An adult male Surf Scoter at Lake Parsippany capped a productive five-day period of local rarities in Morris County. The Scoter was viewed throughout the day, resting with its head tucked in. Occasionally, it would lift its head showing off its orange bill.

Surf Scoter with Ruddy Ducks and Buffleheads, Lake Parsippany, NJ, Nov. 5, 2017

The Red-throated Loon of Boonton Reservoir continues for a  fifth day. The Great Cormorant found on November 1 has not been seen since.

Red-throated Loon, Boonton Reservoir, NJ, Nov. 5, 2017 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

A drake Eurasian Wigeon was found yesterday, November 4, at the Clark Drive swamp in Mount Olive Township. A Eurasian Wigeon spent last fall and winter in the western lakes of Morris County.

Some may remember Clark Drive from 2012 when up to 18 Redheads were in the corporate pond. The swamp fed by Wills Brook on the northeast side of the railroad tracks is a productive waterfowl spot. The species present Nov. 4 included the Eurasian Wigeon, 3 Northern Shovelers, 35 Gadwall, 12 American Wigeon, 4 Green-winged Teal, 6 Am. Black Ducks, a Pied-billed Grebe, 2 Great Blue Herons and 2 American Coot as well as Mallards, Canada Geese and a Belted Kingfisher.

Eurasian Wigeon, Mt. Olive Twp., NJ, Nov. 4, 2017 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

A Magnolia Warbler at the Tilcon Lake area of Mount Olive Twp. on Nov. 4 was both a surprise and a probable locally late date for this species.

The Northern Shrike continues at the overlook on Pleasant Plains Road in the Great Swamp NWR. Some people saw it today and some didn’t.

Morristown’s White Ibis at Speedwell Lake was seen through yesterday, Nov. 4 but not today. It could simply be in an inaccessible location or flown to warmer climes.

Vesper Sparrows were seen today at the Great Swamp (many observers), and the old, defunct Hanover airport in Troy Meadows (Jeff Ellerbusch) where two late western Palm Warblers were also present.

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.

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