NJ

Make A Wish! 

April 24, 2015 — 12 Comments

Fountain

F/22.0, 30.0, ISO 250.

Day 114 / 365

What did you wish for?

Who cleans all the coins out of fountain?

Interesting Fact:  Ancient civilizations built stone basins to capture and hold precious drinking water. A carved stone basin, dating to around 2000 BC, was discovered in the ruins of the ancient Sumerian city of Lagash in modern Iraq. The ancient Assyrians constructed a series of basins in the gorge of the Comel River, carved in solid rock, connected by small channels, descending to a stream. The lowest basin was decorated with carved reliefs of two lions.[3] The ancient Egyptians had ingenious systems for hoisting water up from the Nile for drinking and irrigation, but without a higher source of water it was not possible to make water flow by gravity, and no Egyptian fountains or pictures of fountains have been found. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain )

Just Tweeting Around Town!

April 23, 2015 — 14 Comments

American Redstart

F/6.3, 1/100, ISO 1600.

Eastern Towhee 
Day 113 / 365

What do you give a sick bird?
Tweetment!

Interesting Fact: Eastern Towhees tend to be pretty solitary, and they use a number of threat displays to tell other towhees they’re not welcome. You may see contentious males lift, spread, or droop one or both wings, fan their tails, or flick their tails to show off the white spots at the corners. Studies have shown that male towhees tend to defend territories many times larger than needed simply to provide food.  ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Towhee/lifehistory ) 

Happy Earth Day!

April 22, 2015 — 8 Comments

Cape May Warbler

F/6.3, 1/80, ISO 1600.

Cape May Warbler

Day 112 /365

Why did the little bird get in trouble at school?
Because he was caught tweeting on a test.

Interesting Fact:  The tongue of the Cape May Warbler is unique among warblers. It is curled and semitubular, and is used to collect nectar during winter. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cape_May_Warbler/lifehistory )

Guess who? Wha ha hahaha! Wha ha hahaha! Hahahahahahahaha!

April 21, 2015 — 18 Comments

Northern Flicker woodpacker

F/6.3, 1/1000, ISO 800.

Northern Flicker

Day 111 / 365

What do you call a woodpecker that lost his beak?

A Head-Banger.

Interesting Fact: Although it can climb up the trunks of trees and hammer on wood like other woodpeckers, the Northern Flicker prefers to find food on the ground. Ants are its main food, and the flicker digs in the dirt to find them. It uses its long barbed tongue to lap up the ants. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Flicker/lifehistory )

“So, What Are We Looking At ?”

April 19, 2015 — 4 Comments

Brant goose

F/6.3, 1/1000, ISO 450.

Brant Goose

Day 109 / 365

What does a farmer call an escaped bird?
A loose goose.

Interesting Fact: Brant goose possess a highly developed salt gland that allows them to drink salt water. ( http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/290/overview/Brant.aspx )

Check Out My Split!

April 16, 2015 — 9 Comments

Red-winged blackbird

F/6.3, 1/500, ISO 1250.

Day 106 / 365

“Eat your heart out John Claude Van Dam”

Interesting Fact: Red-winged Blackbirds roost in flocks in all months of the year. In summer small numbers roost in the wetlands where the birds breed. Winter flocks can be congregations of several million birds, including other blackbird species and starlings. Each morning the roosts spread out, traveling as far as 50 miles to feed, then re-forming at night. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_Blackbird/lifehistory )

Tug Life!

April 15, 2015 — 5 Comments

Tugboat

F/6.0, 1/250, ISO 640.

Day 105 / 365

♫ ♫ ♪ Tug, tug, tug your boat. ♪  ♫  Gently down the stream. ♫ ♪ ♪

Interesting Fact: Tugboat engines generate from 750 to 3,000 horsepower. ( http://www.examiner.com/article/facts-about-tugboats )

They See Me Rollin’ They Hatin’

April 12, 2015 — 8 Comments

Honda S2000

F/7.1, 1/200, ISO 100.

Honda S2000

Day 102 / 365

“Life is too short to drive boring cars”.

Interesting Fact: The S2000 was introduced in 1999 for the 2000 model year and was given the chassis designation of AP1. It featured a front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout with power being delivered by a 1,997 cc (122 cu in) inline 4-cylinder DOHC–VTEC engine. The engine (codenamed F20C) produced outputs of 177–184 kW (237–247 hp), and 208–218 N·m (153–161 lbf·ft) depending on the target market.[5] The engine was mated to a six-speed manual transmission and Torsen limited slip differential. The S2000 achieved what Honda claimed as “the world’s top level, high performance 4-cylinder naturally aspirated engine” ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_S2000 )

Holy Smokes Batman!

April 6, 2015 — 16 Comments

American Robin

F/6.3, 1/320, ISO 400.

American Robin

Day 96 / 365

Where do birds invest their money?
In the stork market!

Interesting Fact: Although robins are considered harbingers of spring, many American Robins spend the whole winter in their breeding range. But because they spend more time roosting in trees and less time in your yard, you’re much less likely to see them. The number of robins present in the northern parts of the range varies each year with the local conditions. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Robin/lifehistory )

Finally First Sight Of Spring

April 5, 2015 — 23 Comments

Crocus

F/6.0, 1/250, ISO 1600.

Day 95 / 365

Happy Easter Everyone!

Can February March?
No, but April May!

Interesting Fact: Certain species of crocus, such as Crocus Autumnale are poisonous. Besides being dangerous (if consumed), this type of crocus shows the greatest tolerance toward low temperatures. ( http://www.softschools.com/facts/plants/crocus_facts/502/ )