Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs were in full song this afternoon at the India Brook – Buttermilk Falls Natural Area, Mendham Township. The following audio recording was made with an iPhone 6 Plus. Listen to Wood Frogs and Spring Peepers.
Wind was the story today as 30 MPH gusts whipped the area. Nonetheless, the first Louisiana Waterthrushes of the year in Somerset County were found in Warren Twp. (Jeff Ellerbusch) and Scherman Hoffman Sanctuary, Bernardsville (Chris Thomas, James Patterson) and reported to eBird. Palm Warbler and Chipping Sparrow are also reported from the latter location.
Lake Parsippany was windblown this morning. Approximately 12 Common Loons continue and were joined by 21 Horned Grebes, 19 in one raft. 2 Redheads were with the Ring-necked Ducks. A Spotted Sandpiper spent a short time on the west beach before flying off. The Common Merganser count is at 250.
Later in the day, Roger Johnson found birds that must have flown into Lake Parsippany later including 3 Tundra Swans and a male Surf Scoter.
A Red-necked Grebe in transitional plumage was picked out by Simon Lane this morning from the north end of Boonton Reservoir. The Common Loon count is 20+. Tree Swallows and Northern Rough-winged Swallows cavorted where the Rockaway River enters the reservoir.
Lake Musconetcong has 8 Horned Grebes, 2 Common Loons, 1 Redhead, 150 Ring-necked Ducks and 500 Common Mergansers along with much smaller amounts of Bufflehead, Wood Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal and Hooded Merganser (Alan Boyd).
2 Blue-winged Teal were at the Great Swamp NWR (Kevin Browne).
Glenhurst Meadows highlights include both Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Great Egret, Cedar Waxwing and Rusty Blackbirds (Chris Thomas).
A Black-crowned Night Heron returned to Green Brook Park in North Plainfield (Walter Blenderman).
Highlights at Duke Farms include 2 continuing Common Loons at the reservoir, Northern Rough-winged, Tree and Barn Swallows, Pine and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Chipping and Field Sparrows (Jeff Ellerbusch).
There are many reports this time of year, too many to include in a daily newsletter. For further details and to see what people are seeing in the mocosocoBirds region, see eBird Checklists viewed via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:
The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.
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