Merlin app – The Jersey Birder

More warblers in the New Jersey Pine Pinelands

A black-and-white warbler opens its beak wide to sing while perched on a bare tree branch. Green leaves dappled by sunlight form the background.

My buddy Jim and I headed south once more today to the Pine Barrens, hoping to find a summer tanager in Brendan T. Byrne State Forest. In my Subaru Outback, we crawled along some sandy trails and negotiated many large puddles to get deep into the woods. Alas, no summer tanagers brightened our day, evenContinue reading “More warblers in the New Jersey Pine Pinelands”

Capturing a wood thrush in two media

The mellifluent songs of wood thrushes fill the woods where I walk at the Mercer Meadows this time of the year, but it’s a rare day when I am able to spot one. My luck changed Sunday morning. I began my walk from the parking lot at the Reed-Bryan Farm side of the park andContinue reading “Capturing a wood thrush in two media”

A likely last chance for snow shots during the Great Backyard Bird Count

Purple finch perched amid a tangle of brown and tan tree branches.

With around-the-clock above-freezing temperatures in the offing, this weekend was likely my last chance to try for shots of birds in the snow. It was not to be. My friend Jim and I hit multiple spots on Saturday, starting at the nearly bird-less Pole Farm. Not a great start for the Great Backyard Bird Count.Continue reading “A likely last chance for snow shots during the Great Backyard Bird Count”

What do I need to start birding?

Man in baseball caps using binoculars to look out on the water while standing on beach.

If you’re interested in becoming a birder, you’re probably wondering what gear you might need. In this post, I’ll offer some advice based on my experience. I aim to keep expenses reasonable and minimal. For starters, all you need to do is look out the window of your home to see what birds show up.Continue reading “What do I need to start birding?”