Since October, 2011 there have been numerous sighting of Cackling Geese in Somerset County with the concentration focused on North Branch Park and Duke Island Park, both in Bridgewater Township. These sightings have often been of multiple individuals in twos and threes with the following high counts:

• 7 on Opie Road, Neshanic on Oct. 12.
• 8 at Duke Island Park on Nov. 18.
• 9 at North Branch Park on Nov. 18.

The eBird database lists the 14 Cackling Geese at Assiscong Marsh in Hunterdon County in November, 2009 as New Jersey’s all-time high count. That number will soon be 33. That is the number that Jeff Ellerbusch found and that I also saw with him this afternoon at Duke Island Park, Bridgewater Township. The Cackling Geese (and 300+ Canada Geese) were on the grassy area between the pond and the Raritan River. At one point the Cacklings flew en masse into the pond cackling away. They proceeded to return to the grassy area in assumed family groups of 5 to 10+ individuals. These are all classic Richardson’s Cackling Geese. The number could possibly be 35 but two of the geese with the Cackling group were considered aberrant and dismissed as possible hybrids.

Jeff’s smart phone photos are below. Click on the photos to see full-sized images.

The continuing Greater White-fronted Goose was present as well. The pattern of this bird, and many of the accompanying Canadas, appears to be to roost nightly in the ponds and reservoir of Duke Farms and then return to Duke Island Park and surrounding areas to feed during the day.

Jeff Ellerbusch also found a gorgeous adult blue Snow Goose at North Branch Park.

The young Snow Goose continues on the Somerset side of Osborne Pond in Bernards Township.

5 Sandhill Cranes were on Randolph Rd. this afternoon at 3:30 p.m. slightly south of the Apgar Rd. intersection in the corn stubble on the west side of the road.

Submitted by Jonathan Klizas