Sourland Mountain Preserve in Hillsborough Township had Acadian Flycatcher and Gray-cheeked, Bicknell’s and Swainson’s Thrushes as observed by Jeff Ellerbusch today. The Bicknell’s was solidly identified by sight and call. Jeff’s was a long hike through the preserve. Impressive numbers of Wood Thrushes, Ovenbirds, Red-eyed Vireos and Eastern Wood-Pewees were tallied and are indicative of the numbers of birds in this area. It would be interesting to get a comparative number from sometime in the past. Also present were Yellow-billed Cuckoo and 10 species of warblers.
—————
Other than multiple sightings from Cape May, Red-breasted Nuthatch (RBNU) has been elusive if not totally absent from the rest of New Jersey in 2012, especially Morris and Somerset Counties where only 2-3 valid records have been reported. On May 1, Chris Vogel reported a Red-breasted Nuthatch from Cozy Lake Road in Jefferson Township. Quite possibly that same bird was found again today at this point. This is Newark Pequannock Watershed property and a permit is required to enter the wooded area. The RBNU was not heard from the road. In the same grove of pines were Blackburnian and Pine Warblers. Louisiana Waterthrush and numerous Ovenbirds sang nearby.
—————
This morning, an unfamiliar song was heard while driving near the southern end of Lake Denmark. Here it is, labeled as Mystery Bird. Whatever creature it was sang this incessantly. Finally, after 10 minutes of searching, the vocalist revealed himself to be…a Baltimore Oriole.
—————
For anyone keeping count, there were 127 Mute Swans on Mt. Hope Lake this morning.