Green Heron

Yesterday I was visiting a friend in Forked River. This Green Heron was across the lagoon in front of her house. It's the best view I've ever had of this species.

 

 The second picture was taken when he first landed on the branch. The lighting wasn't very good, and the wind was making it difficult to hold the camera still. And of course, he was moving somewhat as well. I was surprised it turned out as well as it did.

Woodpeckers

A few weeks ago, a few members of Southern Ocean Birding Group went on a field trip to Old Mine Road, which goes along the Delaware River in New Jersey. The main purpose of the trip was to see  migrating warblers. It was a success, but we heard more than we saw. Although I always had my camera at the ready, the little warblers, stayed high in the trees and seldom stayed in one spot long enough for me to focus on them. Therefore, my best picture on the trip was of a Pileated Woodpecker, which I took near the home we were staying in in Pennsylvania.

 

 

I've also seen Pileated Woodpeckers in Florida and Virginia, but so far, not in New Jersey. I have seen other woodpeckers here, however, and a couple of days ago, I was able to capture a picture of this Red-bellied Woodpecker enjoying the food in one of my backyard feeders.

 

 

Not just birds

I've been birding, but have had little time to update this blog. Here are a few of what I've seen. How many can you identify? Obiously, the first two are not birds. You never know what you'll see out in the woods of South Jersey. The last one was seen along the Potomac in Virginia.

 

 

 

 

 

Osprey Flying And a Black-necked Stilt, birding trip highlights

Yesterday I was on a birding field trip to southern New Jersey. Our primary purpose was to see migrating warblers, but the highlight of the day turned to be a Black-necked Stilt at Heislerville. We didn't arrive there until mid afternoon. The last thing we did was walk down a bike/walking path where we'd heard someone had spotted a Black-necked Stilt. We encountered a man with a scope who said he'd seen one there, but it had flown about five minutes previously. We then assumed this would be one of those times we just missing a special sighting. We continued on in spite of this. When we were nearing the end of the trail, someone in our group sighted it. It was the highlight of the day. What a great way to end a wonderful day.

As we returned to our cars, an Osprey flew overhead. Unfortunately, by the time I took the lens cap off my camera and focused on him, he had flown so high the pictures aren't as clear as they could have been had I reacted faster.

Nesting Mute Swans

The other day a friend invited me to see a pair of Mute Swans that have a nest directly across the lagoon from her house. The female never left the nest while I was there, so I didn't get to see the eggs. My friend's husband saw the eggs earlier when Momma left the nest. He said he was surprised at how large the eggs are. At first the male was nowhere to be seen, but then we saw him slowly meandering up the lagoon.

                                                                

Mommaon nest

 

                                                                      Dad arrives

                                                                    Dad showing off

                                                               Dad comes in for a closeup

 

Momma stays on her eggs

 

Cape May and Barnegat Bay Sightings

This newbie birder has seen seventy species so far this year. It's very rewarding that I identified many of these without help. Though I do admit that I still often rely on those more expert. Photographing the birds I see has played a huge role in my ability to identify them. Since I'm learning about both birds and photography at the same time, I'm on a large learning curve. But it's a lot of fun.

                         Yesterday at  Cape May, this Merlin became number seventy on my list.

 

     He must have been waiting for someone. We walked under him before a friend spotted  him.          Then he stayed on his perch long enough for me to snap numerous shots, and was still there when we left.
                              

 

This morning I braved the extremely cold wind on the jetty at the Barnegat Inlet. The only sightings I made there at that time were Long-tailed Ducks. Since I already have many pictures of them, and the wind would have made focusing difficult, I left to see if I could find anything interesting on Barnegat Bay.

What luck! Two Oystercatchers searching for food along a small island opposite a parking lot near Viking Village. It always amazes me how much less wind there is on the bay than at the inlet.These pictures are of two different Oystercatchers, one of them appears to be banded.

He looks intent on finding his lunch.

 

                                  He was walking with a purpose. Did he see something?

                              If you look carefully at his legs, one appears to have a band on it.

                                       Notice his catch. I can't see what it is, though.

                                                              What is he watching?
                                

A Loony Day & Mergansers, Grebes, and a Surf Scoter

A late afternoon at Barnegat Inlet. Not too many sightings at first, but then as the park was closing and we moved to the end of the street next to it, we found Loons galore on the calm water. There were also Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, numerous gulls, and a lone Surf Scoter. The Scoter was difficult to see as its dark coloring seemed to blend in on itself, as evidenced in its picture. When we stopped at the bay as we were leaving Long Beach Island, we were rewarded with two Horned Grebes.

                                                                    Common Loon

 

 

Red-breasted Merganser

 

 

 

Surf Scoter

 

 

The Horned Grebe at day's end.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                     

 

Great Blue Heron In Rain

Although yesterday was a rainy day, I drove to see Barnegat Bay on my way home from the store. What a surprise when I looked into the marsh and saw a Great Blue Heron standing still as if posing. Unable to miss an opportunity, and taking a chance he'd stay there, I sped home for my camera and returned about fifteen minutes later. I found him still standing in the same spot.

Now the concern was how to take his picture without ruining my camera in the rain. When I pulled off to the side of the road, he was to my left, which meant it shouldn't be too difficult to take his picture through the driver's side window. Clearly the rain was blowing because the window was completely water covered. I crossed my fingers and put it down, hoping the rain wouldn't blow in on may camera. I pulled away from the window as much as the center console allowed and managed the shots below with only a few drops landing on the camera.

It's surprising how clear these are in light of being shot through the rain. He was still standing there when I left. Perhaps awaiting another bird-loving photographer to come snap his picture.

Bluebird, Woodpecker, Cardinal & other Backyard Birds

Sometimes I tend to dismiss the commor birds I see in my own backyard, yet many of them are as beautiful as any I've seen elsewhere. However, taking pictures through a window doesn't always produce the clearest results. Although I can clean the windows on the inside, the outsides are more difficult. And then there's the glare. Many times the best lighting is when the greatest glare occurs. Nevertheless, I've decided to include here some pictures taken through those less than sparkling, glary windows.

These pictures are some of my favorites. Last summer I allowed parts of my backyard to become more like a meadow than a yard. Some of my neighbors questioned my choice, but since it wasn't visible from the road, I felt the benefit for the birds outweighed the concern about its scraggly appearance. And I thought it beautiful.

                                                                     Goldfinch

                                                                     And with the female


This little bluebird and his mate were visiting my feeders for a few weeks this winter. Unfortuneately, I didn't get a good picture of her.

 

Mr. Cardinal and his wife are often enjoying my feeders. Actually, although the female isn't bright red like he is, I think she's equally beautiful.

 

This Red-bellied Woodpecker is probably waiting till he thinks it's safe to dine on the suet near that tree.

 

 

This White-throated Sparrow is one of many different Sparrows that feed in my yard. They love sitting on the fence and hiding in the Cyress trees behind it.

Merganser, and Brants

Yesterday at Barnegat Light couldn't have been more beautiful. Cold and windy, but that's to be expected in February. Birding with friends was the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon, especially after the previous gloomy weather. It also helps when one of those friends identifies the birds I'm still not sure of.

This little fella seemed to know he was being photographed and kindly posed so I was able to get a few pictures of him.

 

 

 

 

 

These Brants were also considerately making themselves good photo subjects.

 

 

Another picture of the Pink-footed Goose below, rare in New Jersey, was seen a few weeks ago in a pond in Toms River on a VERY cold day.  Notice the brown head and the pink on its bill.

 

Pink-Footed Goose, Harlequin Duck & Long-tailed Duck

Perfect weather for winter birding at the Barnegat Lighthouse on January 5th. Although it was cold, dressed in heavy winter clothes, I found it most enjoyable, even at the end of the jetty.

                                                                 Long-tailed Duck

 

                                                                    Harlequin Duck

Sunday, Jan. 20,  I saw Northern Lapwings in New Egypt, but they were so far away on the other side of a cow field, that I had to look through a friend's scope. Even then, with the extreme wind making it hard to focus, it was difficult to see. Nevertheless, I did get a fairly good view of them.

Yesterday was extremely cold and quite windy, but the sighting of a Pink-Footed Goose (pictured below), made freezing fingers tolerable.