Rummo’s Blog

Common Mergansers

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:45:56 -0500

Sometime in late February or early March - weather permitting - flocks of migrating Common Mergansers appear. They winter as far south as Mexico and spend their summers in Canada. I remember one year a huge pod of 100 or so that appeared on Butler reservoir. This year, 8 pairs showed up in our backyard on Lake Edenwold. Today, on a wild and windy rain soaked afternoon, they bob on the water’s surface, riding out the storm like little ships.

Bear Cub Announces Spring

Sat, 6 Mar 2010 19:07:57 -0500

Last Friday morning I noticed that my bird feeders were scattered all over the ground, a sure sign that a bear had gotten into them. I refilled them, put them back in place and sure enough, 15 minutes later a black bear cub appeared from the lake. Climbing over the fence into the backyard, it sauntered over to my feeders and proceeded to fill its face. An extra section of pole was added to put the feeders out of reach. Spring’s here!

“Hoodies” in my Backyard

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:38:32 -0500

Living on a lake in the Highlands of New Jersey affords me the opportunity to view many birds in their natural habitat. This year two pairs of Hooded Mergansers have taken up residence on Lake Edenwold, whether as transients or nesters remains to be seen. Like the Wood duck, they prefer to nest in tree hollows and will use Wood duck nest boxes. I have three on the slope behind the house facing the water. It’s approaching the date for their annual departure. I am hoping they will find one of the boxes and raise a family here.

Robins and the spring

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 13:31:35 -0500

There are a group of crabapple trees outside of the gym where my daughters go for their gymnastics class. Last week the trees were loaded with Robins and Grackles gorging themselves on last autumn’s apples. I wish I could say that this was my photo but it’s not. It’s an AP photo taken over the weekend south of New Jersey in an area where two-plus feet of snow fell.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:31:36 -0500

In the winter when insects are scarce to non-existent, our local population of sapsuckers rely on the syrup that runs through the sugar maples in our front yard. Today, one of my “regulars” spent the afternoon trying to tap the various holes he has made. I can only assume the late afternoon sun high up on this maple had warmed the wood enough to allow the sap to flow. It had been 7-degrees earlier this morning around 6:30.