Blue Grosbeaks, Cerulean Warbler, May 29, 2014

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Jonathan Klizas

Blue birds lead the mocosocoBirds news today – blue as in Blue Grosbeak and Cerulean Warbler.

What was one immature male Blue Grosbeak yesterday and early this morning at Florham Park Fields became two Blue Grosbeaks later today (Alan Boyd). Below are links to Alan’s photos of the pair.

Male Blue Grosbeak
Female Blue Grosbeak

A Cerulean Warbler was found at Chimney Rock today by Mike Almendinger. Interestingly, a Cerulean Warbler was at Chimney Rock May 7-8. Is this the same wandering individual or a very late migrant?

Chris Duffek took the following photographs today at Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve.

Willow Flycatcher, Griggstown Grasslands, NJ, May 29, 2014 (photo by Chris Duffek)

Willow Flycatcher, Griggstown Grasslands, NJ, May 29, 2014 (photo by Chris Duffek)

Warbling Vireo, Griggstown Grasslands, NJ, May 29, 2014 (photo by Chris Duffek)

Warbling Vireo, Griggstown Grasslands, NJ, May 29, 2014 (photo by Chris Duffek)

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Blue Grosbeak in Florham Park, May 28, 2014

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Jonathan Klizas

A singing Blue Grosbeak was found early this evening at the Florham Park Fields. Following is a poor quality sound recording made in the wind with an iPhone:

Blue Grosbeak, Florham Park, NJ

The Blue Grosbeak was across from the rear pond on the airport side of the field before moving across the driveway near the pond. One was heard at this same location last year but apparently did not stay.

This afternoon, the Fish Tract in Florham Park was host to 9 Great Egrets, 5 Great Blue Herons, 2 Green Herons, 3 Killdeer, 4 Spotted Sandpipers, 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 2 Greater Yellowlegs and 3 Least Sandpipers. Considering the scarcity of shorebird habitat in Morris County, today’s list may cause a name change of Fish Tract to “Little Brig”.

Great Egret, Fish Tract, Florham Park, NJ, May 28, 2014 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Great Egret, Fish Tract, Florham Park, NJ, May 28, 2014 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

The Prothonotary Warblers of Somerset County continue with the 2 nesters at Lord Stirling Park (John J. Collins) and the single bird at Black River Road south of Long Lane in Bedminster Township (Alan Boyd).

 

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Prothonotary Warbler, Shorebirds, May 27, 2014

Posted on May 27, 2014 by Jonathan Klizas

From Ken Hart:
The Prothonotory Warbler located yesterday continues to be seen and heard at Black River Rd. (Bedminster Twp.), at the bridge just south of Long Lane at 6 pm.

The Fish Tract is a former farm acquired by the borough of Florham Park. It lies next to the Passaic River and East Orange Water Company property. It flooded with the rain storms of early spring and continues to be flooded. Habitat around the water’s edges has attracted the following: 2 Hooded Mergansers, 4 Great Blue Herons, 2 Great Egrets, 3 Killdeer, 2 Spotted and 3 Solitary Sandpipers and 4 Greater Yellowlegs were found before an unfortunately misguided young lad on an ATV flushed most of the birds away. Mosquitoes are especially nasty (J. Klizas).

Below are two heavily cropped photos from this afternoon.

Hooded Mergansers, Florham Park, NJ, May 27, 2014 (photo by Jonathan Klizas).

Hooded Mergansers, Florham Park, NJ, May 27, 2014 (photo by Jonathan Klizas).

Solitary Sandpiper, Florham Park, NJ, May 27, 2014 (photo by J. Klizas)

Solitary Sandpiper, Florham Park, NJ, May 27, 2014 (photo by J. Klizas)

Here is a photo of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Troy Meadows taken today by Mitch Van Beekum.

Clock Not Included (Yellow-Billed Cuckoo)

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Summer Tanagers, other bird notes, May 26, 2014

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Jonathan Klizas
Summer Tanager, Lord Stirling Park, NJ, May 26, 2014 (photo by Jeff Ellerbusch)

Summer Tanager, Lord Stirling Park, NJ, May 26, 2014 (photo by Jeff Ellerbusch)

(Click on the photo for a larger image.)

A pair of Summer Tanagers, one immature male and a female, was found in the northwest corner of Lenape Meadow at Lord Stirling Park by Jeff Ellerbusch and observed by others this afternoon. The male was still calling occasionally at 5 p.m. Single Summer Tanagers are reported earlier this season from Chimney Rock and Sourland Mountain Preserve which is remarkable in its own right but two at the same time is simply sensational for Somerset County. A late Northern Harrier was also seen flying low headed towards the Great Swamp NWR.

Northern Harrier, Lord Stirling Park, NJ, May 26, 2014 (photo by Jeff Ellerbusch)

Northern Harrier, Lord Stirling Park, NJ, May 26, 2014 (photo by Jeff Ellerbusch)

From Dave Emma:
“Today at Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, on the way to the Acadian Flycatcher spot across from the parking lot, I heard 2 Cerulean Warblers on a hill opposite the marshy pond. Its awfully late to consider these birds migrants, I would think. The Acadian was present as well.”

Cerulean Warbler

Cerulean Warbler, Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, NJ, May 26, 2014
(photo by Dave Emma)

From Carol Arnesen:
“I heard and saw Eastern Meadowlark at Griggstown Grassland Preserve this morning ~7:50. Not an uncommon bird, but this is the first time I’ve definitely seen it at this location.”

A Mourning Warbler was at the north end of the White Bridge/Meyersville Rd. wilderness trail in the Great Swamp NWR this morning (Simon Lane).

A Prothonotary Warbler was found along Black River Road near Long Lane in Bedminster Township (Evan Obercian, Frank Sencher, Jr.).

Prothonotary Warbler, Bedminster Twp., NJ, May 26, 2014 (photo by Frank Sencher, Jr.)

Prothonotary Warbler, Bedminster Twp., NJ, May 26, 2014 (photo by Frank Sencher, Jr.)

The Lord Stirling Park Prothonotary Warblers were seen by many people today.

Two White-eyed Vireos are on territory on Whitehead Rd., Washington Valley in Morris Township. A Tennessee Warbler was singing at the Moody Farm nearby. A Singing Swainson’s Thrush, a late White-throated Sparrow and 70+ Cedar Waxwings were at Fort Nonsense in Morristown (J. Klizas).

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Mourning Warblers, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, May 25, 2014

Posted on May 25, 2014 by Jonathan Klizas

M

is for May, Memorial Day Weekend and Mourning Warbler

Mourning Warbler, Mt. Olive Twp., NJ, May 24, 2014 (photo by Dan Fuller)

Mourning Warbler, Mt. Olive Twp., NJ, May 24, 2014 (photo by Dan Fuller)

(Click on the photo for a larger image.)

Several Mourning Warbler reports this weekend cap off the spring migration season. 3, as in three, were observed yesterday, May 24, at the South Branch Preserve in Mt. Olive Township (Dan Fuller). An Alder Flycatcher was observed as well. Parking for South Branch Preserve in on Wolfe Rd. The Land Conservancy of New Jersey hopes to grow this preserve to 1,000 acres as a protection for the headwaters of the South Branch of the Raritan River. The source of the South Branch is Budd Lake, New Jersey’s largest natural lake.

Mourning Warblers invaded Lord Stirling Park today. One was observed from Lord Stirling Road (Jeff Ellerbusch, Simon Lane). Two more were found near the Fisherman’s Lot (Jim Schlickenrieder). Jim and his group found another Mourning Warbler on the campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison.

As if that is not enough, Jim and others saw the elusive and mystical Sandhill Crane of the Great Swamp NWR fly past the Overlook on Pleasant Plains Road. An Alder Flycatcher was also seen and heard at the Overlook (m.obs.).

Back to Lord Stirling Park: both an Acadian Flycatcher and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher were observed (Jeff Ellerbusch, et al).

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Lord Stirling Park, NJ, May 25, 2014 (photo by Simon Lane).

An audio recording of the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher’s call is here (J. Ellerbusch)

Deerhaven Lake, Jefferson Township

Heronry, Jefferson Twp., NJ, May 25, 2014 (photo by Jonathan Klizas).

Heronry, Jefferson Twp., NJ, May 25, 2014 (photo by Jonathan Klizas).

The picture above shows a section of the 20+ Great Blue Heron nests at the heronry at Deerhaven Lake in Jefferson Township. The Green Pond Mountain escarpment is in the background. Blackpoll Warbler was the primary migrant this morning joined by Hooded, Worm-eating and Canada Warblers along with other typical species of this habitat. 2 Pied-billed Grebes explored their entire vocal repertoire. A young Bald Eagle coursed over the lake. A Wood Duck mother had 11 ducklings in tow. This is a beautiful but difficult to access location.

As is expected this time of year, there are voluminous reports from the field today, too many to relate in this space. Check NJBird and use the Counties menu to view rarities and eBird checklists or visit eBird.org and drill through the data.

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Kentucky Warbler, Alder Flycatchers, May 24, 2014

Posted on May 24, 2014 by Jonathan Klizas

Kentucky Warbler in Long Valley

Kentucky Warbler, Long Valley, NJ, May 24, 2014 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Kentucky Warbler, Long Valley, NJ, May 24, 2014 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Song: Kentucky Warbler, Long Valley, NJ, May 24, 2014

On May 22, Alison Goessling found a Kentucky Warbler (KEWA) in Long Valley. This morning, the KEWA was seen and heard again. The KEWA is on private property.

mocosocoBirds is leery of people abusing this location and harassing the bird by playing recordings (which is strictly forbidden) and, therefore, will refrain from publishing directions.  Besides, chances of actually seeing the KEWA are next to nil. The purpose of this post is to document the existence of what has become a rare species in both Morris and Somerset Counties.

Alder Flycatchers

Each spring is unique; each spring is weird. The May 13 mocosocoBirds post reports how Alder Flycatchers were over-reported and mis-identified last year. So, what does one make of this year. Alder Flycatchers are apparently as numerous as ever and are being accurately reported by meticulous people with hand-held recorders, otherwise known as iPhones and smart phones. Hopefully, others have honed their ears and learned the differences between Willow and Alder Flycatcher’s vocal repertoire.

3 Alder Flycatchers (ALFL) are at Glenhurst Meadows today (Jeff Ellerbusch). An ALFL is heard pip-calling in the following recording: Alder Flycatchers at Glenhurst Meadows (recorded by Jeff Ellerbusch).

2 Alder Flycatchers are in the Great Swamp NWR (Simon Lane), with the following ALFL recorded at the overlook on Pleasant Plains Road: Alder Flycatcher at Great Swamp NWR (recorded by Simon Lane).

It is hoped that other Alder Flycatcher reports coming in from Morris and Somerset Counties are a result of learned and meticulous attention to nuance and detail.

All of the recording in today’s post were made using iPhones. The .mp4 files were converted to .wav files and their volumes boosted using the freeware Audacity on a Windows 7 laptop. Android smart phones have the same capability. This is technology available to everyone. Please, use it.

As is expected this time of year, there are voluminous reports from the field today, too many to relate in this space. Check eBird.org for details of today’s sightings or use the simple tool, NJBird and use the Counties menu to view rarities and checklists.

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Friday Bird Notes, May 23, 2014

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Jonathan Klizas

The final phase of spring migration is reflected in the species reported today.

The Tourne had Gray-cheeked and Swainson’s Thrushes (Julie Buechner).

Alder and Acadian Flycatchers are in the Great Swamp NWR (m.obs.). The Alder Flycatcher has been present all week along the southern end of the wilderness trail at the end of White Bridge Road. The Acadian Flycatcher is at the western end of White Bridge Road between White Bridge and the old Millridge Swim Club property. Yellow-billed Cuckoos are hard to miss in the proper habitat.

Warblers continue with 15 species at Chimney Rock this morning including Tennessee, Hooded Warbler, Magnolia, Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, Blackpoll and Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green Warblers (Jeff Ellerbusch).

Migrants were light at Troy Meadows this afternoon but a Linclon’s Sparrow put in an appearance in the woods beyond the trap shoot area (J. Klizas). Below is a very poor quality identification photo.

Lincoln's Sparrow, Troy Meadows, NJ, May 23, 2014 (photo by J. Klizas)

Lincoln’s Sparrow, Troy Meadows, NJ, May 23, 2014 (photo by J. Klizas)

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Shorebirds in Long Valley, May 22, 2014

Posted on May 22, 2014 by Jonathan Klizas
Semipalmated Plover, Long Valley, NJ, May 22, 2014 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Semipalmated Plover, Long Valley, NJ, May 22, 2014 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Shorebird habitat is always scarce in Morris County. It was a surprise to find 5 Semipalmated Plovers, 10 Least Sandpipers, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 3 Spotted Sandpipers and resident Killdeer on a flooded cornfield in Long Valley this afternoon. This is the same field on Beacon Hill Road which hosted the Greater White-fronted Goose this past March.

From Ben Barkley:
“Cerulean Warbler at Lord Stirling Park. While walking this evening on White Bridge Road I heard a quite late Cerulean Warbler singing from Lord Stirling Park. The bird sang pretty consistently for about 15 minutes. It was singing along the gravel road past the entrance to the center. There is a gate on the Stirling side of the road that says something along the lines of “no trail beyond this point” (this is between the center and the Fisherman’s Lot). This spot was the best vantage to hear it. From what I could tell the bird seemed to be at the far edge of the field across the parking lot from the main building This is only my second ever Cerulean Warbler for the Lord Stirling area. I left the bird around 7 pm with it still singing. There has also been a Canada Warbler hanging out in this same spot for the past couple of days.”

Yesterday was a mini-thrush fest at Sourland Mountain Preserve in Hillsborough Township with 7 Veerys, a singing Gray-cheeked Thrush, 5 Swainson’s Thrushes and 17 Wood Thrushes (Jeff Ellerbusch).

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Tuesday Bird Notes, May 20, 2014

Posted on May 20, 2014 by Jonathan Klizas

An singing Alder Flycatcher was at the Great Swamp NWR this morning in the wet woods along the mucky Wilderness Trail. Northern Waterthrush, Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Veerys, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and all of the typical species were present (J. Klizas).

A Prothonotary Warbler was seen and heard today at the New Vernon Road bridge over Black Brook in the Great Swamp (David Bernstein). There are several reports of Prothonotary Warblers in the Great Swamp recently. The well-known breeding Prothonotarys are along the Passaic River, viewed form the Somerset County side at Lord Stirling Park. Do these Great Swamp birds represent an expansion?

The Mourning Warbler found yesterday at Troy Meadows was there this morning (Mike Ostrow).

31 Common Nighthawks flew over Glenhurst Meadows early this evening (Jeff Ellerbusch).

15 species of warblers were observed at Chimney Rock this morning including 2 Tennessee Warblers (Jeff Ellerbusch).

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Mourning Warbler, Vireo ID, May 19, 2014

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Jonathan Klizas

The first Mourning Warbler (MOWA) of 2014 in Morris County was found this afternoon at Troy Meadows by Julie Buechner and seen later by others. The male MOWA was just west of the old shooting range on Troy Meadows Road, usually in the trees and shrubs on the south side of the road, occasionally moving to some bushes on the other side of the road. It never sang, chipped occasionally and generally skulked.

Yesterday, May 18, Robert Gallucci manged to get a photograph of a Prothonotary Warbler at Glenhurst Meadows which is shown below.

Prothonotary Warbler, Glenhurst Meadows, NJ, May 18, 2014 (photo by Robert Gallucci)

Prothonotary Warbler, Glenhurst Meadows, NJ, May 18, 2014 (photo by Robert Gallucci)

There were also reports of a Prothonotary Warbler from the Great Swamp NWR yesterday but without any supportive media documentation. As far as is known, that individual was not located today.

Vireo Identity

The following photographs are from May 18, taken in a back yard in Lincoln Park. The identity of this Vireo has stirred some debate. What do you think?

 

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