Common Redpoll, Rough-legged Hawks; Weekend Wrap-up, Jan. 6, 2013

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Jonathan Klizas
Rough-legged Hawk, Black Meadows, NJ, Jan. 6, 2013 (digiscoped by Jonathan Klizas)

Rough-legged Hawk, Black Meadows, NJ, Jan. 6, 2013 (digiscoped by Jonathan Klizas)

Two light-phase Rough-legged Hawks were viewed at Black Meadows this afternoon. This is an attractive hunting area for raptors, but how they tolerate the noise from Morristown Airport is a mystery, especially when a corporate jet loudly revs its engines for takeoff.
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A male Common Redpoll (CORE) highlighted the morning at Troy Meadows in Parsippany. The CORE was found with a small mixed sparrow flock along the powerline cut in the South Beverwyck Road section of Troy Meadows (kiosk parking lot). Other species at Troy Meadows included: Northern Harrier, Pileated Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, a wandering group of 50 American Tree Sparrows, Swamp Sparrows and other typical species of the area.

One of many American Tree Sparrow at Troy Meadows, NJ, Jan. 6, 2013 (digiscoped by Jonathan Klizas)

One of many American Tree Sparrows at Troy Meadows, NJ, Jan. 6, 2013 (digiscoped by Jonathan Klizas)

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A light-phase Rough-legged Hawk continues on Pleasant Plains Road in the Great Swamp N.W.R. and was seen by many today.

Rough-legged Hawk, Pleasant Plains Rd., Great Swamp N.W.R., Jan. 6, 2013 (photo by Simon Lane).

Rough-legged Hawk, Pleasant Plains Rd., Great Swamp N.W.R., Jan. 6, 2013 (photo by Simon Lane).

The Eastern Phoebe of Pleasant Plains Road was seen Saturday and has been present since mid-December, at least. Other than a single report in Massachusetts on January 2, this is the only Eastern Phoebe reported to eBird in January 2013 that is north of Forsythe N.W.R. in Atlantic County in the entirety of northeastern North America. This map is eBird’s current representation of the data.
– Select the Show Points Sooner checkbox on the right side of the screen.
– Use the Zoom Control (+ and -) on the left of the map to zoom into New Jersey.
– The map can be re-positioned by grabbing it with your cursor and dragging it.
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From Mike Hiotis:
Hey Jonathan, Due to northern lakes in the state freezing up I stopped by the Bernardsville Quarry to find 9 Lesser Scaup with 4 male Ring-necked Ducks. Among the 90 or so Canadas was a small individual leaning toward Cackling Goose,
Richardson’s variety but I did not like the bill even though it was a smaller, grayer goose than the others.
– Mike Hiotis
[Editor’s note: Lesser Scaup is an infrequently reported duck in Somerset County.]
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If you need Fish Crow for your Morris County list, drive to the rear of the Shop-Rite in the shopping plaza at the intersection of Routes 202 and 10 in Morris Plains. There are at least 20 Fish Crows, calling continuously, feasting on the delicacies of the dumpster and thereabouts.
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From Ken Hart:
Jonathan,
Since mid-November I’ve had 2 Red-Breasted Nuthatches visit my feeder every single day at 239 Black River Rd in Long Valley, which is 22 wooded acres, surrounded by many more. I don’t know enough about their winter population in NJ, so I don’t know how much of an “event” this is. But since I saw that you posted today that two were just viewed at Jonathan’s Woods, I thought I’d share in case they are indeed rarities in these parts. Thanks. – Ken Hart
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On Saturday, the Greater White-fronted Goose was seen at the VA Hospital in Lyons by Brendan Fogarty and Ben Barkley.

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Tale of a Canada Goose; Morris Lakes; Field Notes, Jan. 5, 2012

Posted on January 5, 2013 by Jonathan Klizas

On December 28, 2012, I found a Canada Goose at Black Meadows in Hanover Township wearing an orange neck collar with the characters, Y8M9. The finding was submitted to the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. A report on this collar band has not been received yet. Orange collars are used in the Canadian portion of the Mississippi Flyway so that much is known about the origin of Y8M9. This afternoon, Jamie Glydon found a Canada Goose at Loantaka Brook Reservation with an orange neck collar: Y8M9. It is approximately a 4 mile distance as the goose flies between Black Meadows and Loantaka. Here is a map. (Clicking on the blue markers will display information). Who knows how many other stops have been made by this goose and its comrades or if there is any pattern to their wanderings. Nonetheless, it is an interesting finding.
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Besides Y8M9, Jamie also found a Snow Goose at Loantaka.

Snow Goose at Loantaka Brook Reservation, Morris County, NJ, Jan. 5, 2013 (Photo by Jamie Glydon).

Snow Goose at Loantaka Brook Reservation, Morris County, NJ, Jan. 5, 2013 (Photo by Jamie Glydon).


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At least one Rough-legged Hawk was seen by various people today on Pleasant Plains Road in the Great Swamp.
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2+ Red-breasted Nuthatches continue in what remains of the Cathedral Pines at
Jonathan’s Woods in Denville Township.
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Morris County Lakes:

Split Rock Reservoir – frozen

Mt. Hope Lake – a small speck of lake surface is not frozen, harboring 15 Mute Swans, 3 Am. Black Ducks, 2 Mallards, 2 Ruddy Ducks and 5 Ring-billed Gulls.

Lake Musconetcong – mostly frozen with scattered, small sections of open water, ice fishermen and an ice skater: 5 Mute Swans, 7 Gadwall, 4 Bufflehead, 3 Hooded Mergansers, 1 Ruddy Duck, 100 Ring-billed Gulls, 10 Herring Gulls. Furnace Pond, the outflow of Lake Musconetcong, had 20 Ring-necked Ducks (the only ones seen all day) and 15 Hooded Mergansers.

Budd Lake – frozen except for the central portion of the lake, viewable, with care, from Rt. 46: 600 Canada Geese, 12 Snow Geese, 15 Ring-billed Gulls, 3 Herring Gulls. The Gulls usually congregate here later in the afternoon. Ice fisherman fishing and ice sailers getting prepared for their activity were in evidence.

Boonton Reservoir – entirely ice-free: 350 Canada Geese, 25 Am. Black Ducks, 12 Mallards, 14 Bufflehead, 7 Hooded Mergansers, 20 Common Mergansers from what could be seen.

Lake Parsippany – frozen except for a sliver in the middle of the lake: small amounts of geese and gulls.

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Greater White-fronted Goose in Bridgetwater; Rough-legged in the Great Swamp, etc., Jan. 4, 2012

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Jonathan Klizas

The Greater White-fronted Goose (GWFG) continues at Goose Island Park, I mean, Duke Island Park in Bridgewater Township. The GWFG was in the Raritan River with at least 1,000 Canada Geese. There were yet another 1,000 Canada Geese further east down river. The location of the GWFG is the western most parking lot of the park. There is a sign on the grass labeling the location as Jaycee Grove. The GWFG was in the river opposite the parking lot. In general, the number of geese in Somerset County is numbing. To quote Jeff Ellerbusch from a text he sent to me this evening: “The number of geese in Somerset is staggering – Franklin Twp. has more than Bridgewater, Hillsborough Twp. has more than Franklin, and Montgomery Twp. has more than all of them combined!”

Well said.
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Jim Mulvey reports the light-phase Rough-legged Hawk on Pleasant Plains Rd. today. Raptors were plentiful as there were Red-Tailed Hawks, American Kestrels and two Bald Eagles.
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From Alan Boyd:
Hi Jonathan,

This morning there was a Merlin perched in a tree above the buildings at the entrance to the Flanders Valley Golf Course on Pleasant Hill Rd.

Alan Boyd

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Sandhill Cranes continue in Franklin Township, Jan. 4, 2013

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Jonathan Klizas

2 Sandhill Cranes continue in the corn stubble on the west side of Randolph Road, Franklin Township this morning. They were south of the intersection with Apgar Drive. Workers are erecting simple wood slat and wire fencing the entire length of the cornfields along Randolph Road. It is uncertain how this disturbance may affect the Cranes or if the fence will obstruct visibility.

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3 Rough-legged Hawks at Great Swamp N.W.R., Jan. 3, 2013

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Jonathan Klizas

From Alan Boyd:

Hi Jonathan,
This morning there were three Rough-legged Hawks visible from the overlook on Pleasant Plains Rd. A dark-phase and a light-phase were perched a couple of hundred feet apart. Then another dark-phase bird passed overhead.

I checked Duke Island Park in the afternoon but I couldn’t find the Greater White-fronted Goose that has been seen there lately.

Alan Boyd

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Rough-legged Hawks, Short-eared Owl at Great Swamp N.W.R., Jan. 3, 2013

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Jonathan Klizas

Rough-legged Hawks (RLHA) continue on Pleasant Plains Road in the Great Swamp N.W.R. George Eschenbach and I saw a light-phase RLHA fairly close to the road perched in a tree opposite the overlook parking lot at approximately 4:30 this afternoon. The RLHA flew towards the river, eventually. On JerseyBirds, John J. Collins reported a light-phase RLHA earlier in the day near the abandoned heronry so one seems to be staying in that general area. There is also a second-hand report of a dark-phase RLHA.

On leaving the refuge at 5:00 p.m. George and I were treated to a Short-eared Owl near the headquarters driveway on Pleasant Plains Road.

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Greater White-fronted Geese and the return of the Spackling Goose, Jan. 2, 2013

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Jonathan Klizas

Jeff Ellerbusch and Zach Batren saw the Greater White-fronted (GWFG) Goose at Duke Island Park in Bridgewater Township today. Based on a possible different belly pattern, this could be a second GWFG than the one seen at Duke Farms. Tentatively, and based on belly markings, this may be the same individual who spent part of last winter at Duke Island Park.

The Spackling Goose has returned to Duke Island and is hanging with the Canada Geese and a certain GWFG. The Spackling Goose was first “described” last January in this post. It is making the rounds of the Goose hot spots in the area as Jeff says he has seen it at Opie Road in Branchburg and Duke Farms. It is a real party goose.

Jim Mulvey got a picture of the Greater White-fronted Goose at the VA Hospital in Lyons today. The goose was on the western side of the main drive into the hospital, Knollcraft Road. Remember those belly patterns. This may turn into something similar like identifying Humpback Whales based on fluke patterns.

The Greater White-Fronted Goose at Duke Island Park, Jan. 2, 2013 (Photo by Zach Batren).

The Greater White-Fronted Goose at Duke Island Park, Jan. 2, 2013 (Photo by Zach Batren).

The Greater White-Fronted Goose and the Spackling Goose at Duke Island Park, Jan. 2, 2013 (Photo by Zach Batren).

The Greater White-Fronted Goose and the Spackling Goose at Duke Island Park, Jan. 2, 2013 (Photo by Zach Batren).

Greater White-Fronted Goose at Duke Island Park, Jan. 2, 2013. Note the belly pattern. This can be unique to each GWFG (Photo by Jeff Ellerbusch).

Greater White-Fronted Goose at Duke Island Park, Jan. 2, 2013. Note the belly pattern. This can be unique to each GWFG (Photo by Jeff Ellerbusch).

Greater White-fronted Goose at the VA Hospital in Lyons, NJ, Jan. 2, 2013 (Photo by Jim Mulvey).

Greater White-fronted Goose at the VA Hospital in Lyons, NJ, Jan. 2, 2013 (Photo by Jim Mulvey).

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Rough-legged Hawk at Troy Meadows, Jan. 1, 2013

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Jonathan Klizas

From Roger Johnson:

Light phase Rough-legged Hawk at old trap shot area; also 2 Rusty Blackbirds,
[Editor: this part of Troy Meadows is the area at the end of Troy Meadows Rd. in Parsippany.]

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Rough-legged Hawk, Sandhill Cranes, Cackling Geese, Horned Grebe, Jan. 1, 2013

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Jonathan Klizas

After being undetected in the morning, various reports of light-phase Rough-legged Hawks circulated in the Great Swamp N.W.R. this afternoon. One sighting was at the overlook and another flying across White Bridge Road. Simon Lane managed to pin down a light-phase in the field opposite the abandoned concrete building on White Bridge Road.
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2 Sandhill Cranes were viewed from Randolph Road by Jeff Ellerbusch. 6,500 Canada Geese, 6 Cackling Geese, 2 Snow Geese and a curious small immature white goose in need of further study were at Selody Sod Farm in Montgomery Township.
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A Horned Grebe was at Boonton Reservoir along with 2 Pied-billed Grebes, 2 Common Loons, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Ducks, Hooded Mergansers and Buffleheads.
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American Pipits have been along Pleasant Plains Rd. the past few days, including today. Jim Mulvey photographed this loner at the back end of the Fenske Visitor Center’s parking lot.

American Pipit, Great Swamp N.W.R., Jan. 1, 2013 (Photo by Jim Mulvey).

American Pipit, Great Swamp N.W.R., Jan. 1, 2013 (Photo by Jim Mulvey).

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Eastern Phoebe, Common Redpoll, but no Rough-legged Hawks at Great Swamp N.W.R, Jan. 1, 2013

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Jonathan Klizas

Despite searching for most of the morning hours, Rough-legged Hawks were not found at the Great Swamp N.W.R. this morning. Two light-phase and one dark-phase Rough-legged Hawks were seen yesterday along Pleasant Plains Road.

The morning was noteworthy in other ways. An Eastern Phoebe was located in front of the overlook by Mike Almendinger. Three other observers were on it immediately. Later the Phoebe flew easterly in front of the birders. This individual, assuming it is the same one, has been in the area since mid-December.

Another remarkable sighting occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. when Simon Lane observed two Short-eared Owls lift off of the marsh and fly into the distance. Simon also located three Common Redpolls in a field by the north gate. An adult Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrel, Merlin and Northern Harrier round out the list of raptors viewed from the overlook today.

Winter Wren and a typical assortment of waterfowl was at the Friends Blind at the Wildlife Observation Center on Long Hill Road.

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