Bonaparte’s Gulls
After writing Tom Boyle today telling him of the Bonaparte’s Gulls in Morris County, Tom replied and said: “Cold fronts seem to move Bonaparte’s Gulls off the Great Lakes through January”. Wise words, well stated.
Today’s influx of Bonaparte’s Gulls in Morris County is the first time this species is reported in January (or December, or February) in Morris and Somerset Counties in the Age of eBird. Of course, ornithological history does not begin in 2002, the birth year of eBird, but unless pre-eBird records surface, this is what we have.
3 Bonaparte’s Gulls on Lake Hopatcong; 2 (at least) on Lake Musconetcong; 2 at Boonton Reservoir (Simon Lane) and 4 at a private pond in Somerset County, represent a virtual invasion of Bonaparte’s Gulls on this day.
Tundra Swans, Redheads
Lake Hopatcong is an annual winter host to Tundra Swans. 4 were near the base of Halsey Island this morning, viewed from Nolans Point at the northern end of the lake. The Tundra and Mute Swans move around. Two weeks ago they were between Brady Road Bridge and Nolans Point; last week they were at the south end of the lake at Hopatcong State Park. That area is frozen now as is the lake north of Nolans Point. Hundreds of Herring Gulls and Ring-billed Gulls plus a handful of Great Black-backed Gulls were also on and around the lake.
A pair of Redhead drakes landed in the waters north of Bertrand Island in the morning but were not relocated. A Common Loon was north of Bertrand’s Island along with a raft of Common Mergansers.
Common Loon, Lk. Hopatcong, NJ, Jan. 1, 2015 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)
The Geese of Somerset County
The Barnacle Goose was seen this morning flying over Duke Island Park headed west (Jeff Ellerbusch). Otherwise, it was not reported at all from Duke Island Park today. However, it was sighted at North Branch Park with 1,200 Canada Geese in the early afternoon (Tom Smith).
The Greater White-fronted Goose and Cackling Goose at Duke Island Park were seen today in the Raritan River by many observers. The park is a big place. If the geese are not on the turf the chances are very good they are somewhere in the river often near the far western most parking lot.
Sandhill Cranes
The Sandhill Cranes are using a field other than the one on Randolph Road, Franklin Township. For the past few days, they are reported from a field west of the intersection of Metler’s and Weston Rd.
Other Field Notes
Budd Lake is almost entirely frozen. The recent cold front is freezing much of the lakes and other bodies of water in Morris.
Kenvil Lake is still mostly open and continues to harbor a raft of 50 Lesser Scaup, 100 Ruddy Ducks, 27 Ring-necked Ducks and a continuing female Red-breasted Merganser, most likely the same one that has been at the lake for weeks.
Red-breasted Merganser, Kenvil Lake, NJ, Jan. 1, 2015 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)
Morristown’s Cackling Goose continues at Speedwell Lake as of today. This individual stands out with its silvery sheen. In Morris County, it is unusual for a Cackling Goose to be this cooperative and stay around as long as this goose has.
Cackling Goose with Canada Geese, Speedwell Lake, NJ, Jan. 1, 2014 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)
The Delaware and Raritan Canal Towpath in Franklin Township is one of the best venues for observing waterfowl on the Raritan River in Somerset County. 21 Common Goldeneye were on the river today. The high count for Common Goldeneyes at this location is 116 on March 11, 2014. Another species of seasonal interest found at this location today is a Brown Thrasher (Jeff Ellerbusch).
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Finis
mocosocoBirds 
The Sandhill Cranes were back on Randolph Rd this afternoon, around 4 PM. Ted Chase