The Lazy Birder

A photoblog
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Filed in: Birds |Solo

Mockingbird at Dekorte Park

Photo of a Mockingbird

Northern Mockingbird

Yes, a common bird but a photo I like, at Dekorte Park in Lyndhurst, NJ. 5/18/2026.

I like this photo because the light was good and the background was uncluttered. These are two things that make photographing birds difficult for me, and when they cooperate I feel lucky.

Links

Tags: DeKorte Park

Filed in: Solo |Birds

A solo walk a DeKorte Park

An ordinary day at Dekorte Park on a Monday. It was special seeing the juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron and the Great Egret catching the crab.
Double-crested Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Egret

Great Egret with his catch

Pair of Gadwall ducks

Pair of Gadwall ducks

Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Tree Swallow on a nesting box

Tree Swallow on a nesting box

Gadwall Duck

Gadwall duck

Links

Tags: Yellow-crowned Night Heron,DeKorte Park

Filed in: Solo |Butterfly |Camera + Lens

New Jersey Botanical Garden June 25

A solo walk
A walk at the garden and too many Great Spangled Fritillary butterflies! They were everywhere and the stars of the day.
Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly #1
Great Spangled Fritillary #1
Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly #2
Great Spangled Fritillary #2
Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly 3
Great Spangled Fritillary #3
photo of a turkey
A lone turkey, photographed through the car window when exiting the park.

Links

Tags: Butterfly,New Jersey Botanical Garden

Filed in: Solo |Solo

Dekorte Park 07.09.26

Solo walk
The boardwalk portion of the Marsh Discovery Trail was closed for repair for the longest time. It reopened recently and this was the first time I was able to walk it; a very nice "open air" blind has been added. The park is a good location for viewing shorebirds.
image of Mardh Discovery Trail entrance
Entrance ro the newly repaired Marsh Discovery Trail.
image of repaired Marsh Discovery Trail
All new boards and railings and more …
image of open air blind
The new "Open Air" blind.
image of trail and open air blind
The trail and "Open Air" blind.
Blue Heron photo
A Great Blue Heron.
image of Egret at dekorte Park
An Egret.
image of Canadian Geese
A group of Canadian Geese.
image of Herring Gull
A Herring Gull. One of the largest gulls.
image of a Marsh Wren
A Marsh Wren. I feel lucky to get a photo of one, you hear them but they always seem hidden in the reeds.
image of Barn Swallows on a railing
A group of Barn Swallows sitting on the railing.
image of a gray Catbird
A Gray Catbird.
image of an Osprey
This Osprey was constantly hovering but I wasn't lucky enough to see him dive for his meal.

Links

Tags: Marsh Wren,Barn Swallow,Osprey,Dekorte Park,Marsh Discovery Trail

Filed in: Solo |Hike |Map

Hike at the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve

aka G. Thomas Donch Nature Preserve
We went for a short hike at the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve. A nice day to get outdoors and get some exercise before the weeks forecast of several days of rain, which is needed due to a continuing mild drought.
The preserve has recently been renamed The G. Thomas Donch Nature Preserve which is not what most people know it as.
There is a shorter accessible "trail" available.
The other trails are easy and flat but there are can be some muddy areas or uneven ground so hiking boots are preferable IMO.
Some photos below, as always.
G. Thomas Donch Nature Preserve Sign
The dock at The G. Thomas Donch NaturePreserve in Franklin Lakes, NJ, aka the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve.
Photo of the G. Thomas donch Nature Preserve Sign.
Accessible Trail sign at the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve
Entrance to a short accessible trail.
Accessible Trail at the G. Thomas Donch Nature Preserve
A viewt of the Accessible trail
photo of an accessible park bench
An accessible picnic bench and view
Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve Shoreline Loop Trail sign
One of the trail signs at the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve
image of a typical trail at the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve
A typical groomed trail athlete the nature preserve
Typical Trail at the G. Thomas Donch Nature Preserve
Rooty traol at the nature preserve
MOST of the hike is smooth but there will be some areas where caution is required..
image
image of a Mute Swan family
It was nice seeing this Mute Swan family. We had seen a swan nest in a corner of the preserve on past hikes.
image of a Mute Swan family
image of a fisherman
The preserve is a popular fishing spot.
G. Thomas Donch Island Bridge Trail Sign Photo
The Island Bridge is an interesting part of the hike with nice views of the lake
image
image
image of trail trash pickeup
Couldn't help but pick up some trash left on the trail during the hike. Why do people abandon their trash especially in the parking lot? Otherwise it was a nice day for a hike.

Links

  1. G. Thomas Donch Nature Preserve aka Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve in Franklin Lakes, NJ General Information
  2. Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve Trail Map
  3. Mute Swan at All About Birds

Tags: Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve

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