migration – The Jersey Birder

Sparrows a-go-go at the Pole Farm

Two Savannah sparrows face one another in the tall grasses.

We’ve had a beautiful fall weekend here in central New Jersey, with warmer-than-we-really-should-have temperatures poking into the upper 70s. I was able to get two good outings in at the Mercer Meadow Pole Farm, where sparrows took center stage. I’m leading the post with two of the Savannah sparrows I saw while walking up theContinue reading “Sparrows a-go-go at the Pole Farm”

Birds kissed by morning light

A Northern cardinal, deep red with some black streaks about its head for missing feathers, snacks on a rolled up leaf whiile perched on a tree branch.

We’ve had a delightful run of sunny days of late. I’ve donned a jacket a few times on my morning walks because the post-dawn temperatures have dipped into the low 60s and even the 50s. This morning dawned gloriously, and I got out to the Pole Farm hoping to photograph some of the warblers thatContinue reading “Birds kissed by morning light”

It’s good to be back home and welcoming warblers

A male scarlet tanager perches on a tree branch. The bird has black wings and a scarlet body with a patch of yellow on its side.

With the sun fully out and the temperature a cool 51 degrees, I headed to the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm this morning for my first home outing since returning from Maine. I had checked Birdcast to find that warblers are returning to Mercer County on their fall migration, and I hoped I’d chance upon aContinue reading “It’s good to be back home and welcoming warblers”

With the onset of summer, bird sightings slow down

Male red-winged blackbird, wings outstretched, takes off from a tree branch.

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”

Another yellow warbler brightens a gray day

Yellow warbler singing from skinny vertical branch at the top of a tree, with a few leaves below it.

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 glorious sights and sounds of Spring migration

Baltimore oriole on tree branch, with cluster of leaves at end of branch.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. So goes a well-known Christmas carol, but the tune plays in my head during Spring bird migration. It plays, that is, when it’s not drowned out by the abundant birdsong that fills the woods and fields on my birding outings. This morning, I went to the Reed-BryanContinue reading “The glorious sights and sounds of Spring migration”

Welcome back, lusty-voiced birds!

Ovenbird singing from tree branch, shot from below.

I love this time of year, when our seasonal visitors return. I had the pleasure of welcoming back two full-throated birds to the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm this morning. After clearing the fields and reaching the woods, I was on alert for whatever migrants might be stopping by or arriving for a longer stay. ThenContinue reading “Welcome back, lusty-voiced birds!”

A chipping sparrow enlivens the feeder

Chipping sparrow perched on an iron rail.

This time of year, it’s always a good idea to check the traffic at your bird feeder to see if any newcomers or old friends show up. On Sunday morning, I looked out the back windows at home and spotted a chipping sparrow on the circular perch of our primary feeder. It was the firstContinue reading “A chipping sparrow enlivens the feeder”

Twitchers’ reward: a sandhill crane

Over the past several days, several birders have sighted a sandhill crane or two at the Miry Run area (a.k.a. Dam Site 21) that touches Hamilton, Robbinsville and West Windsor, New Jersey. The site is a 15-minute drive from home. When my friend Laura texted me that she was going to try to find theContinue reading “Twitchers’ reward: a sandhill crane”

Old friends return: a Northern harrier, Savannah sparrows and a West Virginian

It’s that time of year when some of the birds who left us in late spring and the summer start making their way back. At the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm this morning, I was delighted to see a Northern harrier for the first time since the lot cleared out a few months ago. She roseContinue reading “Old friends return: a Northern harrier, Savannah sparrows and a West Virginian”