So far in 2012, Tree Swallows have only been reported in Morris County from the Great Swamp N.W.R. with a high of 8 this morning. In Somerset County 2 were reported today from Robert J. Stahl Natural Area in Bedminster Township, Somerset County by Joe Pescatore.

Morris County’s sole Easter Phoebe, as of now, continued today at the bridge at Loantaka Brook Reservation off of Kitchell Road in Morris/Harding Townships. Another in Somerset County was reported today from Fairview Farm in Bedminster also by Joe Pescatore.

Redheads continue to be in the news. Foxs Pond (aka Park Lake) in Rockaway is a small, popular town pond. Today there were many human visitors walking the path around the lake, a few anglers were casting their lines into the water. Yet with all of this activity, some interesting ducks continue actively feeding in what must be a nutrient-filled body of water: 5 Redheads continue (2 drakes; 3 hens), 7 Gadwall, 12 Ring-necked Ducks, 5 Lesser Scaup and a Pied-billed Grebe.

3 Redheads (2 drakes; 1 hen) also continue at Clark Drive in Mt. Olive Township. Rather than in the pond they had been favoring, the Redheads were resting in the back of the marsh behind the ponds.

Mt. Hope Lake is the Mute Swan capital of the Mocosoco region with 86 present today as well as 4 American Wigeon, 10 Green-winged Teal, a Gadwall, Hooded Merganser, 4 Lesser scaup, 12 American Coot.

Indian Lake in Denville had 10 Bufflehead. Period. The previously seen Lesser Scaup and Mergansers spp. have moved on

Jim Mulvey and this writer visited Lake Parsippany today. A combined list:
Belted Kingfisher
Gadwall 43
Ring-necked Duck 2
Lesser Scaup 18
Common Merganser 83
Ruddy Duck 39
American Coot 15
Ring-billed Gulls 30
Herring Gulls 4
Mallards, Canada Geese and Mute Swans.

As empty as some of our lakes have been recently, others of modest size can be very productive. Saturday, Jamie Glydon had 61 Common Mergansers and 21 Ring-necked Ducks as well as Canada Geese and Mallards on the small pond at Bee Meadow Park of Say’s Phoebe fame  in 2011 in Hanover Township.

Jim Mulvey comments on the Great Swamp: There were 2 Kingfishers that were very active on the pond near Black Brook in the Great Swamp during the morning, as well as three Tree Swallows and 2 Pied-billed Grebes. It is looking to me that birding and photography are gaining popularity, as there were a lot of people out enjoying the day at both locations (Lake Parsippany and Great Swamp) today.