The Lazy Birder

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Filed in: Frank Chapman Trail

Frank Chapman Birthday Walk

Frank Chapman Trail, Teanrck, NJ
A Friday walk with the Bergen County Audubon Society on June 12, 2026 to celebrate Frank M. Chapman's birthday. Unfortunately there was a newly fallen tree on the trail cutting the walk short but a nice day to get outside.
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Trail sign at the Frank M. Chapman Trail
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Trail walk unfortunately shortened due to downed tree
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One of the Frank Chapman Trail Entrance signs.
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Sign and Boy Scout Bridge.
Photo of three Cormorants
Double-crested Cormorants.

Links

Filed in: Marsh Discovery Trail |Dekorte Park

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

Filed in: Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve |Hike

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..
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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
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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
Filed in: Arboretum |Camera Lens

Laurelwood Arboretum: Aug 04/26

An Art Park
A trip to wander around the Laurelwood Arboretum and Sculpture Trail. It's a beautifully landscaped park with the various trees identified with plaques or markers, and 'sculptures' spread throughout. While we observed birds such as goldfinches, hummingbirds in the sensory garden, red-belly woodpeckers, and heard catbirds, red-tailed hawks, and more, it was really a day to walk and enjoy everything the park had to offer. With that in mind, I had the 35mm focal length prime lens mounted on my camera which makes for a nice walk around combination but did limit its usefulness for photographing birds. But there was more to see and enjoy on this trip than just the birds.

Tags: Laurelwood Arboretum,RF35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM

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