The Autumnal Equinox occurs at 4:44 p.m. EDT, September 22, one week from today.

Bird density today was less than yesterday but what was found tasted of autumn. The season’s first push of Lincoln’s Sparrows were observed in Morris County at the Lincoln Park Gravel Pits (J. Klizas) and Sayre’s Farm in Morris Township (Jamie Glydon). Likewise, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet at the Pits was the first reported this season in the mocosocoBirds region. Palm Warblers are starting to appear in the area. A fall male Bay-breasted Warbler at Bee Meadow Park is the first for Morris County this season (Chimney Rock in Somerset Co. has had many already). A Connecticut Warbler was spotted on Bartley Road in Long Valley (Dave Harrison). Other warbler species reported in Morris Co. today are Tennessee, Black-throated Green, Wilson’s, Magnolia, Northern Parula and Common Yellowthroat.

A Cape May Warbler was in a yard in Warren Twp. (Grant Price).

The Great Cormorant of Parsippany was seen throughout the day at the small pond on Smith Road opposite the Hyatt House. Both juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Herons and the juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron were seen today in the big pond behind the Sheraton on Jefferson Road (Julie Buechner).

Great Cormorant, Parsippany, NJ, Sep. 15, 2013 (digiscoped by Jonathan Klizas).

11 Gadwall at Boonton Reservoir represent the first of the season in the mocosocoBirds region. 250 Ring-billed Gulls and 1 adult Herring Gull were also at the reservoir.