Pileated Woodpecker, Glenhurst Meadows, NJ, Dec. 11, 2015 (photo by Mike Newlon)

Thanks to Mike Newlon for this spectacular photo of a Pileated Woodpecker in flight at Glenhurst Meadows. Click on the photo for a larger image.

Tundra Swans have returned to Lake Hopatcong. 3 or 4 are reported today from the Lake Forest area at the north end of the lake (Alan Boyd). As in previous years, the swans will probably remain through the winter as long as parts of the lake remain ice-free.

Previously this week, a drake Canvasback was seen at Boonton Reservoir on Tuesday, Dec. 15 (Julie Buechner). Water levels remain low at the reservoir and other bodies of water in Morris County.

Also on Tuesday, Dec. 15, a drake Long-tailed Duck was present at Budd Lake (Alan Boyd).

Christmas Bird Counts (CBC)

The 68th Great Swamp/Watchung Ridges CBC takes place tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 19.

The 80th Boonton CBC is Sunday, December 27, 2015
Compiler: Jonathan Klizas
boontoncbc at gmail dot com
Background and history of the Boonton CBC is here.

The 58th Somerset County CBC is Saturday, January 2, 2016
Compiler: John Kee
jjkee at optimum dot net

Dave Blinder found and photographed a Painted Punting (1st year male/female) at Hatfield Swamp this afternoon. Hatfield Swamp is in Essex County near the Passaic River border between Essex and Morris Counties. It is also a region included in the Boonton CBC. A photo of the Painted Bunting is on Dave’s Flickr photostream, here.

View local eBird checklists in the mocosocoBirds region via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

• Morris County
• Somerset County

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

@mocosocoBirds at Twitter is another communications stream. Instant field reports and links of interest are tweeted throughout the day. The latest tweets appear on the sidebar of this page. One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

The mocosocoBirds Facebook page is located here and also posts timely information not found on the mocosocoBirds web site.

Finis