Jonathan’s Woods in Denville Township has hosted Red-breasted Nuthatches since early to mid September. A flock of at least 6 Pine Siskins joins them as of this morning illustrating the influx of that species in New Jersey during the past week. The number of Red-breasted Nuthatches is a guess – at least 8 and probably more. At one time in the north end of the White Pine grove (known as the Cathedral Pines in park literature), Red-breasted and White Breasted Nuthatches along with the Pine Siskins were all foraging in the same group of trees creating a quite a blend of call notes and other utterances. Most of the birds were at the tops of the White Pines. Common Raven and Red-shouldered Hawk were also in the area. A gang of American Crows harassed a Great Horned Owl who eventually flew under the canopy of the White Pines to solitude.

Jonathan’s Woods is administered by the Morris County Park Commission. The Cathedral Pines area is marked by the arrow. If you do not see the embedded map below, click on this link: Jonathan’s Woods Map. One can park near the gate of the gravel road off of Old Beech Glen Road near the Pines.