Pine Siskin at Troy Meadows
Pine Siskin, Troy Meadows, NJ, June 30, 2016 (photo by George Valladares)
(Click on the photo for a larger image.)
The subject of this post is appropriate for January 30 – but June 30? Six months later?
Dave Hall led a New Jersey Audubon field trip today at Troy Meadows. An unexpected Pine Siskin was observed and photographed near the small parking area and the gas pipeline on Troy Meadows Road. Many thanks to George Valladares for sharing his photos. There are only a few records in the eBird database for Pine Siskins in this time period in New Jersey .
Pine Siskin, Troy Meadows, NJ, June 30, 2016 (photo by George Valladares)
Red-breasted Nuthatches
Adding to the unusual bird calendar are recent Red-breasted Nuthatch reports from several locations in the Somerset area and elsewhere in New Jersey. Lord Stirling Park (Ben Barkley), Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve (Jeff Ellerbusch) and Ann Van Middlesworth Park, Hillsborough Twp. (Vicki Scwartz) in Hillsborough all have observations of this species in recent weeks.
Historically, Red-breasted Nuthatches appear periodically in the summer months in New Jersey and can be local breeders. However, they are virtually absent from the Morris and Somerset County region for the past few years.
Other Bird Notes
The Yellow-throated Warbler at Colonial Park is not reported since June 26, more than likely due to the absence of anyone looking for it.
The Trumpeter Swan has vacated Lake Musconetcong, where it was last reported on June 19. This is believed to be the same individual who has spent much of 2016 in Sussex County (Montague and Hyper Humus) and could show up anywhere.
Butterflies
Monarch, Lord Stirling Park, NJ, June 30, 2016 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)
It is 4th of July Butterfly Count season. Just as birders partake in Christmas Bird Counts, butterfliers census the local butterflies in July. A schedule of counts can be found at the following page of the North Jersey Butterfly Club of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA). Scroll down the page to view the list:
NABA Butterfly Counts in New Jersey.
View local eBird checklists in the mocosocoBirds region 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.
@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
mocosocoBirds 
Jonathan, FWIW . . . I don’t go there anymore (long story), but I worked at Fairview Farms for a couple of years and from 2002 through 2007 there were ALWAYS a couple of RB Nuthatches there in Summer along the main drive about 150 yards from Larger Cross Road. South side of the road in the evergreen trees. If you’re ever in the area, you might want to take a listen. Steve Byland visit my website at _www.stevebyland.com
Thanks for the information, Steve. Fairview Farms is a reliable location for Red-breasted Nuthatches, especially in the winter months.