mocosocoBirds

Anyone out in the field today knows what the graphical representation below of today’s wind feels like (click on the images to see a larger version):

Image courtesy of http://hint.fm/wind/

The Canvasback found January 19 by Jamie Glydon continues at the rear pond at Florham Park Fields. 21 Ring-necked Ducks and half of the Canada Geese flew up and away at 8:05 a.m. It was thought the Canvasback was with them. It either came back or never left because it was still there this afternoon.

A single male Redhead was found at the ponds at Clark Drive in Mt. Olive Township. This is the second year in a row that this corporate pond has hosted Redheads. Last winter’s high count was 19.

Redhead at pond on Clark Drive, Mt. Olive Township, NJ, Jan. 20, 2013 (Photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Budd Lake was windy, very windy. All of the ice is melted except for a rim around the lake. The Canada Geese were sequestered in the western section of the lake, protected from the wind. The conservative count was 3,500. You can add 1,000 or two if you like and I won’t argue. One Cackling Goose floated in the dense goose raft. It is visible in the photo below pointed to by the arrow (click on the image for a larger version).

The arrow points to a Cackling Goose among the multitude of Canada Geese at Budd Lake, Jan. 20, 2013

A Lesser Black-backed Gull was on the ice with hundreds of Herring and Ring-billed Gulls. Is this the same individual viewed last week and the year before and occasionally hops on over to nearby Lake Musconectcong?

Blurry photo of adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, Budd Lake, Jan. 20, 2013 (Photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Indian Lake in Denville had 46 Lesser Scaup, 10 Bufflehead, 4 Hooded Mergansers and 25 Ruddy Ducks.

Mt. Hope Lake in Rockaway Township is partially unfrozen but a small group of 32 Mute Swans, 4 Gadwall, 4 mallards, 2 Lesser Scaup, 9 Hooded Mergansers, 3 Ruddy Ducks and some Gulls was all that was there.

Lake Musconetcong is partially thawed. 7 Mute Swans, 2 American Wigeon, 15 Mallards, 15 Bufflehead, 2 Hooded Mergansers, 175 Ring-billed, 60 Herring and 4 Great Black-backed Gulls were all that was found.

My scope and I were nearly blown over while scanning Lake Parsippany this afternoon. 7 Hooded and 34 Hooded Mergansers were counted but the wind won out and this birder retired for the day.

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From Ken Hart:
Between 1-2PM today I located at least a dozen American Pipits behind Long Valley Middle School on CR 513/West Mill Rd. The birds were in the hedgerow directly behind the tennis courts. Also present were hundreds of American Crows, one American Tree Sparrow, three Black Vultures, and two Common Grackles.

As mentioned in a previous post, it’s probably not a good idea to hike around here with a scope/binoculars while students are in school.

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From Susan Treesh:

Hi Jonathan – a quick trip around the pond at Negri-Nepote turned up a flock of 7 Eastern Meadowlarks just north of the path around the pond. Also had a near-adult kestrel and a juvenile bald eagle.

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From Zach Batren:
Stopped by the Hutchenson Memorial Ponds (Franklin Township) off of Van Cleef this morning: Found 2 male, 1 female Lesser Scaup mixed in with about 40 Ring-Necked Ducks.

Lesser Scaup, Vam Cleef Ponds, Franklin Township, NJ, Jan. 20, 2013 (Photo by Zach Batren).