My new "Bird Watcher" column for The Record and Herald-News is the main story on the front of the Better Living section today.
It lists a bunch of my favorite reasons why we watch birds -- especially now that spring is here.
The link is here.
Judy Collier writes:
In honor of spring's arrival, The Record online has put together a slideshow of my photos of backyard birds you'll be seeing soon (or are seeing already).
Many were taken at my backyard feeders or in the Celery Farm.
The link is here.
If you've walked around the Celery Farm lately, you've no doubt noticed that it's a lot less muddy, thanks largely to the work of volunteer dynamo Bruce Davis.
Bruce has been quite chipper, and quite the chipper. Thanks, Bruce!
If I ruled the world, every day would be today. Seasonally speaking, of course.
And I don't even like show tunes.
The Blue Mountains of Jamaica are a spectacular place -- and well worth leaving at 5 a.m. in a van and navigating narrow mountain roads to see amazing birds like the Crested Quail Dove and Jamaican Blackbird.
Could not bring my bring lens because of my healing ribs, so no bird shots here.
I am a big fan of the 1,260-acre High Mountain Park Preserve in Wayne and North Haledon and Wayne, ever since The Nature Conservancy sponsored a hike there nearly 10 years ago.
Now, to promote this great chunk of open space, TNC is partnering with NJ native and ultra-marathoner Jessica Bagley to increase awareness of and visitation to High Mountain.
TNC is challenging visitors to hike/run to the summit and share a selfie using #highmountainchallenge on social media.
A week-long trip to Jamaica really underscored the changes occurring at the Celery Farm.
Skunk Cabbages are popping up everywhere (above).
The ice on Lake Appert is gone.
Wood Ducks are back and doing some house-hunting.
Tree Swallows were back.
And lots of turtles are out sunning themselves, getting ready for the official arrival of spring on Wednesday afternoon.
During a recent storm, a huge tree fell across the Allendale Brook at the Celery Farm, narrowly missing the Brotherton Bridge but blocking the two trails to the north. (Click photos above to enlarge.)
When I checked out the damage on Monday, Fred Weber was already there with his chainsaw, rerouting the trail to go around the downed Red Maple.
Maybe it's just me, but I think Fred looks a bit like a super-hero in the photo below.
(Thanks, Fred!)
One of the many highlights of our trip to the north coast of Jamaica was a visit to playwright Noel Coward's hilltop aerie, Firefly.
The site includes his one-bedroom house, left the way it was when he died over 40 years ago, as well as pirate Henry Morgan's house, a statue of Coward (in pic on left below), his grave, and some incredible views of Jamaica's north coast.
Also on exhibit: the table settings for the Queen Mother's visit to Firefly in the 1950s (below, right). Oh, those royals!
Photographed this in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica last week.
What is it? (Answer Friday.)
I have been hearing reports of amorous Red-shoulders by the Celery Farm of late.
Christine Alber passed along these photos, taken at "the bigger tree at the northern edge of the lake." (Thanks, Christine!)
She points out that neither hawk is banded, so the female is not Laura.
If you see a Red-shoulder with nesting materials, please make note of which direction it heads in and let me know. We were unable to locate the nest last year ...
To download a free eBook about the Red-shoulders of Allendale, go here.
Back from Jamaica in time for an unusual sunrise.
I have been hearing reports of Bald Eagles and Lesser Scaup. Looking forward to Spring.
Jamaica Week on the blog begins Monday with a true Blue Mountain mystery.