The sun came out in full force this Sunday morning, and the temperature was a brisk 28 degrees Fahrenheit as I headed to the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm.
The park’s paths offer a few turning points, and the first one to confront is just up from the Cold Soil Road parking lot: either go up the central path through the main fields, or turn left down the alley of trees that lead toward the observation deck.
I was planning to go straight, but then I spotted two warbler-like birds heading off to the left and perching atop a couple of the trees along the alley. What the heck — I’ll go down the alley, I decided.
It turned out to be a fortuitous choice. As I emerged from the alley and approached the observation deck, I spotted the Eastern bluebirds topping this post at their own post, the one holding what presumably is their bird-box home.
Other bluebirds were perching on the observation deck, only to be flushed by a jogger who climbed to the top platform. I walked past the deck, eventually to return and get a chance for several shots of more bluebirds posing on the crossbeams.
Even more bluebirds greeted me as I returned to my car.
One can’t help but smile at seeing bluebirds. They always bring joy.
The Jersey Birder 