Reports from the region (and beyond) form a consensus that today was an exceptionally good day to go out and look for migrating birds. Despite morning fog and limited visibilty, it is safe to say that most, if not all, of the regularly occurring warblers of the eastern United States were observed somewhere in Morris and Somerset Counties today. Least Flycatchers and Swainson’s Thrushes also made a push and the first Yellow-billed Cuckoos of the season are reported.

A Glossy Ibis was feeding in the ponds along River Road in Millstone this afternoon (Bobby Skrabal).

Yesterday’s Black Tern at Budd Lake is not present today although 6 Bonaparte’s Gulls are at the lake (Alan Boyd).

A Rusty Blackbird was singing at Black River WMA in Chester Township.  “A good day” for Swainson’s Thrushes is also noted (Tom Halliwell).

Glenhurst Meadows: 4 Vireo species, numerous warbler species including 4 Northern Waterthrushes, Nashville Warbler, 9 Magnolia Warblers, 3 Blackpoll Warblers, 4 Canada Warblers, Wilson’s Warblers, etc. (Jeff Ellerbusch). Susan Treesh reports “~20 species of warblers. Highlights were Worm-eating, Cape May, and Canada Warblers. There were also many Least Flycatchers and Blue-headed and Warbling vireos.” David Bernstein reports a Golden-winged Warbler, seen and heard near the foot bridge by the power line. It was not relocated later.

Chimney Rock has ~19 warbler species including Hooded, Cape May, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll and Canada but not the previously reported Cerulean and Kentucky Warblers of yesterday (Jeff Ellerbusch, et al).

Sourland Mountain Preserve claims the first Yellow-billed Cuckoo of the year in the mocosocoBirds region (Vicki Schwartz). Least Flycatchers and many warbler species are also present. The Summer Tanager has not been reported since Tuesday, May 6.

The soaked playing field of McCarter Park (a.k.a. St. Clare’s Fields) in Denville still has shorebirds: 3 Killdeer, 1 Spotted, 2 Solitary and 17 Least Sandpipers, 1 Greater Yellowlegs (J. Klizas).

Least Sandpipers, Denville, NJ, May 9, 2014 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Best wishes to all who participate in a Big Day and the World Series of Birding tomorrow. May all your target species be there when you are.