The Celery Farm & Beyond

ANYONE MISSING A SQUIRREL?

  Les Shenkler of Allendale took this shot in his driveway of nature's food chain in action.
   I'm guessing, but the red-tail is probably the higher link. Handsome bird.

GOOFY REQUEST

  I am in need of a good photo of a four-leaf clover, or a good four-leaf cloverto photogrpah.
  Can anyone help? E-mail me at wrightjamesb@gmail.com
  Thanks.

CELERY FARM: Muskrat

    This guy swam right past the Warden's Watch early one morning last week.
    He was so close I couldn't get his whole body in the frame.
    I know: It's always something.

A thoughtful blog

   

Diane Brown, Jersey girl and friend of this blog, has a more thoughtful blog than mine.
   Her latest post is especially worth a read. Right on the money. Great photo, too.
   August is here. Don't let the dog days be a pooch.

CELERY FARM: Monday morning mystery

   I call this stuff mystery crud.
   It's under the leaves on that gangly tree near the Warden's watch.
   I know I should know what it is -- eggs of some kind?
   But I don't...
   Can anyone help?  Thanks!

CELERY FARM: Lake Appert monster

   

The legendary Loch Appert Monster was seen again this week, cruising the shallows by the Warden's Watch.
   The creature was so large that the 400mm lens could only capture the tail end.

Wascally baby wabbit

    I've had videos of baby owls, baby ducks, and baby woodchucks, so why not baby rabbits?     
   This guy and his mom are terrorizing the garden, but is such fun to watch.    
    And he gives me an excuse to quote Elmer Fudd.
    I hope he does not become a Happy Meal for our nearby family of screech owls.
    Sorry about the run on baby animal videos, but 'tis the season.

GROUNDHOGS: At the Den

   This video features a woodchuck looking out of its den on a path in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst, when Junior butts in.

CELERY FARM: More on turtles

   The above photo was taken in my side yard over the weekend.

   A varmint -- most likely a raccoon, dug up at least a dozen snapping turtle eggs and had them for breakfast. Looks like it may have gotten the painted-turtle eggs in the backyard, too.

  It is all part of the food chain, I know, but the food chain doesn't happen that often in my yard.

  On a cheerier not, I took this shot yesterday morning -- a painted turtle laying eggs in my front yard.

   It was the only part of my yard where I hadn't seen or detected any turtle activity. All part of living next to the Celery Farm

 

OWL: The Family Screech, Part V

 

   In this video, the owlets are nearly a month old, and it is about time for them to go.
   Mom no longer enters the nesting box, and is not seen in  this video.
   In videos past, I have done tight editing and snappy music, but we are nearing the end of the line and for me at least, it's a bittersweet time.
   So I let the video unfold -- no feeding frenzys, no wacky youngsters.
   This is best played with the sound on.
   On a lighter note, around 1:29 into the video, I think you can hear the first known recording of screech-owlet flatulence. I apologize in their behalf.
   See what you think (and hear).

MONDAY: And then there was one...