Lincoln’s Sparrow, Troy Meadows, Oct. 19, 2013 (photo by Chris Thomas).

The busy image on this morning’s pre-dawn radar held a promise of morning activity. Reality showed that sparrows were definitely on the move. Sparrows littered Troy Meadows and probably other areas in the region as well.

4 Vesper Sparrows were at Finderne Wetlands (Jeff Ellerbusch). This sparrow haven also had 1 Field, 200+ Savannah, 100 Song, 1 Lincoln’s, 140 Swamp, 30 White-throated and 2 White-crowned Sparrows. Also at Finderne were 9 Eastern Meadowlarks in one group, 2 American Pipits, Marsh Wren, 5 Tree Swallows, Greater Yellowlegs, Common Merganser and 19 Green-winged Teal among the 65+ species in attendance.

Troy Meadows Rd. was very active with 9 Eastern Towhees, 1 Chipping, 8 Field, 45 Savannah, 180 Song, 2 Lincoln’s 125 Swamp (at least, and that’s without counting the birds on the cattail marsh), 155 White-throated and 2 White-crowned Sparrows. 2 Rusty Blackbirds were with the hundreds of Red-winged Blackbirds. Other species include Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Hermit Thrush, etc. (J. Klizas). Chris Thomas adds 1 Red-headed Woodpecker and 3 Dark-eyed Juncos.

Melanie Lane Wetlands had a Nashville Warbler, Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Chipping, Savannah, Song, Swamp, and White-throated Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 32 Gadwall, Northern Pintail, a Great Egret and 1 Greater Yellowlegs. The photo of the Pied-billed Grebe below was taken yesterday at Melanie Lane.

Pied-billed Grebe, Hanover Twp., NJ, Oct 18, 2013 (photo by Chuck Hantis).