Double-crested Cormorants
Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
LBI, NJ
February 2026
I won’t be seeing any cormorants on my local lake (currently frozen) in North Jersey. Plenty of fish, though, in the Barnegat Inlet all year round for these divers.
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Canon 77D + Tamron 150-600mm
Harp Seal
Barnegat Light, NJ
February 2026
I photographed this likely sub-adult seal while calling the Marine Mammal Stranding Center to have this pinniped’s health snd safety evaluated. Pinniped = vocabulary word of the week!
Photographed from a respectful distance with a telephoto zoom lens. Do not approach resting seals, you endanger their well-being and your own.
Anytime I have seen a conspicuous Seal hauled out in a compromising situation I call Marine Mammal Stranding Center and anytime I have found an injured bird I contact The Raptor Trust. Know whom to call for your NJ Wildlife concerns.
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Canon 77D + Tamron 150-600mm G2
Bonaparte’s Gull
Sandy Hook National Recreation Area
New Jersey
January 2026
Some life history from Wikipedia:
Bonaparte’s gull breeds in boreal forest across southern Alaska and much of interior western Canada, as far east as central Quebec and south to within 320 km (200 mi) of the Canada – United States border. It avoids dense stands of conifers, instead choosing more open areas, such as the treed edges of bogs, fens, marshes, ponds, or islands.
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Canon 77D + Tamron 150-600mm
Troy Meadows
Parsippany NJ
December 2025
Tamron 150-600mm G2 + Canon 77D
On a recent wintery morning walk I came across this Great Blue Heron adjacent to open water at Troy Brook whereas other sections had frozen over. Though I tried to walk by quietly, the distrusting bird took to the air.
Snow Goose
Johnson Park
Middlesex County NJ
January 2025
A recent business appointment brought to Middlesex County and there were no less than 3 migratory Snow Geese mixed in with a large flock of Canada Geese. A fun find in a suburban sports field!
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Northern Harrier hunting meadow
Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
New Jersey
November 2024
I got off 1 lucky shot on a recent walk along Pleasant Plains Road. I am always thankful for thousands of acres of preserved open space within the Great Swamp National Refuge. The habitat is likely the best for raptors in North Jersey.
Canon 77D + Tamron 150-600mm
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Barred Owl
Morris County NJ
December 2023
This owl was sleepy and struggling to keep its eyes open as dusk approached.
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Canon 77D + Tamron 150-600mm lens
Virginia Rail
Troy Meadows
Parsippany NJ
June 2023
A less than stellar shot of a secretive freshwater marsh bird.
Timber Rattlesnake
Northwestern NJ
June 2023
I located this snake “by ear” after hearing some movement in crackling leaves below blueberry thickets.
This rattlesnake neither rattled nor coiled at me. We simply observed each other for a few short minutes. I believe this rattlesnake was on the smaller side as it was not much wider or longer than a common water snake.
When I am hiking into “snake country” I wear hiking boots + jeans and I bring a long telephoto lens for these chance encounters.
Canon 77D + Tamron 150-600mm
Dave Blinder Nature Photography 