Birds and Other Nature Sightings

      According to eBird, there are 400 species of birds on the Ocean County, NJ list.  This lofty number includes vagrants, one-day wonders and historical records (the latter is what I refer to as those that were last seen before the year 2000).  The list also does not include exotic species and escapees.  The list does include a few ghost birds ; birds that I know are around, but they seem to always elude detection.  One such ghost bird in the county is the Pileated Woodpecker.  A few live in the western portion of the county, particularly around New Egypt in Plumsted Township.  Most of the birders around here know where to look for them, but most search attempts are usually futile.  Today, I lucked out.  I went to one of their “known” locations and was able to see one and hear another. Pileated woodpeckers, Fort Mose Historic State Park, St. Augustine, FL (2018).   © S. Weiss The pair in the left photo is of a female (l...

      My wife and I had a late flight out of Orlando, so I wanted to use part of the day to visit Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive.  My wife, bless her, indulges me.  Wildlife drive is about an hour drive from Orlando International Airport.  Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is very similar to Brigantine Wildlife Drive in Atlantic County, NJ.  Both are one way auto loops stretching between eight and 11 miles long through local, natural habitat.  Bird lists for both locations are well over 300 species.  However, the Florida site is only open to vehicles from Friday to Sunday.  Last August I visited the drive mid-week and the only access was on foot or bicycle.  I walked about 7 miles that day in the Florida sun with practically no areas to seek shade.  The upside was there were no mosquitoes or greenhead flies like the New Jersey site.  This would be my only chance in the near future to enjoy the drive from a car. When we ente...