A Face Only a Mother Could Love

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This snapping turtle is not going to win any beauty contests. This is a face only a mother could love. This turtle is also due to become a new mother because its come out of the marsh to lay its eggs like many others around the estate. Turtles have to lay their eggs en mass due to the number of predators who subsequently consume them. Only a small percentage survive the egg stage, so the more eggs the better. You’ll see all kinds of turtles around the estate this time of year – Northern Diamondback Terrapins, Eastern Box Turtles, Snapping Turtles, Spotted Turtles, Painted Turtles, and more.  Harvesting of turtles during this time is strictly prohibited.

Snapping Turtle Laying Eggs

A face that only a mother could love. These ugly guys come up this time of year to lay their eggs.

Large Snapping Turtle at Eagle Manor

These ugly guys can get quite large. In the past these turtles were easy picking for anyone who wanted a quick meal, but in recent times they have been protected during the egg laying season. So if you see these prehistoric monsters, just let them go about their business.

Ospreys Near Eagle Manor

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The Ospreys are out in force this year at Eagle Manor. In some places there are more Ospreys than sea gulls. They seem very interested in our pond now that it’s stocked with fish.

There are several nests in the grounds surrounding the manner with large chicks still inside. I snapped pictures of the adults guarding the nest and chicks inside. These birds of summer will begin the journey back to their South American wintering ground in August, so we need to enjoy them while they are still here.

Osprey on Guard

Osprey guarding its nest while the other parent hunts for food for the chick.

Osprey Chick in Nest

This is a long distance close-up shot so it is a little grainy. I believe this is an older chick in the next, but it could be an adult tending to the next. You get a good shot of those large yellow eyes.

Osprey Chick in Nest Giving Us The Eye

This is a long distance close-up shot so it is a little grainy. I believe this is an older chick in the next, but it could be an adult tending to the next. You get a good shot of those large yellow eyes.

Ospreys Stretching

Guarding the nest is tough work. This Osprey stretches it’s legs and wings while waiting for it’s mate to return.

Osprey Adult in Nest

This is a really long distance shot, so it’s quite grainy, but you can make out the parent (or a very large chick) in the nest.

Osprey On Guard Beak and Talons

You can really make out the beak and talons in this shot. Those are the tools, along with their excellent flight capabilities, that allow these birds to effectively compete in eagle territory.

Osprey Looking at Camera

The Osprey looked right into the camera for this shot. This demonstrates the wide range of vision available to these magnificent creatures from those big yellow eyes.

Osprey on Guard

Osprey guarding its nest while the other parent hunts for food for the chick.

Eagles Above Eagle Manor

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I was working in the mansion house above Eagle Manor and I heard Bald Eagle vocalization outside in the tree above. I grabbed my camera and ran out and I was able to capture this slightly shaky video of an immature bald eagle preening. Little did I know there were two more eagles in the tree, another immature and an adult. When I moved in for a closer shot they all three flew away. No worries though, they’ll be back tomorrow. We just stocked the fishing pond and that has the eagles and ospreys very interested.

Bald Eagle on Back Neck Rd.

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Eagle Manor is the last home on Back Neck Rd. in Fairfield Township, NJ. Past Eagle Manor, the Back Neck Rd. proceeds into the wilderness of Dix Wildlife Management Area and eventually turns into a dirt road best navigated on foot or by jeep. Those who venture further are handsomely rewarded with raptor views unparalleled anywhere else in New Jersey. On this day we caught an immature bald eagle perched high in a dead tree. The close up pictures are a little grainy due to the distance.

Immature Bald Eagle off Back Neck Rd Profile View

Bald Eagle about 10 minutes from Eagle Manor off Back Neck Rd when it turns into a dirt road in Dix wildlife management area.

Immature Bald Eagle off Back Neck Rd Facing Forward

Bald Eagle surveying its territory in the DIX wildlife management area from a dead tree that affords a good view of its prey.

Closeup Immature Bald Eagle Of Back Neck Rd

This close up view is a little grainy, but you can clearly make out the powerful talons and the brown spotted plumage of this immature Bald Eagle.

 

Eagle Manor Eagle Flyby

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We were out performing some aerial photography with our video drone about a quarter mile south of the Manor house today and we had a little visit from a young Bald Eagle. At first I thought it was a red-tailed hawk, but the plumage didn’t match. Immature Bald Eagles are easy to confuse with other raptors.  Check out our video page for more videos.

The Guinea Fowl Keets are Here

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This year’s brood of guinea fowl keets have arrived and are growing steadily in their brooding box. They’ll be in the brooding box for a month before we let them loose on the the grounds. These guinea fowl are ornamental but they also help to keep the pests down, especially ticks, which is always a plus.

Guinea Fowl Keets

The 2016 Guinea Fowl keet brood. One week old in their brooding box.

Here’s a quick video of our cute little peepers. Notice when one gets separated it freezes and puts out a little distress call before jumping back to the brood.

Guinea Fowl

Adult Guinea Fowl

The adult guinea fowl will mix with the peacocks as ornamentation for the grounds at Eagle Manor.

Turtle Egg Laying Time at Eagle Manor

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It’s that time again. The turtles are coming out of the creeks and swamps to lay their eggs. If you get lucky you might even see a Diamondback Terrapin which is a species of special concern.

Snapping Turtle

Snapping turtles come out of the creeks and swamps to dry land in order to lay their eggs which will hatch later in the summer.

Painted Turtle

Painted turtles come out of the creeks and swamps to dry land in order to lay their eggs which will hatch later in the summer.