I intercepted my friend Mike leading a local trip for New Jersey Audubon Society in search of newly arrived Spring birds and potential Winter lingerers in Morris and Essex Counties today.
Photography equipment used includes my Tamron 18-270mm VC Lens, Tamron 90mm VC Macro Lens, Tamron 150-600mm VC Telephoto Lens, Canon DSLR’s, Canon Speedlite 270exII flash, and my Manfrotto 055xProB Tripod with 498rc2 Ballhead.
Wildlife sighting highlights for the group today: American Kestrel, Rusty Blackbird, American Mink, and several Shrews.
Looking for Sparrows and Blackbirds in the tall vegetation
Scanning for songbirds
Random object along the trail
A fairly large sized Northern Brown Snake found basking on the road.
Old remnants of a Two-pointed White-tailed Buck
A typically long and slender Ribbon Snake found along the trail
Close-up detail view of an adult Snapping Turtle
Many Sweetgum trees in the area.
Yellow Buttercup wildflower seen near forest entrance.
Blooms seen on mature trees lining the meadow
An old lifeless tree in front of a wall of Phragmites.
The birding group takes a break to discuss the habitat.
The trees that dot the meadow are starting to show their Spring coloration.
Trees showing their fresh green on a warm Spring day.
Typical plant life in a flooded section of the forest
daveblinder 