Christmas Bird Counts

The 115th Christmas Bird Count (CBC) season takes place from Sunday, December 14, 2014 through Monday, January 5, 2015. There are three CBCs in Morris and Somerset Counties.

The fixed date system of the CBCs causes some scheduling issues this year. Normally, the Great Swamp count occurs on the first Saturday of the count season and the Boonton CBC on the second Sunday. The first Saturday usually precedes the first Sunday, but not in 2014. This causes the Great Swamp and Boonton CBCs to occur on the same weekend. This is necessary to avoid conflicts with other CBCs. More information regarding the CBCs is forthcoming  in the next few weeks.

Here are the counts and their contact information:

The Great Swamp and Boonton email address domains are gmail dot com.

Great Swamp/ Watchung Ridges CBC (67th year)
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Compiler: Simon Lane
greatswampcbc at gmail

Boonton CBC (79th year)
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Compiler: Jonathan Klizas
boontoncbc at gmail

Somerset County CBC (57th year)
Tentative date: Saturday, January 3, 2015
Compiler: John Kee
jjkee at optimum dot net

The Audubon CBC web page is here.

Field Notes

Another Eastern Meadowlark report from Morris County occurred yesterday, Oct. 21, as 3 Eastern Meadowlarks were found by Jose Garcia at Melanie Lane Wetlands. See this post from October 19 about the status of this species in Morris County.

A brief walk in between the raindrops late this afternoon at the southwest section of Troy Meadows produced the following sparrow species: Chipping, Field, Savannah, Song, 3 Lincoln’s, Swamp, White-thoated and 1 White-crowned; there were also 2 Purple Finches as well as Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers (J. Klizas).

Vesper Sparrow continues at Glenhurst Meadows along with Chipping, Field, Savannah, Song, White-throated and 13 White-crowned Sparrows (Jeff Ellerbusch).