The late winter movement of Lesser Black-backed Gulls (LBBG) into northern New Jersey has ramped up. For the past week, Spruce Run in neighboring Hunterdon Co. has seen a spike in LBBG numbers with up to 200 reported. Smaller amounts spill over to the MoCoSoCo region. Somerset County noticed a few this morning with 4 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls mixed with 200+ Ring-billed Gulls in a farm field on Opie Rd., Neshanic Station. Jeff Ellerbusch reports another 2 on River Rd. near the Norz farm in the afternoon. Geese are also very active in the South Branch region with a Greater White-fronted Goose at the intersection of Rt. 202 and Old York Rd. and 37 Snow Geese mixed in with 1000+ Canada Geese near Studdiford Lane. On Opie Rd. this afternoon, Jeff had White-crowned and American Tree Sparrows as well as another Snow Goose on River Rd., north of Opie Rd.

Hoping for some Gull action at Budd Lake, this writer was disappointed to find only a few Ring-billed and Herring Gulls along with one Great Black-backed Gull late this afternoon. The Common Merganser numbers have thinned at the lake as well with approximately 45 seen.

The Redheads were not present at Clark Drive in Mt. Olive. This same non-appearance happened for these lingering ducks last week after which 19 showed up a few days later.

Submitted by Jonathan Klizas