#van-horne-park — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #van-horne-park, aggregated by home.social.
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A Sparrow in the Grass
A spontaneous trip to Van Horne Park led to an unexpected encounter with a Song Sparrow hidden in the winter grass.
https://islandinthenet.com/chasing-birds-on-a-whim-a-winter-day-at-van-horne-park/
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Eastern Amberwing at Ven Horne Park
After I had my fill of photographing the Blue Dashers at the retention pond in Van Horne Park, I was ready to leave when I noticed a dragonfly fluttering nearby. Its brown colour caught my eye, quite different from the Blue Dashers I'd been photographing. At that moment, I had no idea it was an Eastern Amberwing.
Unlike the Blue Dashers, which seemed to pose patiently for my camera, this dragonfly was quite active. It moved around a lot, making it a challenge to capture a good shot. I must [...]
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Blue Dashers at Van Horne Retention Pond
20 July 2024
After the disappointing visit to Fairview Farm Wildlife Preserve, I decided to stop at the retention pond at Van Horne Park. On the 45-minute drive home, my mind drifted, and I had a brief conversation with myself about bacon.
[caption id="attachment_116518" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) · 20 July 2024 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR[/caption]
When I say bacon to someone from the United States, they usually think [...]
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Retention Pond
On July 18, I decided to visit the retention pond near Van Horne Park around 8 AM to stretch my legs and enjoy some fresh air. Of course, I brough along my X-T3 and Fujinon XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS W. I think it had rained earlier that morning because the leaves of the tall grass were still wet.
I had hoped to photograph dragonflies but found none. Instead, I turned my camera toward the water and the plants around the pond. The surface of the water was dotted with tiny duckweed (Lemna [...]
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Variable Dancer
Today (June 12), I visited the stormwater retention pond near the Audi dealership on Route 206. It's a beautiful spot that has evolved into a thriving natural habitat, filled with marsh plants like Broad-leaved Cattail. This time, I was on a mission to photograph dragonflies and damselflies.
Lately, I’ve felt a need to shift my focus from birds to other subjects. My trusty Fujinon XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens has been my constant companion, and I wondered what else I could capture [...]
https://islandinthenet.com/variable-dancer-argia-fumipennis/
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Great Blue Skimmer (Libellula vibrans)
https://islandinthenet.com/great-blue-skimmer-libellula-vibrans/
#Dragonfly #GreatBlueSkimmer #Libellula #LibellulaVibrans #MontgomeryTownship #Odonata #RockyHill #VanHornePark #Wildlife
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On my early morning outing to Van Horne Park, I was prepared for every photographic opportunity that my minimalist camera kit could accomplish. I had the XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR which I used to photograph deer and rabbit and the XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR and MCEX-16 macro extension tube which came in handy for macro photographs of native wildflowers, like Foxglove Beardtongue.
Penstemon digitalis, commonly known as Foxglove Beardtongue, is a wildlife-friendly native perennial plant. It loves moist, well-drained soils but can adapt to various soil types, including sand, loam, and even clay. While I don't have specific information about the soil type in Van Horne Park, the park seems to have the right soil conditions. I found more than one patch of this wildflower as I walked around Van Horne Park. Most of the park receives full sun to partial shade.
Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) · 31 May 2024 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WRFoxglove Beardtongue is highly beneficial to insects and other wildlife. It attracts a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The tubular white flowers, which bloom from April to June, is an excellent nectar source.
From what I read online, Penstemon digitalis can be planted in personal gardens. It may be an excellent choice for my flower beds. The plant grows to a height of 3-5 feet with a spread of 1-2 feet. It's also deer-resistant and has medium drought tolerance, which adds to its appeal for me.
https://islandinthenet.com/foxglove-beardtongue-penstemon-digitalis/
#FoxgloveBeardton #MacroPhotography #NativeWildflower #PenstemonDigitalis #VanHornePark
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Male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
I expected to find birds in Van Horne Park but I didn’t expect that finding and photographing certain birds would be so much easier here than in Institute Woods and Charles H. Rogers Wildlife Refuge.
I admit that I am more attracted to brightly coloured birds. The male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is striking with its bright red plumage and black facial mask. However, they can be challenging to photograph due to their preference for dense foliage and shrubs, where they often [...]
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Male Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
On another trip to Van Horne Park, I heard a lot of Song Sparrows in the trees lining the trail. The male Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) is a common bird found across North America. They are everywhere I go in New Jersey. In trees, they primarily sing to establish territory and attract mates, rather than for hunting. This particular male was quite loud and bold enough to allow me to get close.
The Song Sparrow's song is a varied series of melodious (hence the word melodia in the [...]
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Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
I don’t know who comes up with the common names of certain birds. Despite its name, the American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is found in Canada, especially during the breeding season when they inhabit a wide range of habitats including forests, parks, and suburban areas. The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) is found in the United States, particularly in regions with suitable wetland habitats like lakes, rivers, and marshes. So why is the Canada Goose called the Canada Goose and the [...]
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Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
So why is the Canada Goose called the Canada Goose and the American Robin called the American Robin if both birds are found in both countries?
https://islandinthenet.com/canada-goose-branta-canadensis-2/
#BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #Birding #Birds #BrantaCanadensis #CanadaGoose #Nature #RockyHill #VanHornePark #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography
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Male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Northern Cardinal can be challenging to photograph due to their preference for dense foliage and shrubs.
https://islandinthenet.com/male-northern-cardinal-cardinalis-cardinalis/
#BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #Birding #Birds #CardinalisCardinalis #MontgomeryTownship #Nature #NorthernCardinal #RockyHill #VanHornePark #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography
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Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
While searching for the Common Yellowthroat, I spotted Turkey Vultures roosting in trees at Van Horne Park.
https://islandinthenet.com/turkey-vulture-cathartes-aura/
#BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #Birding #Birds #CathartesAura #MontgomeryTownship #Nature #TurkeyVulture #VanHornePark #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography
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Male Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
There is a good reason that the scientific name for Song Sparrow is Melospiza melodia.
https://islandinthenet.com/male-song-sparrow-melospiza-melodia/
#BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #Birding #Birds #Male #MelospizaMelodia #Nature #SongSparrow #Sparrow #VanHornePark #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography
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Black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
https://islandinthenet.com/black-capped-chickadee/
#BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #Birding #Birds #BlackCappedChickadee #MontgomeryTownship #Nature #PoecileAtricapillus #PrincetonAvenue #RetentionPond #VanHornePark #Wildlife
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Van Horne Park Playground
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Early morning walk in Van Horne Park, Rocky Hill and Montgomery Township.
Saturday 4 November | Apple iPhone 11 Pro back camera 6mm f/2
#MorningStroll #RockyHillNJ #MontgomeryTownshipNJ #Fall #VanHornePark #EarlyMorningWalk #iPhonePhotography #GoldenHour #EarlyRiser #MorningChill #goldenhour #dogwalker #sunrise
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Early morning walk in Van Horne Park, Rocky Hill and Montgomery Township.
Saturday 4 November | Apple iPhone 11 Pro back camera 6mm f/2
#MorningStroll #RockyHillNJ #MontgomeryTownshipNJ #Fall #VanHornePark #EarlyMorningWalk #iPhonePhotography #GoldenHour #EarlyRiser #MorningChill #goldenhour #dogwalker #sunrise
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Fujichrome PROVIA 400F – Expired
Looking for a new challenge in photography? How about t
https://islandinthenet.com/fujichrome-provia-400f-expired/
#35mmFilmPhotography #AnaloguePhotography #BoutiqueFilmLab #ColourFilm #EpsonPerfectionV600 #ExperienceReports #ExpiredFilm #Fujichrome #FujichromePROVIA400FProfessional #MDRokkorX45mmF2 #MinoltaX700 #MontgomeryTownship #NegativeLabPro #Provia400FProfessional #ReversalFilm #RHPIII #RockyHillBorough #RockyHillInn #VanHornePark #VueScan
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Black-shouldered Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spinosus)
Not all of the dragonflies I saw at Van Horne Park were lazing around on the concrete wall.
https://islandinthenet.com/black-shouldered-spinyleg-dromogomphus-spinosus/
#BlackShoulderedSpinyleg #Dragonfly #DromogomphusSpinosus #VanHornePark
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Black-shouldered Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spinosus)
https://islandinthenet.com/black-shouldered-spinyleg-dromogomphus-spinosus/
#BlackShoulderedSpinyleg #Dragonfly #Dromogomphus #DromogomphusSpinosus #MontgomeryTownship #Odonata #RetentionPond #RockyHill #VanHornePark #Wildlife
