The American kestrel is a threatened species, particularly in the Northeastern United States. But we have encouraging news from the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm. Breeding pairs are making the park their home, and we have more kestrels today than we did in previous years. When they’re not hovering over the meadows, looking for prey, theContinue reading “American kestrels are settling in nicely at the Pole Farm”
Tag Archives: Pole Farm
Baby bluebirds!
My friend Andy and I took our usual route at the Mercer Meadows Pole farm this morning. Piercing the gloom of the heavy overcast conditions was this pair of fledgling Eastern bluebirds huddled on the ground. It’s great to see these and other newly hatched birds, reminding us that avian life is perpetuating itself. We’veContinue reading “Baby bluebirds!”
On a gray day, a black and white warbler shines
One of the pleasures of birding is meeting birders from other territories, and I had that pleasure again Sunday. My birding buddy Laura and I met at the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm with a couple from Quebec to whom we’d been introduced by another work colleague. Under an overcast sky and drizzling rain, the fourContinue reading “On a gray day, a black and white warbler shines”
The magnificent blue jay
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”
Welcoming back the common yellowthroats
I love too many types of birds to pick a favorite, but common yellowthroats are in the mix if you ask me to pick a handful of birds that bring me maximum joy. The yellowthroats began returning to New Jersey over the past couple of weeks, and this morning my birding friends and I gotContinue reading “Welcoming back the common yellowthroats”
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”
An unexpected milestone: 1,000 Mercer County checklists
I reached a birding milestone today, submitting my 1,000th e-Bird checklist in Mercer County, New Jersey. By happenstance the day before I discovered I had completed 998 checklists, and I added No. 999 yesterday afternoon with a short visit to Colonial Lake Park in Lawrence Township. It was an easy decision on where to goContinue reading “An unexpected milestone: 1,000 Mercer County checklists”
Awaiting the warblers but still having plenty to see
While my social media feeds are awash in warblers, I have been waiting to see them in my neck of the woods. I went to the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm today with high hopes to spot one. My friend Andy caught up with me shortly after I arrived, and — to relieve you of theContinue reading “Awaiting the warblers but still having plenty to see”
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”
The Jersey Birder 