My birding buddy Jim and I have walked the trails of the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm many times, but today was the first time we pulled into the parking lot almost simultaneously. Within a few minutes, a rare treat was in store.
We and other regular Pole farmers have been grousing of late about the relative scarcity of birds, but a few sparrows and juncos appeared as we left the parking lot. It was a good omen. We walked a short way up the paved trail when I looked ahead and spotted a red-tailed hawk perched on a sign post.
Jim and I each took a few shots from a distance, crept up a bit and then wondered: will the bird let us pass? As we walked along, the bird seemed unfazed, looking out into the fields and occasionally back toward the two non-avian creatures approaching.
Jim and I stayed on the grass just off the path, and at the closest point we were no more than 12 feet from the bird. It remained on that perch, even as a walker a few minutes behind us stopped to pull out a cell phone and take a photo.
As we headed up the center dirt trail, song and savannah sparrows flitted about. Jim said American tree sparrows were back, and seemingly on cue one appeared.
As we entered the woods and turned toward the old AT&T Building One oval, we spotted some birds in trees to our right. I immediately picked out a purple finch, which I could see clearly through my binoculars. Jim pointed out several more, and the little flock soon flew off.
Jim and I milled about for a while, then headed back down toward the parking lot. I found an accommodating savannah sparrow that paused briefly in the grasses for me to take a nice close-up.
Jim hung out a little longer, and I headed off to finish a report of 19 species in an hour and a quarter. The sunlight was gorgeous today, and my photos were the better for it. 🦅
The Jersey Birder 