From Susan Treesh:

“A Cattle Egret was present today (and apparently for the last couple of days) at Suydam Farms in Franklin Township. It was in a pasture with cattle and other livestock. The Suydam Farms people will allow people to walk back and look if they check in first at the sales counter (excellent potatoes, the freshest eggs!); the farm, however, is only open weekends. Cattle Egrets have been reported in the past from nearby Negri-Nepote, but I don’t think there have been any this year.”

[Editor’s note: Cattle Egrets were reported from Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve in July 2014 and August 2009. Another was seen at Duke Farms in July 2014. Previous to these records, once exists without a date. These are all the known Cattle Egret records for Somerset County]

A Photo Tale of a Red-tailed Hawk

This observer was walking the trails of Willowwood Arboretum yesterday. After watching some passerines in a tree, a turn was made to continue on the path. It was surprising to see the following Red-tailed Hawk slightly above eye-level 20 feet away.

Its tree is on the path that was about to be taken. Sorry, Mr. Red-tailed but this fellow has to pass your way. Expecting the hawk to flush as this viewer approached the tree, the hawk defied expectations and did not budge at all. The photo below is barely cropped and is the best this photographer could do with a 400 mm lens from less than 10 feet away.

After the above photo was taken, the hawk revealed the source of its intense concentration and focus, leaving its branch, at last, and pouncing on the object of its desire, an unsuspecting rodent of some species. Below, the hawk enjoys its repast in the grasses under the tree.

(Click on the photo for a larger image.)

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Finis