mocosocoBirds

Sourland Mountain Preserve in Hillsborough Township had Acadian Flycatcher and Gray-cheeked, Bicknell’s and Swainson’s Thrushes as observed by Jeff Ellerbusch today. The Bicknell’s was solidly identified by sight and call. Jeff’s was a long hike through the preserve. Impressive numbers of Wood Thrushes, Ovenbirds, Red-eyed Vireos and Eastern Wood-Pewees were tallied and are indicative of the numbers of birds in this area. It would be interesting to get a comparative number from sometime in the past. Also present were Yellow-billed Cuckoo and 10 species of warblers.
—————
Other than multiple sightings from Cape May, Red-breasted Nuthatch (RBNU) has been elusive if not totally absent from the rest of New Jersey in 2012, especially Morris and Somerset Counties where only 2-3 valid records have been reported. On May 1, Chris Vogel reported a Red-breasted Nuthatch from Cozy Lake Road in Jefferson Township. Quite possibly that same bird was found again today at this point. This is Newark Pequannock Watershed property and a permit is required to enter the wooded area. The RBNU was not heard from the road. In the same grove of pines were Blackburnian and Pine Warblers. Louisiana Waterthrush and numerous Ovenbirds sang nearby.
—————
This morning, an unfamiliar song was heard while driving near the southern end of Lake Denmark. Here it is, labeled as Mystery Bird. Whatever creature it was sang this incessantly. Finally, after 10 minutes of searching, the vocalist revealed himself to be…a Baltimore Oriole.
—————
For anyone keeping count, there were 127 Mute Swans on Mt. Hope Lake this morning.

Migration continues as witnessed by Jeff Ellerbusch at Chimney Rock in Martinsville this morning. Highlights of the morning flight were both Yellow-billed and Black-billed Cuckoos and the following 17 species of warblers:

• Ovenbird
• Worm-eating Warbler
• Northern Waterthrush
• Blue-winged Warbler
• Black-and-white Warbler
• Common Yellowthroat
• American Redstart
• Northern Parula
• Magnolia Warbler
• Blackburnian Warbler
• Yellow Warbler
• Chestnut-sided Warbler
• Blackpoll Warbler
• Black-throated Blue Warbler
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Black-throated Green Warbler
• Canada Warbler

—————-
A female Ruddy Duck was found this evening in the pond at Florham Fields off of Columbia Turnpike. There are late Ruddy Duck records from May in Morris County. Last year, 4 were seen on Mt. Hope Lake on May 22. Nevertheless, it is still an unusual sighting for the MoCoSoCo area at this time of year.

The number of birds this morning from Chimney Rock in Martinsville is impressive. Jeff Ellerbusch had the following:

1 Least Flycatcher
8 Eastern Kingbird
15 Red-eyed Vireo
1 Bank Swallow – flyby at hawk watch platform.
2 Veery
2 Swainson’s Thrush
20 Wood Thrush
80 Cedar Waxwing (at least)
10 Ovenbird
2 Worm-eating Warbler
1 Blue-winged Warbler
8 Black-and-white Warbler
1 Nashville Warbler
5 Common Yellowthroat
18 American Redstart
1 Cape May Warbler
13 Northern Parula
9 Magnolia Warbler
2 Blackburnian Warbler
2 Yellow Warbler
14 Blackpoll Warbler
41 Black-throated Blue Warbler
28 Yellow-rumped Warbler
9 Black-throated Green Warbler
1 Canada Warbler
8 Scarlet Tanager
3 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
6 Indigo Bunting
—————
Simon Lane and myself toured Mahlon Dickerson in Jefferson Township this morning. Migrants passed this place by but a nice assortment of breeders and such were in the area including Least Flycatcher, multiple Acadian Flycatchers, probable nesting Blue-headed Vireo, Hooded Warbler, Louisiana and Northern Waterthrushes, etc. Three singing Hermit Thrushes were found, two in the vicinity of the black spruce bog and one at the Headley Overlook.
—————
Two Common Ravens were on a high-tension wire tower on Upper Hibernia Road in Rockaway Township.
—————
Red-headed Woodpecker(s) continues at the beaver swamp of the Tourne in Boonton Township.
—————
Joe Pescatore found a Pectoral Sandpiper, later seen by Jamie Glydon, to add to the existing collection of shorebirds at Melanie Lane Pond in Hanover Township.
—————

Submitted by Jonathan Klizas