As Carole Dickman wrote, this is by the Green Way entrance to the CF -- the wild flower garden that Fred Weber and his crew rehabbed last year.
The other scene is heading south from the Butterfy Garden toward No-Nmae Culvert.
Directions
- Directions to The Fell House
Look for white house with pillars, white barn, on west side of Franklin Turnpike, just north of Cottage Place. - Directions to Green Way entrance to the Celery Farm
Green Way is off the Franklin Turnpike, the second right heading north after the Celery Farm parking lot on the Franklin Turnpike - Directions To Celery Farm Main Parking Lot
Parking lot is on your right, north of Cottage Place, past three houses.
Become a Fan
Categories
- Alleged humor
- Arizona
- Bats
- Belize
- Best of the Best
- Big Years
- Bird Watcher column in The Record
- Calendar
- Celery Farm
- Eagles
- Espanol
- Flora
- Fyke archives
- Ghosts of Allendale
- Hawk Mountain
- HISTORIC PRESERVATION
- Hour on the Tower
- Insects
- Laino Woods
- Mammals
- Monday Morning Mystery
- Nest Cams
- Other
- Raptors
- Reptiles and amphibians
- Screech Owls
- Screech OWls 2008-09
- Screech Owls 2009-2010
- Screech Owls Vs. Squirrels
- Squirrels
- The Bird Watcher Column
- Videos
Recent Posts
January 30, 2012
Monday Morning Mystery 013012
After the first January snowfall, my wife and I walked around the Celery Farm, photographing locales -- some easily identified, some difficult.
They form a new series of Monday Morning Mysteries. Diehard Celery Farmers should get most of these, but some ain't easy.
Where in the Celery Farm are we?
January 25, 2012
Cooper's Hawk by the Celery Farm
This guy was perched in my backyard on Sunday morning, waiting for a meal to show up at the feeders.
January 24, 2012
Red-Shoulder by the Celery Farm
Saw this Red-shoulder perched across the street from the CF Parking Lot, high up in this conifer. I am guessing it is Laura, but could not see any bands.
Tomorrow: Recent Cooper's Hawk
January 23, 2012
Monday Morning Mystery 012312
My wife and I made two loops of a snowy Celery Farm on Saturday, taking photos as we went. Over the next few weeks, I will post a new "mystery" photo or two.
You need to identify where they were taken. Or you can just enjoy the photos from the warmth of your computer.
The first two are easy...
January 22, 2012
Red Fox!
The past two mornings around 8:30 a.m., from our window, my wife and I have seen Red Foxes on Lake Appert, too far to photograph.
But Barbara Dilger, walking in the Celery Farm early this afternoon, succeeded in getting a couple of shots of one of the Red Foxes along the trail by No Name Culvert.
Now that's a great job! I love the shot of the fox racing down the trail...
(Thanks, Barbara!)
Clever Winter Birdbath
In my last birding column for The Record, I wrote about birds' need for water in winter -- to drink and to bathe.
When the local outdoor water supply freezes up, a friend of mine adds an especially designed birdbath heating element to a big bowl, and he is in business.
The trouble is that these things cost from $50 to $60. Dan and Lyn Boyle have a nifty solution: For the past four years, they have put out water in a heated dog bowl.
Lyn writes: "Because the bowl is deep we don't fill it to the top. We place a large rock to the side to make room for bathing (it needs adjusting in the attached photo).
The photos were taken last week; the second photo is blurry because my husband was so excited - the Cedar Waxwing was a first for our Pequannock yard (he was traveling with a small flock of Robins).
"I don't know if the dog bowl would be less costly than the heated bird bath, but it does work."
I just bought a heated dog bowl at Petco for $30. We'll see how it does...
(Thanks, Lyn and Dan!)
January 21, 2012
A Snowy Celery Farm, plus Foxes
The Celery Farm is especially beautiful this morning, covered with a fresh comforter of snow.
Haven't seen any raptors yet, but just after I took these pix, two Red Foxes walked across the edge of the lake by the Warden's Watch.
January 19, 2012
My Latest Record Column: Birds Need Water!
My latest "Bird Watcher" column in The Record features advice from Stiles Thomas, who reminds us that birds have a tough time getting water when the weather turns real cold. Here's the opening (minus part of a beautiful poem by Wallace Stevens):
This time of year, as our thoughts and our gazes turn more and more to our backyard feeders, many of us tend to overlook one aspect of helping birds survive long cold spells: Birds do not live by food alone.
As my friend Stiles Thomas reminds me, birds also need water – not only to drink but also to bathe. When feathers aren't in tip-top shape, they don't insulate the bird's body as effectively, and the bird must burn more energy to stay warm at a time when it is a matter of survival.
The link to the columnn is here.
Mystery Answered
Skunk Cabbage it is. Congrats to all who ID'd it correctly!
January 18, 2012
January 16, 2012
Monday Morning Mystery 011612
I always think of this as a first sign of spring. Seen several places in the CF.
Answer tomorrow.
Favorite links
- Mindful Walker
- Wild New Jersey
- Owl Oasis Blog
- Hawk Mountain
- New Jersey Outdoors Blog
- The Hiram Blauvelt Nature Art Museum
- Fyke Nature Association
- Jersey Birder
- Today in New Jersey Birding History
- The Meadowlands Blog
- Oak in the Seed -- blog by a nifty writer friend
- The Owl Pages
- Global Owl Project
- Information on Owls
My Books
- Jim Wright and Jerry Barrack: Swan Babies
This children's book, photographed at the Celery Farm, is the heart-warming true story of a pair of mute swans who overcame a nor'easter to save their nest. All profits go to the Lillian and Stiles Thomas Scholarship Fund at Northern Highlands, and to the restoration of the historic Fell House. Available at Rohsler's Nursery in Allendale, Wild Birds Unlimited in Paramus and Wild Bird Emporium in Midland Park. - Jim Wright, Doug Goodell and Jerry Barrack: Jungle of the Maya
The definitive coffee-table book about Central America's largest -- and threatened -- rainforest. With sections on rare birds, howler monkeys and spider monkeys, Maya history, butterflies and more. Available on line. Wild Birds Unlimited may have a few copies. - Jim Wright and Jerry Barrack, with Doug Goodell: In the Presence of Nature
This is the coffee table book about the Celery Farm Natural Area in Allendale, published in 2002 and now out of print. It tells the history of the farm and features great photography, Foreword by David Allen Sibley. Copies are available at Rohsler's Nursery in Allendale, Wild Birds Unlimited in Paramus and Wild Bird Emporium in Midland Park. - Jim Wright and Jerry Barrack: Icky the Hungry Heron
A children's book about an amazing Great Blue Heron's quest for a gigantic carp at the Celery Farm, featuring photographs taken at the natural area. All profits go to the Lillian and Stiles Thomas Scholarship Fund at Northern Highlands, and to the restoration of the historic Fell House. Available at Rohsler's Nursery in Allendale, Wild Birds Unlimited in Paramus and Wild Bird Emporium in Midland Park. - Jim Wright and Kevin Watson: Hawk Mountain
This coffee-table book was published in 2009 as part of the world-famous raptor sanctuary's 75th anniversary. Features great photos by Kevin Watson, thoughtful prose, and some neat archival photos as well. Available at Wild Birds Unlimited in Paramus and online. - Jim Wright and the Artists of Northern Highlands: Ghosts of Allendale
A ghost story featuring Founding Father John Fell and the Celery Farm Natural Area. All profits go to the Lillian and Stiles Thomas Scholarship Fund at Northern Highlands, and to the restoration of the historic Fell House. Now on sale at the Lee Memorial Library in Allendale, Rohsler's Nursery in Allendale, Wild Birds Unlimited in Paramus It tells the history of the farm and features great photography, Foreword by David Allen Sibley. While supplies last. - Jim Wright, Jerry Barrack, Doug Goodell: Duck Enough To Fly
The classic children's book is now back in print. Photographed at the Celery Farm. The book is for sale as Nov. 29 at Rohsler's Nursery in Allendale and Wild Birds Unlimited in Paramus. - Photography by Jerry Barrack, Text by Jim Wright: Birds of the Celery Farm
This is a collection of Jerry Barrack's classic bird photography taken at the Celery Farm -- where else? Available at Rohsler's Nursery in Allendale, Wild Birds Unlimited in Paramus, and Wild Bird Emporium in Midland Park.
