Two resolute birders searched nearby fields, corporate parks, cemeteries and anything that looked like suitable habitat but did not relocate Morris County’s first Pink-footed Goose. Jeff Glassberg found and photographed the Pink-footed Goose this morning at Florham Park Fields. Unfortunately, the geese flock dispersed after a disturbance from a non-birder’s vehicle entering the field.

Tagged Ring-billed Gull, Rockaway Twp., NJ, Feb. 24, 2013 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

(Click on the photo for a larger image.)

The tagged Ring-billed Gull pictured above was found on frozen Mt. Hope Pond (not to be confused with Mt. Hope Lake which is down the road and east of Mt. Hope Pond). www.reportband.gov, Patuxent’s Bird Banding Laboratory reporting web site, was inaccessible all day. Internet sleuthing revealed the tag to be from a study done in Massachusettes where gulls were tagged at certain reservoirs to monitor the gull’s winter wanderings. Based on the color scheme, the gull was probably tagged at Wachusett Reservoir, approximately 45 miles west of Boston. The leg bands were unreadable. An email description and photograph was sent to the appropriate contacts.
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The surface of Mt. Hope Lake in Rockaway Township is completely frozen. The Bald Eagles’ absence may signify that they have abandoned the nest at Mt. Hope Lake. One forlorn Mute Swan was on the frozen lake.
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Male Red-winged Blackbirds are vocal and on territory in wetlands along Green Pond Road in Rockaway and Jefferson Townships. A Common Raven’s croak from Green Pond Mountain echoed through Craigmeur. A lone Great Blue Heron was in the vicinity of the Deerhaven Lake heronry in the Newark Watershed at the northern end of Green Pond Road. Some of the heron nests survived last year’s superstorm. A few Red-breasted Nuthatches remain at Jonathan’s Woods in Denville Township.
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As Ivan Kossack and others found out, yesterday’s Horned Grebes were gone today but the 6 Redheads returned to Lake Parsippany after being absent Saturday. Below is a backlit morning photo of the male contingent of the Redheads.

Redheads at Lake Parsippany, NJ, Feb. 24, 2013 (backlit photo by Jonathan Kllizas)

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From Jennifer Books:
I saw 2 Pine Siskins at my bird feeder in Basking Ridge again this morning. I would not be surprised if these are the same birds I have been seeing for about a week now. They like to mix with the Goldfinch flock that also frequents my feeders.

I also checked out the Friend’s blind in the Great Swamp again hoping to find some interesting birds like last time. However, things have since quieted down. There were many Canada Geese and Mallards, but otherwise the only other species I saw in terms of ducks were 5 male Pintails and one female. I also got some nice views of 2 male Bluebirds hanging out in the reeds near the blind. Perhaps they are setting up a territory there?

Anyway, good luck in locating the Pink-footed Goose! I am still hoping I will have a chance to see one one day soon. It would be a life bird for me!
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From Rosemarie Widmer:
I had 3 pair of Redheads at Lake Parsippany today 2/24/13 at approx. 11:30 am.

At Lake Hopatcong the 6 Tundra Swans (2 ad. 4 1st yr) were north of the Brady St. bridge, at approx. 12:30-1pm. They were first sleeping then woke and stretched and finally flew off to the north.