mocosocoBirds

Bald Eagle Meal, Franklin Twp., Jan. 8, 2014 (photo by Jim Gilbert)

Unfortunately, the Red-throated Loon was not alive when Jim Gilbert found it at Colonial Park, Franklin Twp. Here is Jim’s account:”Not the typical field guide view, but there it was, and I’m sure still is except for the parts that left with the Bald Eagle. I wonder how things transpired before I arrived. Unfortunately I had my eye on another eagle in a nearby tree and saw the one on the ice only as I crested the berm across the road from the tennis courts. No chance for a photo before the feeding eagle flushed. The loon looks to be in fairly good shape considering. No open water on that pond and I doubt that the eagle would have carried it there.”
——————————-
From Tim Vogel, Jan. 7, 2014:
Spent a few hours today working the Rockaway River starting in Jefferson along Berkshire Valley rd, into Dover, Rockaway, Denville and Boonton. Not much to report except a fair number of Hooded Mergansers at most stops.
At the Indian Lake spillway, Denville (Den Brook):
Hooded Mergansers 6
Lesser Scaup 4
Ring-necked Duck 8
Also a swan I identified as a Tundra Swan but I’m not 100% on the ID. It didn’t present as cleanly as I wished. I know a Trumpeter had been on Mt Hope pond this fall.
On the main lake I had 5 Mute Swans and 2 female Scaup (sp.) in a small opening.
Lots of Robins around. – Tim Vogel, Denville

The Glaucous and Iceland Gulls did not reappear in Hillsborough today (See yesterday’s post). A Lesser Black-backed was with Ring-billed, Herring and Great Black-backed in the morning as a wicked rain and wind storm pummeled the area. All of the gulls were gone by late afternoon.

Here are photos taken yesterday of the adult Glaucous Gull and 2nd cycle Iceland Gull.

Glaucous Gull, Hillsborough Twp., NJ, Jan. 5, 2014 (photo by Jeff Ellerbusch).

Iceland Gull, Hillsborough Twp., NJ, Jan. 5, 2014 (photo by Jeff Ellerbusch).

On the Raritan River today, viewed from the D&R Towpath in Franklin Township (Jeff Ellerbusch):
74 Ring-necked Ducks
52 Bufflehead
48 Common Goldeneye
2 Lesser Scaup
17 Common Mergansers
Canada Geese, Mallards, Am. Black Ducks

175 Snow Geese were seen flying north over I-287 this afternoon in the Pluckemin area of Somerset County (J. Klizas).

From Chuck Smith (Jan. 5):
A single female Common Goldeneye was mixed in with good numbers of Hooded Mergansers, Ringed-necked Ducks, Buffleheads and a few Common Mergansers on the Passaic River at Two Bridges, Lincoln Park.

Great Brook, Great Swamp NWR, NJ, Jan. 3, 2014 (photo by Jonathan Klizas).

(Click on the photo for a larger image).

4 to 6 inches of powdery snow fell in the Morris/Somerset region overnight – a modest event. However, the Saturday morning forecast calls for the temperature to be -2 degrees Fahrenheit at dawn. This snow and ice is not going anywhere right now.

The Great Swamp NWR proved to be a pleasant ride during the day. One could bird from their car during the blustery frigid afternoon (temperature in the teens (Fahrenheit) with a cutting wind). A few minutes outside of the car to take in the snowy terrain and blue-sky scenery was as close to experiencing hypothermia as one would like.

150 Snow Geese were flyovers in Chatham Township; a Common Raven was observed in Myersville; a Red-shouldered Hawk was seen at the overlook at Pleasant Plains Rd., Great Swamp NWR (Simon Lane).

An adult male Northern Harrier (“Gray Ghost”) was hunting the marsh at the end of Woodland Road, Great Swamp NWR (J. Klizas).

Chuck Hantis photographed a chilled American Kestrel and an American Tree Sparrow at the Great Swamp NWR today.

American Kestrel, Great Swamp NWR, Jan. 3, 2014 (photo by Chuck Hantis).

American Tree Sparrow, Great Swamp NWR, NJ, Jan. 3, 2014 (photo by Chuck Hantis).

The leucistic Dark-eyed Junco below was photographed at a feeder in Gillette, Long Hill Township. Thanks to Joyce and Robert Stapperfenne for sharing the photo.

Leucistic Dark-eyed Junco, Gillette, NJ, Jan. 3, 2014 (photo by Joyce and Robert Stapperfenne).

Bernardsville Quarry (Old Quarry Rd.) had 300+ Canada Geese, 9 Gadwall, 26 Am. Black Ducks, 92 Mallards, 4 Northern Pintail, 3 Ring-necked Ducks, 1 Bufflehead, 1 Ruddy Duck and 2 Common Ravens (Jeff Ellerbusch).

The frozen northern section of Lake Hopatcong at Nolan’s Point was deserted of birds late this afternoon – no swans, no gulls, no ducks. The 5 Tundra Swans moved south to Bertrand’s Island, joining the decreasing number of ducks congregated near the yacht club. 2 female Common Goldeneye were with the swans, Gadwall, Mallards, Ring-necked Ducks, Hooded Mergansers and Buffleheads. Only a very few gulls were seen flying. Decreased visibility with the oncoming snowstorm and biting cold contributes to a minimal report.

The Glaucous Gull found yesterday at Boonton Reservoir was not reported today. Viewing after sunset was non-productive with distant Ring-billed and Herring Gulls being the only birds identifiable.
——————–
1 Cackling Goose was found with hundreds of Canada Geese at North Branch Park (Jeff Ellerbusch).

5 Common Ravens were at Homestead Road, Hillsborough Township.
——————–
From Margo D. Beller, Jan. 1, 2014:
“This New Year’s Day my husband and I walked into Troy Meadows via the unimproved part of Troy Meadows Rd. beyond the small lot. The predominant birds were of the woodpecker family – 2 Pileateds, at least 6 Red-bellieds, a Downy and one of the Red-headed Woodpeckers. Unfortunately, the road is very icy and about halfway between the bridge over Troy Brook and where the road turns left, it was completely impassable for us.

From there we drove to the Patriots Path entrance at South Beverwyck where there was a large flock of Blue Jays and a smaller one of Titmice. Once down the (mainly ice-free) path to the field, we were walking on frozen grass over ice over water, a very spongy feel under our boots. We did not go far, especially when we heard an ATV roaring through the trees at the edge of the marsh. Based on what we heard – stopping and starting in one area – we can only hope it got stuck in the boggy terrain.

Our final stop was at the Patriots Path trail head off Troy Road in Hanover. Here we found many White-throated Sparrows and 4 young men on their ATVs in the woods behind the houses, too close to the marsh and the power lines for our comfort.

We saw no raptors at Troy Meadows but a sharp-shinned hawk flew over Reynolds Ave. as we drove home.

You are right, it will be a long month once the snow and the big chill come. I have my feeders filled.”

Happy New Year, indeed!

Glaucous Gull at Boonton Reservoir, found and photographed by Julie Buechner.

Daylight ended on the first day of 2014 with a Glaucous Gull, found by Julie Buechner , roosting on the ice at the north end of Boonton Reservoir. Even at a distance, the Glaucous Gull stood out among the 300 pale gray Ring-billed and Herring Gulls. Most of the gulls were elsewhere during the morning and early afternoon. Earlier in the day, the south end of the reservoir had 143 Common Mergansers, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers a handful of Buffleheads, one or two Ring-necked Ducks and Scaup sp. and that is all. The morning saw most of the reservoir covered in a paper-thin sheet of ice. This melted by Glaucous Gull-time later in the day except for hard-core freezing in the corners and edges of the reservoir.

Lake Hopatcong

It is a pleasure to see Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey’s largest lake, receiving more attention from birders. It is a major untapped birding resource in North Jersey, at least in autumn, winter and early spring. In other words, until all of the boats come out of dry dock.

Highlights from today include:
Tundra Swans – 5, same general location as the previous day off Nolan’s Point.
Mute Swans – 57
Gadwall – 3
American Black Duck – 13
Mallard – 263
Ring-necked Duck – 293 at Bertrand’s Island.
Greater Scaup – 2 hens, an excellent species for Morris County where Lesser Scaup are prevalent.

Greater Scaup, Lake Hopatcong, NJ, Jan. 1, 2014 (digiscoped by Jonathan Klizas).

Lesser Scaup – 5
Long-tailed Duck – 2
Bufflehead – 45
Common Goldeneye – 1
Hooded Merganser – 32
Common Merganser – 7
Ruddy Duck – 43
American Coot – 4
Great Black-backed Gull – 54, the highest known tally ever in Morris County. 50 were counted on Lake Parsippany in 1984. All data are sourced from eBird.
Lesser Black-backed Gull – 1

Lesser Black-backed Gull, Lk. Hopatcong, NJ, Jan. 1, 2014 (photo by Jamie Glydon).

The birds were observed at different times of the day. The Great Black-backed Gull count was early in the 17-degree-Fahrenheit morning. All of the gulls became aloft and went elsewhere as one of the resident Bald Eagles cruised by (J. Klizas). The Common Goldeneye was seen later in the morning (Simon Lane). The Long-tailed Ducks and the Lesser Black-backed Gull were found in the afternoon (Jamie Glydon).

Greystone

Happy New Year from the Black Vultures and 1 Turkey Vulture at the former grounds of Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital

Vultures, mostly Black, at Greystone, NJ, Jan. 1, 2014 (photo by J. Klizas).

In Somerset County, the 6 Sandhill Cranes of Franklin Township continue to be viewed at various locations along Randolph Road. At least 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers are at Colonial Park (John J. Collins) and 1 at Duke Farms (Jeff Ellerbusch).

Lake Hopatcong is nearing the 100% frozen solid condition. Small patches of the remaining open water contain concentrations of waterfowl. Here are the numbers:
Canada Goose – 150
Mute Swan – 61
Tundra Swan – 5, (4 adults, 1 juvenile)
Mallard – 92
Ring-necked Duck – 61, mostly at Bertrand’s Island
Lesser Scaup – 7
Bufflehead – 55
Common Goldeneye – 1 drake
Hooded Merganser – 56
Common Merganser – 134
Ruddy Duck -10
Ring-billed Gull – 65
Herring Gull – 263

The 5 Tundra Swans barely fit in the tiny patch of open water they were resting in at Nolan’s Point (there really are 5 – all lifted their heads prior to this photo, showing off their Tundra Swan ID features).

Tundra Swans at rest, Lake Hpatcong, NJ, Dec. 31, 2013 (photo by Jonathan Klizas).

Two of the resident adult Bald Eagles roosting on Bertrand’s Island.

Bald Eagles at Lake Hopatcong, NJ, Dec. 31, 2013 (photo by J. Klizas).

This is what is under the Eagle tree.

Waterfowl at Lake Hopatcong, NJ, Dec. 31, 2013 (photo by J. Klizas).

Lake Parsippany is mostly frozen with gulls, geese, Mallards and a pair of Buffleheads.

Lake Musconetcong is mostly frozen with Mute Swans, gulls and 5 Hooded Mergansers vying for the remaining open water.

Budd Lake is completely iced over except for a small sliver in the middle of the lake. A few Canada Geese were there today. Perhaps gulls still uses this as an evening roost?

With a snow storm forecast for Thursday night and frigid weather following it, January could be a long month in the land of mocosocoBirds.

Chris Thomas photographed the 6 Sandhill Cranes of Franklin Township today.

————————

mocosocoBirds Highlights of 2013 is here.

mocosocoBirds wishes to thank all of the contributors and the many people who help make this web site and blog exist. 2013 saw the number of subscribers and followers of mocosocoBirds double, yet again, and grow to 550+ and counting.

There are many memorable moments from 2013. Apocalyptic weather events were absent in our area – I don’t remember the power going off in my house the entire year. Brood X Cicadas made for an unforgettable June, and for some interesting comments on breeding bird survey tally sheets.

The Morris County Bird of the Year is, of course, Pacific Loon. The unprecedented occurrence for New Jersey of three different Pacific Loons on three different bodies of water in close proximity was a highlight to remember for a lifetime. Not to be forgotten in the Year of the Goose in New Jersey, Morris County also added Pink-footed Goose to the county list.

The Somerset County Bird of the Year is Black-throated Gray Warbler. It’s presence on the county list is pending acceptance by the New Jersey Bird Records Committee.

mocosocoBirds is pleased to announce a Highlights of 2013 page at this address:
mocosocobirds.com/birds-of-morris-county-n-j/2013-mocosocobirds-highlights/

Warm wishes to everyone in having a great 2014.
May all of your target species be there when you are.
Good health and good birding to all!

Jonathan Klizas
mocosocoBirds.com