On Saturday, July 10th, I took a few hours to stroll around Colonial Park in Franklin, NJ. Before I drove to the park, I evicted an uninvited guest from our neighborhood pool - the field mouse or meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) below.
He did not appear distressed and swam easily on the surface of the water, diving under and splashing around to evade us. He shot through the water so fast we had to chase him with a skimmer to rescue him (chlorine and other chemicals in the pool water can harm living things).
Once at the park, I admired the wealth of bird and other animal life that bursts from every tree and stretch of lawn. Summer is in full swing and most every species is active and noisy. I grabbed a few hours in the early morning (between 7am and 10am) for my walk to avoid the 100 degree heat (with rain and heavy clouds) of midday. Above is a Green Heron (Butorides virescens)I photographed from across a stretch of water.
The Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) nest I have posted pictures of previously contained a new batch of baby birds, with attentive parents flying to and fro with food energetically.
Despite the low water lines everywhere throughout the park, each pool and stream teams with life. I was unable to identify these fish (please help me out!). They were a size I had not seen before - larger than a minnow, but smaller than a sunfish, around 3-4 inches.
I believe this is another Green Heron, perhaps the mate of the one I saw earlier. It was perched on a tree branch over the water. I was sure he was fishing despite the heavy coating of duckweed on the surface of the water.
An Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) hops along a muddy beach revealed by the shrinking level of water. If he hides acorns there, will oaks grow in the water, or will he have to swim to retrieve when the water returns? (Just kidding).
Where I usually observe turtles sunning themselves, a family of ducks was enjoying a floating log. I believe the "mom" duck is standing and her latest brood of ducklings is seated on the log. These could be wood ducks, where adults have a colorful head and are about this size. I saw mostly ducklings with brown plumage from some distance, so I couldn't be sure. After a few moments, the parent ducks quacked and all 6 ducks moved off the log into the distance in a tight group.
A White-tailed Deer (or doe, a female) and her two fawns, latin name Odocoileus virginianus.
As I came around a corner, I came upon the body of this Southern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina carolinensis). There was no sign of the cause of death, and per the circle of life a larger animal would probably arrive and consume the body shortly. I always feel sad to see roadkill and other carcasses. However, I felt I had to take the picture to confirm that these small, furry bundles of life are our there, living there lives, even though we never see them under normal circumstances. While they are both small and furry, shrews are in a different animal order (Soricomorpha) from mice and other rodents (Order Rodentia). Other animals in Soricomorpha are other types of shrews and all moles.
I noted that despite the dryness everywhere, there were still spots where water collected from the rain earlier that day (the new home of a whole bunch of happy frogs) such as underneath this wooden walkway.
Early on Sunday morning, I made it down to Sandy Hook National Recreation Area in Highlands, NJ with my family.
Here in July, wildflowers bloom among the dunes and bathhouses.
The Sandy Hook Lighthouse looks out towards the water from about 1.5 miles inland. Built in 1764, time and tides have shifted the coastline away from where it still stands today. Tours of the lighthouse are available throughout the summer months.
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He did not appear distressed and swam easily on the surface of the water, diving under and splashing around to evade us. He shot through the water so fast we had to chase him with a skimmer to rescue him (chlorine and other chemicals in the pool water can harm living things).
Once at the park, I admired the wealth of bird and other animal life that bursts from every tree and stretch of lawn. Summer is in full swing and most every species is active and noisy. I grabbed a few hours in the early morning (between 7am and 10am) for my walk to avoid the 100 degree heat (with rain and heavy clouds) of midday. Above is a Green Heron (Butorides virescens)I photographed from across a stretch of water.
The Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) nest I have posted pictures of previously contained a new batch of baby birds, with attentive parents flying to and fro with food energetically.
Despite the low water lines everywhere throughout the park, each pool and stream teams with life. I was unable to identify these fish (please help me out!). They were a size I had not seen before - larger than a minnow, but smaller than a sunfish, around 3-4 inches.
I believe this is another Green Heron, perhaps the mate of the one I saw earlier. It was perched on a tree branch over the water. I was sure he was fishing despite the heavy coating of duckweed on the surface of the water.
An Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) hops along a muddy beach revealed by the shrinking level of water. If he hides acorns there, will oaks grow in the water, or will he have to swim to retrieve when the water returns? (Just kidding).
Where I usually observe turtles sunning themselves, a family of ducks was enjoying a floating log. I believe the "mom" duck is standing and her latest brood of ducklings is seated on the log. These could be wood ducks, where adults have a colorful head and are about this size. I saw mostly ducklings with brown plumage from some distance, so I couldn't be sure. After a few moments, the parent ducks quacked and all 6 ducks moved off the log into the distance in a tight group.
A White-tailed Deer (or doe, a female) and her two fawns, latin name Odocoileus virginianus.
As I came around a corner, I came upon the body of this Southern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina carolinensis). There was no sign of the cause of death, and per the circle of life a larger animal would probably arrive and consume the body shortly. I always feel sad to see roadkill and other carcasses. However, I felt I had to take the picture to confirm that these small, furry bundles of life are our there, living there lives, even though we never see them under normal circumstances. While they are both small and furry, shrews are in a different animal order (Soricomorpha) from mice and other rodents (Order Rodentia). Other animals in Soricomorpha are other types of shrews and all moles.
I noted that despite the dryness everywhere, there were still spots where water collected from the rain earlier that day (the new home of a whole bunch of happy frogs) such as underneath this wooden walkway.
Early on Sunday morning, I made it down to Sandy Hook National Recreation Area in Highlands, NJ with my family.
Here in July, wildflowers bloom among the dunes and bathhouses.
The Sandy Hook Lighthouse looks out towards the water from about 1.5 miles inland. Built in 1764, time and tides have shifted the coastline away from where it still stands today. Tours of the lighthouse are available throughout the summer months.
An easy right turn after you exit the park, I highly recommend a quick stop at Mount Mitchell Overlook before departing the Sandy Hook area for the day. A Quick Check marks the corner where signs clearly point the way up the mountain to the overlook.
Monmouth county park service conveniently trims back the native foliage to provide a beautiful place to sit and watch the clouds, waves and park visitors still on the beach at Sandy Hook.
I look forward to more summer weather next weekend. Stay cool!
