John Pastore writes:

Saw these Mallards Feb. 23, in Ramsey. 

I was struck by their sapphire blue (rather than emerald green) heads, but I know that digital cameras sometimes 'see things in a unique way', depending how the light is hitting the subject.  Especially something iridescent. 

I did some Googling, and found a lot of people swear to have seen dark-blue-to-purple-headed mallards.

What say our local birding community? 

Trick of the light, or a variant? 

On Monday, John Pastore asked:

Can you identify this trio? Do they remind you of a song? By whom?

Icram Khalil got the first part right: Golden-crowned Kinglet, Tree Sparrow, and Winter Wren.

But Do they remind you of a song? By whom?

(Thanks, Icram!)

John Pastore answered the second part himself, writing:

Not sure which song you were looking for, Jim, but this would be my vote:

'Three Little Birds,' by Bob Marley and the Wailers.
Rise up this mornin',
Smiled with the risin' sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin', ("This is my message to you-ou-ou:")

The New York Times' real estate section this weekend will feature an article on Allendale. I am quoted about the wonderful Celery Farm.

The article by Jay Levin is already online here, with a photo gallery that includes images of the Celery Farm and the historic John Fell House:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/23/realestate/allendale-nj.html

Above, my 15-second video of American Woodcock in action in the Celery Farm

Friday, February 25, 8 PM -- Woodcock Zoom Talk

March is typically chock full of woodcock walks in parks and preserves throughout NJ, including Celery Farm.

Before heading out, listen to Rutgers PhD candidate Kathleen Farley's inside scoop on where to observe them this time of year. 

Her talk is brought to you by the Fyke Nature Association, with the help of a generous grant from the Winifred M. and George P. Pitkin Foundation.

Kathleen's research looks at how the woodcock copes with habitat options in NJ from its traditional young forest haunts to urban brownfields. Kathleen hopes to defend later this spring, so attendees will be getting her findings first, including behind-the-scenes research stories.

Kathleen is finishing a doctorate at Rutgers University-Newark. She first learned the difference between bluebirds and blue jays during an ornithology class at Cook College and has been interested in birds ever since. She did her master's at Montclair State on American Kestrels return rates and is looking forward to wrapping up her PhD so she can return to birding as a hobby.

This presentation is a great primer for Fyke's woodcock field trip on Sat., March 12, 6:30 pm, at the Greenway entrance to the Celery Farm. For more info, and to register, please visit the Fyke website.

We ask that you register in advance by clicking the link below. You will receive an email with your own link to join the meeting.

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2qExaAZQSfKbmH_HGyFeIA

Ask always, Fyke programs are free and open to all.

(Photo courtesy of Kevin Watson)

Last week a reader commented that he hadn't seen many Tufted Titmice of late, and wondered if others had noticed the same as well.

In an informal survey, most respondents said they thought titmice numbers were down.