As ubiquitous as the blue jay is in much of this part of the world, I’ve taken relatively few photos of them in wild, especially when compared with many less common species. Early in my walk this morning at the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm, I spotted one sitting regally atop a tree and snapped away.Continue reading “The magnificent blue jay”
Tag Archives: birders
A great day for hawks
It was another sunny morning at the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm, and my friend Andy and I set off for adventure about 7:20 a.m. I’ve been in a hawk drought of late, having seen just one red-tailed hawk a few days ago but otherwise having gone weeks without seeing any, let alone another variety. ThatContinue reading “A great day for hawks”
A magnificent surprise: a great horned owl
As we headed up the trail this morning at the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm, my friends Jim and Andy and I had no clue of the wonderful surprise awaiting us in the woods. We were hoping we’d see a few of the warblers that have been trickling into the park this week. The weather wasContinue reading “A magnificent surprise: a great horned owl”
Come a little closer, kestrel
The sun shone bright this morning, and I was optimistic for a trip to the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm. It’s still a bit early for warblers to be passing through, but the Eastern towhees are back and I spotted a couple of brown thrashers earlier in the week. Today’s highlight was more about encountering myContinue reading “Come a little closer, kestrel”
What part of ‘stay on the trails’ don’t you understand?
The Mercer County Parks staff has put up fences at the Pole Farm to remind people to stay on the trails and not to wander off into the woods where long-eared owls have been roosting. I applaud the move. I was walking up the central trail in shoe-sucking mud this morning when up at theContinue reading “What part of ‘stay on the trails’ don’t you understand?”
More owls and an impressive murmuration
Back to the Pole Farm I went this afternoon, hoping to see more short-eared owls and Northern harriers flash about as the sun set. The cloud cover was heavy and the light low, not ideal for photography. Nonetheless, the Cold Soil Road parking lot was packed again (a sure sign of owl fever) as I pulledContinue reading “More owls and an impressive murmuration”
My kingdom for a cackling goose
Our wild goose chase finally came to an end today. My friend Laura and I have been obsessed with finding a cackling goose to add to our life lists. We’ve been scanning huge flocks of Canada geese to find a ride-along cackling goose, with its smaller body, stubby beak, shorter neck and lighter back. EverywhereContinue reading “My kingdom for a cackling goose”
Birds large and small, I like photographing them all
I don’t know what the numbers are, but a high percentage of birders are photographers. And among birding photographers, a certain percentage focus exclusively or primarily on the largest birds, mostly raptors — eagles, hawks and the bigger owls. I’ve done field studies of a sort, in that I often talk photography with birders IContinue reading “Birds large and small, I like photographing them all”
Chasing a nemesis bird with birding author Julia Zarankin
If you are reading this post, you’re either already a birder or taking your first steps on the path to becoming one. Even if neither of those situations applies, I recommend that you read a wondeful book on discovering the joys of birding: Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder: A Memoir, by Julia Zarankin. JuliaContinue reading “Chasing a nemesis bird with birding author Julia Zarankin”
When catbirds attack, duck and run
We birders — most of us, anyway — are happy to share tips on where and how to spot the various birds that come calling in our little corners of the planet. Today’s tip from me is unusual. I’m offering advice on how to avoid a bird, not how to find one. Last week IContinue reading “When catbirds attack, duck and run”
The Jersey Birder 