Tag: New Jersey

Saturday (19-January-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

There were not many critters at the bird feeder today. The weather prediction calls for snow then heavy rain, followed by temperatures dropping Sunday night.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Dark-eyed Junco. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1800, 600 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)

Eleven-Years Ago (19-January-2008) — New Jersey

Winter Nature in New Jersey. Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Ducks and Great Blue Heron at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. The ducks usually leave the pond for somewhere more quiet when the Canada Geese show up. I had not seen a Heron here before in the winter.

Great Blue Heron and Mallards. Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec) (David J Mathre)
Great Blue Heron and Mallards. Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec) (David J Mathre)

Friday (18-January-2019) — New Jersey

Wintertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

It snowed last night, but only about an inch. By afternoon, the snow melted and/or evaporated. A number of small birds (Dark-eyed Junco, Marsh Wren, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse), and a Blue Jay visited the bird feeder. A Red-bellied Woodpecker chased the Blue Jay away. Later on a Squirrel got up onto the bird feeder to feast on some sunflower seeds.




Individual images in the slideshows can be viewed here.

Ten-Years Ago (18-January-2009) — New Jersey

Winter Nature in New Jersey — Sourland Mountain Preserve.

It is supposed to snow again Saturday and Sunday then get real cold. I will have to go to the Sourland Mountain Preserve and see if the pond freezes over this year. Since this image was taken ten-years ago, it rarely gets cold enough for the pond to freeze.  Somerset county park workers finally removed the sign from the middle of the pond. As you can see from the second image, the sign did look out of place in the middle of the summer.

It would be difficult to skate with the pond covered with snow. It is not that cold so you would probably fall through the ice if you even tried. A winter walk at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/7, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
It would be difficult to skate with the pond covered with snow. It is not very cold so you would probably fall through the ice if you even tried.  Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/7, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
No Skating Sign in the Middle of the Pond at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens with a 2.0 TC-E teleconverter (ISO 200, 210 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)

Thursday (17-January-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Dark-eyed Junco and Marsh Wren at the bird feeders. The Marsh Wren has a pointed beak that is good for picking at things (i.e. the suet), but not good for opening sunflower seeds. When it stops at the bird feeder filled with sunflower seeds it pushes the seeds to the ground. The squirrels and doves are happy…



Individual images from the slide shows can be viewed here.