Wind Blown Icicles

It was a cold blustery morning.  The night before, a snow storm had pushed through the area, blanketing the ground with a carpet of pure white snow.

Having grown up on Long Beach Island, we decided to take a drive to the Island.  Heading north on LBI, towards Barnegat Light, we arrived at our destination near the Barnegat Inlet.

We were greeted with a wintry sight.  The icicles, a reminder of natures fury from the night before, was spread out before us.  The howling, wind blown snow, combined with waves splashing against the man made bulkhead, left in its wake, a sight to be seen . . .

Icicles Magnets by GardenOfLife

I was thrilled to have my camera with me that day.  Snow and ice covered the ground around the bulkhead.  I remember having to be careful when getting out of the car as it was very icy underfoot.    The water of Barnegat Bay was a little bit choppy and it was a sunny day with only a few clouds in a mostly clear blue sky.

This icicle refrigerator magnet is vinyl laminated and flexible and is perfect to use on your refrigerator or other magnetic surfaces.  A wide variety of other products are available with the icicles theme.  

Keep off the dunes. Gull standing guard!

On our last trip to Island Beach State Park we were greeted by a herring gull perched atop the "Keep Off the Dunes" sign.  Don't you just love the gull keeping watch over the dunes?

On our way we drive through the town of Toms River on the mainland.  We cross the bridge into Seaside Heights and head south.  The park is located on the southern end of the barrier island and lies between Seaside Park to the north and Barnegat Inlet and Long Beach Island to the south.

It is a perfect destination if you are looking for a series of short hikes as the island is very narrow.  There are several parking areas adjacent to paths that wind through dunes and maritime forests on the ocean side and marshland on the bay side.

We were hoping to see some of the resident foxes that we have seen in the past but were no where to be seen.

Wild Turkey Sighting

My husband Brett, comes running into the house.  There are two large birds out back, come quick.

Once I got outside, I could see that there were two wild turkeys.  They were out in the woods behind our house, just beyond our shed.  Once they saw us they moved further into the brush and out of view.  It seems as though wild turkeys are quite prevalent in South Jersey.

Update: 03/08/2013.  The above picture was taken, last spring, a couple of years after our first sighting.  Since then we have spotted turkeys with young hiding in the brush behind our house.

The Wonders of Spring and the Fledgling Chick

Today is an absolutely perfect day.  It is neither too hot nor too cold.  I was sitting inside with the windows open and enjoying the fresh air blowing through the house.  I can hear the birds chirping away, out in the yard and they are quite noisy.

  

What was going on I wondered?  Could there be a cat out in the yard that was upsetting the birds?  I ventured outside and I spotted a Tufted Titmouse in the tree feeding a fledgling chick.  I grabbed my camera, but they were too high in the tree.  I kept watch as the fledgling took flight and flew to the ground.  The chick took flight again and perched in a smaller crab apple where I was able to get this picture shown above.  Eventually the fledgling flew into the woods behind our house and disappeared.  

I also managed to get a picture of one of the parent birds.

I noticed a small hawk soaring nearby over the treetops. Maybe this is what all the commotion was about.  It was too far away to be certain, however it looked like a Sharp Shinned Hawk or a Coopers Hawk. This is the time when the fledglings are most vulnerable.

Wells Mills County Park, NJ

Today we took a short drive to Wells Mills.  There is an old cabin that sits on the shore line of Wells Mills Lake.  Near the cabin were some white domesticated ducks that frequent the area. 

The trail to the area of the Atlantic White Cedar Swamps, our destination, is a short hike which leads to the beautiful swamp area complete with narrow walkways that cross over the streams, ponds and swamps of predominantly Atlantic White Cedars. 

After the harsh winter we had there were a lot of Atlantic White Cedars that lay fallen on the forest floor.  The peace and quiet, of today, is not at all like the scene that surely befell this area of magnificent Atlantic White Cedars.  The wind, snow, sleet and stormy blizzard like conditions that engulfed the lake and surrounding area, could easily be imagined in the silence.  Not even the sound of the tall White Cedars creaking in the wind, as is so often the case, could be heard...

Brigantine Wildlife Refuge - Winter Birding

After so many cloudy, snowy days, it was a pleasure to see the sunshine today.  We decided it was a good day to take a drive.  The eight mile loop at Brigantine was just the perfect get-a-way!

There was not a cloud in the sky.  The ground still had snow in spots.  There were the usual wildlife, Canada Geese, Black ducks, Mallards and Brant among others.  We also saw large flocks of snow geese off in the distance. 

What made our day was to see the falcon, with its pointed wings, gliding high up over the marsh, then with a bird in its sight and wings folded back over its body, took a semi-steep dive over the marsh after the bird.  This time the bird, was the victor, and escaped the clutches of the hawk!  

Till the next outing...

Blizzard of February 2010

Up even earlier this morning.  It is snowing again!  This is the second major snowstorm this winter here in the east!

The birdfeeder outside was getting plugged up with snow, so I went outside to brush the snow off so the birds can get to the seed.   So far I have seen the following birds:  Junkos, Chickadees, Titmouce, White-Throated Sparrows, Cardinals, and Blue Jays.