The BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was still at PEEC as of Apr 27 on Tumbling Waters/Two Ponds Trails. Check the postings at PEEC for the latest sightings.

At Bivalve, Cumberland Co. Apr 27-29, BLACK-HEADED GULL, SEDGE WREN and RUFF were among birds at the boardwalks; also there lots of DUNLIN and GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, LEAST SANDPIPER, and a HAIRY WOODPECKER nest within a foot or so of the Strawberry Lane Boardwalk; the hole is visible on the left side as you walk back toward the car.

Turkey Point on the bend at dusk has the trifecta: CHUCK-WILL'S WIDOW, WHIPPOORWILL and WOODCOCK; also there at dusk Apr 27-28: SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (roosting?), and singing SWAMP SPARROW. Route 555 Dividing Creek has the PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, WORM-EATING WARBLER and YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER at the white bridge, and SCARLET TANAGER and SUMMER TANAGER where the railroad tracks cross Rte 555.

Great Swamp Headquarters pool (on Pleasant Plains Road) Apr 28 had SOLITARY SANDPIPER and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER; on May 1 and 2, this pool had a REEVE, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, NORTHERN SHOVELER, GREEN-WINGED TEAL and an ominous MERLIN perched in a tree above the pool (May 1). Great Swamp had lots of YELLOW-THROATED VIREO and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK May 1 and also RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and SOLITARY SANDPIPERS at the Fisherman's Access off the white bridge. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and PILEATED WOODPECKER are at the Wildlife Observation Blind on Long Hill Road.

Sandy Hook Apr 30 had 13 WARBLERS, ORCHARD ORIOLE and EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE; and May 1 the Hook had 15 WARBLERS including MAGNOLIA, 8 species of SPARROWS including CLAY-COLORED and LINCOLN'S, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, VEERY, BALTIMORE and ORCHARD ORIOLES.

Scherman-Hoffman had a big flight May 2: 5 LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES on the streams, WORM-EATING WARBLER on the Encampment Trail off the Bulletin Board at the Scherman Lot and multiples of BLACK-AND-WHITE, PRAIRIE, PARULA, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, BLACKBURNIAN, NASHVILLE, MAGNOLIA, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER as well as BALTIMORE ORIOLE, SCARLET TANAGER, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, WOOD THRUSH, and RED-EYED VIREO.

Princeton Institute Woods Apr 28-30 had PILEATED WOODPECKER, GOLDEN-WINGED, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, BLACKBURNIAN, CHESTNUT-SIDED and YELLOW WARBLERS, GROSBEAK and ORIOLE. Old Mine Road (Worthington campground) had 3 CERULEAN WARBLERS and 2 YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS Apr 28.

The Allendale celery farm had a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER around the main lake Apr 28. Rahway River Park had BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON and LITTLE BLUE HERON off St George Ave May 1. Merrill Creek has CLIFF SWALLOW at the tower outlet and still 2 SNOW GEESE (from the tower outlet). Brigantine (Forsythe) NWR has GULL-BILLED TERN, WHIMBREL and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER.

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 review list reports goes to NJBRC at 91 Sycamore Lane, Skillman 08558. Good birding and thanks for calling, reporting and surfing.