Rock Wren, Franklin Twp., Somerset Co., NJ, Dec. 27, 2016 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

(Click on the photo for a larger image.)

The Rock Wren found Dec. 25 by Cliff Miller continues, today Dec. 27, at an active construction site in Franklin Township. This is right around the corner from the most typical Sandhill Crane locations. Cliff gives an account of why he was where he was when he found the Rock Wren at the JerseyBirds archive, here.

Well over fifty eBird checklists have already been entered for the wren. Who knows how many non-eBirders have seen it as well. Remember, use the stakeout Rock Wren, Rutgers Blvd, Franklin Township (2016) hotspot when entering the Rock Wren on eBird. This is to reduce the clutter on the species maps and other data reports. Please, look for a hotspot first before entering a checklist.

A general map of the Rock Wren area is here. The Google earth map does not include the buildings under construction or the roads the Rock Wren is frequenting.

Sam Galick created a NJ Rarities map which can be viewed here. This also includes the Rock Wren location.

The Wren was seen this morning working the curb in a southerly direction along Goshen Road. It hopped over Goshen to a dirt mound area along Hooper Rd. It then crossed Mento Way and spent a good amount of time among the lumber and other construction debris at the west end of Hooper Rd. It eventually crossed the pond and worked the curb along Rutgers Blvd. before returning to the mud mounds along Mento Way.

In other words, it moves around a lot and almost never stays still.

Rock Wren, Franklin Twp., Somerset Co., NJ, Dec. 27, 2016 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

The construction workers are tolerant of birders, so far. Please stay on the roadways, stay out of the way of construction vehicles, be respectful and smile a lot.

Rock Wren, Franklin Twp., Somerset Co., NJ, Dec. 27, 2016 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Rock Wren, Franklin Twp., Somerset Co., NJ, Dec. 27, 2016 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Cackling Geese in Morris

Rob Fanning found a pair of Cackling Geese among the Canada Geese this morning at Kitchell Pond at Loantaka Brook Reservation. The pattern of geese on this body of water is that they usually leave sometime by mid-morning.

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.

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

@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.

Finis