For my latest column for The Record, I interviewed winter raptor expert Mike Britt about this winter's phenomenal Snowy Owl invasion.

As it turns out, I have seen a Snowy Owl as recently as yesterday, on the ice at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst. Steve Buckingham took the photo above at DeKorte earlier this month.

The link to the column is here.

Despite having fled the Garden State several years ago I still have a fond memories of all the time spent at the Celery Farm. 

I was long gone by the time the whimsical snakes put in an appearance but they reminded me of several other whimsies at the Farm. 

Chief among them are the plastic flowers, etc. that appeared attached to bushes from time to time. 

I am not sure who was responsible for that but I would be willing to place a large wager on his initials being S. T. 

More pix and memories follow.

Marsh Warden and I saw at least three Muskrat huts on Lake Appert yesterday -- always nice to see.

Some winters we don't see any.

Marsh Warden Mike Limatola (above) and I did the annual cleanout of the Wood Duck nesting boxes on Lake Appert today -- tossing out old eggs and feathers and replacing the wood chips.

Coolest find: Big owl pellets on the Blue Heron Pond box. Pellet pic and "thinking inside the box" pic follow.

Rob Fanning writes: