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.

Winter Wonderland after the Snowstorm

A beautiful sight . . .

Up early this morning.  A peek outside and I couldn't wait to get bundled up and take a walk out behind our house.  It had snowed.  I have been waiting for a day like this for quite some time. 

There was no wind whatsoever, just pure calm.  The snow clung to the tree branches in sharp contrast to the dark wood, creating beautiful silhouettes. 

All was quiet and peaceful.  The peace and quiet was broken only by the sounds of the nearby birds singing away.  It sounded like spring.  Maybe spring is just around the corner. 

What better way to remember the beauty of snow covered trees.  This iPhone 5 Case features a Winter Wonderland theme that you can carry with you on a daily basis, year round!

Winter Wonderland: Snow Covered Trees iPhone 5 Case by GardenOfLife

To discover a variety of gifts with this theme visit Winter Wonderland gifts.

Colorado Vacation to the Summit of Mount Evans, Co.

This is a brief overview of our Colorado Vacation that took place in the summer of 2008.  It begins at sea level and ends at the summit of Mount Evans, Co.  We made the trip to the summit in less than 48 hours.  Not something I would recommend doing.  Fortunately, neither myself nor my husband experienced any problems with altitude sickness.  When at high altitude, if you should develop a headache, experience dizziness, nausea or disorientation you should descend to a lower altitude immediately.  If your symptoms do not improve you should seek medical attention immediately.

Our adventure begins at the Jersey Shore.  We drove from our home in Barnegat to the Philadelphia International Airport and from there we flew to Denver International Airport in Colorado.

Our trip to the summit included stops at Echo Lake, the Bristlecone Pine Forest, the viewing of alpine plants and flowers along with wildlife.  As it was August, the Alpine Wildflowers were in full bloom.  Other stops included Summit Lake and the observatory.

Of course the summit was the ultimate goal.  This is a photo of myself at the summit.  It was a warm day and I did not take a jacket with me, I had left it in the car.  Had the hike been longer, I would definitely have carried a jacket with me.  We had plenty of water with us, and I did drink plenty which is something you should be sure to do at high altitudes.

If you are planning a trip to the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Mount Evans is the perfect trip for anyone who would like to experience what it is like at over 14,000 feet who may not otherwise be able to do a lot of difficult climbing.  The Mount Evans Scenic Byway allows you easy access, in a car, to within 200 feet or so of the summit.  This 14 mile paved road is the highest in North America.  Once you get to the parking lot it is a relatively easy hike to the top.  

Frosty Ball: Alpine Wildflowers

Alpine Wildflowers, were sporadically seen growing along the side of the road on our way to the summit.  The Latin name of these flowers is Cirsium scopulorum.  They are also commonly known as Frosty Ball.  Other common names are Alpine Thistle and Mountain Thistle.  They belong to the family Asteraceae, also known as Aster.

The foliage of this perennial wild flower is silvery green and its leaves are tipped with spines.  The flowers are woolly in appearance and culminate in a frosty puffy ball of white.

These plants grow in rocky soil and grow only at high altitudes, in the alpine and sub-alpine zones.  Small yellow flowers growing among medium size rocks, along with varying shades of green, add color to the rocky landscape.

Are you are planning a vacation to the Colorado Rockies in the western part of the United States during the summer months?  If so, keep an eye out for this unique plant.  

Looking for that special gift?  The above photo of Echo Lake is available as a poster and on many other products.  Visit our Alpine Wildflowers product line.  To see a wide range of products featuring my photography please visit GardenOfLife.