mocosocoBirds

White-eyed Vireo, Morris Twp., NJ, May 11, 2014 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

(Click on the photo for a larger image.)

What a difference a day makes: Sandhill Crane, White-eyed Vireo, Tennessee Warbler, Eastern Wood-Pewee (widely reported), Willow Flycatcher, Yellow-billed and Black-billed Cuckoo. None of these were found on yesterday’s Big Day romp through Morris and Somerset counties by the mocosocoBirds Quartet (see the last paragraph in this post). All were found today throughout both counties.

A Sandhill Crane was heard at the overlook this morning in the area of the the right corner of the overlook (Jim Gilbert).

2 White-eyed Vireos visited the Moody Farm in Morris Township this morning. Also present were Northern Waterthrush, Tennessee Warbler, Magnolia Warblers, Black-throated Blue and Green Warblers, and the typical species of the area (J. Klizas).

Fort Nonsense, which is on Kemble Mountain – an extension of the Watchung ridges, received the first sunlight and lots of warblers this morning including numerous Black-and-white, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped and Black-throated Green Warblers, Northern Parulas and single Nashville and Tennessee Warblers (J. Klizas).

Both Yellow-billed and Black-billed Cuckoos were heard from the bridge at the North Gate of Pleasant Plains Road, Great Swamp NWR. Many Veerys, Swainson’s Thrushes and warblers including Tennessee, Wilson’s and Canada were recorded as well as Lincoln’s and White-crowned Sparrows (Simon Lane).

A migrant Grasshopper Sparrow was found at Glenhurst Meadows this morning. 6 Wilson’s Warblers and 19 Solitary Sandpipers continue the recent trend of high numbers for both of those species at Glenhurst. Also tallied were: Lincoln’s Sparrow, Black-billed Cuckoo and Bobolink (Jeff Ellerbusch).

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Morris Twp., NJ, May 11, 2014 (photo by J. Klizas)

From Leslie Webster:
“News from Loantaka Brook Reservation: Newly arrived in the reservation are Eastern Wood-Pewees and the Willow Flycatcher at Kitchell Pond. 12 species of warblers are feeding in mixed groups throughout the woods. At least one Louisiana Waterthrush seems to be staying, and I’ve never seen so many Ovenbirds. One, sad to say, dropped dead nearly at my feet. What a beautiful little bird when viewed close up! Four species of Vireo were observed as well.”

Big Day in mocosoco

Yesterday, May 10, the mocosocoBirds Quartet (Jeff Ellerbusch, Roger Johnson, Jonathan Klizas and Simon Lane) conducted a Big Day in Morris and Somerset Counties – for fun. From pre-dawn at the foggy Great Swamp, to the warbler hills of Rockaway and Jefferson Townships to the grasslands of Hillsborough and Franklin Townships to the Watchung ridges and back to the swamp again the total number of species is 141, or something like that, with 121 in Morris and 101 in Somerset (obviously many overlaps). Of the many highlights were 29 warbler species, Bonaparte’s Gulls on Budd Lake, the continuing Yellow-throated Warbler at Parking Lot A in Colonial Park, all of the swallows, Sora, American Bittern, Common Nighthawks, Cape May Warbler, Bay-breasted Warblers, Cerulean Warbler, etc., etc. The missed species are already forgotten.

Reports from the region (and beyond) form a consensus that today was an exceptionally good day to go out and look for migrating birds. Despite morning fog and limited visibilty, it is safe to say that most, if not all, of the regularly occurring warblers of the eastern United States were observed somewhere in Morris and Somerset Counties today. Least Flycatchers and Swainson’s Thrushes also made a push and the first Yellow-billed Cuckoos of the season are reported.

A Glossy Ibis was feeding in the ponds along River Road in Millstone this afternoon (Bobby Skrabal).

Yesterday’s Black Tern at Budd Lake is not present today although 6 Bonaparte’s Gulls are at the lake (Alan Boyd).

A Rusty Blackbird was singing at Black River WMA in Chester Township.  “A good day” for Swainson’s Thrushes is also noted (Tom Halliwell).

Glenhurst Meadows: 4 Vireo species, numerous warbler species including 4 Northern Waterthrushes, Nashville Warbler, 9 Magnolia Warblers, 3 Blackpoll Warblers, 4 Canada Warblers, Wilson’s Warblers, etc. (Jeff Ellerbusch). Susan Treesh reports “~20 species of warblers. Highlights were Worm-eating, Cape May, and Canada Warblers. There were also many Least Flycatchers and Blue-headed and Warbling vireos.” David Bernstein reports a Golden-winged Warbler, seen and heard near the foot bridge by the power line. It was not relocated later.

Chimney Rock has ~19 warbler species including Hooded, Cape May, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll and Canada but not the previously reported Cerulean and Kentucky Warblers of yesterday (Jeff Ellerbusch, et al).

Sourland Mountain Preserve claims the first Yellow-billed Cuckoo of the year in the mocosocoBirds region (Vicki Schwartz). Least Flycatchers and many warbler species are also present. The Summer Tanager has not been reported since Tuesday, May 6.

The soaked playing field of McCarter Park (a.k.a. St. Clare’s Fields) in Denville still has shorebirds: 3 Killdeer, 1 Spotted, 2 Solitary and 17 Least Sandpipers, 1 Greater Yellowlegs (J. Klizas).

Least Sandpipers, Denville, NJ, May 9, 2014 (photo by Jonathan Klizas)

Best wishes to all who participate in a Big Day and the World Series of Birding tomorrow. May all your target species be there when you are.

The third Yellow-throated Warbler in Morris County this season was found at Hedden Park, Randolph Township this afternoon by Julie Buechner. Somerset County has also had three reports of Yellow-throated Warblers in 2014. Also at Hedden Park were 2 Solitary and 2 Spotted Sandpipers, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue-headed, Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos, Louisiana Waterthush, Wilson’s Warbler and other warbler species.

A young male Summer Tanager continues at the main parking area on East Mountain Road of Sourland Mountain Preserve in Hillsborough Township (Frank Sencher, Jr.). Also present are numerous Scarlet Tanagers, Least Flycatcher, lots of Ruby-crowned Kinglets and warblers, Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, Indigo Bunting, etc.

Least Flycatcher, Sourland Mountain, NJ, May 7, 2014 (photo by Chris Duffek)

From Liz Mershon:
“Chimney Rock parking lot was quiet this morning, so I walked the path down to the hawk watch area. A Kentucky Warbler flew from the left side of the path (out of heavy undergrowth) to the right side of the path. Got great looks at the Kentucky Warbler before it flew back across the path into the heavy thickets. It sang once and disappeared into the undergrowth.”

In the afternoon a Cerulean Warbler was seen and heard moving up the ridge at Chimney Rock (Jeff Ellerbusch).

2 Common Loons and 4 basic-plumaged Bonaparte’s Gulls continue at Budd Lake (Alan Boyd).

From Ken Hart:
A nice 5-6 PM hour at the Robert Stahl Natural Area in Bedminster produced the following: Several Baltimore Orioles, a Brown Thrasher, Least Flycatcher, 2 Green Herons (continuing), Common Yellowthroat.

And on the south side of River Road: A flock of over 50 Yellow-rumped Warblers, one Black-and-white Warbler, and a Pileated Woodpecker. Also a Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

 Lord Stirling Park

Virginia Rail, Lord Stirling Park, NJ, May 7, 2014 (photo by Rob Gallucci)

From Robert Gallucci:
Huge morning at Lord Stirling Park.
4 – Solitary Sandpiper
2 – Spotted Sandpiper (the sandpipers were all together, I have a nice group shot)
1 – Virginia Rail
2 – Blue-throated Vireo
1 – Blackburnian Warbler
2 – Black and white Warbler
2 – Black-throated Green Warbler
4 – Palm Warbler
1 – American Redstart
2 – Ovenbird
1 – Orchard Oriole (Male)
3 – Baltimore Oriole
2 – Rose breasted Grossbeak (M&F)
1 – Ruby-throated Hummingbird (posing on a tree, which was a treat)
1 – Veery
Numerous Yellow-rumped and Yellow Warblers, Catbirds, Titmice……

Blackburnian Warbler, Lord Stirling Park, NJ, May 7, 2014 (photo by Rob Gallucci)

And from last evening –

From Pete Bacinski, Tuesday, May 6:
“I had a nice early evening at the gazebo lot at the Great Swamp yesterday (May 6) with calling Sora and Virginia Rails, a flyby Hooded Merganser, four Wilson’s Snipe, two Greater Yellowlegs, a singing Orchard Oriole, two Great Egrets, a Northern Harrier, a Palm Warbler and two Bank Swallows.”

Near dusk last evening, the season’s first Common Nighthawk in the mocosocoBirds region flew past the overlook (J. Klizas, Simon Lane).