Tundra Swans, Redheads at Lake Hopatcong

Tundra Swans are an annual winter visitor to Lake Hopatcong if water remains ice-free. The two adults and two juveniles that are currently at the north end of the lake were first reported on Dec. 18. This morning, they were viewed north of Nolan’s Point from the parking lot of the newly refurbished Windlass restaurant. As in past years, they can show up anywhere along the many miles of Lake Hopatcong shoreline.

Redheads, composed of one drake and 2 hens, were south of the Lake Forest Yacht Club parking area this morning.

eBird users, please note: Lake Hopatcong is the border between Morris County to the east and Sussex County to the west. The entire eastern shore and the entire northern end of the lake lie in Morris County. The beginnings of the Musconetcong River at the southern end of the lake at Hopatcong State Park form the border in that area: west of the river is Sussex; east is Morris. In other words, almost the entire state park is in Morris as is most of the lake.

An eBird hotspot exists for Lake Hopatcong in Morris County. eBirders are asked to use it when listing from that area. Here is the hotspot link:

Lakes and other bodies of water in the eastern region of the United States are wide open due to this winter’s mild weather. Waterfowl are generally scarce. A Greater Scaup hen was with the 175 Ruddy Ducks at Mt. Hope Lake this morning. Not much else is at this Morris duck hot spot other than 7 Bufflehead, 13 Hooded Mergansers, the resident pair of Bald Eagles and the usual Mute Swans.

There are many sightings from today as birders greet 2016 with a tabula rasa waiting to be filled. eBird is the most complete medium for seeing what everyone found. Links for sightings in Morris and Somerset County via eBird’s Region Explorer are below:

– Finis –