Harbingers of Spring

Tags

american robin, canada geese, colonial lake, diamondback terrapin, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, great egret, photography, postaday, snowy egret

American Robins don’t migrate during the winter, merely keeping out of sight most of the time. They reappear with the coming of spring, when the ground is no longer too hard for them to try to pull out worms.

American Robin, 2019 spring.

Flocks of Canada Geese flying overhead is another sign that the seasons are changing. However, I can’t figure out what they are doing since they seem to be flying in all directions.

Canada Geese flying East.

Just a minute after the above shot, those Canada Geese reversed direction and flew over me again.

Canada Geese flying West.

I thought that was the last of that flock and started walking toward the woods. Then they flew North and passed overhead once more.

Canada Geese flying North.

Another sure sign of spring is the return of Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets. They appeared two weeks ago, then went away when the weather turned cold. Now they are back.

Great Egret and Snowy Egrets at Edwin B Forsythe NWR.

Great Egret.

Finally the turtles are out sunning themselves. I think they are Diamondback Terrapins, but am not positive. They all jumped into the water as I tried to come closer to them to get a better look.

Seven turtles at Colonial Lake.

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Red-Breasted Mergansers

Tags

photography, postaday, red-breasted merganser

Red-Breasted Mergansers are high energy birds that migrate in the winter to our coastline from Canada. Whenever I see them, they are always busy diving and looking for food. They have to eat 15 to 20 fish a day and must spend 4 to 5 hours every day diving for fish!

I usually wait until they surface to photograph them, and as a result they have a constant wet look with water beading all over their faces and bodies. Both male and female birds have the spiky and shaggy head prized by some young people today.

Red-breasted Mergansers, female behind male.

Male Red-breasted Merganser.

Female Red-breasted Merganser.

Female Red-breasted Merganser.

Male Red-breasted Merganser.

Male Bufflehead Courtship

Tags

bufflehead, courtship, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday

Two days ago I happened upon about a dozen Buffleheads involved in their annual courtship rituals at the refuge. Male Buffeheads court their future mates by a vigorous exercise of head bobbing, diving, running on water, and flying over the head of the female ducks.

Male Bufflehead.

Male Bufflehead running toward female.

Male Bufflehead flying over female.

Male Bufflehead flying over female.

Male Bufflehead trying to impress female.

Sometimes, a female Bufflehead chased a male away.

Female Bufflehead chasing after male: “Get out of my sight, you … duck!”

Male Buffleheads competing for attention from female.

Male Bufflehead: “I am the greatest!”

Female with male Buffleheads paddling fast in background.

The courtship also took place underwater, perhaps with the males trying to prove they could be good foragers. I saw them dive and spend a minute or two submerged, but unfortunately was not equipped to take photos under water.

Wordless Wednesday

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, mallard, muteswan, photography, postaday

Mallards.

Mute Swan.

Flu Season and Birds

Tags

carolina chickadee, dark-eyed junco, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, great blue heron, photography, postaday

The flu has forced me to stay home these past two weeks and I have not gone out to take any picture, or visited your posts as often as before. The following photos are the results of my editing of recent shots of backyard birds that show some different views of the two most common visitors to our feeder in the winter.

Dark-eyed Junco.

Carolina Chickadee.

About two weeks ago, I also caught a Great Blue Heron jumping around a pond, probably on a fishing expedition.

Great Blue Heron.

Great Blue Heron.

Great Blue Heron.

Great Blue Heron.

Great Blue Heron.

Hooded Mergansers – Nictitating Membrane

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, hooded merganser, photography, postaday

There were two male Hooded Merganser at the refuge cruising around on a patch of water amid the ice, looking for food. They swam, dove, and came up for air. These small ducks are specific to North America, with the males very noticeable because of their black and white hood.

Male Hooded Mergansers at Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.

Male Hooded Merganser.

Two Hooded Mergansers, one diving.

Male Hooded Merganser plunging into icy water.

In the water, Hooded Mergansers hunt for food by sight. They have an extra eyelid,  a nictitating (blinking) membrane, that they can deploy to protect their eyes, somewhat like humans who use goggles when swimming underwater. You can see it in the following shot.

Hooded Merganser with extra eyelid showing.

They can also adjust the refractive property of their eyes to improve their vision under water.

Very wet Hooded Merganser emerging from dive.

Wordless Wednesday

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, mute swan, photography, postaday

Mute Swans.

Mute Swans.

Mute Swan.

Winter Scenes

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, fort hancock, photography, postaday, sanderling, sandy hook, sandy hook lighthouse

As temperatures slowly climbed above freezing, I ventured out yesterday to view scenes of the wintry landscape left by that Polar Vortex storm everyone was talking about last week. I was hoping that a thaw would be in full force, but everything still looked cold and encrusted in ice. The first place I went to was Sandy Hook, a barrier island in New Jersey facing New York City across Raritan Bay.

View of Sandy Hook Bay.

View of Sandy Hook shoreline, with an empty Osprey nest on the right.

View of Sandy Hook shoreline.

There were hardly any bird, just a few lonely gulls and three Sanderlings.

Sanderlings.

I drove around the old Fort Hancock, an abandoned Army fort, at the tip of Sandy Hook island.

Sandy Hook Lighthouse. It is the oldest working lighthouse in the United States.

There were some antique cannons, the biggest one shown below, and two Cold War era missiles.

Old cannon a Fort Hancock.

Cold War era missiles.

Leaving Sandy Hook I went to my familiar haunt, the Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. All the ponds there were frozen as well, and snow had fallen the previous day.

Winter scene at Edwin B Forsythe NWR.

Another view of winter scene at Edwin B Forsythe NWR.

Silent Sunday

Tags

northern cardinal, photography, postaday, silent sunday

Beach sculpture.

Leaves in winter.

Female Northern Cardinal.

Waves

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, Holgate, photography, postaday

A few days ago, at Holgate I was captivated by the waves crashing on the beach and on the man-made barrier separating it from the rest of Long Beach Island.

The following photos are of the same wave as it folded and exploded under the wind.

Wave at Holgate.

Wave at Holgate.

Wave at Holgate.

Wave at Holgate.

Here are more waves assaulting the man-made barrier.

Wave crashing against barrier.

Wave crashing against barrier.

By the way, a birder reported seeing not one but two Snowy Owls at Holgate, two days after I was there!

Holgate

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, Holgate, photography, postaday, surfer

Holgate is the southern end of Long Beach Island, NJ and a part of Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. In previous years I often went there to photograph Snowy Owls, and I tried to do that again three days ago. Unfortunately surveyors were roaming Holgate that day, traipsing into dune parts that Snowy Owls frequented. As a result, even though I hiked the length of Holgate and back, there was not a single bird that day, except for one seagull.

Surveyor at Holgate.

It was cold, starting at 17°F (-8°C) and slowly climbing to above freezing. As the tide was coming in, the wind made beautiful waves.

Waves at Holgate.

Wave at Holgate.

A Herring Gull was standing on the beach. I approached it carefully, 20 steps at a time, taking a camera shot before continuing.

Herring Gull.

When I finally got too close, it flew up holding a piece of clam in its beak.

Herring Gull snatching food from beach.

Herring Gull turning right.

Herring Gull turning left.

Near the entrance to Holgate, there were a dozen surfers.

Two surfers at Holgate, one with a paddle.

Surfer almost hidden by wave.

Barrier and surfer at Holgate.

When I came home and looked at the photos on my computer, I saw some Long-tailed Ducks in several of them.

Two Long-tailed Ducks in the surf.

Snow Geese Blue Morph

Tags

blue morph, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday, snow goose, white morph

Snow Geese are mostly white (white morph), but some only have a white face, with the rest of their bodies dark brown and dark blue. They are not too rare, as I usually can see at least one or more in any flock of Snow Geese.

Blue morph Snow Goose amid white morph geese.

When still immature, the blue morph colors are less pronounced while the face has not turned white yet.

Juvenile blue morph Snow Geese among white morph geese.

Juvenile blue morph Snow Geese.

There were several thousands Snow Geese at the refuge while I was taking the above photos. Suddenly they shouted to one another and rose up in the sky.

Snow Geese rising up to fly.

Perhaps they were wary of some Bald Eagle, for they soon settled back on another part of the refuge.

Tundra Swan Drama

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday, Tundra Swan

There were about a dozen Tundra Swans at the refuge, far away from the road and apart from the larger Mute Swans which are all-year residents. As their name indicates, Tundra Swans migrate from the artic tundra to the Midlantic shore to spend their winters under warmer conditions.

As I began shooting a Tundra Swan was landing.

Tundra Swan landing. Two other Tundra Swans were agitated by the newcomer. In the background are American Black Ducks.

Landing scuffle.

Now one swan is chasing the others.

Chaser seems to have the upper hand.

Oh, oh … Resistance?

Fighting?

Victory!

Peace.

Silent Sunday

Tags

photography, postaday, silent sunday, sun rays

Sun rays.

Something Different

Tags

Dorland J. Henderson Memorial Bridge, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, Manahawkin, Manahawkin Bay Bridge, photography, postaday

Readers of this blog know that I am mainly a bird photographer, with infrequent landscape and flower images. Recently I went to Bonnet Island, a newly opened section of the Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. The Dorland J. Henderson Memorial Bridge, also called Manahawkin Bay Bridge, linking mainland New Jersey to Long Beach Island goes through Bonnet Island, and it has been undergoing repairs since 2010.

The part of EBF NWR on Bonnet Island, opened since last July, looks underwhelming at this time of the year.

Bench at Bonnet Island.

One of two pavilions at Bonnet Island.

What one sees is mostly weeds and new plantings, all with different variations of the color ochre. There were a few birds or waterfowls, but they were all too far away for my lens, even with the 1.4 extender attached. As soon as I took a picture of the following hawk, it flew away.

Hawk on Bonnet Island, maybe a Red-tailed Hawk.

There were mergansers and ducks swimming in the bay waters, but they appear tiny and blurry in all the images I took. So I turned toward the bridge itself and started photographing it from different angles.

Manahawkin Bay Bridge as seen from Bonnet Island.

West end of Manahawkin Bay Bridge.

East end of Manahawkin Bay Bridge.

Traffic and construction on Manahawkin Bay Bridge.

The town of Manahawkin is a coastal community facing Long Beach Island. Manahawkin comes from a Lenape Native American word meaning “fertile land sloping into the water”.

View of Manahawkin from Bonnet Island.

View of Manahawkin from Bonnet Island.

Taking Photos with an Extender

Tags

colonial lake, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, extender, great blue heron, mallard, photography, postaday, snow geese

One of the must-have equipment for wildlife photography in general, and bird photography in particular, is to have a telephoto lens powerful enough to capture subjects with sufficient details and sharpness, without having to come too close to them. Since most of us can’t afford super telephoto lenses, also called second-mortgage lenses, some of us resort to using an extender, which is much less expensive, to increase the reach of our lenses. With a 1.4 extender, a 400 mm lens  will be equivalent to a 560 mm lens.

I have had such an extender for two years, but almost never used it because the results had been disappointing especially in terms of sharpness. Finally, looking at photos posted by Jerry from Quiet Solo Pursuits here on WordPress, I decided to give it a try with the Canon 5D Mark IV that I have been using since last year.

Following are some of the shots I took yesterday at the refuge and at Colonial Lake under a bright sun with the 100-400 mm lens and a 1.4 extender.

Great Blue Heron shaking a fish.

Great Blue Heron in “flasher” pose facing the sun to warm itself up.

Mallard in flight.

Mallard in flight.

Female Mallard.

Snow Goose.

Snow Geese.

Snow Geese.

Oversized Bills

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, Northern Shoveler, photography, postaday

At this time of the year, I often see Northern Shovelers at the refuge. From afar they look like Mallard ducks, but with longer, oversized bills. They dabble back and forth with those bills to catch crustaceans and seeds from the marsh.

Northern Shovelers, female and male.

Female Northern Shoveler. Note comb-like filters at the edge of her bill.

Female Northern Shoveler preening.

Male Northern Shoveler.

Male Northern Shovelers.

Flocks of Northern Shovelers are known to swim in circle to corral food and make it easier for them to catch. However, I saw this band early in the morning and many were still sleeping.

Female Northern Shoveler sleeping: “Call me back in an hour.”

Silent Sunday

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, great blue heron, photography, postaday

Great Blue Heron fishing.

Great Blue Heron fishing.

Great Blue Heron fishing.

Great Blue Heron swallowing fish.

Great Blue Heron.

Peregrine Falcon, Snow Geese

Tags

atlantic city, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, peregrine falcon, photography, postaday, snow geese

Now that the Ospreys have migrated South, their nests are being taken over by squatters, temporary ones anyway . One of them is a Peregrine Falcon that I saw perched on a nest.

Peregrine Falcon sitting on Osprey nest.

Peregrine Falcon checking out photographer.

This is the season for Snow Geese migration, and there were many thousands of them at the refuge.

Snow Geese at Edwin B Forsythe.

Snow Geese at Edwin B Forsythe NWR.

Snow Geese at Edwin B Forsythe NWR.

Snow Geese lifting off, with the skyline of Atlantic City in the background.

Great Blue Heron Flying

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, great blue heron, photography, postaday

Friday morning, a Great Blue Heron was standing in the water at the refuge, looking left then right. As the light was near perfect, I started to photograph it. When it decided to take off and fly away, I just kept pressing the shutter.

Great Blue Heron standing in water at Edwin B Forsythe NWR.

Great Blue Heron at start of flight.

Great Blue Heron flying.

Great Blue Heron flying and turning.

Great Blue Heron flying and turning.

Great Blue Heron flying.

Great Blue Heron in classic flying pose.

Buffleheads 2018

Tags

bufflehead, colonial lake, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday

Buffleheads are the smallest diving ducks, no larger than 16 in (40 cm) in length. They are a joy to see as they appear to be constantly smiling and moving about, bobbing, and diving to find food. They swallow their catch of crustaceans (shrimps) and mollusks under water, and I have yet to see a photo of one Bufflehead holding food in its short, smily bill.

In past years I usually had a hard time taking good pictures of them, especially the male ones, because their eyes are often lost in the dark patches around their heads. This year sunlight was with me, most of the time, as you can see in the following photos.

Female Buffleheads at Colonial Lake.

Female Bufflehead at Edwin B. Forsythe NWR.

Female Bufflehead at Edwin B. Forsythe NWR.

Female Bufflehead at Edwin B. Forsythe NWR.

Male Bufflehead at Edwin B. Forsythe NWR.

Male Bufflehead beginning to dive.

Male Bufflehead approaching female who just dove.

Male Bufflehead and his harem.

Female Bufflehead angling for photo.

Female Bufflehead and Canada Geese.

Hooded Merganser 2018

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, hooded merganser, photography, postaday

Hooded Mergansers are small ducks that are seen in the fall and winter at the Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. The male ones have a prominent crest (hood) in black and white, making them stand out from other ducks. This year there seems to be many Hooded Mergansers, male and female, and I had no problem shooting the following photos.

Male Hooded Merganser.

Female Hooded Merganser.

Hooded Margansers. The male was just coming out of a dive.

As I was taking a shot, one Hooded Merganser decided to fly. I missed capturing that take-off.

Hooded Mergansers.

The following day, almost at the same place, I was chatting with a fellow photographer when a male Hooded Merganser decided to fly.

Male Hooded Merganser starting flight.

After about a minute, I saw him, accompanied by a female, flying overhead.

Hooded Mergansers flying.

Hooded Margansers flying.

Flying Lessons

Tags

bald eagle, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday

Several young Bald Eagles were flying around a small island in the middle of the marsh. Some attempted to catch a fish but failed.

Young Bald Eagle.

Young Bald Eagle.

Young Bald Eagle.

The one above landed on the island where a mature Bald Eagle was watching everything.

Young Bald Eagle landing on island.

For several minutes the older Bald Eagle seemed to be calling to the new arrival.

Young Bald Eagle landing. Note the older Bald Eagle calling.

After the young one landed and stood to the side, the mature Bald Eagle kept calling, perhaps telling the younger one to fly again and go catch some fish.

Mature Bald Eagle: “Go catch some fish!”

Finally the younger Bald Eagle had to take off again.

Young Bald Eagle resumed flying.

Great Blue Heron and Willet

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, great blue heron, photography, postaday, willet

A Great Blue Heron held in its bill a small fish that it had caught. A Willet had just caught a bigger fish, and flew up right in front of the heron. I was too far and actually did not see this small drama until I got home and displayed the image on my computer monitor. It looks like the Willet was bragging about its catch, and the heron was by no means happy.

Great Blue Heron and Willet.

Here’s a closer look.

Great Blue Heron and Willet.

Birds in Autumn

Tags

american goldfinch, bald eagle, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, canada geese, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday, red-winged blackbird

The American Goldfinch stands out with its bright yellow coloring in Spring and Summer. The rest of the year, when they are not breeding, their colors are more subdued, even drab, although they still remain very cute.

American Goldfinch.

American Goldfinch.

Another ubiquitous bird is the Red-winged Blackbird.

Red-winged Blackbird at Edwin B Forsythe NWR..

The female Red-winged Blackbird does not have that red and yellow patch on her wings.

Female Red-winged Blackbird at Edwin B Forsythe NWR..

In the fall, Red-winged Blackbirds often join with European Starlings to form flocks of birds that roam through refuges, importuning even Bald Eagles.

Bald Eagle at Blackwater NWR being buzzed by Red-winged Blackbird.

The smaller birds temporarily took over a favorite perch of the Bald Eagles at Blackwater NWR.

Red -winged Blackbirds swarming a Bald Eagle favorite tree.

Finallly, many flocks of Canada Geese flew over the non-migrating Bald Eagle.

Canada Geese flying over Bald Eagle at Blackwater NWR.

Canada Geese at Blackwater NWR.

Monochrome Monday

Tags

cormorant, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, great blue heron, great egret, photography, postaday

These are some shots I have taken earlier this year, rendered in monochrome.

Great Blue Heron.

Cormorant.

Great Egret.

Silent Sunday

Tags

Forster's Tern, laughing gull, lesser yellow legs, photography, postaday, silent dunday

Laughing Gull.

Lesser Yellow Legs.

Forster’s Tern.

Birds in Flight

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, great blue heron, great egret, photography, postaday

You won’t believe how many times I have missed capturing, or badly captured, birds in flight. Two days ago, at the refuge, I finally was able to get several good shots of a Great Blue Heron as it took off from the marsh.

Great Blue Heron in flight.

Great Blue Heron in flight.

Great Blue Heron in flight.

On the same day, a Great Egret also put on a good show.

Great Egret in flight.

Great Blue Heron in flight.

Great Blue Heron in flight.

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, peregrine falcon, photography, postaday

The Ospreys have migrated from the refuge to warmer places down South, leaving their nests empty. A juvenile Peregrine Falcon was preening and posing in one of the nests for about five minutes, enough time for the following shots.

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon.

It was banded on both feet, however I could not make out what the letters or numbers were. Peregrine Falcons are no longer on the endangered species list, but people are still very keen on helping it make a come back after it became almost extinct between 1950 and 1970.

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon preening.

“Yeah, did you see me do the scratch?”

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon.

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon getting ready to fly.

Unfortunately a flock of Sanderlings distracted me for a minute, and when I looked back at the nest the Peregrine Falcon was no longer there.

Eastern Box Turtle

Tags

Eastern Box Turtle, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday

An Eastern Box Turtle crossed my path as I drove out of the Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge yesterday. It was a small but colorful turtle that moved very slowly, allowing me to circle it and take the following shots. It was the smallest adult turtle that I have ever seen, measuring about 5 in (12 cm).

Eastern Box Turtle, a female from the color of the eyes. Males would have red eyes.

Eastern Box Turtle.

Eastern Box Turtle.

Eastern Box Turtles often get run over by cars, and are now classified as vulnerable. People (children) also like to have them as pets because they are small and colorful, but they require good care in order to survive.

Boat-tailed Grackle

Tags

boat-tailed grackle, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday

Yesterday a band of Boat-tailed Grackle congregated on a section of Wildlife Drive at Edwin B Forsythe NWR. I had seen this bird before, but never in such numbers, or so brazen, posing conspicuously for photographers.

Boat-tailed Grackles. Pointing their bill upward is typical of this type of bird.

Boat-tailed Grackle calling.

Boat-tailed Grackle singing.

Boat-tailed Grackles.

Boat-tailed Grackle foraging. These birds are omnivorous and will steal food from humans.

Their bright yellow eyes make the Boat-tailed Grackle appear fierce. By the way all these photos show male Boat-tailed Grackle and I did not see any female around. The female birds would have been brown. Usually, one male bird would have a cluster of female birds as his harem.

Boat-tailed Grackle.

Boat-tailed Grackle.

2018 Year of the Bird

Tags

bald eagle, barn swallow, barnegat lighthouse, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, great egret, Long-billed Dowitcher, mourning dove, photography, postaday, ring-billed gull, sanderling, year of the bird

2018 is the Year of the Bird, as declared by the National Audubon Society, National Geographic, BirdLife International, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. I didn’t know about that until now, but here are seven photos I took recently of birds around New Jersey.

Two Barn Swallows in Newton, NJ.

Mourning Dove on beach at Barnegat Light.

Great Egret at Edwin B Forsythe NWR.

Sanderling at Barnegat Light.

Young Bald Eagle at Edwin B Forsythe NWR.

Long-billed Dowitcher at Edwin B Forsythe NWR.

Juvenile Ring-billed Gull at Barnegat Light.

Immature Forster’s Tern

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, Forster's Tern, photography, postaday

Two weeks ago I saw immature Forster’s Terns at the refuge. They were as active as their parents, and a little noisier. While the parents look well traveled and perhaps a little worn out, the younger ones still have some baby fat and show a lot of spunkiness.

Immature Forster’s Tern.

Immature Forster’s Tern.

Immature Forster’s Tern.

True to their species, they are great fliers and hunters.

Immature Forster’s Tern.

Even when they don’t catch anything.

Immature Forster’s Tern coming out of a dive.

Wordless Wednesday

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, osprey, photography, postaday

Male Osprey.

Juvenile Osprey.

Male Osprey.

Male Osprey.

Ospreys.

Male Osprey

Snowy Egrets

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday, snowy egret, water lily

Some up close shots of egrets that were just posing several days ago at the refuge, without any fear of humans.

Snow Egret.

A younger version of the above Snowy Egret.

Juvenile Snowy Egret.

Juvenile Snowy Egret pursuing parent: “Where’s my food?”

Finally a shot of a water lily flower taken on the way out of the refuge.

Water Lily.

European Starlings

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, european starling, photography, postaday

Everyone has probably seen flocks of European Starlings, sometimes numbering in the thousands, flying as swarms over open fields. They are capable of incredible communications among themselves that allow the whole swarm to instantly change direction or reverse course as if they were all just one bird. Here’s part of such a swarm that I saw last week at the refuge.

Part of a swarm of European Starlings.

Following are some shots of a juvenile bird that landed on the side of the road very close to my car. There were also Red-winged Blackbirds mixed in with the Starlings.

Juvenile European Starling.

Juvenile European Starling.

Juvenile European Starling.

For comparison, here’s a photo of an adult bird taken this past winter during a snowstorm.

European Starling.

Black Skimmers Catching Fish

Tags

black skimmer, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday

For the past five years I have watched and photographed Black Skimmers draw straight lines with their bills on the marsh water at Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, always wondering if they ever catch anything. They must, since they still exist and are actually thriving. Here’s a shot of a bunch of them yesterday.

Black Skimmers.

Following is a closer look from a week ago.

Black Skimmers.

They skim the water anywhere there may be fish, even right next to other birds.

Black Skimmer cruising by a Snowy Egret.

The following series of shots shows one that finally got a fish on camera!

Black Skimmer.

Black Skimmer.

Black Skimmer.

Black Skimmer: “Caught one!”

Ruddy Turnstone Scrape

Tags

barnegat lighthouse state park, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday, ruddy turnstone

Ruddy Turnstones are fairly common on the New Jersey shore. I have been seeing them since this Spring. Wearing their breeding colors, they are easy to spot on the jetty at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park.

Ruddy Turnstones. The one on the left was apparently resting.

Ruddy Turnstone.

Ruddy Turnstone.

In flight they look stunning.

Ruddy Turnstones in flight.

Last week at the Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, many birds covered a small island in the marshes. Scanning the island through my camera’s viewfinder, at one point I saw sand being thrown upward by tiny feet. After a few minutes, it turned out that it was a Ruddy Turnstone making a perfectly round scrape as a nest site.

Scrape made by Ruddy Turnstone.

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Tags

Black-crowned Night Heron, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday

On a drive around Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, I saw a sleepy Black-crowned Night-Heron right by the side of the road. It watched me warily but did not fly away immediately.

Black-crowned Night-Heron.

Another shot before it flew away.

Black-crowned Night-Heron.

This page header photo is from an image taken in July of this year.

Wordless Wednesday

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postday, snowy egret

Snowy Egret.