The juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron of Jefferson Road Pond continues today either under the Jefferson Road bridge or roosting on tree branches near the pond (m.obs.). Two adult Black-crowned Night-Herons are on the island as they have been all spring. A juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron joined the party last evening (Chris Thomas) but has not been seen today, as far as is known.

4 Black-crowned Night-Herons, 3 adults and 1 juvenile, were seen around the pond today on the Somerset County side of Green Brook Park (Walter Blenderman). A Green Heron was also in attendance.

Split Rock Reservoir

Blue Trail, Split Rock Reservoir, NJ, June 24, 2014 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

A 5-mile trek on the east side of Split Rock Reservoir produced Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Pileated Woodpeckers, Eastern Wood-Pewees, Great Crested Flycatchers, Yellow-throated Vireo, Warbling Vireo and 22 Red-eyed Vireos, Common Raven, 20 Ovenbirds, 2 Louisiana Waterthrushes, Hooded Warbler, American Redstart, Yellow Warbler, Prairie Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Buntings, and other species typical of the Morris Highlands.

The route started at the parking lot near the dam (the road over the dam is closed indefinitely while being resurfaced and renovated) picked up the blue trail by the power-line cut, followed the trail up and over Buck Mountain (an especially lovely section) and hooked up with a woods road for the return trip. This is a route that reminds one how rugged and rocky Morris County can be.

Leaf Lichen species, Split Rock Reservoir, NJ, June 24, 2014 (photo by J. Klizas)