Every once in a while, I experience a fleeting moment of bonding with a bird. This morning, for example, I was walking a trail in the northern section of the Pole Farm when I spotted a field sparrow on the ground, barely five feet in front of me. The bird and I had a briefContinue reading “Close encounter with a field sparrow”
Tag Archives: Mercer Meadows
With the onset of summer, bird sightings slow down
Spring migration is over. As the days of summer pile up, bird activity appears to slow down. Plenty of birds are still about, of course, but the variety isn’t quite as wide now that the migrants have flown north. I’m still observing plenty of species on my outings, but it seems the photo opportunities areContinue reading “With the onset of summer, bird sightings slow down”
A mid-year report on New Jersey birding
We started the second half of the calendar year today, and I figured this would be a good time to assess how my birding adventures went in the first half. I’ve done OK. My species total in New Jersey stands at 104, lagging a bit behind my total of 116 at the same point lastContinue reading “A mid-year report on New Jersey birding”
Birding before the heat wave rolls in
We’re headed for 100-degree temperatures the next few days. How do I feel about that? The facial expression of the common yellowthroat above is a reasonable interpretation. I spotted Ms. Yellowthroat perched on some small branches Saturday morning on the Reed-Bryan Farm side of Mercer Meadows. I got a few shots of her in profileContinue reading “Birding before the heat wave rolls in”
Farewell to a good birding friend
My friend Andy was one of the first birders I got to know when I began birding regularly about 6 years ago. I’m saddened to report that Andy died on June 6 at age 90. Andy was a regular presence at Colonial Lake and at the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm, where we most often encounteredContinue reading “Farewell to a good birding friend”
An instant bluebird sighting
Rarely does a photo opportunity present itself so quickly as it did this afternoon when I stepped out of my car at the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm. After a morning of rain, the sun shone weakly through an overcast sky late in the afternoon. I spotted a bird atop the park map sign at theContinue reading “An instant bluebird sighting”
Hanging at the Pole Farm ‘hot corner’
Every so often, I like to take a different tack when visiting my favorite birding spots. This morning at the Pole Farm, I headed to the Blackwell Road parking lot and crossed into Mercer Meadows. My hope was to get a few photos of indigo buntings, which often sing from the trees along the walkingContinue reading “Hanging at the Pole Farm ‘hot corner’”
A couple of yellowthroats. But are they a couple?
One of the joys of birding in my area is hearing and seeing common yellowthroats. My sightings of the males vastly outnumbered those of the females, and days when I get photos of both sexes are rare. I’ve given the female yellowthroat top billing on this post. I spotted her amid the tall grasses nearContinue reading “A couple of yellowthroats. But are they a couple?”
I like small birds and I cannot lie
Get a good look at the willow flycatcher topping this post. What a sweet bird! He or she was flitting about the grasses on the Reed Bryan section of Mercer Meadows this morning. The bird paused between sorties for bugs to afford me a chance to catch its portrait. I am smitten by these weeContinue reading “I like small birds and I cannot lie”
Another yellow warbler brightens a gray day
For the past few years, yellow warblers have made a home in a group of trees about 100 yards up from the Cold Soil Road parking lot at the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm. From their arrival during Spring migration until their departure in Fall, I can count on hearing one of them in this sameContinue reading “Another yellow warbler brightens a gray day”
The Jersey Birder 