mocosocoBirds

March 3, 2012 marks one year since the first posts appeared on mocosocobirds.com. 386 posts and 366 days later, Mocosocobirds wants to express its appreciation to the many people who have contributed reports and helped grow this web site. In the past year, Mocosocobirds has published bird lists for both Morris and Somerset counties. These lists will continue to be updated and maintained offering a valuable resource for those interested in the bird life of these two counties. A reprint, or re-engraving if you will, of a list of the birds of Morris County from 1887 is also on the web site. Highlights of species seen in Morris and Somerset in 2011 are posted. This will be continued in the current year on a quarterly time schedule creating a cumulative record of 2012 for both counties by year’s end. Many projects are on the drawing board but it will take time to see them completed – one does have to go birding after all. In brief, the vision of Mocosocobirds is to become an archive of all things related to birding in the historic counties of Morris and Somerset and to promote an appreciation of birding and the study of nature in these two beautiful areas.

Good birding!

Jonathan Klizas

The late winter movement of Lesser Black-backed Gulls (LBBG) into northern New Jersey has ramped up. For the past week, Spruce Run in neighboring Hunterdon Co. has seen a spike in LBBG numbers with up to 200 reported. Smaller amounts spill over to the MoCoSoCo region. Somerset County noticed a few this morning with 4 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls mixed with 200+ Ring-billed Gulls in a farm field on Opie Rd., Neshanic Station. Jeff Ellerbusch reports another 2 on River Rd. near the Norz farm in the afternoon. Geese are also very active in the South Branch region with a Greater White-fronted Goose at the intersection of Rt. 202 and Old York Rd. and 37 Snow Geese mixed in with 1000+ Canada Geese near Studdiford Lane. On Opie Rd. this afternoon, Jeff had White-crowned and American Tree Sparrows as well as another Snow Goose on River Rd., north of Opie Rd.

Hoping for some Gull action at Budd Lake, this writer was disappointed to find only a few Ring-billed and Herring Gulls along with one Great Black-backed Gull late this afternoon. The Common Merganser numbers have thinned at the lake as well with approximately 45 seen.

The Redheads were not present at Clark Drive in Mt. Olive. This same non-appearance happened for these lingering ducks last week after which 19 showed up a few days later.

Submitted by Jonathan Klizas

From John J. Collins:

I went to Six Mile Run this evening and heard at least 4 Woodcock peenting and had a good look at one fly up in circles doing its courtship flight (twittering away all the time) and then plummet to earth. (Fortunately it was still dusk when this happened at 6:10 PM.) On the way back to the parking lot at least one Woodcock came out on the path right behind me and started peenting!

———————————————
From Jamie Glydon:

2 Woodcock on Jefferson Rd in Whippany. They are behind the Birchwood Manor in the field where the delivery entrance is. Both were doing display flights.

First, Alan Boyd alerted mocosocoBirds that there were 18 Redheads at Clark Drive in Mt. Olive this morning. Then Mike Hiotis sent the following: “Redhead roulette continues at Clark Dr., Mt. Olive as the gang of Redheads numbered 19 today!!”

When will it end? Where are they coming from and why are they going there?
——————————
An hour’s afternoon walk through Glenhurst Meadows in Warren Township turned up a handful of noisy Rusty Blackbirds, 2-3 Red-Shouldered Hawks, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and 5 American Tree Sparrows as well as typical species of the the area. An interesting item regarding the Am. Tree Sparrows: this is the only record in eBird for this species in the entirety of Somerset County in February, 2012! Not everyone uses eBird regularly for sure, but one would think this species would be recorded at some point during the month. Hmm.

Submitted by Jonathan Klizas.

Starting with Somerset County:

Any birder driving along River Road in Hillsborough Township lately has noticed the multitude of Geese in the Raritan River. Today, Jeff Ellerbusch surveyed the mass in the river from the vicinity of Robert Street in Bridgewater to Duke Island Park. He estimates 4000-4500 Canada Geese. Of greater interest, 16 Cackling Geese and 2 Greater White-fronted Geese (GWFG) were also found in the throng. Based on markings, one of the GWFG is determined to be the fourth separate individual in Somerset County this season. The Cackling Geese were in one family group of eight along with singles and doubles.

Morris County Lakes:

Mike Hiotis reports that the Redheads of Clark Drive in Mt. Olive returned today. Their numbers have been augmented to 16 increasing their already high count for New Jersey in 2012.

The two adult Bald Eagles reappeared at Mt. Hope Lake this afternoon. They are ignoring the nest that they built. The two eagles sailed over the lake and out of view. 103 Mute Swans are now at the lake, an increase of 40 since Thursday. The 6 Tundra Swans present on Thursday must have had enough and departed for they were not at the lake today.

Mt. Hope totals:
Mute Swan – 103
Gadwall – 4
American Wigeon – 50+
Ring-necked Duck – 5
Hooded Merganser – 8
Bufflehad – 4
Bald Eagle – 2

200 Common Mergansers and 12 Ruddy Ducks were at Butler Reservoir in Kinnelon.
Neighboring Fayson Lakes added another 45 Common Mergansers and 7 Buffleheads.

Indian Lake in Denville had 36 Lesser Scaup, 5 Hooded Mergansers and 7 Common Mergansers.

Green Pond in Rockaway Township came in with 200 Common Mergansers but nearby Split Rock Reservoir was absolutely birdless.

Lake Parsippany had 65 Gadwall, ~60 Common Mergansers, 30 Ring-necked Ducks and 5 Ruddy Ducks.

Submitted by Jonathan Klizas.