The lighting was poor -- just before dawn -- but the Osprey was real. It came in low and silent around 6:45 a.m., circled, and perched in a tree.

Around 7 a.m. it flew again (left), gained altitude and disappeared into the twilight, the sunrise glowing on its feathers.

I had thought they had headed south by now, but I guess every crowd has its procrastinator.

Blane Muzio sent me this photo of a female Northern Cardinal with what would appear to be one wild eye ring. The other eye is that way as well.

Blane writes: "I have a female cardinal with a white circular area around the eyes who frequents my sunflower feeder. Is it old age or what?"

It sure is an eye opener. Does anyone have an explanation?

(Thanks, Blane!)

Photographed this guy not far from the Celery Farm over the weekend. Not as good as Jeff Aughey's Fox shots or Jerry Barrack's fox shots, but I'll take it.

Photo taken at Paramus Veterans Home, earlier this month.

And the song is....

Pretty easy, right?

By popular demand, the first Celery Farm book that Jerry Barrack, Doug Goodell and I did is now in its second printing -- just in time for the holiday gift crunch.

The book is available for $12.95 at Rohsler's Nursery in Alendale, Wild Birds Unlimited in Paramus, and Wild Bird Emporium in Midland Park.

The three stores also carry the other two books in the trilogy, "Swan Babies" and "Icky the Hungry Heron." 

All three books were wonderfully photographed at the Celery Farm, and the stories ain't chopped liver either.  :- )