Posted by Joel Rosenthal on January 27, 2017 at 03:21:52
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joelnrosenthal/32390295652/in/dateposted-public/
Emily and I celebrated our 48th wedding anniversary today with a trip to Green Cay and a visit to the Dune Deck Cafe in Manalapan. Notwithstanding the rush hour traffic that got us to the wetlands at 8:30, the slight overcast and calm winds kept the place reasonably cool til we had to leave to make it to the Dune Deck before they stopped serving breakfast(and their incredible fruit stuffed french toast) at 1130. At Green Cay a dozen or more painted buntings(as many males as females) were at the feeders when we arrived and when we left. Various species of warblers in multiple flocks were encountered in 3 different places, the highlight being a Tennessee-which I had never previously photographed, and the brightest being a pair of northern parulas. Two night herons were seen--one posed for my camera, as did an obligingly close by Sora. An American bittern made a cameo but off camera appearance, and more than one red shouldered hawk stood sentry duty. We were there for the tranquility of the place, notwithstanding the large number of snowbirds and locals out in numbers to enjoy the day-birding per se was not the object. Given what we couldn't help seeing, I imagine those who join the TAS trip Saturday should have an excellent time. Some photos on my Flickr site https://www.flickr.com/photos/joelnrosenthal/32390295652/in/dateposted-public/