mocosocoBirds

And then there were three

Sunday, March 17, 2013

No.1 – the juvenile of American Road, Morris Plains is present for a 9th day in the same pond. The photo below was taken this morning by Joe Pescatore.

No. 2 – an adult identified yesterday at Lake Parsippany continues to cruise the water this afternoon. The photo below was taken after the third Pacific Loon was found at Boonton Reservoir.

Pacific Loon at Lake Parsippany, Mar. 17, 2013 (digiscoped by Jonathan Klizas)

No. 3 – another adult discovered early this afternoon viewable from the north end of Boonton Reservoir. Look eastward from the footbridge (the old Rt. 202 structure) towards the distant shoreline. The Pacific Loon was viewable and identifiable but not particularly photogenic from the long distance (everything at Boonton Reservoir is far). Immediately after finding, identifying and documenting the third loon, Simon Lane and I drove to see the loon at Lake Parsippany to make sure it was still there. It most certainly was – see the photo above. Below are photos of the Boonton Reservoir Pacific Loon from this afternoon. The photographic distance was difficult.

Pacific Loon, Boonton Reservoir, Mar. 17, 2013 (digiscoped by Jonathan Klizas)

Simon Lane’s photos sent from the Boonton Reservoir can be seen here.

It is official. Three Pacific Loons (2 adults, 1 juvenile) are currently in Morris County. This has never been known to happen before in New Jersey. Two has never happened before in New Jersey. Here is a map showing the location of the three Pacific Loons of Morris County.

Pacific Loon, Lake Parsippany, NJ, Mar. 16, 2013 (digiscoped by Jonathan Klizas)

Pacific Loon, Lake Parsippany, NJ, Mar. 16, 2013. (digiscoped by Jonathan Klizas)

Why have one when two will do.

After viewing the continuing juvenile Pacific Loon at Morris Plains this morning (Day 8), Simon Lane and I drove over to Lake Parsippany to investigate a suspicious eBird report of a Red-throated Loon from the previous day (sound familiar Jeff, Frank, Sam and Tom?). The water at the lake was very calm for the first time all week and it did not take long to discover a loon that was anything BUT a Red-throated. An adult Pacific Loon was near the north end of the lake. We watched and photographed it from the east shore of the lake while it periodically dove and surfaced. This loon covers a lot of distance quickly underwater. Like the juvenile Pacific Loon in Morris Plains, this adult can spend long periods underwater and be difficult to locate. You are hopeful to be looking in the right area when it does emerge because it may dive again almost immediately. At one point, Simon and I were viewing it as it swam near the north end. We stopped watching to take care of some Twitter and mocosocoBirds posting business after which we could not relocate the loon for some time until realizing that it had moved all the way to the southern end of the lake. Slowly it swam and dove its way back to the north end.

Here is a map with both Pacific Loon locations. The distance is barely 3 miles as the loon flies and 5 miles and 10 minutes by automobile. Here is a map of Lake Parsippany with the typical viewing locations. As always, be respectful and courteous. The entire lake shore is developed and populated. Some of the locals are very protective about their lake and the people who use it.

From Tim Vogel at 5:40 p.m.:
Pacific Loon continues at American Road, Morris Plains.
Also:
22 Ring necked Ducks
4 Gadwalls

Tim Vogel
Denville
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A wind-swept Lake Parsippany continues to host 300+ Common Mergansers, 21 Hooded Mergansers, 1 male Red-breasted Merganser, Ruddy Ducks, 10 American Coot and a continuously dwindling number of Ring-necked Ducks, now totalling 35. The Lesser Scaup appear to be gone. A Red-throated Loon was eBirded from Lake Parsippany this morning unbeknownst to me while I was at the lake in the afternoon. There were no photos with the report. It was not refound.
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The island near the southern end of Boonton Reservoir has a heronry currently populated with at least 15 Great Blue Herons and 20 Double-crested Cormorants. These are low approximations and the actual numbers are surely greater. Birds are coming and going and viewing the south end of the reservoir is challenging at best.

From Tom Smith:
I hadn’t heard any reports about the Pacific Loon today so I went to American Road in Morris Plains at 2 p.m. and yes, the loon is still in its usual location. Also present were 22 Ring-necked Ducks, 2 Gadwalls, and (briefly) a Cormorant.