The Pacific Loon was at the pond in Morris Plains as late as 6:00 p.m. making this day 4 of its stay on American Road. Observers have reported flight activity the past two days where the loon flies around the pond then leaves the premises briefly before returning.

Below are photos that Tom Smith took of the Pacific Loon yesterday. Tom’s comments:”This includes some flapping photos in which you can see the wing feathers – while it isn’t obvious that feathers are missing, I do count only 9 primaries on the right wing, whereas the left wing appears to have 10.”

—————-
Lake Parsippany had 375 very active Common Mergansers and a male and female pair of Red-breasted Mergansers late today. The Redheads have been missing since the past weekend. Dwindling numbers of Ring-necked Ducks and Lesser Scaup are on the lake. American Coot, Hooded Mergansers and the usual Ring-billed and Herring Gulls were in attendance.
—————
24 Tree Swallows were flying over the South Branch of the Raritan River along Opie Road in Branchburg. Also present were 350 Ring-billed Gulls, ~10 Herring Gulls and a mixed flock of Common Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds and Brown Headed Cowbirds numbering in the hundreds.
—————
Jeff Ellerbusch found a Lesser Black-backed Gull in Hillsborough Township this afternoon. This is only the second or third report of this species in Somerset County this season which is unusually low. Great Black-backed, Herring and Ring-billed Gulls were also in the throng on Willow Road, south of Hillsborough Road.
—————
Below are reports of the Franklin Township Sandhill Cranes (and one of the Morris Plains Pacific Loon).

From Jennifer Books:
Hi Jonathan – The Sandhill Cranes are continuing in the field where they were reported yesterday (Randolph Road, Franklin Township). My sister and I went around 12 pm and they were very close to the road at that time (near the intersection with Apgar Road). We got an excellent view of them for a few minutes but they then moved out towards the back of the field. At one point we got some great views of them jumping and wing flapping (courtship perhaps)? We watched them a good 20 minutes before they headed over the back hill and disappeared from sight.

From Rosemarie Widmer:
Hi Jon – Had the Pacific Loon today at approx. 11:45 am. No photo, too much rain coming in the window of my car.
Also, then went to Randoph Rd. Why not I was already wet, and had all 3 Sandhill Cranes at approx. 1:30. Great day but I could have done without the rain.
Rosemarie