Osprey Nesting (2 of 2) at Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in Galloway (commonly referred as Brigantine) New Jersey
In spite of struggles with terribly annoying allergies, we headed down south, 113 miles, to Brigantine’s wildlife refuge, for we knew that there would only be several more weeks before weekend drives to anywhere along the Shore would be horrific, and not to mention, the aggressive green flies that appear in the summer months. Granted, one can appreciate a good deal from within the vehicles when driving the 8-mile loop, but trying to take shots behind the thick glass causes the loss of one or two F-Stops, making the photos less sharp.
Ospreys were in abundance, seemingly claiming every raised nesting tower available, in addition to natural trees that serve perfectly for their kinds of nest construction. It certainly appeared that a number of the mating couples had already eggs that needed attending, which was a rather common sight during our visit. Also, we saw many Ospreys flying high above, surveying the water below in search of nice fish to enjoy. Unfortunately, we never had the chance to see any successful catches—as was the case with the Great Egrets we saw. Occasionally we would see a few scavengers—Gulls—at the foot of these raised platforms, waiting to grab any morsels dropped from above as the Ospreys would methodically eat the fish.
The Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in Galloway Township, but commonly known as Brigantine, New Jersey, was originally established in 1939 with the Brigantine name, and again in 1967 as a combination with the Barnegat Division, in order to protect the natural wetlands for the regular wildlife inhabitants and the migratory birds that follow the Atlantic Flyway as they travel north and south throughout the year. Later in 1984, the two joined under the name of the current Edwin B Forsythe in honoring the late NJ Congressman and Conservationist.
The overwhelming majority of the area is wetlands and the within that, most of it is of a salt marsh nature. The roughly 47,000 acres of protective landscape is quite vast—wonderfully seen from the observation towers—and a well maintained 8-mile main drive, with several shorter extensions and songbird trails for hikers are available for more exploration. There are a number of raised platform nesting sites away from the drive for some of the raptors (eagles, ospreys, falcons, etc.) and a few observation towers along the driving route. These do offer better wide range vantage points; however, given the way the vegetative growth by the roadside is nicely trimmed back within reason, much of the wildlife can be appreciated right from the vehicles. And speaking of wildlife, there is a wealth of fascinating birds and other critters to admire.
One does not need to be a birder to enjoy the visit, for the overall landscape is so very beautiful and peaceful. The famous Atlantic City with its numerous casino resorts and attractive skyline sits mostly to the south and east, depending on where you are at the time, and, of course, just beyond that is the great Atlantic Ocean. When capturing AC or any of the vast landscape under the right lighting conditions, namely “Magic Hour” toward the end of the day or early morning, the overall scenery can be captivating.
Osprey Nesting (2 of 2) at Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in Galloway (commonly referred as Brigantine) New Jersey
In spite of struggles with terribly annoying allergies, we headed down south, 113 miles, to Brigantine’s wildlife refuge, for we knew that there would only be several more weeks before weekend drives to anywhere along the Shore would be horrific, and not to mention, the aggressive green flies that appear in the summer months. Granted, one can appreciate a good deal from within the vehicles when driving the 8-mile loop, but trying to take shots behind the thick glass causes the loss of one or two F-Stops, making the photos less sharp.
Ospreys were in abundance, seemingly claiming every raised nesting tower available, in addition to natural trees that serve perfectly for their kinds of nest construction. It certainly appeared that a number of the mating couples had already eggs that needed attending, which was a rather common sight during our visit. Also, we saw many Ospreys flying high above, surveying the water below in search of nice fish to enjoy. Unfortunately, we never had the chance to see any successful catches—as was the case with the Great Egrets we saw. Occasionally we would see a few scavengers—Gulls—at the foot of these raised platforms, waiting to grab any morsels dropped from above as the Ospreys would methodically eat the fish.
The Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in Galloway Township, but commonly known as Brigantine, New Jersey, was originally established in 1939 with the Brigantine name, and again in 1967 as a combination with the Barnegat Division, in order to protect the natural wetlands for the regular wildlife inhabitants and the migratory birds that follow the Atlantic Flyway as they travel north and south throughout the year. Later in 1984, the two joined under the name of the current Edwin B Forsythe in honoring the late NJ Congressman and Conservationist.
The overwhelming majority of the area is wetlands and the within that, most of it is of a salt marsh nature. The roughly 47,000 acres of protective landscape is quite vast—wonderfully seen from the observation towers—and a well maintained 8-mile main drive, with several shorter extensions and songbird trails for hikers are available for more exploration. There are a number of raised platform nesting sites away from the drive for some of the raptors (eagles, ospreys, falcons, etc.) and a few observation towers along the driving route. These do offer better wide range vantage points; however, given the way the vegetative growth by the roadside is nicely trimmed back within reason, much of the wildlife can be appreciated right from the vehicles. And speaking of wildlife, there is a wealth of fascinating birds and other critters to admire.
One does not need to be a birder to enjoy the visit, for the overall landscape is so very beautiful and peaceful. The famous Atlantic City with its numerous casino resorts and attractive skyline sits mostly to the south and east, depending on where you are at the time, and, of course, just beyond that is the great Atlantic Ocean. When capturing AC or any of the vast landscape under the right lighting conditions, namely “Magic Hour” toward the end of the day or early morning, the overall scenery can be captivating.