Ross’s Goose correction, Jan. 18, 2013

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Jonathan Klizas

After viewing a photograph taken at great distance of the goose reported from Glenhurst Meadows earlier today, a conclusion has been reached that it is an immature Snow Goose rather than the originally reported Ross’s Goose.

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Ross’s Goose at Glenhurst Meadows, Jan. 18, 2013

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Jonathan Klizas

From Ellen Waldstein:

Hi Jonathan,
I saw the Ross’s Goose amongst Canada Geese in the Western most pond at Glenhurst this am….around 9. Pictures were taken, but I don’t have a lens for close up, so they are not worth sending…Thanks for this site! Ellen Waldstein

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Greater White-fronted and Cackling Geese; No Ross’s Goose reports, Jan. 17, 2013

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Jonathan Klizas

From Marc Chelemer:

Today, January 17th, between 12 Noon and 1:15 PM, I visited both the western end of Lord Stirling Road and the Lyons Vets Admin Hospital on Knollcroft, north of Valley Road. The Greater White-fronted Goose was on the eastern side of Knollcroft Road at the Lyons VA location. No Ross’s Goose was visible at either location. Other birders I met at Lyons, who had been to Lord Stirling, had also NOT seen the Ross’s.

Marc Chelemer, Bedminster
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Jeff Ellerbusch found 2 Cackling Geese at the equestrian fields on Lord Stirling Road this afternoon at approximately 3:00 p.m.

From Jeff:
“Cackling Geese are much more noteworthy up here than mid and lower Somerset. As usual with feeding Cackling, these two hardly ever raised there heads for more than two seconds.”

Two Cackling Geese feeding at the equestrian fields on Lord Stirling Road, Basking Ridge, NJ, Jan. 17, 2013 (Photo by Jeff Ellerbusch).

Two Cackling Geese feeding at the equestrian fields on Lord Stirling Road, Basking Ridge, NJ, Jan. 17, 2013 (Photo by Jeff Ellerbusch).

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Ross’s and Greater White-fronted Geese Update, Jan. 16, 2013

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Jonathan Klizas

As of this morning, Mike Wolfe and Chris Takacs report the continuing Ross’s Goose at the VA Hospital in Lyons (assumed to be in the usual golf course area). The Greater White-fronted Goose is at the equestrian fields on Lord Stirling Road in Basking Ridge.

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Red-breasted Mergansers and Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lake Musconetcong, Jan. 15, 2013

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Jonathan Klizas

From Tom Halliwell:

This afternoon about 2:45 I saw 2 drake Red-breasted Mergansers and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lake Musconetcong. All were in the area behind the theater and viewable from the boat-launch parking lot. The mergs departed while I was there; the gull remained on the ice.

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Ross’s and Greater White-fronted Geese continue; Common Redpolls, Jan. 15, 2013

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Jonathan Klizas

From Jennifer Brooks:

Today, I spotted both the Ross’s Goose and the Greater White-fronted Goose over at the VA Hospital in Basking Ridge around 11:30. They were in the golf course field near the parking lot. Earlier I checked the field at Lord Stirling Stables and I did not see either bird.
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From Alan Boyd in Roxbury Twp.:

Hi Jonathan – This morning I had about 20 Common Redpolls in birches behind Mooney Pond. The pond is at the intersection of Mooney and Conkling Rds. I have had redpolls at this spot in past years.

Alan Boyd

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Woodcock display in Great Swamp, Jan. 14, 2013

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Jonathan Klizas

From Terry Carruthers:
Hi Jonathan – An excellent day of birding starting with the Ross’s Goose this morning at Lord Stirling ended this evening with a Woodcock in full display mode in the Great Swamp (Pleasant Plains Rd.). Is this an early record?
——
From the Editor:
American Woodcock are found on Christmas Bird Counts. They are now annual on the Boonton Christmas Bird Count in varying numbers. There was one on the CBC last December 23 and six in 2011 for example. Of course, wintering Woodcocks in north Jersey are dependent on mild weather. A displaying Woodcock is another matter. 2012 saw an attempt at a display at Glenhurst Meadows on January 31. The next day, a Woodcock was heard peenting in Morris Township. Here is the mocosocoBirds post documenting those sightings. Both of those days were unseasonably warm. Currently in 2013 according to eBird, there are only three American Woodcock records north of I-195 in New Jersey. One is from Assunpink in Monmouth County; another is from Somerset; the third is from Morris. A birder I just texted with brings up a good point. Displays probably happen often with weather like this but no one is in appropriate habitat during dusk/dawn to witness it. Nonetheless Terry, this is an unusually early record of a displaying American Woodcock in the Morris and Somerset County region.

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Ross’s Goose Update; information and photos, Jan. 14, 2013

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Jonathan Klizas

From Karen English:
The horse meadow at Lord Stirling in Basking Ridge has a large flock of Canada geese which incude a Ross’s Goose yesterday and it is still there this morning at 10. The same flock has a Greater White-fronted Goose. Yesterday the flock had an albino Canada Goose which I could not relocate this morning, but it does stand out.
Cars and pedestrians tend to move the flock away from the fence line, so a quiet approach is the best. All 3 confirmed with photos to e-bird this morning
– Karen English
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From the editor:
Here is an update. The Ross’s Goose moved. As of noon, it is visible in a field north of the entrance of the Lord Stirling Equestrian area on South Maple Ave. A better viewing spot is here. Thanks to Jeff Ellerbusch for refinding the Ross’s Goose and supplying viewing information and photos.
Jeff has identified the Greater White-fronted Goose as the same one frequenting the VA Hospital grounds in Lyons. Therefore, if you cannot find either goose in Basking Ridge, go to the VA and search there.

Ross's Goose, Basking Ridge, NJ, Jan. 14, 2013 (Photo by Jeff Ellerbusch).

Ross’s Goose, Basking Ridge, NJ, Jan. 14, 2013 (Photo by Jeff Ellerbusch).

Ross's Goose, Basking Ridge, NJ, Jan. 14, 2013 (Photo by Jeff Ellerbusch).

Ross’s Goose, Basking Ridge, NJ, Jan. 14, 2013 (Photo by Jeff Ellerbusch).

Greater White-fronted Goose, Basking Ridge, NJ, Jan. 14, 2013 (Photo by Jeff Ellerbusch).

Greater White-fronted Goose, Basking Ridge, NJ, Jan. 14, 2013 (Photo by Jeff Ellerbusch).

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Greater White-fronted Goose, Ross’s Goose addendum, Jan. 14, 2013

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Jonathan Klizas

The Ross’s Goose was seen in the Equestrian Field along Long Stirling Road in Basking Ridge. Currently, it is not there. Instead, it is replaced by a Greater White-fronted Goose.

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Ross’s Goose at Lord Stirling Park, Jan. 14, 2013

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Jonathan Klizas

From Terry Carruthers at 9:57 a.m.:

There is a nice Ross’s Goose at the Lord Stirling meadow at Somerset Environmental Center. – Terry

[Editor’s note: Terry says pictures are forthcoming this evening]

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