Pine Siskin, Glenhurst Meadows, NJ, Nov. 3, 2014 (photo by Chuck Hantis)

(Click on the photo for a larger image.)

Purple Finches and Pine Siskins permeate Morris and Somerset Counties (and elsewhere in the east) this autumn. Can Common Redpolls be far behind? They should be moving southward soon, according to Ron Pittaway’s 2014-15 Winter Finch Forecast.

Here is an eBird range map showing Common Redpoll’s current locations from October through today showing them along the St. Lawrence River and scattered around the Great Lakes:

Water birds at Boonton Reservoir recently: Saturday, Nov. 1, Horned Grebe, 1 Greater Scaup hen, 1 Ruddy Duck and an Amercan Coot. 33 skittish American Pipits were foraging on the east shoreline (J. Klizas).

Today, 15 American Black Ducks, 12 Lesser Scaup, 1 Bufflehead, 11 Hooded Mergansers and a Common Loon were at the reservoir (Julie Buechner via eBird).

A Cackling Goose is putting in appearances at the Lord Stirling equestrian field on Lord Stirling Rd. If not there, it could be in the series of ponds at Lord Stirling Park (many obs.)

More Pine Siskins at Glenhurst Meadows:

Pine Siskins, Glenhurst Meadows, NJ, Nov. 3, 2014 (photo by Chuck Hantis)