A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was found this morning in the Great Swamp NWR. It was north of the parking area (end of White Bridge Rd.) at the south end of the Old Meyersville Road Wilderness Access Area.
From Robert Skrabal:
Saw a pair of Yellow-bellied Flycatchers at Glenhurst Meadows (Warren Township). One was perched on a tree and the other was on a wire on the path right passed the power line clearing. Got a great look at them and heard them calling for about five minutes. To get to the spot I saw them, take the first bridge on the left and cross under the power lines. They were right at the edge of the woods before the path curves right. (eBird checklist)
Loons and Cormorants at Boonton Reservoir
3 Common Loons in alternate plumage continue at the north end of Boonton Reservoir. What amazed this observer was the number of Double-crested Cormorants (DCCO) streaming from the hidden north corner of the reservoir. Groups of 10, 20, 50, etc. flew south from that section to other parts of the reservoir. The 225 that were counted does not include the 50-100+ DCCOs residing on the island. In the summer of 2012, 300 DCCOs were counted at Boonton Reservoir, representing the highest known number recorded in Morris County. That number will soon be history.
Cliff Swallows are nesting again on the new Rt. 202 bridge.
Field Notes
In general, Yellow-billed Cuckoos are currently widespread throughout the mocosocoBirds region.
- 1 Grasshopper Sparrow and 11 Bobolinks at Duke Farms (Jeff Ellerbusch).
- 3 Prothonotary Warblers, Blackpoll Warblers, Yellow-billed Cuckoos at Lord Stirling Park (Chris Takacs).
- Yellow-billed and Black-billed Cuckoos, Blue Grosbeak, White-eyed Vireos at Six Mile Run, Franklin Township (Marc Chelemer). Also, Grasshopper Sparrow (Andrew Lucas).
From Ivan Kossack:Â Mystery and Comedy at Bee Meadow
The mystery: A Bobolink was calling from the treetops. I managed to get a couple of quick glimpses as the bird worked closer to the power line cut. He then flew along the cut but did not much care for the apparently more suitable habitat. A tree loving Bobolink?
The comedy: an immature male Orchard Oriole’s clumsy attempts at copulation with a willing but ultimately frustrated (cougar) female.
I also heard but did not see a Yellow-Billed Cuckoo.
Other than these birds, just the usual seasonal residents. – Ivan Kossack
mocosocoBirds 
Hi John, Indeed, Bobolinks will sing from tops of trees with some frequency if the opportunity presents itself. Back in the day when I was at Duke – it was a pretty common thing to see them sit in the tops of trees (as tall as 80 ft), lining the edges of the field and sing for a few minutes at a time. Vespers and Savannahs do it regularly too. But not Grasshopper Sparrows. Hoffman Park in Hunterdon Cty is also a good (fairly consistent), place to see them sit in tops of fairly tall trees and sing. - Chris
Likewise, Bobolinks can be seen in the trees along Pleasant Plains Road on occasion.