From Tom Halliwell:
Hi Jon,

Between 11:00 a.m. and noon I found the three female Hooded Mergs on the beaver pond at The Tourne (Boonton Township). I saw no activity, other than their presence at this time, that might suggest breeding (i.e., no chicks, no flying to nest hole, etc.). There was one noisy Red-headed Woodpecker adult seen repeatedly on trees in various spots at the pond.

Also there was at least one Purple Martin flying around, perching, and one time possibly entering a hole. I can’t be sure of this because it was in a thick tree far back in the pond and I may have just lost the bird against the dark lower background. But I didn’t see it for 5-10 minutes after that suggesting it may have actually entered the hole. At some times it would hunt high in the air, calling. In the time I watched it was harassed by several Tree Swallows and one Great-crested Flycatcher. It was not an adult male, but I could not get a close enough look to determine its actual plumage. But it was very interesting that it was here at all. Perhaps there is nesting occurring here in a natural cavity.

All the best,
Tom Halliwell
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There are reports of the Mississippi Kite of the Great Swamp during the week from the overlook on Pleasant Plains Road. The latest sighting was Thursday, June 7 at 3:15 p.m.

A White-eyed Vireo was singing beyond the 90 degree bend on Pleasant Plains Road Thursday Morning found by Simon Lane.
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Simon Lane and Jeff Ellerbusch had two distant calling Eastern Whip-poor-wills along Lake Denmark Road in Rockaway Township Thursday evening. Be aware that this is Picatinny Arsenal territory and although the road itself is public, the U.S. Army owns the surrounding land.
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From Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, Jamie Glydon had two Acadian Flycatchers on the Ogden Mine Railroad Bed trail across Weldon Road from Saffin’s Pond this afternoon and 4 Yellow-billed Cuckoos on the path to Headley Overlook.