Southbound bird migration is transitioning into the season of sparrows, finches, and short distance migrants. The past two days saw favorable conditions for birds on the move. View overnight migration radar maps at Cornell’s BirdCast web site, here.
A Connecticut Warbler was seen at Troy Meadows this morning along Patriots Path near the parking area accessed from South Beverwyck Rd. Five Lincoln’s Sparrows were scattered in the southern part of the meadows.
Connecticut Warbler, Troy Meadows, Morris Co., NJ, Sep. 30, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)
Purple Finches and Red-breasted Nuthatches continue their irruption into New Jersey and elsewhere.
Purple Finch, Troy Meadows, NJ, Sep. 30, 2018 (photo by Chuck Hantis)
Blue-headed Vireos, Blackpoll Warblers, Lincoln’s Sparrows, Eastern Phoebes, Northern Flickers, Blue Jays, even a few remaining Broad-winged Hawks are adding to the rich migration fabric of early Autumn as September gives way to October.
Blue-headed Vireo, Oak Meadows, Rockaway Twp., NJ, Sep. 29, 2018 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)
The previous week saw activity at North Branch Park, Bridgewater. The highlight was a Glossy Ibis (F. Durso) which remained throughout Friday, Sep. 28. Also visiting the flooded fields of the park that day were a White-rumped Sandpiper (D. Bernstein), a Blue-winged Teal and the continuing Pectoral, Semipalmated, and Least Sandpipers, and Lesser Yellowlegs.
Glossy Ibis, North Branch Park, Bridgewater, NJ, Sep. 28, 2018 (documentation photo by David Bernstein)
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.
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
mocosocoBirds 
Hi Jonathan,
I recently saw a red-breasted nuthatch in my backyard for the first time in awhile 🙂 You mentioned it was an irruption year for birds like this. I thought they were migrating south, but are you suggesting they will likely stay here? Just wondering..
Thanks!
They are moving around in search of food. So, some may stay and some may go.
OK, thanks!