#institutewoods — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #institutewoods, aggregated by home.social.
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Tree Swallow
A quiet pause with a Tree Swallow in the Institute Woods.
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Tree Swallow
A quiet pause with a Tree Swallow in the Institute Woods.
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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.
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Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)
It was another overcast and foggy morning but I awoke early and rushed over to Institute Woods hoping that I would find warblers. I walked around for several minutes listening to birds sing from the trees. I started to think that perhaps I was hallucinating the bird song but Merlin ID confirmed what I could not see. The birds were present but I didn’t see them.
The Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) is a migratory songbird commonly found in Institute Woods, Princeton, New Jersey. It is [...]
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Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
Most of my Blue Jay sightings have been at the bird feeder in my backyard. The Blue Jay in the wild has been too quick moving and often hides out in the thicket making photography challenging. I was out in Institute Woods walking around for almost an hour. Finally opportunity and prepared combined and I got this shot. [...]
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White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) are a common sight at bird feeders but I’ve only seen them in the wild a few times. These small, chunky sparrows have distinctive black and white stripes on their heads, a white throat, and a splash of yellow between their eyes and beaks. Their plumage includes warm brown tones on their wings and back, contrasting with a clean grey underbelly. [...]
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House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
The House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) is a small passerine bird native to North America. It belongs to the family Fringillidae, commonly known as finches. The House Finch typically measures around 12.5 to 15 centimetres in length and weighs between 16 to 27 grams. It has a stout bill, short wings, and a notched tail. I like the mixture of red and brown feathers.
While I never see them at my bird feeders, House Finches are primarily seed-eaters, consuming a variety of seeds, grains, and [...]
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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. [...]
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Female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
I don’t see Female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) quite as often as I see the vibrabt red-coloured males. The female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) has a more subtle yet elegant appearance. Unlike the vibrant red plumage of the male, the female sports a more subdued colouration, featuring a warm brownish-grey overall with reddish tinges on the wings, tail, and crest. Her crest is also less pronounced compared to the male's prominent crest.
Female Northern Cardinals [...]
https://islandinthenet.com/female-northern-cardinal-cardinalis-cardinalis-2/
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Female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
I don’t see Female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) quite as often as I see the flamboyant red-coloured males.
https://islandinthenet.com/female-northern-cardinal-cardinalis-cardinalis-2/
#BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #Birding #Birds #CardinalisCardinalis #Female #InstituteWoods #Nature #NorthernCardinal #PrincetonTownship #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography
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White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) at Institute Woods
White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) are a common sight at bird feeders but I’ve only seen them in the wild a few times. These small, chunky sparrows have distinctive black and white stripes on their heads, a white throat, and a splash of yellow between their eyes and beaks. Their plumage includes warm brown tones on their wings and back, contrasting with a clean grey underbelly.
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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. [...]
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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
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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
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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.
(Myrtle) Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) · 14 April 2024 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WRhttps://islandinthenet.com/myrtle-yellow-rumped-warbler-setophaga-coronata/
#CharlesHRogersWildlifeRefuge #InstituteWoods #Myrtle #PrincetonTownship #SetophagaCoronata #Spring #TrolleyTrackTrail #Warbler #YellowRumpedWarbler
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Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensi)
After watching and photographing the antics of the White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis, I returned to Trolley Track Trail and headed west.
I noticed that the further I walked from the Pipeline trail the less I heard bird song. I paused when I arrived at Founders' Walk. Except for the wind in the trees, it was silent. I would have sat at the bench and relaxed a bit but I was still on a hunt for warblers.
I decided to return to Trolley Track Trail for one last chance to find [...]
https://islandinthenet.com/eastern-gray-squirrel-sciurus-carolinensi/