Bittersweet news – shorebirds are at Schoolhouse Road in Franklin Township. Jeff Ellerbusch had 16 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 1 Least Sandpiper and 7 Killdeer this afternoon. Unfortunately, bulldozing of the field in preparation for construction created the suitable shorebird habitat. Yes, this is the same field that two weeks ago hosted a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. In the recent past, Greater White-fronted Goose, Brant, thousands of Canada Geese, Horned Larks, Northern Harrier, American Pipit, Killdeer, and an occasional visit of the wintering Sandhill Cranes of Somerset County have graced this corner of Franklin Township. Quoth the Killdeer: “Nevermore.”
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An Alder Flycatcher found earlier in the week continues at Lord Stirling Park in Somerset County. It is in the clearing past the “dance-floor” in company with a Willow Flycatcher. The two sing in an alternating duet creating an interesting and delicate comparison. Each has its own distinctive timbre or tone color. The Willow’s song is classic declamatory “fitz-bew” accenting the first syllable. The Alder’s may give you pause when first hearing it, especially at a distance, but after closer listening is also a definitive “fee-beer” or “fee-bee-o” accenting the second syllable. A recording of these two is desired. Here is a map of Lord Stirling Park. The “dance floor” is labeled in the northeast section of the park along the Passaic River. Happy Traill’s!

A Prothonotary Warbler sings very sporadically near the beaver dam and the June Beetle Bridge along the Passaic River. One’s chances of hearing or seeing the Golden Swamp Warbler are slim at best. There are no reports of the Prothonotary Warblers nesting in the area this year. In addition, there are no reports of Red-headed Woodpeckers from the same location in a number of weeks.