#charleshrogerswildliferefuge — Public Fediverse posts

Tree Swallow

A quiet pause with a Tree Swallow in the Institute Woods.

https://islandinthenet.com/tree-swallow-2/

Tree Swallow

A quiet pause with a Tree Swallow in the Institute Woods.

https://islandinthenet.com/tree-swallow-2/

Looking Up for Wood Ducks

A spring morning search for Wood Ducks in Princeton’s Institute Woods turns into a lesson about looking up—and knowing your lens limits.

https://islandinthenet.com/wood-duck/

On July 20, 2024, I visited the Charles H. Rogers Wildlife Refuge. The weather was perfect for an early morning walk—cool and crisp, with a light breeze and clear skies. The vibrant greenery of the refuge was all around me. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a golden glow across the marsh. I felt a sense of calm.

I wandered along the trails toward the southern end of the marsh, stopping frequently to take in the details of the plants. The first plant that caught my attention was a cluster of Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum), its purple buds just starting to open. The delicate structure of the flowers contrasted with the lush green background. Joe-Pye Weed is a tall, perennial plant known for its mauve-pink flower clusters that attract butterflies and other pollinators.

Further along, I came across a large patch of ferns edging both sides of the trail. Their leaves formed a dense carpet of green, creating a contrast with the tall grass reeds in the marsh. Ferns are ancient plants, known for their ability to thrive in shaded, moist environments. I love their feathery fronds.

The scene was tranquil and soothing. I took a moment to simply breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the natural beauty around me.

I finished my walk and returned to the observation tower at the eastern end of the marsh. The morning light created a play of shadows and highlights. Marsh grasses play a crucial role in the ecosystem, providing habitat for wildlife and helping to prevent soil erosion. The sight of the tall grass growing thick in the marsh was soothing.

I discovered a mushroom growing in the grass. Its thin, white stem supported a beautifully textured cap, creating a perfect subject for a macro photograph with the MCEX-16 and Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR lens. Mushrooms are fascinating organisms that sometimes seem a bit alien to me. They serve as decomposers in the ecosystem by breaking down organic matter.

It was much quieter than on my previous visits, with fewer interactions with wildlife. While I had hoped to find dragonflies to photograph, I was happy just walking around and enjoying the fresh air. Maybe next time, I'll bring a cup of coffee and an egg sandwich.

https://islandinthenet.com/morning-at-rogers-refuge/

#CharlesHRogersWildlifeRefuge #EutrochiumMaculatum #fern #Mushroom #OnocleaSensibilis #ParasolaPlicatilis #PleatedInkcap #SensitiveFern #SpottedJoePyeWeed

I wrapped up my early morning adventure in Charles H. Rogers Wildlife Refuge. It was almost 10 AM so it was no longer early. I started walking back toward the trail entrance that would take me back to IInstitute Woods but didn’t get very excited when I saw the Eastern Cottontail hopping in the grass at the side of the gravel road. I love the way the light flowed across the body. He must have noticed me because he stood still and his ears perked up. I wanted several seconds for the rabbit to calm down. He went back to eating.

https://islandinthenet.com/eastern-cottontail-sylvilagus-floridanus/

#CharlesHRogersWildlifeRefuge #EasternCottontail #InstituteWoods #Rabbit #SylvilagusFloridanus #WorldSeriesOfBirding

A few weeks after the miserable overcast weather started ruining my bird photography experience, I woke up to mostly clear skies. Excitedly, I rushed to the Institute Woods trailhead at Olden Lane. On an earlier visit, I had heard some warblers at a specific spot at Charles H. Rogers Wildlife Refuge. I had marked it on Google Maps. It is near the western edge of the swamp, just a few hundred metres from the south-facing observation platform. My patience was rewarded when I heard two types of warbler: the Common Yellowthroat and the Magnolia Warbler.

While I waited, a female Common Yellowthroat dropped in briefly.

Photographing warblers can be a frustrating experience. I waited and waited, eventually rewarded with the appearance of a male Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia). This was my first time photographing this warbler, and I was excited. The bird stayed in the thicket of leaves for quite some time. I had hoped to get a better photograph of the body, but this was the best opportunity that this outing provided.

https://islandinthenet.com/magnolia-warbler-setophaga-magnolia/

#CharlesHRogersWildlifeRefuge #MagnoliaWarbler #SetophagaMagnolia #Warbler

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Small birds tend to move erratically, often hopping from branch to branch. They rarely sit still long enough for the photographer to focus and get the shot and birds rarely pose in a way that exposes their bodies without a leaf or twig obscuring a part of the bird's body. And even when the bird’s body is unobscured, the background is either too distracting or backlit. This plays tricks on the camera's autofocus and autoexposure settings. I have tried using fully manual controls but it’s [...]

https://islandinthenet.com/?p=112924

Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)

I was standing at the blind just off the main trail at Charles H. Rogers Wildlife Refuge. The vocalisations of the Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) are varied and include a distinctive "chick-a-dee-dee-dee" call, which serves as a contact call, and a sweet, whistled "fee-bee-fee-bay" song, which is more common in the spring. I heard the…

https://islandinthenet.com/carolina-chickadee-poecile-carolinensis/

#BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #Birding #Birds #CarolinaChickadee #CharlesHRogersWildlifeRefuge #Nature #PoecileCarolinensis #PrincetonTownship #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography

Northern Red-bellied Cooter (Deirochelys reticularia)

Turtle identification is challenging. I had thought, based on photographs I saw online after searching "turtles New Jersey", that this individual was a Painted Turtle. I uploaded the photo to iNaturalist where amateur naturalists, John Keisers, suggested that this was a Northern Red-bellied Cooter. I agree with John. [...]

https://islandinthenet.com/?p=112480

Female Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Until now, all of my sightings have been of the male.

https://islandinthenet.com/female-red-winged-blackbird-agelaius-phoeniceus/

#AgelaiusPhoeniceus #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #Birding #Birds #CharlesHRogersWildlifeRefuge #LensArtists #Nature #PrincetonTownship #RedWingedBlackbird #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography

Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta ssp. elegans)

While walking on the blue trail in Institute Wood, Bhavna spotted the Red-eared Slider sunning on a dead tree branch. She was so excited to see three turtles in a row. The Red-eared Slider was identified on iNaturalist with the help of amateur naturalist John Keisers and The Wandering Piney. [...]

https://islandinthenet.com/?p=112465

While walking on the blue trail in Institute Wood, Bhavna spotted the Red-eared Slider sunning on a dead tree branch. She was so excited to see three turtles in a row. The Red-eared Slider was identified on iNaturalist with the help of amateur naturalist John Keisers and The Wandering Piney.

The Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta ssp. elegans) is a freshwater turtle species native to the southern United States and northern Mexico. It is known for its distinctive red patch behind each eye, which gives it its name. These turtles have a smooth, olive to brownish-green carapace with yellow stripes or markings. Their plastron (underside) is typically yellow with dark spots.

Red-eared Sliders are omnivorous, consuming a variety of aquatic plants, algae, small fish, insects, and crustaceans. They are excellent swimmers and spend much of their time basking on logs or rocks near water bodies. As ectothermic reptiles, they rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature.

These turtles are commonly kept as pets but can become invasive species when released into non-native habitats. In the wild, they inhabit slow-moving rivers, ponds, lakes, and marshes, where they play a role in the ecosystem as both predators and prey.

https://islandinthenet.com/red-eared-slider-trachemys-scripta-ssp-elegans/

#CharlesHRogersWildlifeRefuge #InstituteWoods #RedEaredSlider #TrachemysScripta #Turtle #WildlifePhotography

Turtle identification is challenging. I had thought, based on photographs I saw online after searching "turtles New Jersey", that this individual was a Painted Turtle. I uploaded the photo to iNaturalist where amateur naturalists, John Keisers, suggested that this was a Northern Red-bellied Cooter.

The Northern Red-bellied Cooter (Deirochelys reticularia) is a freshwater turtle species native to North America. It belongs to the Emydidae family and is characterised by its medium to large size, domed carapace, and distinctive red markings on its plastron. This species typically inhabits slow-moving or still bodies of water such as ponds, lakes, marshes, and rivers with soft bottoms and abundant aquatic vegetation.

Northern Red-bellied Cooters are omnivorous, feeding on a variety of plant matter, aquatic vegetation, insects, crustaceans, and occasionally small fish. They are known to bask on logs or rocks near the water's edge to regulate their body temperature. Breeding season for this species occurs in late spring and early summer, with females laying eggs in sandy or soft soil near the water. Northern Red-bellied Cooters play a role in aquatic ecosystems as both consumers and prey for other predators in their habitat.

https://islandinthenet.com/northern-red-bellied-cooter-deirochelys-reticularia/

#CharlesHRogersWildlifeRefuge #InstituteWoods #NorthernRedBelliedCooter #PrincetonTownship #PseudemysRubriventris #RiverSEdgeTrail #Spring #StonyBrook #WalkingTrail

I am always on a hunt for Warblers. I just love their song and their festive colours. I expect that soon Institute Woods will be filled with them. If I can find them.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata), commonly known as the Myrtle Warbler, is a small songbird found across North America. It belongs to the family Parulidae and is known for its distinctive yellow patches on the rump and sides. The Myrtle Warbler has two main subspecies: the eastern "Myrtle" and the western "Audubon's."

The Myrtle Warbler primarily inhabits coniferous or mixed forests during the breeding season, nesting in trees and foraging for insects and berries. During migration and winter, it can be found in various habitats, including woodlands, shrubby areas, fields, parks, and residential areas. Its diet consists of insects, spiders, fruits, and berries. The species exhibits typical warbler behaviours such as flitting between branches, sallying out to catch insects, and making distinctive calls. Its breeding range extends from Alaska to Newfoundland in the north and from Canada to the Gulf Coast in the south.

https://islandinthenet.com/myrtle-yellow-rumped-warbler-setophaga-coronata/

#CharlesHRogersWildlifeRefuge #InstituteWoods #Myrtle #PrincetonTownship #SetophagaCoronata #Spring #TrolleyTrackTrail #Warbler #YellowRumpedWarbler

(Myrtle) Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)

[...]

https://islandinthenet.com/?p=112447

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

Inspired by Michael Stephen Wills' post on wild ducks, I ventured to Charles H. Rogers Wildlife Refuge, capturing these elegant Wood Ducks.

https://islandinthenet.com/wood-duck-aix-sponsa/

#AixSponsa #Bird #BirdPhotography #CharlesHRogersWildlifeRefuge #Duck #MercerCounty #PrincetonTownship #WildlifePhotography #WoodDuck

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

Inspired by Michael Stephen Wills' post on wild ducks, I ventured to Charles H. Rogers Wildlife Refuge, capturing these elegant Wood Ducks.

https://islandinthenet.com/wood-duck-aix-sponsa/

#AixSponsa #Bird #BirdPhotography #CharlesHRogersWildlifeRefuge #Duck #MercerCounty #PrincetonTownship #WildlifePhotography #WoodDuck