From Neil Elman:
I had the Pink-footed Goose at the Florham Park Fields this morning at approximately 11:00 am. It was with Canada Geese on the far shore of the second pond, but a loud truck flushed the group, which did not return.
Lake Parsippany had one Redhead in a group of Ring-necked Ducks, and one separate Common Goldeneye.
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From Tim Vogel:
I did a drive by at Lake Parsippany about 10am today
About 40 Common Mergansers
4 Hooded Mergansers
1 Gadwall
A large number (over 120) of what appeared to be Ring-necked Ducks on the west side. They all took off as I tried to get into better light. Something spooked the ducks and the gulls. Everything was up in the air at the same time. The ducks were never relocated.
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A tagged Ring-billed Gull in Rockaway Township was mentioned in a post from yesterday. The report from the Massachusettes Divison of Water Supply Protection was received today describing the gull. Click the image below for a larger view.
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From Marc Chelemer:
Today, February 25th, a visit to Lake Hopatcong at 6:45 AM yielded several Tundra Swans asleep on the ice (viewable from Lakeside Avenue); they were disturbed momentarily and picked up their heads long enough to show the all-black bills and their greyish and stouter necks than the Mute Swans nearby. A drive around to the east side of the lake (Monabb Road) with a peek between houses yielded four MORE Tundra Swans close to that shore. One could even see the yellow spot at the corner of their bills! Also present on the lake were the aforementioned hundreds of Ring-necked Ducks, scattered Bufflehead, Common Mergansers, 1 drake Hooded Merganser, Great Blue Heron, Kingfisher, and an adult Bald Eagle. I did not have my telescope, so was not able to ‘scope for other Aythya species.
[Editor’s note: Is Monabb Road a misspelling? The map shows a McNabb Road on the east shore. I’m not sure that “peeking” between houses is a great idea or beneficial for creating good will between birders and the locals.]
Neil Elman wrote and said the Geese flew in an easterly direction towards the shopping center (Trader Joe’s) and the golf course (Pinch Brook). Jeff Glassberg wrote yesterday that he has seen flocks of geese at the ADP offices on Hanover Rd., which coincidentally, are adjacent to the golf course. I drove past there Sunday and found nothing but it is good to keep this in mind. Then again, there is ample habitat (golf courses, reservoirs) across the Passaic River in neighboring Essex County.