Birds at Finderne Wetlands and other Somerset Co. spots, Oct. 13, 2012

From Tom Smith:
We went to Finderne Wetlands this morning and it was quite birdy – aside from the omnipresent goldfinches, most of the birds were Savannah Sparrows (which were everywhere), along with small numbers of Swamp and Song Sparrows. Some of the more interesting species included a Yellow-billed Cuckoo (late?), one imm. White-crowed Sparrow, a Tennessee Warbler, and a male Purple Finch. Surprisingly, there were only a few Palms and no Myrtles.

Duke Farms had a few Savannahs, Songs, Palms, Myrtles, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, etc., but no great numbers.

A walk through Glenhurst at about noon turned up a huge number of Swamp Sparrows, as well as a smattering of other expected species, including a Black-throated Green Warbler; the most surprising bird there was a Blue-headed Vireo that was in the scrub foraging with the sparrows.

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Glenhurst Meadows: Vesper Sparrow, Connecticut Warbler and more, Oct. 13, 2012

Jeff Ellerbusch spent most of Saturday, 10 hours, at Glenhurst Meadows, Warren Township. Of the 74 species he tallied, here are some of the highlights:
Wood Duck – 40
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk – 19
Cooper’s Hawk – 4
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk – 4
Killdeer – 3
Chimney Swift – 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 4
Am. Kestrel – 6
Ea. Phoebe – 8
Blue-headed Vireo – 2
Tree Swallow – 13
Brown Creeper
Marsh Wren – 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet – 17
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 41
Hermit Thrush
Am. Pipit – 22
Connecticut Warbler
Co. Yellowthroat – 8
Black-throated Blue Warbler – 1
Palm Warbler – 53
Yellow-rumped Warbler – 125
Black-throated Green Warbler – 2
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow – 105
Lincoln’s Sparrow – 3
Swamp Sparrow – 165
White-throated Sparrow – 140
White-crowned Sparrow – 5
Eastern Meadowlark – 4
Rusty Blackbird – 12
Co. Grackle – 1,000
Purple Finch – 140
Pine Siskin – 95

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Wildcat Ridge Hawkwatch, Hibernia, NJ, Oct. 13, 2012

Wildcat Ridge
Hibernia, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 13, 2012

Species Day Month Season
Black Vulture 23 28 28
Turkey Vulture 44 44 44
Osprey 1 41 136
Bald Eagle 3 15 84
Northern Harrier 0 4 14
Sharp-shinned Hawk 30 208 672
Cooper’s Hawk 9 41 122
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 6 8 11
Broad-winged Hawk 0 1 5901
Red-tailed Hawk 5 13 18
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 7 23 79
Merlin 0 3 13
Peregrine Falcon 2 4 6
Unknown Raptor 0 0 8
Total: 130 433 7136

Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 7.5 hours

Official Counter: Fred Vanderburgh
Observers: Nora O., Mike L., Pete W., Rick S
Visitors:
visitors = 75

Weather:
Temperature 44-55F, visibility 30 miles, 05 cloud cover then 40% cloud
cover late afternoon, Wind from the NW 5-8 mph.
Raptor Observations:
A good variety of raptors at various altitudes. A large kettle of BV’s and
large kettle of TV’s were included in this count.

BE Juv.@ 12:40, ABE@ 1:25, 3:10 DST.

Non-raptor Observations:
Myrtl warblers, white throated sparrows, phoebe and kinglets.

Foliage colors @ 30%.
——————–
Report submitted by Fred Vanderburgh
Wildcat Ridge – New Jersey information may be found at:
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/wldcthwk.htm

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Vesper Sparrow, Connecticut Warbler, Saturday field notes, Oct. 13, 2012

From Alan Boyd at Tilcon Lake:
Hi Jonathan,
Late this afternoon I had a Vesper Sparrow at Tilcon Lake off Kinney Rd in Mt Olive. It was associating with a few songs and an immature white-crowned not far in from the main gate. The only other birds of note there were 5 Pied-billed Grebes together on the lake.

Alan Boyd
—————
From Jamie Glydon at Melanie Pond, Hanover Township:
15 Canada Geese
13 Gadwall
3 Am. Black Ducks
8 Mallards
14 Green-winged Teal
2 Am. Coot
—————
From Mike Newlon at Glenhurst Meadows:
Highlights at Glenhurst this morning were Siskin, Purple Finch, Connecticut Warbler, Bald Eagle, Sapsucker; many Palm Warblers and Savannah Sparrows, a few White-crowneds.

Connecticut Warbler, Glenhurst Meadows, Oct. 13, 2012 (Photo by M. Newlon)

Pine Siskin at Glenhurst Meadows, Oct. 13, 2012 (Photo by M. Newlon)

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Siskins, PUFIs, Sparrows and seasonal spp. in Morris, Oct. 13, 2012

The early morning radar looked promising with a concentrated migration in the eastern United States.

The species most notable in Morris County were the expected Yellow-rumped Warblers, Kinglets and Sparrow spp. although not in any great number. Pine Siskins, Purple Finches (PUFI) and Lincoln Sparrows continue to be regular observations. Jamie Glydon and I worked Sayre’s Farm at sunrise with the following highlights:
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 8
Eastern Bluebirds – 8
Common Yellowthroat
Palm Warbler – 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler – 32
Black-throated Green Warbler
Field Sparrow -2
Song Sparrow – 20
Lincoln’s Sparrow – 2
Swamp Sparrow – 15
White-throated Sparrow – 4
Purple Finch – 4
Pine Siskin – 12
Am. Goldfinch – 40
————————-
The Vesper Sparrows found yesterday at Birchwood Manor in Whippany were absent this morning. Instead, 2 Am. Pipits, Golden and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Hermit Thrush, Co. Yellowthroat, Palm Warbler, Ea. Towhee, Chipping, Savannah, Song, Swamp, White-throated and White Crowned Sparrows, and a Dark-eyed Junco were present – 31 species in all. Not bad for what is a basic gravel and weedy parking lot next to an Interstate highway.
————————-
Dark-eyed Juncos have made their seasonal appearance in Morris County this week. Rick Radis reports 9 in Rockaway on October 9. Alan Boyd had 15 at Black River WMA in Chester Township on Oct. 10. 1 was at Birchwood Manor this morning, Oct. 13. Simon Lane eBirded 8 from Pleasant Plains Road in the Great Swamp NWR this morning. Also from the Great Swamp, Simon reports the first 2 Rusty Blackbirds reported on eBird this season in Morris County.
————————-
From Dan Albohn:
Jonathan,
Amidst the activity at the feeder this morning, I spotted a lone Pine Siskin. All was disrupted when a hawk swooped in and made off with something. I couldn’t identify the hawk.
I haven’t heard or seen the Red-breasted Nuthatches this morning, but they have been hanging around over this past week.
Dan Albohn
Convent Station (Morris Twp.)
————————-
From Jane Flynn:
Activity around my feeders (Morris Plains/Parsippany border) increased considerably this morning. Aside from the usual visitors, I saw:
pine siskin – 2
purple finch – 2 (male and female)
dark-eyed juncos – 2
yellow-rumped warbler – 1

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Brant, Red-throated Loon, Accipiters, etc. at Chimney Rock, Martinsville,Oct. 12, 2012

Chimney Rock
Martinsville, NJ, USA
Daily Raptor Counts : 10/12/2012

Species Day’s Count Month Total Season Total
BV 0 0 0
TV 0 0 0
OS 4 149 507
BE 6 50 270
NH 11 32 99
SS 240 657 1465
CH 26 102 265
NG 0 0 0
RS 9 33 66
BW 1 59 16391
RT 13 19 19
RL 0 0 0
GE 0 0 0
AK 42 144 653
ML 13 54 190
PG 3 32 39
UI 0 4 17
Total 368 1335 19981
Hours 10.0 90.8 338.6

Notes : NW wind. Good accipiter and falcon numbers. 9 Red-shouldered
hawks. 6 Bald Eagles (270 to date this season). Greater and first
of season Lesser yellowlegs, Brant (123), Red-throated Loon and
House sparrow. House sparrows btw are very infrequent visitors
at the Rock.

John Kee

Click on the following links to open the files in separate windows.
Hourly Stats Report
Bird Checklist Query

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Wildcat Ridge Hawkwatch, Hibernia, NJ, Oct. 12, 2012

Wildcat Ridge
Hibernia, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 12, 2012

Species Day Month Season
Black Vulture 0 5 5
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 2 40 135
Bald Eagle 4 12 81
Northern Harrier 1 4 14
Sharp-shinned Hawk 27 178 642
Cooper’s Hawk 2 32 113
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 2 5
Broad-winged Hawk 0 1 5901
Red-tailed Hawk 1 8 13
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 0 16 72
Merlin 1 3 13
Peregrine Falcon 0 2 4
Unknown Raptor 0 0 8
Total: 38 303 7006

Observation start time: 08:30:00
Observation end time: 14:30:00
Total observation time: 6 hours

Official Counter: Kevin McCarthy
Observers:
Visitors:
4
Weather:
Rain for first hour. Visibility 10 – 20 miles. Clouds 90% reducing to
50%. Temp: 47 – 54 degrees F. Calm initially with winds increasing to 5 –
10 mph from NW to W.

Raptor Observations:
Adult BE with 2 immature BE at 11:15 AM. Another immature BE at Noon.
Non-raptor Observations:
—————
Report submitted by Kevin McCarthy
Wildcat Ridge – New Jersey information may be found at:
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/wldcthwk.htm

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Chimney Rock Hawkwatch, Martinsville, NJ, Oct. 11, 2012

Chimney Rock
Martinsville, NJ, USA
Daily Raptor Counts : 10/11/2012

Species Day’s Count Month Total Season Total
BV 0 0 0
TV 0 0 0
OS 7 145 503
BE 9 44 264
NH 1 21 88
SS 85 417 1225
CH 11 76 239
NG 0 0 0
RS 5 24 57
BW 0 58 16390
RT 0 6 6
RL 0 0 0
GE 0 0 0
AK 25 102 611
ML 1 41 177
PG 2 29 36
UI 1 4 17
Total 147 967 19613
Hours 9.0 80.8 328.6

Notes : WNW wind. 9 Bald Eagles. 85 Sharp-shinned hawks. 1st swamp
sparrow of season. Red Admiral and mourning Cloak butterflies

John Kee

Click on the following links to open the files in separate windows.
Hourly Stats Report
Bird Checklist Query

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A Day for Vespers, Oct. 12, 2012

In the morning, Jeff Ellerbusch found 4 Vesper Sparrows in the community garden at the Orientation Center of Duke Farms in Hillsborough Township. The Rusty Blackbirds are the first known report for Somerset County this season. Impressive numbers of other species included:
19 Palm Warblers
2 Yellow-rumped Warblers
2 Chipping Sparrows
4 Vesper Sparrows
60 Savannah Sparrows
40 Song Sparrows
5 Lincoln’s Sparrows
20 Swamp Sparrows
25 White-throated Sparrows
6 White-crowned Sparrows
8 Eastern Meadowlarks
13 Rusty Blackbird flyovers
3 Purple Finches
51 Pine Siskins
100 (at least) American Goldfinches
60 House Finches
80 Brown-headed Cowbirds
Etc.
—————
Later in the afternoon, Mike Wolfe searched for an Eastern Meadowlark found by Jamie Glydon earlier that morning at the Pipit field of Birchwood Manor in Whippany. Unable to find the Ea. Meadowlark, Mike was able to locate 4 remaining American Pipits and 2 Vesper Sparrows as well as 8 Pine Siskins, and other Sparrow species including Lincoln, Savannah, Song, Swamp and White-throated and an Eastern Towhee. The Vesper Sparrow report is the only known listing for Vesper Sparrow in Morris County in 2012. Please be respectful of the fact that Birchwood Manor is private property.

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Wildcat Ridge Hawkwatch, Hibernia, NJ, Oct. 11, 2012

Wildcat Ridge
Hibernia, New Jersey, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 11, 2012

Species Day Month Total
Black Vulture 5 5 5
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0
Osprey 0 38 133
Bald Eagle 2 8 77
Northern Harrier 2 3 13
Sharp-shinned Hawk 15 151 615
Cooper’s Hawk 5 30 111
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 2 5
Broad-winged Hawk 0 1 5901
Red-tailed Hawk 1 7 12
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 1 16 72
Merlin 1 2 12
Peregrine Falcon 0 2 4
Unknown Raptor 0 0 8
Total: 32 265 6968

Observation start time: 06:30:00
Observation end time: 12:30:00
Total observation time: 5 hours
Official Counter: Pete Wilner
Observers:
Visitors:
7 + Harold

Weather:
temp: 46 to 55;
wind NW 5-15 gusts to 20;
zero clouds; bright blue sky
30 mile visibility;

Raptor Observations:
JBE @ 9:45
WB2 @ 11:08
last migrant @ 11:30
Non-raptor Observations:
i Eastern Phoebe + chickadees, no other passerines

Predictions:
more clouds
—————
Report submitted by Fred Vanderburgh
Wildcat Ridge – New Jersey information may be found at:
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/wldcthwk.htm

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