The first I have seen this year. At lunch today. Four is more than plenty. :- )

I am concluding my High Mountain roadshow for The Nature Conservancy with four talks in the next few weeks, beginning on Wednesday at noon at the Wayne Public Library on Valley Road.

(On Wednesday, you can arrive at the library at noon for coffee, tea and cookies. The talk begins at 12:30 p.m., as previously listed.)

High Mountain Park Preserve is one of the great spots to hike and enjoy nature in North Jersey's backyard.

The preserve, located in nearby Passaic County, offers great views to the east as well as 11.5 miles of hiking trails -- with a few birds to enjoy along the way.

The talks have been a lot of fun and a great learning experience, and I had have tweaked and fine-tuned my slide show over the course of my local speaking tour -- it's not longer now, just better. (Like the sunrise from the summit photo above by Jason Whitaker of Wayne.)  The talks are free and open to the public.

Wednesday, April 20,  Wayne Public Library, 461 Valley Rd. www.waynepubliclibrary.org. Coffee, tea and cookies beginning at noon; show starts at 12:30.

Sunday, April 24, 2 p.m., Laurelwood Arboretum, 725 Pines Lake Drive West, Wayne. http://www.laurelwoodarboretum.org

Wednesday, May 4, 7 p.m., Wyckoff Free Public Library, 200 Woodland Ave. www.wyckofflibrary.org.

Wednesday, May 11, 7 p.m., Mahwah Public Library. 100 Ridge Rd. www.mahwahlibrary.org.

Email me at celeryfarm.net if you have questions.

Marianne Herrmann photographed this songster at the Celery Farm this month. A different look than one usually gets.

Who is it?  (Thanks, Marianne!)

Patty Finn, one of the founders of the efforts to save the historic John Fell House in Allendale from being bulldozed and replaced by 11 townhouses, is one of the recipients of the 2016 Bergen County Historic Preservation Awards.

I have known Patty a long time and know her to be a good egg richly deserving this award. In the photo above, she is seen talking to several classes of local third-graders about the Fell House.

John Fell was a Founding Father who led the American resistance against the British in Bergen County.

Fell was arrested at the Fell House in May 1777 and imprisoned in the Provost Jail in New York City without a trial. He kept a secret diary that documented British atrocities against the American prisoners of war.

Fell's arrest will be reenacted next Sunday at the Fell House at noon,  part of free activities devoted to local history and Earth Day.  The Celery Farm Natural Area was once part of Jon Fell's estate. More info on next Sunday's events, which run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., is here.

 A link is an article about the award recipients is here.

Mary Kostus writes:

This beetle flew onto Sue Dougherty's  pants.

It was identified on the Facebook insect I.D. group of the world as in the family Lycid, most probably a Golden Net Winged beetle. Dictyoptera aurora.