You are browsing the archives of new jersey.

Memorial Day at Sandy Hook was sunny. Memorial Day at Sandy Hook was windy. A strong south wind and a very bright sun battled all afternoon as we (we being Daisy, me, and various and sundry of Daisy’s relatives) tried to eat outdoors and enjoy ourselves at Sandy Hook, NJ. Of course, [...]

Now that summer is officially over, we can turn our attention to affairs of fall. Few events on the North American birding calendar are more autumnal than Cape May Autumn Weekend. Cape May in New Jersey is one of the magnetic poles of East Coast avian observations, a vortex that seems to exert an [...]

I can’t speak to other parts of the world but if you live in the northeastern United States, every moment of May birding matters. Lightning can strike at any time. Case in point, I’ve only been able to muster about 30 minutes of bird watching in the last week, yet I still pulled a lifer.
The [...]

Garret Mountain Reservation in West Paterson, NJ has a reputation as a phenomenal site to observe waves of colorful migrants. Patrick of The Hawk Owl’s Nest and I met there this morning to find that, even when the birding isn’t phenomenal per se, it’s still pretty fantastic. Actually, Patrick already knew that, since he seems [...]

In a civilized world, one needn’t strictly segregate business and pleasure. While I am all business when I’m in the office, it helps that said office overlooks a reservoir teeming with exceptional avifauna. New Jersey’s Oradell Reservoir is a large, peaceful body of water that sustains a marvelous diversity of bird species throughout the year. [...]

After our trip to Queens to bring Daisy back to school was put off by a day we decided that the best move would be to drive straight to Steph and Sean’s place (Daisy’s sister and sister’s boyfriend) in northeastern New Jersey. They, despite not being bird-nerds, had suggested a birdwatching trip on a [...]

The last time I visited Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Basking Ridge, NJ, mere days after I started this site, I stated that tales of the swamp’s greatness were somewhat exaggerated. I’ve just been again, and the verdict is improving, but still not quite great.
Perhaps the swamp isn’t entirely to blame. After all, I [...]