Common Raven, Hanover Twp., NJ, July 10, 2013 (photo by Chuck Hantis).

Today’s subject is similar to a post from 2012: Common Ravens in Morris Plains, July 13, 2012. Chuck Hantis photographed the Common Ravens shown on this page near a work site at the corner of Hanover Avenue and Horse Hill Road in Hanover Township on July 10, 2013. Chuck reports three Ravens are seen in the area. Occasionally, they are roosting on the odd concrete radio tower structure on Horse Hill Road across from the YMCA. This is two summers in a row that a probable family group of Common Ravens has been seen in the Morris Plains/Hanover Twp. area. In the summer of 2012, there were sightings of a single Raven on Horse Hill Road and another of four Ravens in the Norway Spruce in front of St. Virgils on Speedwell Avenue, Morris Plains. Those four eventually flew towards Greystone Park. It is too coincidental to think these are different individuals or just wanderers, but who really knows.

Common Raven, Hanover Twp., NJ, July 10, 2013 (photo by Chuck Hantis).

Common Raven, Hanover Twp., NJ, July 10, 2013 (photo by Chuck Hantis).

Horse Hill has a historical significance in Morris County bird lore. In the late 1800’s Horse Hill was one of many small villages in the Hanover area. On September 18, 1887, L.P. Scherrer and Geo. Hild reported two Swallow-tailed Kites near Horse Hill. This is an accepted historical record by the New Jersey Bird Record Committee. This would be the last Swallow-tailed Kite reported in Morris County until May 21, 2011 when Mike Anderson saw and photographed one flying over the Friends Blind at the Great Swamp NWR – almost a full 124 years later!

The following amuses me. A text alert was received this evening from the Morris Township Police: There is a Black Bear wandering through Spring Brook Country Club. It was last seen on the 17th hole.