Two Male Cerulean Warblers were observed today along Waterloo Valley Road in Mt. Olive Township (Mike Wolfe). These are the continuing Ceruleans present since May.

The Common Loon at nearby Tilcon Lake, present since May, was photographed by Alan Boyd today.

Common Loon, Tilcon Lake, Mt. Olive Twp., NJ, June 17, 2013 (photo by Alan Boyd).

A Black-billed Cuckoo was seen and photographed opposite the Headquarters entrance on Pleasant Plains Rd., Great Swamp NWR (Jamie Glydon).

Black-billed Cuckoo, Great Swamp NWR, June 17, 2013 (photo by Jamie Glydon).

From Susan Treesh:
I have Brood II magicicadas to thank for recommendations for several local spots I had never visited before. I decided that Rt. 525 from Bridgewater to Bedminster was my best bet for a cicada hunt, and I found a hotspot at Watchung Mountain Park in Martinsville. I had never been there before, and enjoyed, besides the chorus, a nice meadow that paralleled the jogging track. I heard Blue-winged Warbler and Red-eyed Vireo. This is completely separate from Watchung Reservation, I think.

Then I went on to Leonard J. Buck garden, again a spot I had never visited, a wonderful specialty garden, the kind of place a birder can bring both non-birding out-of-town relatives AND her binoculars. Wood Thrush was still singing, and many fledglings were being fed, some from cicadas.