mocosocoBirds

Bald Eagle at Troy Meadows (photo by Chris Thomas).

4 Pectoral Sandpipers and a Greater Yellowlegs were in the secluded pond at Troy Meadows this morning. 6 Green-winged Teal and 9 American Black Ducks shared the pond. An adult Bald Eagle was seen carrying sticks at the marsh. Helicopters continue their daily hovering over the Susquehanna-Roseland power line project which happens to be next to the eagle nest site. Elsewhere, 11 Fox Sparrows were scattered between Troy Meadows Road and the Patriots Path area near the kiosk parking area on South Beverwyck Rd. Other species observed were 3 Hermit Thrushes, Wilson’s Snipe, 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers, Northern Harrier, 2 Am. Tree Sparrows, 6 Rusty Blackbirds and the usual collection of species present at this time of year.

Greater Yellowlegs, Troy Meadows, NJ, Nov. 8, 2013 (digiscoped by Jonathan Klizas).

(Click on the pictures for a larger image)

Field Sparrow, Troy Meadows, NJ, Nov. 8, 2013 (digiscoped by Jonathan Klizas).

Boonton Reservoir had one adult and one juvenile Bald Eagle at the south end this afternoon. Pickings are slim at the reservoir otherwise.

From Leslie Webster:
News from Loantaka Brook Reservation: the Pectoral Sandpiper was back on the main pond this morning, along with 2 Killdeer. A female Ruddy Duck has joined the 2 Green-winged Teal, the 1 Gadwall, 16 Mallards, 120 Canada Geese, and the perpetual Mute Swan. A flock of 40 American Goldfinches flew up to one of the tree tops. Perhaps they’d been feeding in one of the water gardens, which seem to be attractive to birds.

On JerseyBirds, George Eschenbach reported from Glenhurst Meadows: “15 Pipits and a Vesper Sparrow in the parking lot for the community gardens at 10:00 AM.”

Am. Tree Sparrow, Troy Meadows, NJ, Nov. 6, 2013 (photo by Dave Blinder)

American Tree Sparrows are trickling into the mocosocoBirds area as evidenced by the photo by Dave Blinder taken at Troy Meadows this morning.

A Pectoral Sandpiper at Lake Musconetcong, which is partially drawn down, was eBirded by Alan Boyd. Alan also had 30 Bufflehead at Lee’s County Park Marina, Lake Hopatcong.

Birchwood Lake near The Tourne had 100 Ring-necked Ducks and 4 Hooded Mergansers along with Wood Ducks and Mallards (Julie Buechner).

Black Meadows had 2 Rusty Blackbirds and 2,000 Common Grackles flying towards Troy Meadows at sunset (J. Klizas).

9 Red-headed Woodpeckers were along the Passaic River at Glenhurst Meadows (Jeff Ellerbusch).

The New Jersey Audubon eBird Portal published an article on Glenhurst Meadows today. Scott Barnes of NJAS says in his post of Jersey Birds: “MocoScoco blogger Jonathan Klizas has authored another site guide, this time to Glenhurst Meadows in Warren, NJ.  It details access, habitats, and seasonal bird life at one of Somerset County’s most productive migratory birding spots.” The link for it is here.

Scott also announced another article published today: “Associate Naturalist Mike Britt has written a piece documenting a pair of breeding Common Nighthawks this summer in Bayonne. It also has information about the species’ status as a nesting bird across the state. NJ Audubon is gearing up for another season of nightjar surveys next year–I hope this wets your appetite to consider being a citizen scientist for this important project.”

You can read these features at http://ebird.org/content/nj/.

3 Vesper Sparrows, 2 White-crowned Sparrows and 6 flyover Horned Larks are among the highlights from Duke Farms today. 100+ American Pipits were at the fields on Rattlesnake Bridge Road, Bedminster Twp. yesterday, Nov. 4 (Jeff Ellerbusch).

The Pectoral Sandpiper continues at Kitchell Pond at Loantaka Brook Reservation but the Sora was not reported today (Jennifer Books). The Sora plays hide-and-seek and could still be at the pond.

6 Killdeer, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 Wilson’s Snipe along with the usual waterfowl (Wood Duck, No. Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Am. Coot) were at Melanie Lane Wetlands (Julie Buechner).

A Greater Yellowlegs was at Glenhurst Meadows (Jim Mulvey).

Loantaka Brook Reservation continues to host a cooperative Sora and Pectoral Sandpiper as well as Killdeer, Green-winged Teal and Gadwall (Julie Buechner).

From Vicki Schwartz in Hillsborough Township:
This morning there was a Cackling Goose in a flock of 300 or so Canada Geese in the front pond at Ann Van Mittlesworth Park.