We’re still a few weeks away from the autumnal equinox, but Mother Nature is dropping a few hints that Fall is coming. The annual fall migration of birds is underway, and I’ve yet to see any southbound warblers in my treks at the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm. But this morning, an obliging Northern cardinal perchedContinue reading “A hint of fall at the Pole Farm”
Author Archives: Dan
Summer doldrums for birding? Nah!
For the past week, I’ve endured a stretch of work and weather that has not been conducive to birding. The last couple of days have drenched the area with rain, some of which can be attributed to the remnants of Hurricane Debby. My binoculars and cameras have been parked indoors, and I’m itching to takeContinue reading “Summer doldrums for birding? Nah!”
My turn as a birding guide
My office hosted a conference for colleagues from similar offices at other universities this week. As part of the festivities, I offered to lead a birding walk at the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm. Tuesday dawned partly sunny and partly muggy, but conditions were good for the walk. As for the birds, this was one ofContinue reading “My turn as a birding guide”
Demon grackles swarm my feeders
Common grackles are the motorcycle gangs of the bird world. They swoop into our yard, attacking the suet feeder and often by sunset gobbling up the two cakes I had put in fresh after sunrise. It’s not unusual to see scores of them at home — a group strutting around the grass while others squabbleContinue reading “Demon grackles swarm my feeders”
Fortune finds me a feather
One year ago, I aborted a visit to the Reed Bryan Farm side of Mercer Meadows because I wasn’t feeling right. My balance was off. Later that day I fell at home and had difficulty walking after that. I ended up hospitalized for a bit, missed two and a half months of work and spentContinue reading “Fortune finds me a feather”
The Pole Farm kestrels have fledged
The American kestrels that hatched in the maintenance barn at the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm a few weeks ago fledged last week while I was away in Texas. Today, I was delighted to get a good look at some of them. I had completed my walk and was pulling out of the parking lot whenContinue reading “The Pole Farm kestrels have fledged”
A little pre-hurricane birding in Texas
I’m visiting my daughter and her family in College Station, Texas, where we’re curious to know how much rain will dump on us Monday as Hurricane Beryl barrels its way into the Lone Star State. I’ve been able to get out birding twice since my wife and I flew in Tuesday afternoon. With the temperatureContinue reading “A little pre-hurricane birding in Texas”
Birds bathing in high heat and humidity
The day dawned hot, muggy and foggy. After a strong overnight thunderstorm, the windows in our house were so steamed up that I could not see the closest feeder that’s barely 10 feet away outside. As the sun started to burn through the haze, I drove to Veteran’s Park in Hamilton, in hopes of findingContinue reading “Birds bathing in high heat and humidity”
Time for me to fledge: The Pole Farm kestrels
We regular birders at the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm have been delighting in our daily observations of the pair of American kestrels who have nested in the the barn beside the main parking lot at Cold Soil and Keefe roads. Virtually every morning for the past several weeks, we’ve seen at least one and sometimesContinue reading “Time for me to fledge: The Pole Farm kestrels”
Blue grosbeaks and brown thrashers rule the day
We’re in a hot spell in much of the Eastern half of the country, with temperatures pushing into the high 90s here in central New Jersey. As a result, more birders than usual were out at the Pole Farm in the 7 o’clock hour this morning to beat the heat, as the temperature was onlyContinue reading “Blue grosbeaks and brown thrashers rule the day”
The Jersey Birder 