The following image is what a fractional amount of 7,000 Common Grackles looks like after being put up by a raptor (click on the photo for a larger image).

Common Grackles, Long Valley, NJ Jan. 19, 2014 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

The 30th annual Southwest Morris Winter Bird Count, founded by Dave Harrison, took place today with chilly temperatures and an increasing wind as the day progressed. The preliminary total with one party yet to report is 76 species (a complete report will be posted when all data is received). Highlights are 15 species of waterfowl, which is impressive considering many bodies of water are frozen. 3 Eagles were tallied, a Northern Saw-whet Owl was heard pre-dawn, the first Gray Catbirds of 2014 in the mocosocoBirds region were observed. A memorable spectacle was viewed when approximately 7,000 Common Grackles roosting in trees in Long Valley, Washington Township, were put up en masse by an immature Red-shouldered Hawk cruising into their midst.

Morris County’s first Gray Catbird in 2014, Long Valley, NJ, Jan. 19, 2014

——————————————-
eBird reports from Somerset County:

• Cackling Goose at North Branch Park, Bridgewater (Kurtis Himmler).
• Greater White-fronted Goose at VA Hospital, Lyons (Tom Smith).
• 6 Sandhill Cranes at Randolph Road, Franklin Township (many observers).
• 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers at Colonial Park, Franklin Twp. (Chris Thomas).