mocosocoBirds

Waterfowl on the Raritan

Here are the numbers from the Delaware and Raritan Canal Towpath, Franklin Twp. as tabulated by Jeff Ellerbusch this morning:

Canada Geese – 1,600
Gadwall – 2
American Black Duck – 101
Mallard – 622
Northern Pintail – 1
Ring-necked Duck – 53
Greater Scaup – 1
Bufflehead – 46
Common Goldeneye – 58
Hooded Merganser – 3
Common Merganser – 24
Red-breasted Merganser – 1 (hen)
Bald Eagles – 3

Waterfowl on the Pompton and Passaic Rivers

From Tim Vogel:
Two Bridges, Lincoln Park

Common Merganser – 35
Hooded Merganser – 3
Common Goldeneye – 3
Ring-neck Duck – 8
Bufflehead – 10
– Tim Vogel, Denville

Other Field Notes

4 Snow Buntings were with the Horned Lark flock (200) on River Road, Hillsborough Twp. (eBirded by Jackie DeMarco).

Three Redheads found yesterday at Clyde Potts Reservoir were not there today.

eBird Checklists for the mocosocoBirds region may be viewed via

eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

• Morris County
• Somerset County

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

@mocosocoBirds at Twitter

is another communications stream. Instant field reports and links of interest are tweeted throughout the day. The

latest tweets appear on the sidebar of this page. One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

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Had enough of winter?

Great Blue Heron, Branchburg Twp., NJ, Jan. 28, 2015 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

(Click on the photo for a larger image.)

Snow Bunting, Horned Larks and Falcons in Hillsborough Twp.

(Merlin, Branchburg Twp., NJ, Jan. 30, 2015 – photo by Jeff Ellerbusch)

Horned Larks, Hillsborough Twp., NJ, Jan. 30, 2015 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Manure and the decaying remains of last summer’s pumpkin patch is drawing birds to River Road, south of South Branch Rd. in Hillsborough Twp. Highlights this afternoon were one Snow Bunting with 258 Horned Larks, meticulously counted by Jeff Ellerbusch.

(Heavily cropped photo of Snow Bunting at River Rd., Hillsborough, NJ, Jan. 30, 3015 by Jeff Ellerbusch)

American and Fish Crows are in abundance. Savannah Sparrows are working the road’s edge. All three regularly occurring falcon species were in the area today: American Kestrel, Merlin and Peregrine Falcon.

Savannah Sparrow, Hillsborough Twp., NJ, Jan. 30, 2015 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Many roads in this part of Somerset County have numerous sparrow-type birds finding sustenance on the road’s edge. The following White-crowned Sparrow on Opie Road in Branchburg, Twp. can be found with a feeding group of Song, Savannah, American Tree, and White-throated Sparrows along the roadside.

White-crowned Sparrow, Branchburg Twp., NJ, Jan. 30, 2015 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Redheads at Clyde Potts Reservoir

Clyde Potts Reservoir in Mendham Twp. remains a reliably open, albeit partially, body of water in Morris County. A Red-necked Grebe spent a month here during the frigid winter of 2014. Canada Geese are the main inhabitants as usual. A handful of Common Mergansers and a Ruddy Duck are also regulars. Today, three Redheads were found by Alan Boyd. They were still there late in the afternoon as group after group of Canada Geese flew in for their night roost.

Pine Siskin

Julie Buechner found the Pine Siskin pictured below with American Goldfinches, in Parsippany today.

(Pine Siskin and Am. Goldfinches, Parsippany, NJ, Jan. 30, 2015, photo by Julie Buechner)

eBird Checklists for the mocosocoBirds region may be viewed via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

• Morris County
• Somerset County

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

@mocosocoBirds at Twitter is another communications stream. Instant field reports and links of interest are tweeted throughout the day. The latest tweets appear on the sidebar of this page. One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

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Pileated Woodpecker, Great Swamp NWR, NJ, Jan. 25, 2015 (photo by Chuck Hantis).

(Click on the photo for a larger image.)

Tom Gorman writes of the vulture roost along Green Pond Road, Rockaway Twp., NJ:
“During post sunrise and at sunset, the reported Turkey and Black Vulture counts were noted (9 and 46 respectively). These species have been local to the White Meadow Lake east side for approximately 2 years now.”

A photo of the roost can be seen here.

Open water is scarce in Morris County. Every puddle and pond is worth checking. A condominium pond in Roxbury had Redhead and Common Goldeneye drakes this morning along with Ring-necked Ducks, Ruddy Ducks and Hooded Mergansers.

Common Goldeneye, Roxbury Twp., NJ, Jan. 25, 2015 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

This Mute Swan was on a resident’s driveway before scooting up the snow bank and into the pond.

Mute Swan, Roxbury Twp., NJ, Jan. 25, 2015 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Birds viewed from the Delaware and Raritan Canal Towpath in Franklin Township this afternoon include: 397 Mallards, 32 Ring-necked Ducks, 1 Lesser Scaup, 51 Bufflehead, 67 Common Goldeneye, 3 Hooded and 21 Common Mergansers, and 3 Bald Eagles. Gulls were represented by 40 Ring-billed, 26 Herring and 7 Great Black-backed (Jeff Ellerbusch).

Banded Red-tailed Hawk, Great Swamp NWR, NJ, Jan. 25, 2015 (photo by Chuck Hantis)

eBird Checklists for the mocosocoBirds region may be viewed via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

• Morris County
• Somerset County

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

@mocosocoBirds at Twitter is another communications stream. Instant field reports and links of interest are tweeted throughout the day. The latest tweets appear on the sidebar of this page. One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

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The 31st Southwest Morris Winter Bird Count was held on Sunday, January 18, 2015. Weather conditions are the main story as freezing rain fell in the morning creating slippery and treacherous conditions. Temperatures were forecast to reach 40 F degrees but never came close, hovering slightly above the freezing mark most of the day as rain continued.

Founded by Dave Harrison, the count is structured like a typical Audubon Christmas Bird Count with the circle centered around Chester. Primarily in Morris County, the count also reaches into neighboring Warren, Hunterdon and Sussex Counties as well. It should be noted that Dave wore the same light-blue crew neck sweater on the count for the 31st consecutive year.

Here is Dave Harrison’s summary of the day’s results:

Total species count was 78 – about the mean and median for the history of the count, but 4 species below the mean and median for the past 15 years. Positive results were outweighed by the negative (as expected) – here are highlights and lowlights:
Cackling Goose – 2nd time on count in the Hackettstown area
Northern Shoveler – 7th time on count
Merlin – 5th time on count
Red-headed Woodpecker – 5th time on count
Horned Lark – missed for only the 8th time
Common Raven – 8th time on count (almost all within the past 10 years)
Hermit Thrush – missed for only the 2nd time
Gray Catbird – missed for only the 10th time
Northern Mockingbird – only 7 birds; the previous low count was 10
Yellow-rumped Warbler – missed for only the 2nd time
Field Sparrow – missed for only the 3rd time
Red-winged Blackbird – missed for only the 4th time

– Dave Harrison

A Plea for Owls

This is meant primarily for the eBird nation but applies to all individuals as well. Please refrain from listing especially sensitive species’ locations. This applies specifically to Long-eared and Northern Saw-whet Owls this time of year but is applicable to any species deemed to be of extraordinary sensitivity.

The best tact to take is to wait a few weeks or even a season before submitting the checklist to eBird. The eBird people at Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology published Guidelines for Reporting Sensitive Species. Please read it and abide by it. Be a conscientious birder, not just a lister.

The latest report of the Somerset Greater White-fronted Goose is January 16 at Duke Island Park (John J. Collins).

The 8 Franklin Township Sandhill Cranes continue at either Randolph Road or Mettlers Rd south of its intersection with Weston Road.

A few scant reports of Pine Siskins in Hillsborough Twp. and at Scherman Hoffman Sanctuary in Bernardsville during the past week are teasing but fail to substantiate a trend.

Reports from various parts of the state are promising, but Common Redpolls have yet to penetrate the mocosocoBirds region.

The Southwest Morris Winter Bird Count was held in rainy, cold, soggy, icy, slippery, dreary, foggy conditions on Sunday, January 20. A complete report is forthcoming.

A Merlin was on Pleasasnt Plains Road, Great Swamp NWR, Jan. 19.

Merlin, Great Swamp NWR, Jan. 19, 2015 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

A Purple Finch is reported in Bridgewater Twp. (Jason Denesevich).

eBird Checklists for the mocosocoBirds region may be viewed via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

• Morris County
• Somerset County

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

@mocosocoBirds at Twitter is another communications stream. Instant field reports and links of interest are tweeted throughout the day. The latest tweets appear on the sidebar of this page. One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

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Duke Island Park‘s Greater White-fronted Goose (GWFG) is being observed on the Raritan River where up to 3,000 Canada Geese are resting in the water or on the ice. John J. Collings posted a sighting to the JerseyBirds Listserv today. That post can be seen here.

The GWFG was also seen January 14 by George and Gail Eschenbach as it flew into the river.

A Cackling Goose or two is available for those wishing to comb through the many Canada Geese.

The most recent report of the Somerset County Barnacle Goose is from Sunday, January 11. It was seen and photographed on that date at 4:30 PM at the Somerset 4H property which is across the road from North Branch Park (Jason Denesevich).

Barnacle Goose, Bridgewater, NJ, Jan. 11, 2015 (photo by Jason Denesevich)

25 Pine Siskins were reported from Scherman Hoffman Sanctuary today via eBird (Sam Galick). “(The) small flock landed in a black walnut tree next to the office. They did not go to the feeders.”

eBird Checklists for the mocosocoBirds region may be viewed via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

• Morris County
• Somerset County

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

@mocosocoBirds at Twitter is another communications stream. Instant field reports and links of interest are tweeted throughout the day. The latest tweets appear on the sidebar of this page. One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

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Lake Hopatcong

Waterfowl, Lake Hopatcong, NJ, Jan. 14, 2015 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

(Click on the photo for a larger image)

There was barely any remaining open water at Lake Hopatcong on Sunday, January 14. There is even less today. A small section of water, kept open with the help of dock-protecting pumps at Lake Hopatcong Yacht club on Bertrand Island is all that is left of ice-free conditions at the lake. This is one of the last open sections of water, other than moving rivers, in Morris County.

Waterfowl is crammed into this relatively tiny pool: 2 Mute Swans (down from 120 on Sunday), 6 Gadwall, 4 American Wigeon, 8 Mallards, 180 Ring-necked Ducks, 3 Lesser Scaup, 4 Bufflehead, 1 Common Goldeneye hen, 4 Hooded Mergansers, 5 Ruddy Ducks and 15 American Coot were joined by a Canvasback drake.

Canvasback, et al, Lake Hopatcong, NJ, Jan. 14, 2015 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Canvasback, et al, Lake Hopatcong, NJ, Jan. 14, 2015 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Towards the end of daylight, Ring-billed and Herring Gulls appeared from the north heading south. Who knows where they are from and where they are going. One lone Ring-billed Gull remained on the ice.

Ring-billed Gull, Lake Hopatcong, NJ, Jan. 14, 2015 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

The Somerset County Barnacle Goose is not reported since January 10 at North Branch Park. The Greater White-fronted Goose was last reported two days ago. Both are probably in the area as there are still thousands of geese lingering in this section of Somerset County.

eBird Checklists for the mocosocoBirds region may be viewed via eBird’s Region Explorer. Use the following links:

• Morris County
• Somerset County

The eBird Hotspot Primer is here and can also be accessed via the Hotspot menu item on the mocosocoBirds.com website.

@mocosocoBirds at Twitter is another communications stream. Instant field reports and links of interest are tweeted throughout the day. The latest tweets appear on the sidebar of this page. One can follow mocosocoBirds at Twitter or link to @mocosocoBirds.

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