Tag: Mercer County

Grey Catbird Curiosity

While on the hunt for migratory warblers to photograph, I stumbled upon Mercer Meadows in Lawrence Township.

I stumbled upon Mercer Meadows last Spring when I was Google hunting for some good spots to photograph migrating warblers. Located in Lawrence Township and part of the Mercer County Park system, the place is massive—about 1,600 acres of open space. It's got everything from meadows and forests to wetlands. The draw for me was the Pole Farm area, a well-known bird-watcher haven. Since I'm into hiking and photography, I thought, "Why not take a morning walk with my XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR (229-914mm FFE) lens?"

I was at Pole Farm for the first time. I started by wandering through the meadow before diving into a shaded trail surrounded by tall trees. I walked quite a distance without spotting birds, so I considered returning. Just then, I heard this distinctive call. I had never heard it before, but thanks to the Merlin ID app, I discovered it was a Grey Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis).

The Grey Catbird, known for its cat-like calls, is a common resident of New Jersey. These slate-grey birds have a dark cap atop their heads and a rufous (reddish brown) undertail. Their melodious "mew" calls are reminiscent of a cat's meow, giving them their unique name.

Gray Catbird
Gray Catbird · Monday 15 May 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 at 1/1000 sec, · XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR at 600 mm at f/8.0

Grey Catbirds are skilled mimics, often incorporating the sounds of other birds into their songs. They are primarily insectivorous, feasting on a diet of insects, berries, and fruits, making them valuable for pest control and seed dispersal.

These birds are frequently spotted in dense thickets and shrubby habitats, where they prefer to stay hidden. What caught my attention was how curious this bird seemed, sitting on a tree branch, with its dark plumage contrasting against the background of green leaves. It's like she was watching me, almost as interested in what I was doing as I was in her—pretty cool first experience.

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

Inspired by Michael Stephen Wills' post on wild ducks, I ventured to Charles H. Rogers Wildlife Refuge, capturing these elegant Wood Ducks.

After I read Michael Stephen Wills’s post on wild ducks, I remembered photographing some in the Charles H. Rogers Wildlife Refuge early in May.

It was very early in the morning. With bleary eyes and brimming anticipation, I stood on the observation platform, clutching my XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR. I heard some noisy splashing in the far corner of the swamp. I didn’t know what was happening. Peering through the viewfinder, I zoomed to 600m, and voilà, there they were—ducks. But what kind? "Is this a mallard or a duck? Is there even a difference?" My knowledge of ducks was about as extensive as a duck's knowledge of cameras.

Fortunately, Merlin ID has a Photo ID feature and an excellent database of birds. Photo ID offered a short list of possible matches. With a few quick taps, I identified the bird as the Wood Duck (Aix sponsa), not to be confused with its cartoonish cousin, Daffy. Unlike Daffy Duck, Wood Ducks have a crested heads, a thin neck, and a long, broad tail. Their silhouette shows a skinny neck, long body, thick tail, and short wings.

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) · Friday 5 May 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR

Unlike Daffy Duck, known for his dramatic flair, Wood Ducks possess crested heads, slender necks, and long, broad tails. Their silhouette might remind you of an elegant dinner guest—skinny neck, long body, and short wings—except for the thick tail.

You may not be able to see it from the photographs, but males have glossy green heads adorned with white stripes, chestnut breasts, and buffy sides. They'll look dark overall in low or harsh light with paler sides. On the other hand, the females sport a grey-brown dress with a white-speckled breast. Regrettably, no females for my camera that day.

With a fondness for wet locales with trees or extensive cattails, Wood Ducks thrive in wooded swamps like the Charles H. Rogers Wildlife Refuge. They stick to wet areas with trees or extensive cattails. It's a lifestyle choice, really, one that sets them apart from their Looney Toon counterpart.

Common Yellowthroat at Mercer Meadows

This wasn't the first time I had photographed the Common Yellowthroat Warbler, but it was my first time doing so at Mercer Meadows.

After a brief distraction watching a rabbit enjoy breakfast, I continued my search for birds. Earlier, two photographers with impressive zoom lenses on their cameras had passed by, clearly interested in capturing avian moments. I walked past them and found a spot about ten meters ahead to focus on my own bird photography.

I attempted to capture images of birds coming and going from their nests in the meadow, but unfortunately, I didn't have much luck. As I was trying, the two photographers caught up with me, and we struck up a friendly conversation. The elder photographer seemed quite familiar with the park and shared some helpful tips on where I might have better chances of spotting birds in the meadow. The other photographer appeared to be around my age and was relatively new to bird photography.

While we were talking, I heard a chittering sound coming from a nearby thicket, and I immediately got my camera ready. This wasn't the first time I had photographed the Common Yellowthroat Warbler, but it was my first time doing so at Mercer Meadows. The male warbler was busy hunting for insects in the thicket, and I was fortunate to capture a shot of him holding his prey in his beak.

Common Yellowthroat Warbler.
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) · 18 June 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR

The Common Yellowthroat Warbler stands out due to its unconventional nesting habit. Unlike other warblers, it chooses to nest in open marshes, making it a common sight in reed beds and areas with cattails throughout the country. The male of this species can often be seen perched on tall stalks, delivering its unique song, characterised by the rhythmic repetition of "Wichita-Wichita-Wichita."