mocosocoBirds

Glossy Ibis, Hanover Twp., NJ, Apr. 24, 2015 (photo by Jonathan Klizas).

With migration stalled in North New Jersey, the late April story is about the length of stay of some species in Morris and Somerset Counties.

Two Glossy Ibis are at Melanie Lane Wetlands, Hanover Twp. for the 5th day. Also present are 3 Great Egrets, 1 Great Blue Heron, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, Killdeer, Wilson’s Snipe, Green-winged Teal, Gadwall, and Tree, Barn and Northern Rough-winged Swallows.

The adult Little Blue Heron of Kitchell Pond at Loantaka Brook Reservation is present for the 13th day (m.obs.)

The Yellow-throated Warbler of Colonial Park is present for the 11th day in the area of Parking Lots A & B (Jim Mulvey, et al). A PDF of the park map can be seen at this link.

Boonton Reservoir has 4 Common Loons and 2 adult Bald eagles (Julie Buechner).

From Roger Johnson:
“Troy Meadows had 4 Great Egrets, a Peregrine Falcon and not much else.”

The Prothonotary Warbler reported over the weekend at Lord Stirling Park has not been seen since April 22.

From Susan Treesh:
“Had my First-of-year House Wrens today, both behind my house and at Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve. I also heard Grasshopper Sparrow at Negri-Nepote between Hannah Pond and the tenant driveway. I know it’s early, but I heard the song repeatedly, and I am very familiar with the song. I never laid eyes on the bird though. Also one Wilson’s Snipe there.”

Editor’s note: It is the first record of Grasshopper Sparrow this spring in New Jersey according to eBird data. In 2013 at Negri-Nepote, Grasshopper Sparrow was first detected on April 19.

The Little Blue Heron of Loantaka Brook Reservation (day no. 11) and the Yellow-throated Warbler of Colonial Park (day no. 9) continue in their respective locations (m.obs).

2 Bonaparte’s Gulls were seen at Budd Lake (Marianne Ofenloch).

25 Broad-winged Hawks passed the Wildcat Ridge Hawk Watch today (Fred Vanderburgh).

Finderne Wetlands had 2 Greater Yellowlegs and a Great Egret (Jeff Ellerbusch).

Other arrivals from April 21 include Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Chatham Twp. (Simon Lane) and Wood Thrush in Long Valley (Dan Fuller).

The two Glossy Ibis found on Apr. 20 were not seen this afternoon at Melanie Lane Wetlands. In fact no herons or egrets were there either. Killdeer, Wilson’s Snipe and a Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs joined the Green-winged Teal and other avifauna (J. Klizas).

The Glossy Ibis photos below are by Chuck Hantis at Melanie Lane yesterday, Apr. 21:

Glossy Ibis, Hanover Twp., NJ, Apr. 21, 2014 (photo by Chuck Hantis)

Glossy Ibis, Hanover Twp., NJ, Apr. 21, 2014 (photo by Chuck Hantis)

One Cliff Swallow was seen this morning near the Rt. 202 bridge at Boonton Reservoir, the only known nesting location of this species in Morris County. If they nest again it will mark the third year in a row at the reservoir.

The island in Boonton Reservoir is loaded with Double-crested Cormorants (DCCO) involved with nesting activities. 150+ DCCOs are regularly counted, and that is usually viewing from the southern end of the island only. Great Blue Herons are also making a stand with 20-25 individuals in attendance, at least. 6 Great Egrets were in the woods at the base of the island this morning and are regularly seen, but appear to be roosting only (J. Klizas).

Cliff Swallow, Boonton Reservoir, NJ, Apr. 20, 2014 (ID record photo by J. Klizas)

(Click on the photo for a larger image.)

Earlier in the morning, 2 Bonaparte’s Gulls were seen flying out of Boonton Reservoir (Simon Lane).

2 Glossy Ibis were seen at Melanie Lane Wetlands this morning in what has turned into a record spring for this species in Morris County this spring. It marks the 4th record in Morris, which is modest in general of course, but remarkable for north central New Jersey. 3 Great Egrets and the usual Wilson’s Snipe, Green-winged Teal, etc. were also in attendance (J. Klizas).

Glossy Ibis, Hanover, NJ, Apr. 20, 2014 (photo by J. Klizas).

The adult Little Blue Heron of Kitchell Pond, Loantaka Brook Reservation continues for the 9th day (m.obs.).

Little Blue Heron, Loantaka Brook Reservation, NJ, Apr. 19, 2014 (photo by Chuck Hantis).

From Ken Hart:
“Continuing Yellow-throated Warbler at Parking Lot A, Colonial Park, this morning.
Purple Martins and Barn Swallows are present at the Robert J Stahl Natural Area in Bedminster.” [Editor:A PDF of the park map can be seen at this link.]

(Yellow-throated Warbler, Franklin Twp., NJ, April 19, 2014 – photo by Tom Ostrand).

From Margo D. Beller:
“A day after telling you we had seen the Yellow-Throated Warbler at Colonial Park, today (Saturday) we went back and found, thanks to instructions from another birder, one of the Red-Headed Woodpeckers from the nature trail. Later, almost at the car, something familiar flew over and went to the waterside on the other side of the road from the parking lot. It was a Green Heron, my first of the year. We then went to Griggstown Grasslands where the most notable thing we saw was two Turkey Vultures mating in the field. No quick hits for this couple. Otherwise, it was mainly quiet.”

Red-headed Woodpecker, Colonial Park, NJ, Apr. 19, 2014 (Photo by Tom Ostrand)

From David Bernstein at Green Brook Park:
“There are now four Black-crowned Night-Herons and two Green Herons here (Green Brook Park). Not bad for North Plainfield.”

Kevin Browne saw 5 Red-headed Woodpeckers yesterday, Apr. 19, in the Great Swamp/Lord Stirling Park area while kayaking along the mocosoco divide, aka the Passaic River. One of the RHWO was exploring tree cavities.

Little Blue Heron, Loantaka Brook Reservation, NJ, Apr. 19, 2014 (photo by Jonathan Klizas).

(Click on the photo for a larger image.)

The Little Blue Heron of Kitchell Pond at Loantaka Brook Reservation spent its 8th day in Morris Township oblivious to the many people, horses and pets enjoying this lovely park on a beautiful day.

Little Blue Heron, Loantaka Brook Reservation, NJ, Apr. 19, 2014 (photo by Jonathan Klizas).

The pair of Blue-winged Teal who are at Loantaka for weeks were in the main pond today.

Blue-winged Teal, Loantaka Brook Reservation, NJ, Apr. 19, 2014 (photo by J. Klizas).

The Yellow-throated Warbler continues to reside at Colonial Park, viewed by several observers today.

2 White-eyed Vireos at Jacques Lane, Six Mile Run, Franklin Township, signal the first Vireos in Morris and Somerset Counties in 2014 (David Bernstein).

A alternate plumaged Bonaparte’s Gull was found at Budd Lake today by Alan Boyd. Here is Alan’s description from his eBird report: “Breeding plumage. Black head and bill, red legs, pointed wings. Buzzing some cormorants that were feeding in the water. Probably trying to snatch some food.”

1 Greater Yellowlegs is the only shorebird reported from Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve (m.obs.). 1 Greater and 2 Lesser Yellowlegs were seen today at Duke Farms (eBirded by John J. Collins).

From Walter Blenderman at Green Brook Park, North Plainfield:
“I was just down at West End Pond again, first time in the morning for a while. There were three Black-crowned Night-Herons (BCNH), two in branches ~8-10 feet off the water on opposite sides in the far back, and one in the front. It was in the water with a 4-5 inch fish it had caught, then flew up into a nearby tree and swallowed the fish. Right next to that BCNH in the water was the first Green Heron I’ve seen this year. It flew across to the left side, then perched in a flowering tree on the bank. They were regulars there last summer. This was between 9-9:30 a.m.”

Nesting

Tree Swallow, Lord Stirling Park, NJ, Apr. 19, 2014 (photo by J. Klizas).