Nature Now

Each visit to your county parks offers a chance to experience the wonders of nature. Whether it’s the anticipated first signs of spring or an unexpected avian visitor, nature never fails to delight. While our Nature Calendar lists many things to look for during your visits throughout the year, here are some things that are happening now:

American Woodcock

Brown Creeper  

Greater Yellowlegs

Blue-Headed Vireos

Blue-Headed Vireos are a stunning bird! True to its name, it has a blueish grey head that contrasts with its olive-green back, yellow flanks, with a clean white belly and throat. It is a small chunky songbird with a thick, slightly hooked bill and distinct, bold white spectacles, an eye ring plus a “loral” spot next to the bill, and two whitish wingbars. In our area, these Blue-Headed Vireos are early migrants in the spring, but one of our late migrants in the fall. They are not the easiest to view as they are constantly slowly and methodically searching through vegetation to feed on insects, often sticking to the interior of trees and much less often at the tips of branches, causing them to be frustratingly obscured from view. (posted 10/30/2025) 

Marbled Orb Weaver

Adorned permanently in Halloween colors and nicknamed the “Pumpkin Spider,” this Marbled Orb Weaver uses its distinct patterns and coloration to both ward off predators and lure in its insect prey. Adults are most active in the summer and autumn months, where you will typically find them in wooded areas, gardens, and even guarding the entryways of your house from insects like moths and beetles. They grow to be large, but not aggressive and their venom is mild, used to subdue its prey, and considered not dangerous to humans (causing only localized discomfort and is comparable to a bee sting).
   
As with all orb weavers, this arachnid creates the classic spider web; circular and wheel-shaped. Females are twice the size of males and generally stay hidden at the web's perimeter in a mess of dead leaves. One strand of silk extends all the way to her retreat. If it vibrates, she knows her web has caught something. Females lay orange eggs in a silken sac and attach it near their retreat to guard it. If the weather is warm, the spiderlings will hatch soon after. If it is cool or cold, the spiderlings will overwinter in the egg sac and hatch in the spring. (posted 10/27/2025) 

Maple Spanworm

These moths are in the Geometridae family of moths. Geometrid means “earth measurer,” and many of the caterpillars are nicknamed inchworms, loopers, and spanworms because of how they walk. They are a medium-sized moth with a wingspan of 1 ¾ to 2 ¼ inches. They are known for having very good camouflage imitating dry, curled leaves. With their coloration and uneven scalloped edging, it is no wonder they go mostly unnoticed.

White-footed Mouse 

The white-footed mouse is a native rodent here in Monmouth County. They are a common species found in field and forest habitats. Some of their favorite foods to eat are seeds, fruits and insects. Many animals, including owls, snakes, foxes and weasels, will prey upon the white-footed mouse. They are easily identified since they are a small rodent with a brown back, white belly and feet, and dark eyes. They are excellent climbers, spending time in trees and brush, and will often nest in hollow logs, abandoned bird nests, or burrows. They are primarily active at night and not often seen by humans in the wild.  (posted 10/21/2025) 

Amanita muscaria Mushroom

  

Think of the quintessential mushroom, it’s one that many grew up with as lawn ornaments or in games like Super Mario. You are probably envisioning a bright red capped mushroom with distinctive white warts forming spots, white gills and white stem. This is a species called Amanita muscaria aka Fly Agaric. The mushroom starts off as a small round button before it opens up, revealing a long stem and bulbous cap which flattens out with age. There are a few subspecies of this mushroom found worldwide. The European subspecies is the bright red we think of, but on the East Coast of the United State there is a yellow variant that is pictured here. Amanita muscaria is known to have a biological agent that is neurotoxic if ingested, so this mushroom should not be eaten. (posted 10/14/2025)  

International Observe the Moon Night

Thriving in the Garden

 
Hover fly in the garden 

Planting native plants can make a big difference for our local wildlife. For example, at Clayton Park behind the Activity Center, an old field was planted with native vegetation. When our naturalist stopped by this summer to do a quick survey, they found a large diversity of insects thriving in the garden. Among the highlights were dragonflies - dashers, Eastern pondhawks, Eastern Amberwings, and Halloween Pennants, and butterflies - Common Buckeye, Pearl Crescent, and Huron Sachem Skippers. Other insects included beetles, bees, wasps, grasshoppers, Hover flies, and mantis, and even a daytime flying moth - the snowberry clearwing. (posted 9/29/2025)

Purple Martins

 
Purple Martin Perched with bee and spider in mouth  

Purple Martin Perched with dragonfly in mouth  
  

Purple Martins Perched and in flight with bugs in mouth 

Purple Martins are the largest species of swallow that live in New Jersey.  They are completely dependent on humans on the East Coast for their housing needs. In return, they are a reliable source of insect control, as they are excellent aerial insectivores that feed on the wing. Martins will eat dragonflies, beetles, flies, moths, butterflies, grasshoppers, cicadas, and various types of flying ants, bees, and wasps.  
   

Juvenile Sora  

September is a great time of year for witnessing bird migration in our area and can turn a walk into an unforgettable memory.  Recently, a quick stop at a local park revealed a surprise hidden along the grassy edge of a trail - a juvenile Sora foraging just in view.  These birds are small and very secretive. Sora are in the rail family and prefer shallow freshwater wetlands with dense vegetation, but during migration they’ll take advantage of brackish marshes.  

Ghost Crab

  

Update on Black Vulture Tagging 

We have an exciting update on our Black Vulture tagging. Thank you to everyone who submitted names for our lovely feathered friend, there were a lot of great choices! Please welcome Cary (short for Carrion My Wayward Son). The tracker has already given us plenty of data which you can see pictured above. Feel free to use this link to watch Cary’s movements over time. The next time you’re in the Marlboro area you might just spot Cary soaring above! Thanks also to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for this wonderful collaboration. (posted 9/2/2025) 

Help Us Name This Black Vulture Nestling

 

For the first time ever, the Monmouth County Park System is thrilled to bring you a Naming Contest. In partnership with Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, we have successfully placed a satellite tag on a Black Vulture nestling. Data gained from this tagging will help researchers understand the range expansion that is currently underway with these vultures. Feel free to submit your age-appropriate name ideas to us!  See details on how to enter. Featured in the photo is David Barber, Senior Research Biologist at Hawk Mountain. (posted 7/11/2025) 

Prairie Warblers

Prairie Warblers are a beautiful small yellow warbler that, unfortunately, is not true to its name. Instead of being found in open prairie habitats, it is more commonly heard singing from exposed perches in scrubby secondary growth forest areas or densely overgrown fields. The males' song can be easily recognized by its buzzy quality with an rapidly ascending zee-zee-zee-zee-zee-zeeeee. The males are known for being bright yellow and have a black streaking on their flanks, black eyeline with a small black semi-circle under their eye, and a chestnut back patch. (posted 6/5/2025) 

Chicken of the Woods 

This chicken of the woods (Laetiporus cincinnatus) was spotted at the Manasquan Reservoir from the Cove Trail. This large species of edible mushroom has a flavor and texture similar to that of chicken, lending to its poultry themed name. Two species of chicken of the woods can be found throughout the Park System from early spring all the way through to October or November. The first of which has a paper white underside and is only found growing on the ground, Laetiporus cincinnatus pictured above. The second species (Laetiporus sulphureus) is only found growing on dead or dying trees and has a bright sulfur yellow bottom, leading to another common name of sulfur shelf. With its large size and distinct traffic cone orange top, it is hard to miss these beautiful mushrooms when they are fruiting. 

Remember, when in the parks, visitors must leave all flowers, plants, animals, and other natural features as they are found.  (posted 6/5/2025) 

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Duskywings

Duskywings are a genus of butterfly in the family of spread-wing skippers, Hesperiidae. Separating Juvenal’s and Horace’s duskywings is one of the more difficult challenges for New Jersey butterfliers! We identified this one as a Horace’s Duskywing because it shows a white eye ring, and several glassy spots in the forewing - including a wrist “bracelet” - among other small distinguishing characteristics. Horace's Duskywings are brown butterflies named after the Roman poet Horace and are a common butterfly found on the East Coast. They are usually found in areas with oak trees, as their caterpillars feed on them. (posted 6/5/2025) 

 Olive-Sided Flycatcher

Recently, an Olive-sided flycatcher was spotted at the Manasquan Reservoir, Howell. Passing through Monmouth County only during migration, they’re hard to spot in our area. Olive-sided flycatchers are the longest distant migrant flycatchers of all the breeding US flycatchers. When they are found, they’re usually perched atop dead branches of a tall tree.

A large stocky flycatcher, they appear to have a gray vest that contrasts with its white belly. They  sometimes have visible white tufts on the sides of the rump - which can be helpful in identification - and an upright posture as they look out from their perch to fly catch prey. (posted 5/23/2025) 

Spring marks the spawning season for many native fish including these Brook Lamprey. Spotted in the upper reaches of Hop Brook within Holmdel Park, Holmdel, these boneless, eel-like fish can be seen excavating a nest in preparation for spawning. Unlike many other species of fish which fiercely guard individual nests, Brook Lamprey take a more communal approach and work on large nests together. The females will deposit fertilized eggs into the gravel where the young soon hatch and burrow into the substrate. Despite the formidable appearance of their sucker-like mouth lined with rows of teeth, Brook Lamprey are not parasitic or even predators, instead they prefer a diet of algae and detritus from the creek bottom. 

 

The larvae will spend the next five years or more feeding and developing before they will spawn. Brook Lamprey are semelparous, meaning they will only breed once in their lifetime and die shortly after their spawning is complete.
 

 

Hop Brook proved to be quite the spawning hot spot with various other species of minnows and chubs exhibiting spawning behavior as well as this impressively large female white Sucker working her way through shallow riffles in search of a suitable spawning site. This female will soon release anywhere from 30,000 to 130,000 eggs. These eggs adhere to any substrate they come in contact with, allowing the eggs to incubate and develop before hatching. (posted 4/8/2025) 

 

Nature Now – Eastern Red Bat

 

The Eastern red bat, is medium sized “tree bat” with a body length of about 3.5-4.5 inches, and wingspan of approximately 13 inches. This species roosts in trees, underneath foliage, and in crevices or cavities. You would think its red color would make it stand out, but they appear to look like a dead leaf or small pinecone. It can be hard to spot a roosting bat because of how well they camouflage, and this species tends to hang out in the canopy of trees, around 5-20 feet above the ground.

 

Commonly hunting along the forest edge, their diet consists of a variety of insects like moths, beetles, leafhoppers, flies, and mosquitoes. That is exactly what this bat was doing at Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen, when one our Park Naturalists spotted it and watched it as it hunted for flying insects and then landed in a nearby tree. (posted 4/1/2025)

Digger Bee Neighborhood - Thompson Park 

 

A digger bee neighborhood has been found along the Reservoir Loop Trail in Thompson Park. Digger bees, also known as ground bees, burrow in dry sandy soil – making the steep orange banks along the Reservoir the perfect place for them to build a home. These bees rarely sting, but can if disturbed, so be mindful of these burrows which look like ant hills.

   
Digger bees live in large colonies but unlike honeybees, each female digger bee digs and provisions her own burrow. Within each burrow, there are little rooms called cells, lined with a waterproof oily substance, and filled with a mixture of pollen and nectar harvested from nearby flowering plants. In the early spring, sources of pollen include odiferous, Creekside skunk cabbages and brilliant purple crocuses. (posted 3/13/25)

Tundra Swan

 

Tundra Swan are a native species of swan that can be found in our area during their migration in the winter months. A smaller species of all-white swan with all-black bill, they sometimes have a yellow spot on their black facial skin in front of the eye.
  

Nicknamed the “whistling swan” due to their noisy calls that resemble whistling, they breed up on the Arctic tundra in summer. While on the water, they feed similar to dabbling ducks, meaning they will tip forward dunking their heads in the water to feed on mostly aquatic vegetation. (posted 3/6/2025)

Redhead

 

Male redhead ducks are true to their name with a cinnamon-red head, black chest and rump, gray body, and a gray-blue bill that is tipped black. A social duck that likes to raft up to other ducks, they’re also a diving duck that eats submerged vegetation. Females are much tougher to spot. They are a medium-sized, overall brown duck with a steep forehead and pale face, faint eye ring, and gray bill tipped with black. In winter, they can be found on coastal lakes. (posted 3/6/2025) 

Hooded Merganser

 

The Hooded Merganser are a small duck with small slender bills that stands out on the water with their beautiful head crests or hoods, which is also the feature that they are named after. The male has an extravagant bold black and white hood, and the female sports a stylish hood as well but in a cinnamon color. The hoods can be raised or lowered, changing the duck’s appearance quite a bit.
  

The males stand out with a bold black head with a white patch, a white chest, and a black upper body that pops against the chestnut color of its flanks. Females are a bit duller with overall brownish crest and grey-brown body.
 

They are a diving duck that primarily eats fish but has the broadest diet of the local merganser species, also eating aquatic insects, crustaceans, amphibians, vegetation and even mollusks according to Cornell Labs “All About Birds” webpage. They are one of the few ducks that are cavity nesters as well as partake in brood parasitism.

Canvasback

 

Canvasback ducks standout among the other ducks on a pond or reservoir with their large bodies and large sloping foreheads. Males have a black chest and rump that contrast significantly with its white body, and they have a beautiful reddish head with a stout neck. Females also have a distinctive large, sloped head but with brown coloration and less contrast between their grey body and dark chest and rear. They are a diving duck that is omnivorous but tend to eat rhizomes and tubers from aquatic plants. (posted 2/21/2025) 

Brant

 

Brant is a species of goose that frequents our area in the winter when they can be found in our coastal areas along beaches and in brackish bays. They are a compact goose with black neck, brownish back, and pale underparts. In our area, the Atlantic subspecies is the expected variation found. They are noted to have pale bellies and an incomplete white necklace on its black neck. While known for eating eelgrass and other aquatic vegetation, some flocks here on the East Coast have also started to use upland fields to graze on grass and can will mix with flocks of Canada Goose while feeding. (posted 2/5/2025)

Gadwall

 

An often-overlooked duck, the Gadwall is not showy at first glance. The male lacks any of the bright pops of color other ducks usually fashion. That isn’t to say they aren’t a beautiful duck! Males are intricately patterned with gray, brown, and black with a distinctive black rump-patch. Sometimes they reveal a white patch in its secondary feathers on its wing. Females are less distinctive and resemble a female mallard, except they have a thinner and darker orange bill. Gadwalls are a dabbling duck that swims in slightly deeper water. (posted 2/5/2025) 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

 

Yellow-bellied sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus varius) are a species of woodpecker that drill rows of holes in trees to feed on sap and will eat any insects that get caught in the sugary substance. Both male and female sapsuckers have a red cap, but the male also has a red throat like the one pictured. You can slightly see the yellow coloring on the belly, this is where they get their name from. This color can range from whitish to pale yellow. Fall and winter are a great time to spot them, often hearing them before you see them. They make a nasal mewing call that is often repeated.
 

If you look along the bark of the tree in the above picture taken at Huber Woods Park, you can see the horizontal row of holes the male sapsucker is making. (posted 1/29/2025) 
 

Red Fox Tracks

 

Winter is a time of year when activity from wildlife tends to slow down. Whether animals are hibernating, conserving energy, or moving to warmer weather, we don’t see as much activity as we do during other times of the year. However, not all animals take refuge during the winter months. Red foxes, Vulpes vulpes, are an animal that can be seen throughout the seasons and remain active even in unfavorable weather.
 

One reason red foxes stay active during the winter is because their prey species - small mammals like mice, squirrels and rabbits - don't hibernate. Red foxes have adapted to this lifestyle and have no physiological need to hibernate.
 

Pictured above are tracks from a red fox that has been frequenting the grounds of Huber Woods Park. The tracks show the fox's unsuccessful attempt at hunting and a squirrel's triumphant escape. (posted 1/27/2025)

Bufflehead

 

The Bufflehead is a tiny duck that really stands out but can abruptly vanish and resurface as they feed. From a distance, males are a striking black and white; but in the right light, their black feathers are quite iridescent and shine glossy green and purple. Females are mostly blackish-brown with a small single white cheek patch, greyish flanks, and possibly a small white wing stripe that is sometimes visible.

  
According to the Cornell Lab “All About Birds” webpage, an interesting but little-known fact is that Buffleheads almost exclusively nest in holes excavated by Northern Flickers. (posted 1/24/2025)
 

American Wigeon

 

The American Wigeon is a beautiful dabbling duck that stands out on the water. The male has a gleaming white crown on the forehead with green eye patch and a prominent white patch on its rump that contrasts nicely against black undertail feathers. These compact ducks have short pale bills tipped in black, round heads with greyish-brown head, and brownish-red flanks. Females have a warm brown coloration and a brownish-gray head color. They prefer quite lakes, ponds, and wetlands; and are one of the shier duck species, although they can be quite noisy themselves. (posted 1/24/2025) 
 

American Coot

 

Don’t be fooled by the American Coot! While it may look like a duck swimming on water, it is more closely related to rails. Instead of the webbed feet of a duck, the American Coot has big feet and broad, plated-looking lobes on each of its toes that are flexible enough for walking on land – which is the best way to see its unusual feet.
 

This plump waterbird has an overall dark gray coloration, a white-pointed bill tipped with a black ring and topped with a red shield, and stunning red eyes. These odd-looking birds can be found in any aquatic environment during winter. Feeding mainly on aquatic plants, they prefer areas that have heavy stands of emergent aquatic vegetation along the shoreline. (posted 1/13/2025) 

American Black Ducks 

 

American Black Ducks are a large duck species that are commonly found on the East Coast in a wide variety of aquatic habitats. They can often be found with their close relative, the Mallard ducks. Males have a dark chocolate brown coloration on its flanks, a pale grey face with a brown cap, and an olive-yellow bill. Females have darker, duller bills than the males.
  

When in flight or flapping, you’ll notice the top side of the wings have a blueish-purple rectangular mark that is bordered by black on its secondary feathers. The underside of the wing is white with a contrasting gray edge coloration. American Black Ducks are primarily dabbling ducks that can be seen eating plant material at the surface of the water. Sometimes, they will dive to eat crustaceans, mollusks, or fish; or will waddle on land grazing, plucking seeds, grubbing for roots, or even picking berries. (posted 1/6/2025) 

American Pipit

 

A bird that frequently goes unnoticed by many people is an inconspicuous songbird called the American Pipit. While these birds can be found during the migration seasons of spring and fall, the best opportunity to see these birds is often during the winter.  Frequently they can be found in open bare fields or recently plowed fields, walking discreetly along the ground. They can also be spotted foraging for insects in wet areas such as marshes. Oftentimes, it will be seen bobbing its tail.  
 

The American Pipit is small and slender, with a short thin bill and variable coloration of grayish brown on its upper portions and yellowish or cinnamon-ish streaking on its lower body parts. Although very tough to detect on the ground, in flight the bird gives a distinctive “Pi-Pit” flight call and stands out with prominent white outer tail feathers. (posted 12/20/2024) 

Visit our Nature Calendar. 

• Nature Now - 2024 
• Nature Now - 2023  
• Nature Now - 2022  
• Nature Now - 2021  
• Nature Now - 2020 
• Nature Now - 2019 
• Nature Now - 2018 
• Nature Now - 2017 
• Nature Now - 2016 
• Nature Now - 2015 
• Nature Now - 2014 
• Nature Now - 2013