mocosocoBirds

A Vesper Sparrow continues today at Florham Park Fields along with 17 Savannah Sparrows (Jamie Glydon).

A Vesper Sparrow was at Finderne Wetlands yesterday, Oct. 15 (Jeff Ellerbusch). Finderne hosts hundreds of other sparrows including large numbers of Savannah, Song and Swamp Sparrows. A Solitary Sandpiper was also present.

Troy Meadows has at least 3 Red-headed Woodpeckers along Troy Meadows Road (Julie Buechner). The area also has Hermit Thrush, American Kestrels, Savannah, Song, Swamp, White-throated and White-crowned (1) Sparrows. Yellow-rumped Warblers are abundant. 3 Great Egrets continue in a secluded pond.

A Tree of Kestrels, Troy Meadows, Oct. 15, 2013 (photo by Julie Buechner).

Yesterday at Troy Meadows, a Sora was viewed in a pond near the skeet debris (Julie Buechner).

Helicopter(s) are a daily sighting over the marsh at Troy Meadows hovering near the high tension towers. This is believed to be work related to the Susquehanna-Roseland Project. If this is the case, it is hoped that PSE&G will tread lightly on the marsh and not leave a devastating footprint as they have in Morris County’s northern townships.

2 Vesper Sparrows were found at the Florham Park Fields this afternoon joining the Savannah Sparrows that have been present for weeks (Jamie Glydon). These are the first Vesper Sparrows of the season in Morris County.

Today at Troy Meadows: Peregrine Falcon, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 6 American Wigeon (first of the season in Morris County) (Jamie Glydon).

Vesper Sparrows should be at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Whippany soon. Meanwhile, Eastern Towhee, 2 Field, 18 Savannah, 12 Song, 5 Swamp, 26 White-throated and 2 White-crowned Sparrows will have to suffice (Jamie Glydon).

3 Rusty Blackbirds at Glenhurst Meadows today are the first of the season for Somerset County (Jeff Ellerbusch).

An immature Northern Goshawk was spotted by Roger Johnson on Saturday, Oct. 12 at the Lincoln Park Gravel Pits. It was not relocated today. Among the many birds present were 105 Wood Ducks, 3 Blue-winged Teal, 22 Green-winged Teal, 4 Pied-billed Grebe, adult Bald Eagle, Spotted Sandpiper, 35+ Palm Warblers, 110 Yellow-rumped Warblers and lots of Song, Swamp and White-throated Sparrows.

From Leslie Webster:
News from Loantaka Brook Reservation: lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers, at least 1 Palm Warbler, and lots of Ruby-crowned Kinglets were in the woods and around Kitchell Pond this morning. There was a flock of White-throated Sparrows at the pond, as well, along with two Slate-colored Juncos, the first of the season for me. At one point along the trail, a hawk flew straight at a flock of over 400 Common Grackles in the treetops and they all rose at once with an unbelievably loud whoosh. The Solitary Sandpiper was not present.

From Dave Blinder at the Tourne sparrow fields, Saturday, Oct. 12:
Flushed 2 Woodcock around 5pm, also saw 3+ Field Sparrows.