The Redheads originally found last Sunday, Jan. 15, continue at the ponds at Clark Drive in Mt. Olive Township. Directions are as follows: From Rt 46 in Budd Lake, take International Drive North and turn left on Clark Drive. There are two ponds: one at the corner which is completely frozen, and the second further along Clark Drive which has a puddle-sized opening remaining. This is where the Redheads were today. Alan Boyd had 4 yesterday. There were 5 in the pond today: 2 drakes and 3 hens. Except for the group shot, the photos below are barely cropped if at all. The ducks were so close that digiscoping filled the frame of the picture.

Most lakes in Morris County are frozen (Lake Musconetcong had more ice fishermen and hockey players on it today than gulls) so these Redheads are a real treat at this time. Mt. Hope Lake has a sliver of water open which was populated by 51 Mute Swans and a few Ring-billed and Herring Gulls. Budd Lake has been frozen for some time. The number of gulls present today (~100) was a fraction of what it was a few days ago. Only Herring and Ring-billed Gulls were there. Lake Parsippany has a small section of water open…but no birds.

In Lord Stirling Park, there are six Woodpecker species relatively easy to see along the trail from Fisherman’s Access parking lot at White Bridge on the Somerset County side of the Passaic River to the East Observation Tower. Only Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is absent. Approximately 6 Red-headed Woodpeckers were seen in this area on the Great Swamp CBC on December 17, 2011. A few, at least, are still around usually seen in the Great Swamp management area across the river.

Redheads at Clark Drive, Mt. Olive Township, NJ, Jan. 22, 2012 (Photos by J.K.)