Mid-day Mourning Cloak, High Mountain

Saw this Morning Cloak -- and lots of others at High Mountain in the vicinity of the Clove today.

Waterfall was kind of lackadaisical. The cut-down trees are Ailanthus -- Trees of Heaven, host trees for the Spotted Lanternfly.

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Bald Eagle at Crestwood

Just happened to look up ... it 3as still there went I left at 3:20.

 

To see a livestream of nesting Bald Eagles at Duke Farms, click here:

https://www.dukefarms.org/eagle-cam/

 

To read the free interactive Bald Eagle eBook I wrote for Duke Farms, click here:

http://online.flipbuilder.com/oqzm/xrzi/mobile/index.html...

 

To learn more about Bald Eagles, go to Lee Memorial Library. They have a ton of books on nature.

Monday Morning Mystery 032023

Here's another taxidermied mystery from NJ Audubon's Lorrimer Sanctuary.

What is it, and why is it unusual?

 

Stepping Up For the Celery Farm!

Deputy Marsh Warden Gabriele Schmitt writes:

 

Maybe you've been wondering ..... just when is Stepping Up for The Celery Farm happening this year?

Well, wonder no more. The dates are set: April 29 - 30; raindates: May 6 - 7. 

 

I'm always pleased to coordinate this event, the annual fundraiser for our favorite 107-acre wetland and nature preserve. It's a terrific opportunity for people of all ages and birding levels, to walk the paths, to see, identify and count the many beautiful birds that visit during Spring Migration.

 

By taking part, you also raise funds to help ensure the future of this beautiful natural space. Loss of habitat continues to be a critical factor in species decline. Our 107 acres provide a place to rest, to nest, and to raise the next generation of birds and other wildlife.

Common Mergs at the Celery Farm

Saw a couple of Common Mergansers at the CF just now -- it had been several years since I've seen 'em here, often a question of timing...

I hope they stay around for the Hour on the Tower tomorrow. (They never came close enough for a good pic.)

 

 

Monday Mystery 03132023 Answered

On Monday I wrote:

A friend outside Philly sent me this photo and asked what I thought it was.

I gave my answer, and the Merlin app agreed. But almost every raptor ID I'm asked about turns out to be Plan B.

What do you think it is?

I figured it was Red-shoulder. Diane Louie ID'd it as a Red-shoulder as well. (Thanks, Diane.)

I guess the Red-shoulders are moving into the suburbs there as well.

 

Nifty Photo of Celery Farm Mink

Leslie Young was nice enough to share this photo of a mink at the Celery Farm. She writes:

"The mink was really moving. I was by the Wardens watch. Another photographer said the mink ran to the North end of the lake, jumped through the ice to disappear in the water underneath the clump of four trees at the lake's end."

Thanks, Leslie!

(I love the little patch of white under its mouth. You can click to enlarge.)

My Latest Column: Tough Times for Raptors

My latest column for The Record is about a recent bad stretch for local raptors. The photo of the Red-tail is by Karl Soehnlein. Thanks, Karl!

You can read it here:

 

A Gallery of CF Calender Images

Tom Mitchell put together a gallery of  Celery Farm calendar images on the Fyke Nature Association website. You can see them here:

https://www.fykenature.org/calendargallery.php

What's especially neat is that if you can click on the covers for 2021, 2022, and 2023, you can then see the photos for all 12 months.

(Great job, Tom!)

(I'd also like to give a huge tip of the hat to  Carol Flanagan for creating so many of these calendars. She is awesome.)

A Walk in the Celery Farm

The Celery Farm was quiet during my walk today. The snow was blowing sideways, coating the sides of trees.

I liked this shot as I entered from Green Way -- a nice mix of snow, path and pines.