March through May, 2009 - New Jersey Audubon Society

a pair turned up there 17-21 May (LL). Is
this species nesting locally? A Caspian Tern
was at Palmyra 26 April (TB). One of the
best sightings of the season was Burlington’s
second Black Skimmer at Amasa Landing
Rd on May 17 (TB). This under-birded area
in eastern Burlington and nearby Bass River
has good potential all seasons.
Single Black-billed Cuckoos were at
Palmyra 2 & 16 May and Taylor’s Preserve 10
May (all TB). A pair of Barred Owls was at
Bear Swamp in Southampton on 5 Apr (TB).
Although totally unreported in the winter
season, a Northern Saw-whet Owl turned
up at Franklin Parker Preserve 28 Mar (TB).
A Whip-poor-will was at Woodford Cedar
Run Refuge 11 Apr (DD). A Red-headed
Woodpecker heading north at Palmyra 24
May was an unusually late migrant. Other
Red-headed Woodpeckers were found at a
traditional site in Lebanon State Forest (fide
LL), Bass River State Forest 2-4 May (fide
CC) and Hawkins Rd 25 Apr (DB).
FLYCATCHERS – FINCHES
Flycatcher sightings were sparse. Two
Acadian Flycatchers were singing along
Burrs Mill Rd in Southampton 16 May
(SS). Willow Flycatchers were back early
at National Park 8 May (SK). Two Least
Flycatchers were at Palmyra 2 May (TB),
and one was at National Park 8 May (SK). A
singing Least Flycatcher was at Whitesbogs
for three weeks until 30 May (LL). Its disappearance
thereafter likely rules out breeding,
although the late departure is interesting.
The first Great-crested Flycatcher was at the
Stavola Preserve in Pemberton 25 Apr (SS).
The most sought-after flycatchers, Alder and
Olive-sided, were not reported.
Blue-headed Vireo was widely reported.
Seven were at Palmyra 25 Apr-9 May (TB,
WD). Yellow-throated Vireo is an uncommon
migrant and a very local breeder in the
region. There were two reports this season,
migrants at Palmyra 8 May and Taylor’s Preserve
22 May (SS). Three Horned Larks at
the Columbus Sod Farm 23 May were probable
breeders (DE). This bird is a presumed
nester there in the fine habitat, but is hard
to confirm. The first Tree Swallows were at
Palmyra 8 Mar (BH), while the first Barn
Swallows were back at Wheelabrator Refuge
in Westville 5 Apr (SS). TB counted over
300+ Barn Swallows and 21 Bank Swallows
in a dismal weather swallow show at Amasa
108 — March through May, 2009
Landing Rd 17 May. The only Cliff Swallow
sighting was at Franklin Parker Preserve 3
May (TB). Seven Blue-gray Gnatcatchers
at Piney Hollow 8 Apr was a nice early count
(SS), but was dwarfed by a high of 19 on
25 Apr at Palmyra (TB). Sixteen Hermit
Thrushes were at Palmyra 18 Apr and 8 were
there on 2 May (both TB). There were no
reports of other migrant thrushes. An early
Brown Thrasher was singing at Taylor’s
Preserve on 29 Mar (SS).
The peak warbler migration day was
undoubtedly 8 May. Palmyra was loaded
with birds. WD had 2 Tennessee Warblers,
26 Northern Parulas, 21 Yellow
Warblers, 7 Chestnut-sided Warblers, 11
Magnolia Warblers, 1 Cape May Warbler,
20 Black-throated Blue Warblers, 24 Yellow-rumped
Warblers, 11 Black-throated
Green Warblers, 2 Blackburnian Warblers,
45 Black-and-white Warblers, 16 American
Redstarts, 29 Ovenbirds and a Northern
Waterthrush. SK had a similar experience
at National Park. The dredge spoils area
there yielded 16 warbler species, including
15 Northern Parulas, 10 Magnolia Warblers,
Bay-breasted Warbler, and 3 Blackpoll
Warblers. This warbler fall-out might have
been confined to the western section of the
region, as Franklin Parker Preserve in the
pinelands had a mere handful of migrant
warblers on the same date. A Tennessee
Warbler was at Marlton 31 May (RS). There
was a smattering of early warbler sightings.
A Northern Parula was at Medford 12 Apr
(WD). A Black-throated Green was back at
Wharton State Forest 11 Apr (TB). The first
Pine Warbler appeared at Piney Hollow 8
March (SS). Kentucky Warbler continues
to hold on as a breeder in Burlington. One
was back at Hawkins Rd 6 May (SK). Two
singing birds were at the Dot & Brooks
Evert Trail 16 May (SS) and another was
singing the same day on Burrs Mill Rd in
Southampton (SS). The first Worm-eating
Warblers (two singers) were back at the
Dot & Brooks Evert Trail 25 Apr and by
16 May all the expected nesters were on
territory there, including a Prothonotary
Warbler, 4 Worm-eating Warblers, and 7
Hooded Warblers (all SS). Eight Hooded
Warblers were at Hawkins Rd 3 May (JS).
Three Wilson Warblers migrated through
Palmyra 9-16 May (TB).
A Summer Tanager at Glassboro Woods
25 May was an excellent find and an interesting
date for a non-breeding locale (SK).
The first Scarlet Tanager report was from
Pemberton 25 Apr (SS). Two American
Tree Sparrows at Taylor’s Refuge 29 Mar
(SS) were the only reported.
The Columbus Sod Farm continues to
carry an interesting mix of grassland birds.
A Vesper Sparrow was there 25 Apr (DE).
This is a former breeder from years ago, but
the bird did not linger. Savannah Sparrow
continues its year-round status, with close
to a double-digit total of breeding territories
(DE, PD). Two singing Grasshopper Sparrows
returned to Columbus Sod Farm 19
Apr (SS). An incredible count of 39 singing
Grasshopper Sparrows was recorded there 23
May (DE), easily surpassing the mid-May
2008 high of 28. The Columbus Sod Farm
was purchased by Burlington County and a
portion will be used for the Burlington County
Farm Fair. The remainder will be managed for
grassland species and trails will be created.
Hopefully, Burlington County will manage
this ongoing project successfully. The site
is a premier grassland breeding area and
it would be a shame to lose it. Due to the
ongoing construction, Burlington County has
temporarily closed the area to the public.
Amasa Landing produced 4 Saltmarsh
Sparrows 25 May (TB). A Lincoln’s Sparrow
turned up at Palmyra 9 May (WD) and the
only migrant White-crowned Sparrow was
at the same spot 2 May (TB). Five Whitecrowned
Sparrows at Freas Rd in Pennsville
28 Mar were likely wintering birds (SB,
LM). Bobolink numbers increased this year
at Columbus Sod Farm with 5 males and 2
females there 23 May (DE). A singing male
23 May in Buddtown was near a past breeding
locale (TB). Twenty-five Bobolinks were at
Brightview Farm 3 May (SK). Four singing
Eastern Meadowlarks were on territory at
Columbus Sod Farm 23 May (DE). Rusty
Blackbird remains a bird of special concern.
The high was 15 at Pedricktown 29 Mar
(TB). The other sightings were at Taylor’s
Preserve, with 9 on 21 Mar and 2 on 19 Apr
(both SS). BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS
again made their annual foray to Freas
Road near Salem, with up to 5 (3 males and
2 females) seen from 23-29 Mar (SK, SB,
LM, JS; accepted by NJBRC).
The White-winged Crossbill irruption
continued into March, with sightings from
two locations. They were present in Riverton
as follows: 6 on 21 Mar, 8 on 22 Mar, and 3 on