Island Beach State Park Sep 28 had BROWN PELICAN, MERLIN, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, 5 CASPIAN TERNS, GREAT HORNED OWL, GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER and NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW (check the Winter Anchorage sandbars, visible from the bayside at A-21).

Sandy Hook during Sep 28 thru Oct 2 had two CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS point blank daily at the North end of I-lot (North Beach Pavilion) along the rope at the sidewalk. Also at the Hook this period were two RED-NECKED GREBES at North Pond Oct 2; and AM. GOLDEN PLOVER and assorted shorebirds along with CASPIAN TERN Sep 29, and a good flight of Oct migrants Oct 2. LINCOLN'S SPARROW was seen there Sep 28.

Elsewhere, LINCOLN'S SPARROW was at Scherman-Hoffman in Bernardsville Sep 28 and PURPLE FINCHES arrived there Oct 3. Merrill Creek Reservoir had a good flight of Oct migrants Oct 2, with lots of MYRTLES and KINGLETS, WHITETHROATS, TOWHEES, JUNCOS, FLICKERS and smaller numbers of WINTER WREN, SAPSUCKER, SWAINSON'S THRUSH and BLUE-HEADED VIREO.

Long Pond Ironworks State Park on the Ringwood-West Milford border had 15 or so PIPITS on Beach Road Sep 30. Wildcat Ridge Hawkwatch had SNOW GEESE and SISKIN on Sep 29; Wildcat's BROAD-WING total as of Sep 29 was 11,839, with 202 OSPREY and 415 SHARPSHINS so far. Montclair hawk Lookout as of Sep 25 had 3696 BROAD-WINGS, 295 OSPREYS, and 567 SHARPSHINS.

RUDDY DUCK arrived at Delaware Lake Oct 2. Large numbers of CHIMNEY SWIFTS were in the air this week over Montgomery Academy and Scherman-Hoffman in Bernardsville up through Oct 2.

The Voice of NJ Audubon is a weekly report on birding in New Jersey. To report please call 908-766-5787 or fax 908-766-7775. Documentation of rarities on the review list goes to NJBRC, C/O L. Larson, 91 Sycamore Lane, Skillman NJ 08558. Good birding and thanks for calling, surfing and reporting.