mocosocoBirds

Long-tailed Ducks at Boonton Reservoir

3 Long-tailed Ducks, 1 drake and 2 hens, were viewed late this afternoon floating on the calm sheet of glass, otherwise known as Boonton Reservoir. They were visible from the footbridge at the north end of the reservoir until they drifted out of view moving southward towards the island (J. Klizas, Jamie Glydon). Bufflehead, Common Mergansers and Ring-billed Gulls were also present.

Cackling Geese in Somerset County

As is often stated in this space, Somerset County is the Cackling Goose Capital of New Jersey, if not the entire northeastern United States. Today is a case in point. Jeff Ellerbusch found the following:

4 Cackling Geese on Opie Road in Branchburg/Hillsborough Townships. Also on Opie: Merlin, American Kestrel and 16 Horned Larks.
5 Cackling Geese at Duke Island Park, Bridgewater Twp.
6 Cackling Geese at North Branch Park, Bridgewater Twp., plus 1 adult blue morph Snow Goose.

These geese will probably remain scattered in the region throughout the winter and their numbers will be augmented, more than likely.

Two Red-necked Grebes (RNGR) were at Boonton Reservoir today. Since yesterday’s Lake Parsippany RNGR was not found at that location today, perhaps it skipped over to the nearby Reservoir joining the RNGR suspected to be here yesterday as well. This continues a string of RNGR in Morris County the past month. A Common Loon was at the reservoir as well as the usual Gadwall, Buffleheads, Common and Hooded Mergansers, Pied-billed Grebe, American Coot, Mallards, Am. Black Ducks and Gulls (mostly Ring-billed).

2 Red-necked Grebes, Boonton Reservoir, Dec. 1, 2013 (iPhone photo by Jonathan Klizas).

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Yesterday, Nov. 30, Roger Johnson tallied 23 Red-headed Woodpeckers at Troy Meadows. That is surely a record of some type for this region. Also present: 1 Palm Warbler, 4 Fox Sparrows. From Roger: “Juncos, White-throated, Song, and Savannah Sparrow numbers are much higher than normal for this time of year.”
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Today, 3 Cackling Geese were in the Van Cleef Rd. Ponds in Franklin Twp., 1 was at Selody Sod Farm, Montgomery Twp. Yesterday, 3 were at Duke Farms, Hillsborough Twp. (Jeff Ellerbusch).

Red-necked Grebes, Budd Lake, NJ, Nov. 25, 2013 (photo by Alan Boyd).

From Alan Boyd:
This afternoon there were 2 Red-necked Grebes on Budd Lake, back in the NW corner. There were also 28 American Wigeon and 25 Common Mergansers.
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There is a second report from yesterday, Nov. 24, of 6 Sandhill Cranes in Franklin Twp. These were seen behind the school at Zarephath (Annabeth Scott).
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The deep freeze of November is taking its toll on fresh water ponds. Lk. Parsippany is mostly covered with thin ice with small sections still open. Osborn Pond (a dammed section of the Passaic River near the Great Swamp NWR at the Morris/Somerset border) is frozen with not a bird on it. It could be spotty for waterfowl in some places going in to December.

Tundra Swans, Lake Hopatcong, Nov. 21, 2013 (photo by Alan Boyd).

From Alan Boyd:
At least 4 Tundra Swans continue today, viewable from The Windlass Restaurant off Nolan’s Point Rd., Lake Hopatcong. The Windlass appears to be closed until 2/14 so it’s a good place to park for now.
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Waterfowl at the D&R Towpath, Franklin Twp.: 1,500 Canada Geese, 38 Am. Black Duck, 204 Mallards, 2 No. Pintail, 2 Bufflehead and, 13 Common Mergansers (Jeff Ellerbusch).
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From Vicki Schwartz in Hillsborough Twp.:
Really great morning at Ann Van Middlesworth Park, Hillsborough Twp.: 2 Fox Sparrows in a mixed flock of sparrows in the hedgerow behind the backstop, a Hermit Thrush in the brushy area back of the skate park, an Eastern Towhee in the brushy area on the northeast side of the dam, Ravens calling back in the GSA depot, and 3 hawks (Cooper’s, Red-tailed, and Red-shouldered), along with the usual residents.