mocosocoBirds

Waterbirds

Last night’s frontal passage brought a sprinkling of waterbirds in the mocosocoBirds region. The male and female Surf Scoters found in the morning at Boonton Reservoir by Mike Wolfe remained throughout the latter part of the day. 80 Horned Grebes were also in the reservoir (Simon Lane). This must be a county record. It far surpasses any amount found in eBird for Morris County.

A Long-tailed Duck was found on the Raritan River along the Delaware and Raritan Canal Towpath in Franklin Township (Jeff Ellerbusch).

Long-tailed Duck, Franklin Twp., NJ, Apr. 17, 2013 (photo by Jeff Ellerbusch).

Other Notes

Morris County’s first Green Heron in 2013 was found this afternoon at Melanie Lane Wetlands (Jamie Glydon). And the county’s first Black-and-white Warbler for 2013 was eBirded by Jim Gilbert today from the Great Swamp NWR.

From John J. Collins:
I saw my first BLUE-HEADED VIREO of the year this afternoon while walking the Raritan River Greenway (it was located about 100 yards west of the Hibernia Mine Bridge from the canal path). Other FOY birds were 3 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS in trees along the river and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER by the former dam site on the river. A LESSER YELLOWLEGS was on the cobbles in the river at the foot of Robert St.

From Leslie Webster:
This morning brought 9 White-Throated Sparrows and 4 Chipping Sparrows to our Madison backyard feeder. The former is a high number for us and we’ve never had Chippies before. An after 3 PM walk in Loantaka Brook Reservation turned up 13 more White-throats, an undercount, I’m sure. There were three Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers in LBR, as well, with a possible 4th, but not wanting to double-count, I’m sticking with 3. 8 Ruby-Crowned Kinglets, no Golden-Crowned Kinglets, and just 2 each Palm Warblers and Yellow-Rumped Warblers were observed.
[Edior’s note: Add a Solitary Sandpiper and a humongous Snapping Turtle in the fenced-in pond]

Mississippi Kite at the Raritan River, Sunday, Apr. 14

One report that missed yesterday’s post was that of a Mississippi Kite (MIKI) in Franklin Township. Jim Hamer viewed the MIKI from the Delaware and Raritan Canal Towpath on Sunday, April 14. It was north of Landing Lane putting it in Somerset County. It was also moving and was not relocated.

A Bounty of Rustys at Troy Meadows, Sunday, Apr. 14

Another unintended omission from yesterday was the 410 Rusty Blackbirds (RUBL) seen at Troy Meadows by Mike Britt and Mark French. Most of the RUBL were seen flying out of the marsh in varying sized flocks at daybreak.

Vesper Sparrow at Great Swamp NWR

A Vesper Sparrow was reported from the overlook on Pleasant Plains Road today by Jim Gilbert. It is probably the same Vesper Sparrow found on Apr. 14.

Green Herons at Lord Stirling Park and Finderne Wetlands

David Bernstein observed a Green Heron this morning at Lord Stirling Park.
Vicki Schwartz eBirded a Great Egret, Green Heron and Greater Yellowlegs from Finderne Wetlands this afternoon.
These represent the first Green Herons reported in the mocosocoBirds region for 2013.

Other Notes

From Margo Beller:
Hello, Jonathan. This afternoon at Morris County’s own Frelinghuysen Arboretum, a fine place to go when work gets to be too much, I struck out on warblers but found both types of kinglet (2 Ruby-crowned and many, many more Golden-crowned), a Hermit Thrush, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (along with Flicker, Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers) and, most welcome, a Red-breasted Nuthatch near the Pinetum. A Red-tailed Hawk also soared by.

Late Saturday afternoon, during a short stop at the Griggstown Grasslands in Franklin Township, Somerset County, a Kestrel hunted. The grass is still short and the most abundant birds were Red-winged Blackbirds and Turkey Vultures, but there were also Bluebirds at some of the boxes, and also Red-tailed and a Sharp-shinned Hawks.

Troy Meadows

Brown Thrasher, Troy Meadows, NJ, Apr. 14, 2013 (photo by Jonathan Klizas).

The following account from Troy Meadows is a compilation of reports from Mike Britt, Tom Smith and Jonathan Klizas. Initials will be used as necessary.

The first Virginia Rails (2) and Marsh Wren of 2013 in the mocosocoBird region were found (MB). Hermit Thrushes, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets were widespread. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and 6 Rusty Blackbirds (JK) were in the woods near the power line on Troy Meadows Rd. Swamp Sparrows are abundant. Palm Warblers were sparse and the only warbler species found. Dark-eyed Juncos and American Tree Sparrows are still in the Meadows in small numbers.

Rusty Blackbirds at Troy Meadows, NJ, Apr. 14, 2013 (photo Jonathan Klizas).

Hermit Thrush, Troy Meadows, NJ, Apr. 13, 2013 (photo by Jonathan Klizas).

Vesper Sparrow at Great Swamp NWR

From Mike Newlon:
Great Swamp 4/14: Overlook had Myrtle and Palm warblers, Phoebe, Brown Thrasher, one Vesper Sparrow (flushed by a pair of joggers), 4 Purple Martins among the Tree and Barn swallows at the pond.

Old Meyersville Rd had many Spring Azures, two Mourning Cloaks, and an anglewing sp.

Other Notes

From Susan Treesh:
Large movements of Palm Warblers (very large!), Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and Swamp Sparrows at Glenhurst Meadows; small movement of Yellow-rumped Warblers. Glenhurst is perhaps 40% flooded right now, knee boots a necessity if going beyond first bridge!

Alan Boyd eBirded a Common Loon, Horned Grebe, and 40+ Bufflehead from Budd Lake.

Simon Lane reported Greater Yellowlegs, Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers and continuing large numbers of Wilson’s Snipe from Melanie Lane Wetlands.

Various eBird listings from Scherman Hoffman sanctuary in Bernardsville had Winter Wren, Louisiana Waterthrush, Palm, Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers.

Late in the day, Jeff Ellerbusch and Zach Batren viewed an American Bittern flying over the marsh at the overlook on Pleasant Plains Road, Great Swamp NWR.