White-eyed Vireo, Morris Twp., NJ, May 11, 2014 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

(Click on the photo for a larger image.)

What a difference a day makes: Sandhill Crane, White-eyed Vireo, Tennessee Warbler, Eastern Wood-Pewee (widely reported), Willow Flycatcher, Yellow-billed and Black-billed Cuckoo. None of these were found on yesterday’s Big Day romp through Morris and Somerset counties by the mocosocoBirds Quartet (see the last paragraph in this post). All were found today throughout both counties.

A Sandhill Crane was heard at the overlook this morning in the area of the the right corner of the overlook (Jim Gilbert).

2 White-eyed Vireos visited the Moody Farm in Morris Township this morning. Also present were Northern Waterthrush, Tennessee Warbler, Magnolia Warblers, Black-throated Blue and Green Warblers, and the typical species of the area (J. Klizas).

Fort Nonsense, which is on Kemble Mountain – an extension of the Watchung ridges, received the first sunlight and lots of warblers this morning including numerous Black-and-white, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped and Black-throated Green Warblers, Northern Parulas and single Nashville and Tennessee Warblers (J. Klizas).

Both Yellow-billed and Black-billed Cuckoos were heard from the bridge at the North Gate of Pleasant Plains Road, Great Swamp NWR. Many Veerys, Swainson’s Thrushes and warblers including Tennessee, Wilson’s and Canada were recorded as well as Lincoln’s and White-crowned Sparrows (Simon Lane).

A migrant Grasshopper Sparrow was found at Glenhurst Meadows this morning. 6 Wilson’s Warblers and 19 Solitary Sandpipers continue the recent trend of high numbers for both of those species at Glenhurst. Also tallied were: Lincoln’s Sparrow, Black-billed Cuckoo and Bobolink (Jeff Ellerbusch).

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Morris Twp., NJ, May 11, 2014 (photo by J. Klizas)

From Leslie Webster:
“News from Loantaka Brook Reservation: Newly arrived in the reservation are Eastern Wood-Pewees and the Willow Flycatcher at Kitchell Pond. 12 species of warblers are feeding in mixed groups throughout the woods. At least one Louisiana Waterthrush seems to be staying, and I’ve never seen so many Ovenbirds. One, sad to say, dropped dead nearly at my feet. What a beautiful little bird when viewed close up! Four species of Vireo were observed as well.”

Big Day in mocosoco

Yesterday, May 10, the mocosocoBirds Quartet (Jeff Ellerbusch, Roger Johnson, Jonathan Klizas and Simon Lane) conducted a Big Day in Morris and Somerset Counties – for fun. From pre-dawn at the foggy Great Swamp, to the warbler hills of Rockaway and Jefferson Townships to the grasslands of Hillsborough and Franklin Townships to the Watchung ridges and back to the swamp again the total number of species is 141, or something like that, with 121 in Morris and 101 in Somerset (obviously many overlaps). Of the many highlights were 29 warbler species, Bonaparte’s Gulls on Budd Lake, the continuing Yellow-throated Warbler at Parking Lot A in Colonial Park, all of the swallows, Sora, American Bittern, Common Nighthawks, Cape May Warbler, Bay-breasted Warblers, Cerulean Warbler, etc., etc. The missed species are already forgotten.