nearly 40 degrees less than the previous afternoon. Considering the species of birds seen this day, we need more of these drastic weather changes.

Little Gull

Little Gull following Bonaparte’s Gull, Branchburg, NJ, Apr. 15, 2018 (photo by Jeff Ellerbusch)

(Click on the photo for a larger image.)

Somerset County’s first record Little Gull was found shortly after noon by Jeff Ellerbusch at Studdiford Drive in Branchburg Twp. Studdiford Drive is the bridge spanning the South Branch of the Raritan River and the short road that connects River Road in Hillsborough Twp. with South Branch Road in Branchburg Twp.

Little Gull following Bonaparte’s Gulls, Branchburg, NJ, Apr. 15, 2018 (photo by Jeff Ellerbusch)

The Little Gull accompanied 63 Bonaparte’s Gulls. It was viewed, photographed and not seen again, although some of the Bonaparte’s Gulls returned to the Opie and River Road areas of Hillsborough Twp.

The usual 140+- Ring-billed Gulls and 10-15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were also in the area.

The number of gull species seen in this area is remarkable. This is agricultural land with a river running through it. The nearest large bodies of water are the Hunterdon County reservoirs eight to fifteen miles to the west and Raritan Bay, twenty-five miles to the east.

Here is the cumulative gull list from Opie Road, River Road, and Studdiford Drive. All of these records are from recent years.

  • Little Gull
  • Bonaparte’s Gull
  • Laughing Gull – 2014, 2017
  • Mew Gull – Opie Rd., 2nd NJ state record. Jan. 3, 2017.
  • Ring-billed Gull
  • Herring Gull
  • Iceland Gull
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull – Somerset County high total of 216 at Norz Farm Fields, River Road, March 2, 2018.
  • Great Black-backed Gull

Glaucous Gull hasn’t made it to this side of town yet. It is only reported from the other side of Hillsborough Twp.

Bonaparte’s Gulls in Morris County

It was a day for Bonaparte’s Gulls in the mocosocoBirds area. 150 Bonaparte’s Gulls were at Lake Hopatcong late in the morning between Nolan’s Point and Bertrand Island. A scope was mandatory for viewing as gulls in this area are distant, to say the least. This is the highest known count for Morris County. The previous high was 52 on April 13, 2017, at the same location.

A modest two Bonaparte’s Gulls were at Boonton Reservoir today.

Caspian Terns

3 Caspian Terns were viewed at Colonial Park by Robert Blair at 1 PM. The terns were seen diving in the pond across from the tennis courts. This is an outstanding record for Somerset County.

Sandhill Cranes

There were several reports of single Sandhill Cranes, Saturday, April 14 at Lord Stirling Park, Margetts Field in Harding Township, and the Great Swamp NWR.

View local eBird checklists in the mocosocoBirds region via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

The mocosocoBirds Facebook page is located here and also posts timely information not found on the mocosocoBirds web site.

@mocosocoBirds at Twitter is another communications stream. Instant field reports and links of interest are tweeted throughout the day. The latest tweets appear on the sidebar of this page. One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

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April Migration; April Nesting – Apr. 14, 2018

Posted on April 14, 2018 by

April Migration

Louisiana Waterthrush, Watnong Mtn., Morris Co., NJ, Apr. 13, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

(Click on the photos for a larger image.)

Much to the relief of New Jerseyans, the worst of the endless winter weather appears to have left the region. The current long-range forecast does not show any temperatures below freezing for the next ten days. Spring migration is finally beginning its crescendo to May.

Anyone out in the field the past few days saw timely arrivals such as Brown Thrashers, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Louisiana Waterthrushes, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Purple Martins, Broad-winged Hawks, American Bitterns, etc., etc.

Palm Warbler, Watnong Mtn., Morris Co., NJ, Apr. 13, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

April Nesting

At Deerhaven Lake, today, most of the approximately twenty-six Great Blue Heron nests were involved with incubation. While scanning the nests, a creature not looking anything like the other Great Blue Herons was seen in a nest below another heron nest.

Great Blue Heron and Great Horned Owl, Deerhaven Lake, Morris Co., NJ, Apr. 14, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

This snag duplex apartment has a Great Horned Owl with at least one owlet in the lower unit, and a Great Blue Heron nest in the penthouse, not to mention numerous heron nests in the immediate area. It seems like they are coexisting peacefully.

The young owlet with its parent is in the photo below. As always, click on the photo for a larger image.

Great Horned Owls, Deerhaven Lake, Morris Co., NJ, Apr. 14, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Deerhaven Lake is part of the Newark Watershed. A permit issued by the Watershed is necessary to enter the area.

Ducks are still numerous at the lake. Nearly 60 Ring-necked Ducks were present with 10 Green-winged Teal, 4 Bufflehead, 2 American Wigeon along with the resident 42+ Wood Ducks and a pair of nesting Pied-billed Grebes.

Earlier, an altercation between the two raptors in the photos below made for some interesting nature notes. The Osprey grabbed a fish one-hundred feet in front of this observer. It lifted out of the water and almost immediately dropped the fish because a Bald Eagle was about to take it for a ride. The eagle showed no interest in the fish and seemed only intent on chasing the Osprey out of its space.

Osprey, Deerhaven Lake, Morris Co., NJ, Apr. 14, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Bald Eagle, Deerhaven Lake, Morris Co., NJ, Apr. 14, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

View local eBird checklists in the mocosocoBirds region via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

The mocosocoBirds Facebook page is located here and also posts timely information not found on the mocosocoBirds web site.

@mocosocoBirds at Twitter is another communications stream. Instant field reports and links of interest are tweeted throughout the day. The latest tweets appear on the sidebar of this page. One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

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Boonton Reservoir Loonacy – Apr. 6, 2018

Posted on April 6, 2018 by

Common Loon, Boonton Reservoir, NJ, Apr. 6, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

A Morris County record 48 Common Loons were tallied at Boonton Reservoir this afternoon. Most were in a loose group east of the peninsula towards the middle of the reservoir. All are in alternate plumage. The previous known high total was 42 at Lake Hopatcong, April 12, 2015.

Common Loon, Boonton Reservoir, NJ, Apr. 6, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Three Bonaparte’s Gulls were resting in the water towards the northern end of the reservoir. Three basic plumaged Red-throated Loons were also in the northern half of the reservoir. These could be all or some of the same individuals present for the previous week and a half.

Wednesday, April 4 saw two Bonaparte’s Gulls, 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and the usual throng of Ring-billed Gulls at Norz Farm Fields , Hillsborough Twp.

Down the road at Opie Road that same day, a Pectoral Sandpiper and a pair of Greater Yellowlegs were seen in the flooded horse farm field. Female and male Blue-winged Teal were there the previous week.

4 Sandhill Cranes were a surprise to see east of the Orientation Center (a.k.a. The Farm Barn) at Duke Farms on April 4. Thanks to Jeff Ellerbusch for the Somerset County sightings.

View local eBird checklists in the mocosocoBirds region via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

The mocosocoBirds Facebook page is located here and also posts timely information not found on the mocosocoBirds web site.

@mocosocoBirds at Twitter is another communications stream. Instant field reports and links of interest are tweeted throughout the day. The latest tweets appear on the sidebar of this page. One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

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Bird Migration in Earnest – Mar. 30, 2018

Posted on March 30, 2018 by

The doors of migration opened wide today.

Adult Iceland Gull with Herring Gulls, Boonton Reservoir, NJ, Mar. 30, 2018 (photo by Simon Lane)

(Click on the photo for a larger image.)

Let us begin at Boonton Reservoir.

4 Red-throated Loons, approximately 30 Common Loons, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, Horned Grebe, the continuing 2 Red-necked Grebes, at least 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, Tree and Northern Rough-winged Swallows, Eastern Phoebes, Golden-crowned Kinglets in the woods with Yellow-rumped Warblers, and an adult Iceland Gull found by Simon Lane at the south end of the reservoir viewed from Waterview Plaza on Route 46 East. Also seen by Simon was a migrating light morph Rough-legged Hawk.

Red-necked Grebe, Boonton Reservoir, NJ, Mar. 30, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Budd Lake:
7 Long-tailed Ducks, a Red-throated Loon, Horned Grebe, and ~13 Common Loons (Alan Boyd).

Elsewhere:
– Palm Warbler and numerous Golden-crowned Kinglets at Troy Meadows (Rob Fanning).
– Palm Warbler at Lord Stirling Park (Dave Fantina).
– Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lake Parsippany (Roger Johnson)
– 50+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Norz Farm Fields in Hillsborough (Jeff Ellerbusch).

Other species on the move include Osprey, Turkey Vultures, raptors in general, Eastern Phoebes, Tree and Northern Rough-winged Swallows, etc., etc.

Migration for some, breeding time for others. The following spectacular Great Blue Heron photo is courtesy of Mike Newlon. Click on the photo for a larger image.

Great Blue Heron, Great Swamp NWR, NJ, Mar. 29, 2018 (photo by Mike Newlon)

View local eBird checklists in the mocosocoBirds region via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

The mocosocoBirds Facebook page is located here and also posts timely information not found on the mocosocoBirds web site.

@mocosocoBirds at Twitter is another communications stream. Instant field reports and links of interest are tweeted throughout the day. The latest tweets appear on the sidebar of this page. One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

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Red-throated Loon, Red-necked Grebes at Boonton Reservoir – Mar. 27, 2018

Posted on March 27, 2018 by

Birds on the move

Bird activity is warming up after a dreary and endless winter. Joe Barbieri found a Red-throated Loon at Boonton Reservoir, March 26. It was seen by several observers today, March 27. Ray Duffy reports two Red-throated Loons today, as well. A very heavily cropped photo is below.

Red-throated Loon, Boonton Reservoir, NJ, Mar. 27, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

(Click on the photo for a larger image.)

Also today, Roger Johnson located two Red-necked Grebes at the reservoir. A Red-breasted Merganser drake and Common Loon in alternate plumage are also present along with Ring-necked Ducks and a small handful of other duck species.

Red-necked Grebes, Boonton Reservoir, NJ, Mar. 27, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

The rookery on the island is busy with at least 24 Great Blue Herons and 70+ Double-crested Cormorants.

Great Blue Heron, Boonton Reservoir, NJ, Mar. 27, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Boonton Reservoir is not just for water birds.

Pileated Woodpecker, Boonton Reservoir, NJ, Mar. 27, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Sandhill Cranes at Finderne Wetlands

For years, the Somerset County wintering Sandhill Cranes are typically viewed in Franklin Township near Weston Canal Road and other locations nearby. In the past two days, groups of two and four Sandhill Cranes have been seen flying over Finderne Wetlands. This is getting to be a late date for the cranes in the county.

View local eBird checklists in the mocosocoBirds region via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

The mocosocoBirds Facebook page is located here and also posts timely information not found on the mocosocoBirds web site.

@mocosocoBirds at Twitter is another communications stream. Instant field reports and links of interest are tweeted throughout the day. The latest tweets appear on the sidebar of this page. One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

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Birds After the Storms – Mar. 10, 2018

Posted on March 10, 2018 by

Condolences to all who have endured hardship over the past nine days as two epic storms battered the northeastern United States. Seriously, enough is enough.

A few highlight birds of late winter are currently in Morris County. Alex Bernzweig relocated the White-winged Scoter today at Budd Lake. This was first found on February 26 by Alan Boyd but has gone unreported recently.

A Red-necked Grebe found March 9 by Rob Fanning continues at the Lake Forest section, or north end, of Lake Hopatcong. Viewing is from the partially plowed Lake Forest Yacht Club parking area.

Red-necked Grebe, Lake Hopatcong, NJ, Mar. 10, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

(Click on the photo for a larger image.)

Lesser Black-backed Gull with Herring Gulls, Lake Hopatcong, NJ, Mar. 10, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Single Lesser Black-backed Gulls are being seen at Budd Lake and Lake Hopatcong.

Some may remember March 2 as the day the first Nor’easter pummeled our area this month. The annals of local bird records will remember March 2, 2018 as the day that 216 (!) Lesser Black-backed Gulls were tallied at Norz Farm Fields in Hillsborough Township (Frank Sencher, Jr.).This area has hosted large numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gulls in recent years. These gulls are likely the same ones seen at the Hunterdon County reservoirs.

The icing on the cake that day was an adult Iceland Gull seen with 500 Ring-billed Gulls and 25 Herring Gulls.

216 Lesser Black-backed Gulls is a Somerset County record for exactly one location. On May 30, 2017, Jeff Ellerbusch had 145 at Norz and another 96 a few miles away on Opie Road.

For your information, the state record for Lesser Black-backed Gulls is 713 at Spruce Run Reservoir, Hunterdon Co., on March 29, 2013. Mr. Sencher also tallied these. This is the known high count for North America, as well.

View local eBird checklists in the mocosocoBirds region via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

The mocosocoBirds Facebook page is located here and also posts timely information not found on the mocosocoBirds web site.

@mocosocoBirds at Twitter is another communications stream. Instant field reports and links of interest are tweeted throughout the day. The latest tweets appear on the sidebar of this page. One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

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Eurasian Wigeon, Tundra Swans – Feb. 25, 2018

Posted on February 25, 2018 by

Eurasian Wigeon at Silas Condict County Park

Eurasian Wigeon, Silas Condict County Park, Kinnelon, NJ, Feb. 25, 2018 (photo by Chuck Hantis)

(Click on the photo for a larger image.)

Silas Condict County Park in Kinnelon is not known as a birding destination spot. This is no fault of its own, but there are so many well-known and documented birding locations in the county and surrounding area that Silas Condict gets left out.

That changed on Friday afternoon, February 23 when Jorge Mascaro reported a drake Eurasian Wigeon at Canty’s Lake. This was repeated Saturday and by today, Sunday, other people came and saw this very cooperative and photogenic duck.

Chuck Hantis braved the wet weather today and together with patience and his photographic technique produced the excellent images adorning this post. Click on the photos for a larger image. They are beautiful to view.

With only five Morris County records through 2010, Eurasian Wigeon has become a county regular since October 2016. A drake was also reported from Lake Hopatcong on the morning of Feb. 23. Two drakes in Morris County at the same time is unprecedented.

Eurasian Wigeon, Silas Condict County Park, Kinnelon, NJ, Feb. 25, 2018 (photo by Chuck Hantis)

Tundra Swans

Tundra Swans, Boonton Reservoir, NJ, Feb. 25, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Here is the latest on the historic fallout of Tundra Swans yesterday.

202 Tundra Swans were counted at Boonton Reservoir today. This basically matches the 207 figure from yesterday. The swans were floating south of the island in a line running north to south making it fairly easy to count if you were standing in the right place.

The one lone Mute Swan in the reservoir was staying as far away from the Tundra Swans as possible.

The above photo is a partial representation of the line of swans, which extends to the right and left of the image.

75 Tundra Swans were tallied today at Budd Lake (Silas Hernandez).

Not be left out, Somerset County had 47 Tundra Swans at Beekman Lane, Hillsborough Twp., before moving on (Vicki Schwartz).

View local eBird checklists in the mocosocoBirds region via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

The mocosocoBirds Facebook page is located here and also posts timely information not found on the mocosocoBirds web site.

@mocosocoBirds at Twitter is another communications stream. Instant field reports and links of interest are tweeted throughout the day. The latest tweets appear on the sidebar of this page. One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

Finis

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Tundra Swan Fallout – Feb. 24, 2018

Posted on February 24, 2018 by

Tundra Swans, Boonton Reservoir, NJ, Feb. 24, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

You need a magnifier to see the Tundra Swans near the south shore of the island at Boonton Reservoir in the above photo. The group of swans extends both left and right out of the range of the image. More were located on the north side of the island.

The south end of Boonton Reservoir is viewed from the high point of the Waterview Plaza parking lot accessed via Rt. 46 east. It is anything but ideal. A scope is required. A step stool is helpful to view over the wall that sits on top of the berm. In keeping with the many viewing locations at Boonton Reservoir, everything is relatively far away.

This afternoon, Simon Lane texted that 135+ Tundra Swans were at Boonton Reservoir. After comprehending the magnitude of this statement and catching one’s breath, this observer drove to the south end of the reservoir to view this historic event. A light rain did not deter. By the time the counting was done and then tallied again, 185 Tundra Swans were accounted for. Later, another 22 were seen along the north shore of the island bringing the grand total to 207.

The previous known high count for Tundra Swan in Morris County was 18 (as in eighteen) at Lake Musconetcong in 1990. 207 obliterates that number. This event was echoed in other parts of northern New Jersey, namely Hunterdon County, where Tundra Swans in the hundreds were also reported.

Otherwise, ducks are starting to file into the reservoir. A drake Red-breasted Merganser made it a merganser sweep at the north end of the reservoir joining both Common and Hooded Mergansers.

Other birds

With the recent thawing of the major Morris County bodies of water, waterfowl are beginning to flood the region.

A drake Eurasian Wigeon found at the Lake Forest area of Lake Hopatcong on Feb. 23 by Rob Fanning was missed today. The Eurasian Wigeon was probably there but the water was thick with 434 Ring-necked Ducks, at least 32 American Wigeon and 7 Redhead along with Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Scaup spp. and Common and Hooded Mergansers in marginal viewing conditions (i.e., distance, wind, and a light rain). Nonetheless, this was an impressive sight after a winter of ice at the lake.

Interestingly, a drake Eurasian Wigeon was described from Silas Condict Park, Kinnelon on Feb. 23 (Jorge Mascaro).

Tom Justesen found 4 Redhead and 4 Common Goldeneye at Mt. Hope Lake along with other typical waterfowl of that site.

Horned Grebes, Lake Parsippany, NJ, Feb. 24, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Lake Parsippany had two Horned Grebes today, one day after Rob Fanning found the first Horned Grebe of 2018 for Morris County. Likewise, the first Pied-billed Grebe of 2018 in Morris was also seen today. Tom Justesen found 2 Canvasbacks which became 3 a short time later. A Double-crested Cormorant was unexpected. Simon Lane found 3 Redheads later in the afternoon. The Common Merganser numbers have leveled off after a high count of 545 on Feb. 16.

Canvasbacks (Common Mergansers in the background), Lake Parsippany, NJ, Feb. 24, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

The Somerset County Sandhill Cranes are favoring the Zaraphath corn fields along Weston Canal Road lately.

Up to 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers are regularly seen along the nature trail at Colonial Park, Franklin Township.

View local eBird checklists in the mocosocoBirds region via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

The mocosocoBirds Facebook page is located here and also posts timely information not found on the mocosocoBirds web site.

@mocosocoBirds at Twitter is another communications stream. Instant field reports and links of interest are tweeted throughout the day. The latest tweets appear on the sidebar of this page. One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

Finis

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Greater White-fronted Goose, Eurasian Wigeon in Morris – Feb. 4, 2018

Posted on February 4, 2018 by

Greater White-fronted Goose with Canada Geese, Clyde Potts Reservoir, NJ, Feb. 4, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Thousands of Canada Geese and a small number of ducks are using Clyde Potts Reservoir in Mendham Twp. this winter. It is one of the few bodies of water in the area that has a sizable section of ice-free water.

This morning, a Greater White-fronted Goose was found among the throng of waterfowl. This is a rare sighting in Morris County. Whereas neighboring Somerset County has nearly annual records of Greater White-fronted Goose, Morris has only scattered records over the years. The last documented record is December 2014 from Budd Lake.

These distant, heavily cropped, low-light photos will have to serve as documentation for today’s sighting. Frankly, it is about time a Greater White-fronted Goose showed up in Morris County this year. Sightings of this species are spread around the state with as many as six(!) found last week at Merrill Creek Reservoir in Warren County.

Greater White-fronted Goose with Canada Geese, Clyde Potts Reservoir, NJ, Feb. 4, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Adult Bald Eagles are regularly seen in recent winters at Clyde Potts Reservoir. It is anyone’s guess where they originate as no known nests are in the immediate area. The Great Swamp NWR eagle nest is approximately ten miles away. The Troy Meadows eagles are a bit further. These are the two nests in closest proximity to the reservoir. The many geese in the water clung together in a large raft as this Bald Eagle repeatedly swooped down on the waterfowl, although never catching any prey.

Bald Eagle, Clyde Potts Reservoir, NJ, Feb. 4, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Other Birds

Eurasian Wigeon, Waterloo Lakes, NJ, Feb. 3, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

A drake Eurasian Wigeon is frequenting an area known as Waterloo Lakes in Mt. Olive Township. It was found on January 28 by Tom Halliwell and photographed by Alan Boyd. It was seen Feb. 3 as well. This is probably the same individual at nearby Clark Drive in November, 2017 and possibly the same duck that was in Morris County during the winter of 2016-17.

Waterloo Lakes is an overflow of the Musconetcong River near Waterloo Village. Creative geographical bookkeeping is necessary to list the duck(s) for Morris County as you are actually standing in Sussex County while viewing the lakes, which are in Morris County.

Musconetcong River is the border between Morris and Sussex Counties at this location. Adding to the convergence of borders in this area, Warren County is a short distance down the road, just south of the I-80 overpass.

There is a gated dirt road near the lakes which leads to the old Indian village. This is where one can view the Morris side of the lakes.

If one is so inclined, it may be possible to double-dip this duck and list it for Sussex County by viewing it on the Sussex side of the river from Waterloo Village if the main gate for the village is open.

It is a shame to see the old homes and buildings of Waterloo Village falling into disrepair. It is a long time since its glory days as a historic site in the 1970s and ’80s. It was also the summer home of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra for a period.

Other birds

The two Ross’s Geese were last seen at the VA Hospital in Lyons on Jan. 28. It is not known if anyone has looked for them since.

Rough-legged Hawks were last reported Jan. 25 from the Great Swamp NWR.

Most lakes, ponds and still water remain frozen in Morris County.

View local eBird checklists in the mocosocoBirds region via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

The mocosocoBirds Facebook page is located here and also posts timely information not found on the mocosocoBirds web site.

@mocosocoBirds at Twitter is another communications stream. Instant field reports and links of interest are tweeted throughout the day. The latest tweets appear on the sidebar of this page. One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

Finis

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