Category: animals

Another Tree, Another Raccoon

I have been swinging by this tree at least once a week for the past few years hoping to find an owl. Instead this morning I saw a tail and an ear. It was a racccoon.

It is a different tree from the one I posted a picture or a raccoon poking out of the hole in June. When I went by this morning, nothing was waking it up, and there was a lot of noise nearby. I returned before sunset and had to wait a while before it started stirring. It was too dark to use a zoom lens. I got closer to the tree than I normally would, but not too close. These are cropped quite a bit.

Since I have not see another hole occupant before, I am guessing this may not be this raccoon’s normal home. Possibly he was on top of the sleeping pile if he was with family. Have a Happy Thursday!

Kingfisher in Flight

This was one of the many birds I saw in Southern New Jersey on a trip. It is a belted kingfisher. I am not seeing the belly, but I am guessing it is a male.

Kingfisher in Flight

There was a large contingent of birds in this spot, and there appeared to be fish for everyone. According to All About Birds the kingfisher eats fish like “sticklebacks, mummichogs, trout, and stonerollers. They also eat crayfish and may eat other crustaceans, mollusks, insects, amphibians, reptiles, young birds, small mammals, and even berries.”

Frequently I see them perched on a tree branch looking down in the water for fish swimming by. They dive in the water when they spot one. Have a happy Wednesday!

American Avocet

Merlin did not have a match for this, as New Jersey is not supposed to be in it’s range. It is an American Avocet and appears to be a non breeding adult or an immature.

It’s normal non breeding areas include the Virginia coast and south. This one was with another avocet with slightly different colouring. Its breeding areas appear to be in the mountain area of the central US.

This is one more bird that is outside their normal area. Have a great Tuesday!

Tern Catching Fish

I was not sure what bird this was. The first choice under Merlin app is Forster’s tern. It appears like a non breeding adult.

It kept flying to an outtake area of a culvert as it came out from under a road. The tide was going out and the tern took advantage of fish coming out into the bay from the wetlands area. I saw it capture several fish flying in and out.

I almost thought it was showing off as this fish it carried around in a circle giving me lots of opportunities to get off some shots. Was he showing off? Or was he looking for a dining spot? Have a happy Monday!

Two For One Deal

This great blue heron had the best fishing spot. He was at one end of a culvert under a road while the tide was going out. He was catching fish left and right. This time he caught two fish at the same time.

Two For One Deal
Two For One Deal

He was the centre of attention as other wading birds stopped, drew near and stared at him. Were they in awe of his fishing prowess? Did they hope he would drop one and they could fight over it? Did they hope he would share with one of them? He did drop them both it appeared as he waded to a beach area. Then, he appeared to pick the larger one up and eat it.

Two For One Deal

Then he walked off with the smaller one as the wading birds lost interest. Have a Happy Tuesday!

Juvenile Night Heron Close Up

This is another image from a weekend trip in August to New Jersey. Merlin identifies it as a black-crowned night heron.

Juvenile Night Heron Close Up

I am hearing a lot birds that were there in August have moved on. Some more northerly birds may arrive to hang out for winter. Have a happy Monday!

Black Skimmer

Black skimmer gets it’s name because it skims the surface of the water with it’s open bill. They are trying to feel the fish in the water.

Black Skimmer

I caught this bird flying at different times during the day, but saw more activity early morning and near sunset. I know fishermen like those times as well as when I am putting in a kayak early morning or taking out before dark I see them in their boats. All About Birds says “Its use of touch to catch fish lets it be successful in low light or darkness.”

Black Skimmer- This one was taken on a different day in different lighting conditions.

Coastal New Jersey is in it’s breeding area. However, I think I only observed adults in August.

Black Skimmer

They eat many kinds of fish including: smelt, flounder, menhaden, herring, among others. They will also go after shrimp and blue crab. They mostly choose fish 5 inches or less it sounds.

Black Skimmer

I was on a road with water on both sides and was surprised how close they would fly to me. Frequently they would fly over the road quite close. Either they were totally oblivious to me standing there, or they were giving me a show. Have a great week!

White Ibis Babies

These white ibis babies were younger than the previous ones I posted. It looks like this one is on a small nest within a tree. The babies do not really look a lot like the parents.

White Ibis Babies

When baby Ibises hatch their bills are straight. They do not curve. The beaks start to curve at about 14 days old. I usually do not like using Wikipedia. They say they get this “Stork, Ibises, and Spoonbills of the World” by James Hancock , which was not accessible online. “The newly hatched American white ibis is covered with violet down feathers, deepening to dark brown or black on the head and wings….develops three black rings from around day six, before turning grey by around six weeks of age. ..then a few weeks later turns pink.”

White Ibis Babies- Tired

On the above two pictures you can see the three grey rings on the beak. So in August this baby white ibis was after 6 days old, but before 6 weeks old.

White Ibis Babies

According to NPS.gov immature ibis are dark brown with a white belly and white rump.These ibis seem to be older than the first two pictures. They would seem to be less than 6 weeks old though as they still have the three gray rings on their beak. Their feathers seem more brownish.

White Ibis Babies

I felt bad for the mom with the two babies. They seemed to be constantly chatting away to her. I am guessing they were begging for food. Animal parents get little sleep either it appears. White Ibis are not even supposed to be in NJ, however they are there in multiple spots. The Merlin App would not even provide a match for it. I hope you had a restful Labor Day.

Tricoloured Heron

I knew when I took this pictures it did not quite look exactly like a great blue heron and it appeared smaller than a great blue. It wasn’t until I got home and looked at these on the computer that I figured out it was a juvenile tricoloured heron.

I do not think I got any shots of an adult tricoloured heron. This bird can be seen along the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic coast of the U.S. up to Massachusetts. They are considered year round residents according to All About Birds.

They usually forage alone for small fish.

I witnessed this one catch a few while I was watching it.

Have a restful Labor Day!

Waiting for the Kids

Where are the kids? Soon they will be ready to migrate.

Waiting for the Kids

First, one parent was waiting patiently with a fish.

Waiting for the Kids

Then the other parent showed up. They appeared to look all around and neither one took a bite of the fish. They looked like they were expecting their kids to return, but they never called out.

Waiting for the Kids

I did not see the kids return, maybe they showed up later and maybe they were able to be on their own. I understand the mother usually will leave first. The father will stay behind a little while with the kids before it leaves. The kids will leave around the same time or later than the father for warmer climates for the winter. Osprey on the East Coast of the US will travel to Central or South America for the winter.

Have a Happy Friday!