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The kingfisher is a common sight at the reservoir and can be seen perched over the water, or hovering as it searches for a fish to pursue. Its calls can include a long, uneven rattle or a more melodious rapid trill. The individual pictured is a mature female, and in a somewhat rare role reversal for a bird, female kingfishers are more brightly colored than the males. Posted: 9/3/10
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This plover is a common visitor in New Jersey during its migration between Canada (breeding) and its wintering grounds along the US southeast coast, and the coasts of Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America. It feeds on insects. Posted: 8/22/10
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Another visitor to New Jersey the Lesser Yellow Legs migrates between Canada (breeding)
and its wintering grounds in the Southern US, Mexico, Central and South America. It feeds on
insects and can be found in both freshwater and saltwater marshes during migration. Posted: 8/22/10
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Although not uncommon at the reservoir the Great Egret tends to be more elusive then the larger Great Blue Heron. However, the white plummege and yellow bill is easy to spot when the bird is present. They feed mostly on fish and frogs and migrate to the Southern US, Mexico, and Central America. The smaller Snowy Egret with its black bill, black legs, and yellow feet is rarely seen at the reservoir. Posted: 8/19/2010
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Although designed to provide water even during the most severe drought, the continuing decrease in water level and corresponding increase in beach is still disturbing. The current elevation of the reservoir is 97.32 feet above mean sea level (MSL.) The elevation, at full capacity is 103 MSL, meaning the reservoir is down around six feet. However, the reservoir will recover and should be back at full capacity by spring. Posted: 8/19/2010
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This young Northern Flicker was captured peeking out of its nest and apparently calling for its parents. Flickers are generally found in open woodlands, including parks, and also frequent freshwater wetlands, rivers, and streams. Although able to move around a tree (in typical woodpecker fashion) when looking for food, they seem to prefer forging on the ground for beetles and other insects. In winter, they will also eat berries. As with other woodpeckers, Flickers communicate by drumming on some hard object, often metal, and can be heard quite a distance away. Posted: 7/9/10
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Recently people have seen a strange gel mass attached to the dead trees in the reservoir, or floating in the water. They are nothing to be alarmed about, and are in fact a animal called a bryozoans (moss animals). They are colonial filter feeders and a normal component of fresh and salt water environments. Posted: 7/6/10
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It is not uncommon to see young fish in the reservoir during the spring and summer. They are typically sighted close to shore where the water is more shallow and the dead trees provide cover from larger fish. These young catfish are schooling, which is a protective behavior to confuse and intimidate predators. Posted: 7/6/10
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Barred Owl seen in Hartshorne Woods Park
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Barred Owls are listed as Threatened in the State of NJ. Habitat destruction is considered to be the main reason for the decline of the Barred Owl population in NJ. This Owl is sometimes called "The Swamp Owl" as it prefers low, flat, wet areas with mature hardwood trees away from human dwellings. This particular owl seems to be some making changes in its living requirements as it was photographed under a car port at an occupied park house in a hilly area situated in a stand of American Holly Trees. This owl has been in the area for over a year and appears to be settling in for the long run. Posted 6/24/10
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- Recently, several Northern Diamondback Terrapins were observed by park staff swimming in Claypit Creek, a tributary of the Navesink River and located near Hartshorne Woods Park. This water turtle is the only turtle in the world exclusively adapted to life in brackish-water coastal marshes and estuaries. They are carnivores and spend most of their active lives between late spring and autumn swimming and foraging for a meal of mollusks, fiddler crabs, and occasionally small fish. Posted 6/22/10
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Monarch Butterflies active at Huber Woods
- Look up and look around! Recently park visitors to the meadows at Huber Woods Park have been observing quite a few Monarch Butterflies flying about and feeding on the nectar of milkweed plants. This large butterfly is most likely the second generation that originally started northward from Mexico around February or March. The butterflies at Huber are in the process of making a third generation that probably will move northward to make a fourth generation that will not die, but migrate southward and live 6-8 months in Mexico. Posted 6/22/10
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- For many people this is a mystery find along the Jersey Shore. It is, however, no detective story. Recently found by a park naturalist at Seven Presidents Oceanfront park was an egg case of a Moon Snail, also sometimes called a sand collar because it looks like a collar of a shirt. A sand egg collar is composed of snail eggs sandwiched between layers of mucus coated with sand. The empty egg collar is evidence of life. Somewhere out in the water are free swimming snail larvae feeding and growing until they are ready to settle down and transform into little Moon Snails. Posted 6/22/10
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Summer Solstice June 21st 7:28 AM
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As of 7:28 AM summer has finallly arrived with the Summer Solstice which occurs when the Earth is tilted 23.5 degrees relative to the sun. The sun will appear at its highest point in the sky, but is only directly overhead at the Equator. Today is also the longest day of the year. At the same time in the Southern Hemisphere, the sun is at its lowest point and the day is the shortest. The Summer Solstice was a very important and festive event for many cultures and was an important element in the design of the Great Pymarids and Stonehenge. Posted: 6/21/10
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This amazing predator feeds mostly on small mammals but it is known to eat amphibians, reptiles, and even other raptors like Osprey and Peregrine Falcons. It's also the only animal to regularly eat Skunks! They range from the artic circle to South America and live in a wide range of habitats. As a nocturnal animal they are difficult to observe during the day, but one way to locate them, or other birds of prey, is to watch the reactions of smaller birds like crows. Crows will mob Great Horned Owls and harass them for extended periods. Posted: 6/17/10
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Little Wood Satyrs can be found in Monmouth County Parks starting in May and lasting well into late summer and early fall. These butterflies do not frequent flowers in search of nectar like most butterflies. In fact adults rarely feed at all, taking only water at puddles or sap from a tree. Little Wood Satyrs are fun to watch gamboling about in among a stand of trees. They appear to be having a good time. This is apparently where they got their name as satyrs of Greek and Roman mythology are well known for their love of dancing and revelry. Posted: 6/15/10
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Red Admiral at Hartshorne Woods
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This Cedar Waxwing was one of a group flocking near the Environmental Center recently. They were attracted to the abundant berries produced by a shadbush (serviceberry). Unfortunately for the Waxwings a female Robin laid claim to the tree and actively protected it. The Cedar Waxling is one of the only birds to primarily eat fruit and will do so almost year around. In fact, they eat so much fruit that at times they will come across an over ripe and fermenting fruit and actually get intoxicated by them. Female waxwings are the main nest builders and will take between five and six days and as many as 2,500 individual trips to complete the nest. The babies stay with their parents from 14 to 18 days. Posted: 6/15/10
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This female Ruby-throated Hummingbird was captured in a sequence of pictures (by a visitor) as she approached a feeder located near the Environmental Center pond. Hummingbirds flap their wings an amazing 53 beats a second which allows them to hover and move with great precision. After mating, male hummingbirds will leave the area and make their way slowly back down to South America. The eggs (1-3) are laid in a nest two inches wide by one inch deep and hatch in 12 to 14 days.The eggs are only 0.5-0.6 inches! The hatchlings remain with their mother 18 to 22 days. Posted: 6/15/10
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Recently, a park naturalist discovered a live Mantis Shrimp along the coast of Sandy Hook Bay at the Bayshore Waterfront Park. While the bay normally has a diverse range of shrimp, from Shore Shrimp to Grass Shrimp, this is the first time in recent memory that a large Mantis shrimp was seen. Up to 10 inches in length, the Mantis Shrimp is not actually a shrimp, but rather a shrimp-like crustacean. Mantis shrimp hunt for live fish, crabs and shrimp by slicing, spearing or grabbing onto their prey with their sharp claws. Posted 6/14/10
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Not long ago, a group of park visitors came across a small bird running up and down the width of the beach. The small bird was not much larger than a cotton ball. With enthusiasm, they saw a juvenile Piping Plover. When the chicks hatch, they are able to run about and feed themselves within hours scanning the shore for small insects, worms, and crustaceans. The small bird will grow quickly. In about 30 days they will fledge and by August both adult and the young plover will depart for their wintering areas. Posted 6/14/10
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Pileated Woodpecker active at Huber Woods
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Not long ago, a park naturalist came across a Pileated Woodpecker pecking into a tree in search of an insect meal near the Huber Woods Environmental Center. Nearly as large as a crow, the Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in most of North America. They eat wood-boring insects and insects that nest in trees, especially carpenter ants. Their drumming can be heard for long distances, as can their loud 'laughing' call. Posted 6/14/10.
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Eastern Bluebird nesting at Huber Woods
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An Eastern Bluebird was recently seen atop a nesting box at Huber Woods. Perhaps this is a good sign that breeding is taking place. Bluebirds like to nest along forest edges or open country with scattered trees. If the nest is successful, it will take approximately 12 to 14 days for the eggs to hatch. The young will remain in the nest for another 16 to 21 days. This when both adults will be active fetching food for the young and this is best time to watch for bluebird activity. Posted 6/14/10
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Our Cooper's Hawk pair, for the second year in a row, have had three babies. Cooper's hawks fledge between 25 and 34 days after hatching and are independent of their parents by 8 weeks. Posted: 6/14/10
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Box Turtles at Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
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A male and female box turtle were noticed near the building recently and it is likely they are courting. A female Box turtle will lay between 3-6 eggs that hatch in late summer or early fall. Female turtles of all species are in the most danger when traveling to or returning from egg laying. If found on a roadway, and it is safe to do so, they should be placed as far off the road as possible in their line of travel. Never transport a turtle to a new location or take one home. Posted: 5/21/10
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The return of these beautiful birds to the reservoir, and throughout the region, from their wintering areas in Central and South America is always highly anticipated by bird lovers. Orioles can be found at the edges of deciduous forests, including parks and more urban areas. Their gourd-shaped nests are hung high in the trees and will normally contain 3-7 eggs. They feed mostly on insects and other arthropods. Posted: 5/19/10
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Snapping Turtle and Painted Turtle at Manasquan Reservoir
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There are many different kinds of oak galls, but most are caused by the egg of a small wasp. The wasp larva takes control of the leaf, or other tree structure, creating its own environment and food source. A healthy tree will not normally be killed by the galls, but if the tree is stressed, a large infestation could aid in the trees death. Posted: 5/19/10
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This baby Musk Turtle, about an inch long, was found during a recent Pond Study at the Environmental Center and might be around two years old. It will attain an adult length of 2"--5 3/8". Posted: 5/19/10
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Wood Warbler Migration
May is the prime month for the migration of wood warblers in Monmouth County. Our parks are crucial sanctuaries for these jewels of the avain world. Huber Woods recorded thirteen species of warblers on May 18, 2010. Here are a few of those birds:
Blackpoll Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Black-and-White Warbler
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Yellow Warbler
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Pitcher plants are found in nutrient poor soils, and often in association with sphagnum moss. They are one of three carnivorous plants found in New Jersey, with the other two being sundews and bladderworts. The carnivorous nature of all three plants is an adaptation to living in soils with low levels of nutrients. Posted: 5/11/10
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The Pink Lady-sleeper is found in a range of environments. It takes many years for the plant to mature and it is very difficult to cultivate. The plant can live as long as 30 years. Although is not endangered in New Jersey, it is protected in other states, and the related Showy Lady-slipper is very endangered throughout its range. Posted: 5/11/10
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Highbush Blueberry Flowers at Manasquan Reservoir
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High Bush Blueberry is a common shrub throughout the state on moist, well drained soils. New Jersey designated highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) as the official state fruit in 2003. Many of the cultivars grown commercially today are based upon wild blueberries from the New Jersey Pine Barrens in Whitesbog, Burlinton County. Posted: 4/30/10