Finderne Wetlands
(American Bittern at Finderne Wetlands, Photo by Jeff Ellerbusch)
An American Bittern flushed this morning from the pond near the Van Veghten house at Finderne Wetlands this morning. Other highlights were 2 Vesper Sparrows at the west end of the property and 2 Northern Rough-winged Swallows. Among other species present were: 9 Green-winged Teal, 6 Great Blue Herons, 5 Great Egrets, 1 Greater and 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, 3 Wilson’s Snipe, 10 American Kestrels, 60+ Palm Warblers, 45 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 200+ Savannah Sparrows, 125 Song Sparrows, 150 Swamp Sparrows, 15 White-throated Sparrows and 12 Bobolinks (Jeff Ellerbusch).
Rusty Blackbird, Troy Meadows, NJ, Oct. 12, 2013 (digiscoped by Jonathan Klizas).
1 juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker was at the S-turn of Troy Brook this morning near the defunct skeet-shooting range. 2 Peregrine Falcons buzzed the area, 6 Great Egrets were in a group at a secluded pond. Yellow-rumped Warblers are numerous. A Lincoln’s Sparrow was one of 7 sparrow species. The Rusty Blackbird pictured above was with a large group of Red-winged Blackbirds along Troy Meadows Road.
Melanie Lane Wetlands, Hanover Twp.
The past few days see Northern Pintails returning to Melanie Lane. Gadwall, Northern Shovelers, Pied-biled Grebe, Great Egret and Wood Ducks were also in attendance (Chuck Hantis).
Northern Pintail, Hanover Twp., NJ, Oct. 12, 2013 (photo by Chuck Hantis).
Pied-billed Grebe, Hanover Twp., NJ, Oct. 12, 2013 (photo by Chuck Hantis).
Other Field Notes
An late Ovenbird was found at Scherman Hoffman Sanctuary in Bernardsville today (Jim Schlickenrieder).
Chris Thomas found a juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker at Lord Stirling Park.
(Juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker, Lord Stirling Park, photo by Chris Thomas)
Chris also encountered the uncountable Trumpeter Swan at Mt. Hope Lake. As stated many times before in this space, this is probably an expatriate of the Bernadsville captive flock, but who really knows. It has been at Mt. Hope since the spring. Ring-necked Ducks made their first appearance of the season at the lake, as well.
(Mute and Trumpeter Swans, photo by Chris Thomas)
From Leslie Webster, Friday, Oct. 11 2013:
News from Loantaka Brook Reservation: On Thursday morning, October 10, several small groups of Yellow-rumped Warblers were making their way through the woods, accompanied by some Ruby-Crowned Kinglets. A group of 12 Yellow-rumped Warblers was at Kitchell Pond, along with a few RC Kinglets. No Palm Warblers were observed. A Solitary Sandpiper still is still present on the pond mud flats and on this particular day was accompanied by a Killdeer.
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