Purple Finches have been scarce this year with single sightings reported, if any, from the counties of New Jersey. According to eBird data for 2012, 42 individual Purple Finches have been seen in New Jersey as of March 7 with the bulk of those sightings from Cape May in January. There were more sightings in the first 5 days of 2011! This year there were 10 reported in February for the entire state and 7 so far in March. With that in mind, it was a pleasant surprise to see a female Purple Finch and hear another singing this morning in the Sourland Mountain Preserve in Hillsborough Township. Also present was a beautiful male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, multiple Eastern Towhees and Song, Swamp, Field and White-throated Sparrows along with the other typical species of the area.