Vagrants, Vagabonds, and migrant Visitor birds

LINK LIZARD SATURDAYS

2009-08-23T08:58:00.001-04:00

LINK LIZARD- wHaT I fOuNd iNtErEsTiNg tHis wEeK

http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/Birds/

http://tinyurl.com/Whose-a-birdbrain

http://njkeepitgreen.org/

http://www.birdday.org/

How many snooty birdwatchers are out there?

2009-08-22T09:46:00.001-04:00

I hate to point out the white elephant in the room but the sport of bird watching has a problem. A fair amount of birders are arrogant and unforthcoming with information. I personally don’t see the point in not sharing the passion I have for birds and birding.

There are a number of “snooty” moments I have stored in the back of my brain. Early when I first started going places to see new birds I encountered this attitude of your not worthy. Maybe because I had an interest in birding in my 30’s and didn’t have the elitist binocular brands or clothing. Or was the attitude I was given on that Hawk watch platform up north, directed towards me having a 2year old in a back pack and a six year old tagging along. Who knows but I didn’t let it discourage me. It only altered my behavior, which I’m just realizing was because of that early experience of being snubbed.

My outlook on group events changed. I did not want or need to go on birding outings that I saw advertised in various media outlets. If I encountered a group along a New Jersey trail I would smile and walk by. This was a learned behavior there was no reward for engaging others in my passion. Now if every bird watching outing was a positive experience the learned response would be different.

I’m here to tell you the moral of the story. Avoid letting a few change your attitude and enthusiasm to share the Avian world with anyone and everyone. I can walk into any room and find something birdy to say or share with complete strangers. Or if I’m in the woods I feel that those in the woods with me are friends, and any information I have to expand their enjoyment of the woods I will share.

I still revert back to my earlier behavior from time to time. But for every bird snob out there, there are 2 passionate birders that yield that energy to all they come in contact with. Be a snob if you have to, but don’t expect me to look up to your stuck up nose!

Purple Martin Festival 2009

2009-08-15T12:02:00.001-04:00

If your old enough to remember the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock movie The Birds, than you can imagine the scene at the Mauricetown bridge in Dorchester, just west of Route 47. The birds in this real time movie are Purple Martins, by the 1,000’s. More than 60,000 by expert witnesses’ accounts.

My family was gracious enough to grant me a night out on the town Friday night. So I rushed home and we saddled up and road into South Jersey for the Purple Martin migration party. What a trip, the birds did not disappoint. We arrived around 6 p.m. and was greeted by volunteers from Citizens United and staff from New Jersey Audubon Society. My wife and two daughters were a little skeptical, the only birds in the sky were European starlings. I promised them an experience of extraordinary proportions, a sky full of gorgeous, sleek, and some say magical Purple Martins.

As the sunset the Purple Martins (Progne subis) came streaming overhead, one at time and than by the dozens. The show stopper was after 10,000’s arrived on the phragmities and would lift into the air as one massive cloud. The sky looked like a big scoop of Turkey Hill’s cookies n cream ice cream.

If you get a chance to go, tonight is the last night of the festival on the Maurice river but the birds will most likely be in the area for a few more weeks before the migration to South America begins.

LINK LIZARD SATURDAYS

2009-06-20T09:05:00.001-04:00

LINK LIZARD- wHaT I fOuNd iNtErEsTiNg tHis wEeK

http://tinyurl.com/goldeneagle-kill

http://tinyurl.com/pic-of-a-marvelous-spatuletail

http://tinyurl.com/northern-gannet-release-story

http://preview.tinyurl.com/Last-Birder-in-the-Woods

A horse is a horse, of course, of course, unless it’s a horseshoe crab!

2009-06-14T09:34:00.001-04:00

I apologize for not posting these past few weeks. My family and I have been under the weather for a portion of that time. I refused to go to the doctor after a 4 day fight with a flu bug. I know that was me being a bird brain. But I did it out of fear of being accused of fraternizing with pigs and birds of notorious nature. In addition to all of those accuses for not posting I also was away on business for a week in Lancaster.

After being kept inside for so long my wife insisted that we get outside. She really wanted to see the horseshoe crab and Red Knot phenomenon on the shores of New Jersey. So we took a weekend and headed down to Heislerville in southeastern Cumberland County.

It was a beautiful day and we scored tons of shorebirds.

At East Point the horseshoe crab mania was a delight for the wife and kids.

Kids will gravitate towards nature if you give them an opportunity to experience it.

We did our part and turned over the many stranded head over heals crabs on the shore.

This little guy was a surprise delight.

I picked up a really great and inspirational book on Saturday. The title of the book is Discovery by John K. Terres. I’m not sure if it is even in print anymore. I picked it up at a one of my favorite book stores, the Book Garden in Cream Ridge, N.J. I want to share a quote from one of the many great Naturalist stories contained in the book. Dr. Clarence Cottam said, “Nature is, itself, a great story book, continuously open for all to read and learn from, to discover and enjoy.” That my friends is the inspirational quote for the week. Remember to allow the time for your children to check out the the book of Nature, which inspires curiosity and healthy respect for the world.

LINK LIZARD SATURDAYS

2009-05-30T22:54:00.001-04:00

LINK LIZARD- wHaT I fOuNd iNtErEsTiNg tHis wEeK

http://blogs.courierpostonline.com/wingedwonders/

http://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm

http://tinyurl.com/inspiring-6th-grader-s-words

http://tinyurl.com/shadecoffee

http://tinyurl.com/folgers1

http://tinyurl.com/folgers2

LINK LIZARD SATURDAYS

2009-05-23T09:34:00.001-04:00

LINK LIZARD- wHaT I fOuNd iNtErEsTiNg tHis wEeK

http://tinyurl.com/memorial-day-notes

http://tinyurl.com/May-18-1929-the-day-the-birds

http://tinyurl.com/duck-pad-in-DE

http://tinyurl.com/to-tree-or-not-to-tree

http://tinyurl.com/Feds-managing-migratory-birds

http://tinyurl.com/fledging-birders-challenge

http://tinyurl.com/environmental-gen-amnesia

http://tinyurl.com/BoyScouts-Bird-Study-Badge

http://tinyurl.com/I-feel-smaller-than-a-red-knot

New Egypt Day Festival and friends

2009-05-17T11:48:00.001-04:00

We here at Vagrants, Vagabonds, and migrant Visitor birds met and greeted hundreds of people at our Bluebird awareness table this past Saturday, May 16th, in Plumsted township. It was a beautiful day and we met some beautiful people of the community.

What was surprising or not too surprising was the amount of people that showed such great interest in our town’s Eastern Bluebird population and the bewilderment on the faces of some when we told them of the existence of these bright balls of blue in our area. One of our driving passions is to reach people, children in particular, and encourage that curiosity and new found interest in bird watching. At the festival we raffled off 2 copies of Kenn Kauffman’s bird field guides( English and Spanish versions) and a Bluebird basket containing a Bluebird book by the Stokes.

After the close of the festival we determined the winners and contacted one of the families that had won the Bluebird basket. Their daughter Lawron had won the basket and my wife had asked them, “If they wanted to see a Bluebird at Colliers Mills WMA?” We gained so much inspiration and satisfaction from the experience of sharing the afternoon bird walk with this family of 4.

The Bluebirds weren’t hard to find and neither were the smiles on the two young girls’ faces as they got up close views of nature and built lifetime memories of first ever sightings of our Avian friends. One of my favorite quotes is from author Richard Louv, “We only value what we know and what we love.” That’s plain common sense. But seeing how much a brief walk in the woods can do for a family is inspirational; shared experiences, learned passions and respect, and lifetime memories. The lesson of the day is to go birding, and take a friend or in our case a whole new family of friends. A brief list of our highlight birds are below.

Location: Colliers Mills WMA

Observation date: 5/16

Notes: Sunny late afternoon.

Life birds for new found friends: 6

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Kingbird

Eastern Phoebe

Great Blue Heron

Baltimore Oriole

Life bird for me even: 1

Common Nighthawk-flying in a clear sunny sky over the lake

LINK LIZARD SATURDAYS

2009-05-16T22:31:00.001-04:00

LINK LIZARD SATURDAYS- wHaT I fOuNd iNtErEsTiNg tHis wEeK

http://tinyurl.com/piping-plovers-video

http://tinyurl.com/Why-Hunting-isn-t-all-Bad

http://tinyurl.com/No-Child-Left-Inside

I and the Bird #100: The NBN Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence

2009-05-14T08:09:00.001-04:00

If you have been reading my blog most likely your interests are bird related. But I bet that you read more than one bird blog and that you also enjoy all things outdoors .

Well I have took the plunge and participated in the latest craze of bird blog carnivals. Which is basically a fun place in the World Wide Web that holds a carnival and all of us Bird bloggers submit posts to be viewed by all who attend the carnival site.

Lately my timing has been great and joining this year’s I and the Bird blog carnival is no exception. It is the 100th edition of the carnival.

“I and the Bird is the blog carnival devoted to wild birds and birding. This biweekly showcase of the best bird writing on the web celebrates the interaction of human and avian. I and the Bird also happens to be, now that Tanged Bank has run its course, the oldest active nature-related blog carnival.”

So sit back and click to new fields of vision. The carnival is a place to discover new like minded individuals who share your passion for our avian creatures and the culture that surrounds them. Take the plunge and visit:

http://natureblognetwork.com/blog/i-and-the-bird-100-the-nbn-award-for-outstanding-achievement-in-the-field-of-excellence/

Pueo Hawaiian Owl Inspires Passion

2009-05-12T09:39:00.001-04:00

When I tell people I enjoy bird watching most of the time I get puzzled looks and than the inevitable question. How did someone like you get into birding? That’s a two part question really. The story about what bird sparked my life long passion for our avian lives and how did a guy like me consider himself a birder?

I’ll answer the second part of that question first. Most look at me and other birders with a stereotypical image of what a birdwatcher looks and acts like. Since the 1960’s in general, the environmental movement has been gaining speed and it’s image has broaden to almost every walk of life. Being an environmentalist is trendy and translates to a hip and young image of someone who calls themselves one. The same isn’t so true for the birding movement. Both movements are rooted in the same consciousness, but we birders are still described as “bird nerds”.

I always feel like my man card is being challenged. Birders haven’t been listed on the site http://artofmanliness.com/, but with people out there like Pete Dunne and Kenn Kaufmann I think were breaking down the walls, little by little. So to break the stereotype here on my web blog I will provide proof that myself, as a birder, do not fit the stereotype and that it is manly to watch birds(or womanly we aren’t sexists).

I love Jerry Reed and own his record albums to this day.
On my mantle in my dining room sits a 2 foot arm wrestling trophy.
Served in the US Marines, honor graduate of their NCO leadership school.
Ran the Honolulu Marathon in less than 2 days.
Drank beer in Thailand while eating fried frog legs.
When I’m not curling beer I curl 60lb dumb bells in the gym.
Completed a Rocky Gap Adventure Race
Hiked all of the New York Appalachian trail with my dog Mika, who recently passed on. God bless my dog, I miss him.
I took classes to get my NJ bow hunting licenses and even gutted a deer.
I play Texas Holdem for fun and can push all in against an opponent holding only a 2d6c.
I’ve worn a tank top printed with the words,”Klockleaner” to a party.

Now that I’m off of the defensive I can continue the conversation with a more heartfelt and nostalgic tone. Most birders remember one bird that light the fire for their passion with bird watching. I’ve heard some strange stories from other birders about how their interest in avian lives was cultivated. My story isn’t that unusual but it is where it all began.

I was stationed in Marine Corp Base Hawaii, Kaneohe bay, HI, for 3 years. During which I hiked every trail there was on the island of Oahu twice, once solo and the second time around I took a friend for photos. My only regret is that I did not catch the birding bug earlier than I did.

During one of those weekend hikes I discovered an owl by accident. I was somewhere on the Windward side of the island hiking when I turned on the trail near a small grove of pines and out dropped an owl. Or least to the best of my limited experience an owl. I never did get a bird book or binoculars until I got back to the mainland and was discharged from the Marines.

In retrospect I believe the owl that started my fascination with birds was the Pueo. This adds a layer of mysticism to my story. The Pueo Hawaiian owl is a bird of legend. It is called the Protector. One part of it’s legend is that a man named Kapoi stole an owls’ eggs and had wrapped them in leaves and was going to cook them in a traditional ground oven when the Pueo owl swooped down and asked the man for them back. The man did not have fish and wanted to cook the eggs anyway. Then the owl said, "Kapoi, you are heartless. You have no sorrow for me and you care only about yourself." Kapoi was embarrassed. Feeling sorry for the owl, he said, "Come and get your eggs."The man finally coincided and gave the owl back it’s eggs. There is more to the legend but here is where I believe the hand of destiny can be seen.

The Pueo story, that peeked my curiosity, is one of man’s repeated disturbances in nature and our ability to correct our mistakes. Our insight into what is right and wrong and the decisions we make effects who we are and how our world will prevail.

Looking back I can see how my own story can gain inspiration from Kapoi’s trials. I too feel sorry for the owl and all other birds and animals that are endangered or threatened by man’s hands. Like the owl became the man Kapoi’s protector that same owl in Hawaii became my protector and opened up a world I did not see or know held so much beauty. This portion of the original question,” How did someone like you get into birding?” usually brings out the Bird nerd in me. But each day, living in good stewardship of the lands that I walk and with my interactions with others, I believe the birds that inspired me can inspire all of us.

“It’s May you say”, spouted the Blue Jay

2009-05-03T22:51:00.002-04:00

I squeezed in some birding this weekend, in between the left over April rain drops. Friday afternoon I took the opportunity to do some birding before my daughter’s softball game at a new spot in Plumsted Township.

After checking out some overgrown yard terrain and only turning up the usual suspects; field sparrow, catbird, eastern phoebe, and a loud ovenbird, I headed to the woods. Before I crossed the road I got rewarded with great views of two foraging white eyed vireos. This was a good sign that my willingness to trudge along in ducky weather was an ideal from the head of Zeus. The rest of the birds seen were more than obliging to linger in my Bausch & Lomb binoculars.

As I walked along old cranberry bogs I had a funny but slightly scary thought. I was walking wide eyed scanning the trees and fields afar or occasionally skyward not really taking notice of my footsteps on the trail. On such a sunny afternoon I really should be more careful in taking notice of what may lie on these greenways. Never know when a reptile may materialize under foot. It also never hurts to study the butterflies that awkwardly crisscross the native flora. If anyone believes that birdwatchers are a rare breed, try to follow a butterfly’s path thru a lens, now that takes skill and extreme levels of patience.

Encouraged by the new arrivals of spring migrant birds I was determined to set out early Saturday morning. In anticipation of the messy weather I got up early before the sunrise to get some birding in. I can’t remember who the weather person was that I listened to, but the rain was not going to hold off till the afternoon like they promised. In spite of the drizzle there were still a lot of voices in the woods. Singing male feathered songsters perched high and low in trees of all sorts.

That same small island of trees near the road provided another great find. I listened to a melodious song and finally zeroed in on the Purple finches whose rosy red colors were not dulled by the spring rain. Two other highlights of the trip were a pair of Solitary Sandpipers and a singing male Prairie Warbler. I was surprised by a lone Chimney Swift who joined the swallows (Barn and Tree) for the breakfast buffet of flying insects over one of the bogs. There were great views, not so great weather, but again uplifting intimate shared moments with the avian community.

Location: Plumsted Township, New Egypt

Observation date: 5/1-5/2

Notes: Friday evening was clear and sunny; Saturday morning was on and off drizzle.

Number of species: 41

American Goldfinch

American Robin

Belted Kingfisher

Black-and-White Warbler

Black-capped Chickadee

Blue Jay

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Brown-headed Cowbird

Canada goose

Chimney Swift

Chipping Sparrow

Common Yellowthroat

Downy Woodpecker

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Kingbird

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Towhee

Field Sparrow

Gray Catbird

Great Blue Heron

Great Crested Flycatcher

House Wren

Killdeer

Lesser Yellow Legs

Mallard

Northern Cardinal

Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)

Ovenbird

Prairie Warbler

Purple Finch

Red-winged Blackbird

Savanna Sparrow

Solitary Sandpiper

Swamp Sparrow

Tree Swallow

Tufted Titmouse

Turkey Vulture

White Eyed Vireo

White-throated Sparrow

Wood duck

Wood Thrush

Pshing in gnats by the handfuls

2009-04-26T12:13:00.001-04:00

Yesterday evening, 4.25.09, was great birding at Colliers Mills WMA. The birds were out in mass. I’ve been saving up vacation time for May birding but this month has been pretty good too.

If you get out there you never know what your going to catch a glimpse of. I had time so I decided to walk the front pond, all 2.2 miles of it. Some really good views of a few wood warblers. Every turn of the Turn Mill pond had Common Yellowthroat and Palm Warblers. The Common Yellowthroats have finally arrived singing their “wichety wichety wichety” song.

A favorite bird of mine had to be coaxed out of the woods to perform it’s “drink your TEEEE” song. At the back bridge, near the range, I decided to do some pshing to encourage closer views of these avian soloists. It wasn’t surprising but more of a highly anticipated appearance of the Eastern Towhee pictured above. Once grouped together with the western race as Rufous-sided Towhee. It derives it’s scientific name from the Latin term Pipilo or “to chirp” and erythrophthalmus Greek for “red-eyed” (pipilo erythrophthalmus).

As I made the squishy whisper call (pshing) I did not recognize or remember the call note I was hearing. But it also was certainly an effective tool to communicate a free meal to the local gnats. My target bird making that “chewink” song note was not coming out. So I walked on and finally closed in on the call note singing bird, which than provided his heart stopping solo song. If he doesn’t get chicks with that “drink your tea” song there is no justice in a sparrows life.

Location: Colliers Mills WMA, New Egypt

Observation date: 4/25/09

Notes: Few hours before sunset.

Number of species: 21

Eastern Kingbird

Canada Goose

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)

Eastern Phoebe

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Carolina Wren

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

American Robin

Swamp Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

Red-winged Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Killdeer

Turkey Vulture

Eastern Towhee

Common yellowthroat

Palm warbler

If I don’t move the human will leave

2009-04-23T21:47:00.001-04:00

Once called Wilson’s snipe, now this solitary bird goes by Common Snipe. I got to see one feeding tonight at Colliers Mills WMA, and I have to say in my experience Common is a stretch.

Beautiful little guy, he looked like he would tip over from the length of his bill. The bird was in the front burn part by the maintenance building. I walked right up on him, less than 3feet, and the only movement the bird gave was a wink of an eye lid. After I left and came back, I found him foraging again. It’s amazing to see that long bill be used like an ice pick in the wet soggy marsh. Thumbing threw an old Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America by Frank M. Chapman, I read that Common Snipes need two things:

“Two things are essential to its requirements-ground so thoroughly water-soaked as to afford slight resistance to its long and highly sensitive bill when probing, and such concealment as tussocks, hillocks, or long grass afford, for, unlike the Sandpipers, the Snipe rarely ventures out on bare mud-flats, save under cover of darkness.”

It also goes on to say that they are good eating and that hunters especially find good sport in shooting them. I hope if any hunter reads this post remember that there was only one and he looked very unsavory to me.

Yellow-Rumped Warblers were all around the Turnmill pond. Only other bird of interest was a green backed heron hunting near the entrance.

FOY Brown Thrasher

2009-04-18T08:09:00.002-04:00

Yesterday morning was a beaut. Before I went to my Environmental Stewards Program I caught an early sunrise at Colliers Mills WMA.

All the typical birds were at morning roll call. I had read somewhere that someone had a Brown Thrasher sighting and was wondering where oh where was ours? Where was our First of the Year (FOY) bird.

Catching a note on the wind from where I parked by the Maintenance building, I had hope. By the time I walked to the gate I realized that one of the breeding Brown Thrashers of Colliers Mills was back. And as I walked the front field edges I had a tag along choir. The Brown Thrasher’s (Toxostoma rufum) voice was familiar and a welcoming sound, like an old friend you’ve missed and haven’t seen for ages.

Get out there and go birding!

There was 1 and than there were 4

2009-04-18T07:46:00.002-04:00

I had the chance to take a tour of Jackson Township’s FREC Bluebird trail with Dr Laura Stone on 4.16.09. My family really enjoyed the walk with Dr. Stone and they got to hear someone else talk about birds the way I do, with passion.

Kids are so inquisitive and ask some of the darnest things. My youngest daughter, Chloe at 9, asked if Teradactyls were related to birds?

That evening I went down to Colliers Mills WMA for some quite time. I was not alone in my quest for peace. Although I think the male Belted Kingfisher, which was hunting the back cranberry bogs, was in search of dinner as well as peace. As warm as it was I was surprised by a pair of Juncos flitting about the banks of the pond.

The other highlight was a sparrow with a streaky chest picking at the ground in the front, recently burned, field. There was a mixed bunch in the field, Bluebirds, Robins, and sparrows. After watching the sparrow for a minute, my slow mind finally caught the movement of the other 3. These birds like most sparrows are seemingly dingy brown vagrants. However the Savannah sparrow is on New Jersey’s protected species list,as Endangered or Threatened. I searched and observed the field marks that would cinch this identification: yellow tinge on the eye lore, pink legs, and streaked breast but I could not see if the tail was notched.

Location: Oakford Lake, New Egypt

Observation date: 4/16/09

Notes: Sunny evening.

Number of species: 23

Canada Goose

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)

Eastern Phoebe

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Carolina Wren

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

American Robin

Pine Warbler

Swamp Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinal

Red-winged Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

American Goldfinch

American Kestrel

Killdeer

Turkey Vulture

Savannah Sparrow

Eastern Bluebird

Belted Kingfisher

Spring never offers a dull day or a dull bird

2009-04-12T19:53:00.001-04:00

There was more paddling than birding today. But it was a beautiful Easter morning to be on the water.

After passing a mixed roost of Turkey and Black vultures I approached what local residents call “Wide Ocean”, trying my best not to break the silence of the lake. I attempted to make small ripples in the lake, hoping to catch any raptors (eagles and hawks) perched high in the lake bank trees.

But it wasn’t to be. Nine Canadian Geese declared my presence to the rest of the neighborhood with their loud raucous voices. Once the alarm was raised they took a few steps on the water and were aloft and calm was returned to the waters.

On the way back a pair of Eastern Phoebes provided the highlight of the trip. When sitting in a kayak on a lake nature tends to forget you are there, almost as if you are part of the whole. Interesting to know that Phoebes are one of the earliest migrants to our area and they usually are one of the later birds to migrate south in the Fall.

If you’ve never taken a kayak or canoe out on the lake you don’t know what your missing out on. Canoeing and kayaking are low impact activities that can improve your aerobic fitness, strength and flexibility. Don’t forget on May 16th there will be canoe rides down at the lake as part of it’s Fun & Fitness themed New Egypt day. A great opportunity to try out the lake and see if maybe there is a kayak purchase in your family’s future.

Location: Oakford Lake, New Egypt

Observation date: 4/12/09

Notes: Light breeze and sunny Easter morning.

Number of species: 16

Canada Goose

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)

Eastern Phoebe

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

American Robin

Pine Warbler

Northern Cardinal

Brown-headed Cowbird

American Goldfinch

Turkey Vulture

Black Vulture

Wood duck

Mallard duck

Muscovy Duck

The woods are starting to fill in

2009-04-10T20:03:00.007-04:00

The Gnats kept me company while I walked around Turn Mill Pond. It was appropriate that I saw my first of the year (FOY) Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher today. In the front where the phragmites are burned, offered good views of both swamp and song sparrows snacking.

Location: Colliers Mills WMA

Observation date: 4/10/09

Notes: Beautiful afternoon to get some fresh air.

Number of species: 24

Canada Goose

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)

Eastern Phoebe

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Carolina Wren

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

American Robin

Pine Warbler

Swamp Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinal

Red-winged Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

American Goldfinch

American Kestrel

Killdeer

Turkey Vulture

Ring-Necked duck

Field of Dreams

2009-03-30T21:41:00.000-04:00

When Kevin Costner built a baseball diamond in a corn field, he knew they would come to play ball. My vision for this blog is the same. What do I need from you? Good question. It's nice to have these computer aided communication tools but without your input they won't be nothing but a field on the internet. I am encouraging all Ocean County amateur and semi professional photographers out their to take pride in their work and share it with our community.

Hopefully this will serve two purposes to our cause; 1.) it will gain awareness to the beauty of nature and it's abundance in our small town community and 2.) it will be far reaching; those who are unable to get out and enjoy our open spaces may still be able to enjoy the talented photos from our creative member citizens.

Also please come out to New Egypt Day-"fun & fitness" on May 16th between 11a.m-4p.m. When you do come out be sure to stop by the Eastern Bluebird Awareness table. There will be something for everyone at the table and hopefully you will walk away with something too. We are giving away a bird field guide as well. I hope to see you there.

Soaring Osprey

2009-03-29T22:00:00.001-04:00

Today above Main street, New Egypt we had a small kettle of two soaring Ospreys and three Black Vultures. An Osprey in flight is almost unmistakable with their inverted W wing position. I took the family to Colliers Mills WMA and the Eastern Bluebirds were a flutter. Also a Great Blue Heron was at the front bridge hunting. Now that bridge has been dammed by a very industrious beaver creating a flooded oasis.

Timberdoodles

2009-03-26T21:11:00.001-04:00

I heard the peenting of a woodcock at Laurita Winery last night. I hope I get some free time tomorrow to park and try to see their aerial displays.