6 Golden Eagles, 140 Red-shouldered Hawks at Chimney Rock

It has been a memorable weekend at Chimney Rock. At least 6 more Golden Eagles passed over the hawk watch one day after a Rock one-day record of 7 was set on Nov. 2. Today’s 140 Red-shouldered Hawks set a new one day record at The Rock. Raptors were joined by migrating Common Loons (4), a Lesser-Black-backed Gull, Snow Geese, American Pipits, Purple Finches and 100+ Horned Larks (Jeff Ellerbusch, et al).

2 Golden Eagles, Northern Goshawk at Wildcat Ridge

Wildcat Ridge Hawk Watch in Hibernia tallied 2 Golden Eagles for a total of 4 for the weekend. The season’s only Northern Goshawk at the hawk watch was also observed.

Both Chimney Rock and Wildcat Ridge’s Hawk Watch reports will be reported in separate posts.

Sunday Field Notes

The Sora and Pectoral Sandpiper at Kitchell Pond (labeled as Lake on the map), Loantaka Brook Reservation continue for a third day. Also observed were 2 Rusty Blackbirds and a flyover American Pipit.

Sora, Loantaka Brook Reservation, NJ, Nov. 3, 2013 (digiscoped by Jonathan Klizas).

Rusty Blackbird, Loantaka Brook Reservation, NJ, Nov. 3, 2013 (digiscoped by Jonathan Klizas).

Speaking of American Pipits, which are seemingly everywhere the past few days, 100+ were at Florham Park Fields this afternoon.

Boonton Reservoir had a Common Loon, 3 Bufflehead, 6 Ruddy Ducks, 22 American Coot along with the typical species found there.

Sasso Tract in Rockaway Twp., had 9 Wild Turkeys, 7 Fox Sparrows, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Hermit Thrush, Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures with migrating Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks overhead, and an American Woodcock in the woods which was flushed twice – the second time after almost being stepped upon on the path.

Troy Meadows continues to have abundant blackbirds and sparrows with 17 Rusty Blackbirds in the Smith Ditch area and sparrow species including Fox and White-crowned joining the other representative species of the area (Jamie Glydon).

Taylortown Reservoir had 10 Hooded Mergansers (Julie Buechner). This long, narrow and difficult to view body of water at the base of Pyramid Mountain frequently has one of the highest numbers of Hooded Mergansers in Morris County.

Melanie Lane Wetlands had 17 Green-winged Teal, 1 Ruddy Duck, 4 Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, 1 American Coot and 2 Wilson’s Snipe. Click on the photos below for a larger image.

Green-winged Teal, Melanie Lane, Hanover, NJ, Nov. 3, 2013 (photo by Chuck Hantis).

Northern Shoveler, Melanie Lane, Hanover, NJ, Nov. 3, 2013 (photo by Chuck Hantis).

Gadwall, Melanie Lane, Hanover, NJ, Nov. 3, 2013 (photo by Chuck Hantis).

See the link below, regarding Christmas Bird Counts in Morris and Somerset Counties:
Christmas Bird Counts – 2013