I think the best time of the day is the early Spring or Fall morning, between 7 AM and 8 AM. It's quiet and peaceful. I can hear the birds singing sweet songs, creating a peaceful ambience. When I go out for a pre-workday walk, the air is cool and refreshing. Not cold. The sun rises over the horizon and the sunlight filters through the branches of the budding trees magically casting shadow and golden rays of light in just the right places.
I think the best time of the day is the early Spring or Fall morning, between 7 AM and 8 AM. It's quiet and peaceful. I can hear the birds singing sweet songs, creating a peaceful ambience. When I go out for a pre-workday walk, the air is cool and refreshing. Not cold. The sun rises over the horizon and the sunlight filters through the branches of the budding trees magically casting shadow and golden rays of light in just the right places.
Maybe I could get more dynamic range and better image quality if I had walked with my Fuji X-T3 and XF26mmF2.8 R WR lens. But the iPhone 11 Pro fits into the pocket of my pants without bulging offensively or bouncing uncomfortably with each step.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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