Rainy Morning Glossy Ibis Seeks Breakfast (1 of 4)at Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in Galloway (commonly referred as Brigantine) New Jersey
I rose very early to drive down south to the wildlife refuge—112 miles from home—in hopes of capturing the start of the sunrise. The weather forecast had predicted that it would be a fine day with a mixture of sun and clouds, and very little chance of any rain. Well, as I reached the final 30 miles or so while on the highway, a thick blanket of fog consumed the view ahead, making the conditions quite hazardous, and shortly afterward, the rain began to fall, although rather lightly, nonetheless, precipitation. So, upon arrival, it was damp and foggy. The fog was not as bad as it had been on the highway, but enough to minimize the distant scenery. Then the winds started to roll in, dropping the temperature to a very chilly state. I did not bring an extra layer to wear between the shirt and light jacket, so the chill was rough to manage.
Anyhow, the usual stop, before the circuit drive was the raised boardwalk overlook. Barn Swallows were struggling in their flight, for the strong winds and rain made it difficult. Along the railings, at just about every opening, one could appreciate some really nice spider web art. Realizing that there was no sunrise to capture in such conditions, I left the park for a bit so that I could get some local breakfast fare. When I returned, the visibility was improved somewhat, and more natural light was available, albeit, not that great. The rain continued between light drizzles to some downpours. Luckily, visitors can remain in their vehicles, but the dirt roads now become pretty messy.
In recent visits, the Glossy Ibis flocks have been seen, but typically too far for decent shots; however, on this rainy day, not too far off the drive, was a singly Glossy searching for a morning bite in the marsh waters. It was occasionally accompanied by a pretty Snowy Egret in high color (see the 4t shot in the series).
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.
Rainy Morning Glossy Ibis Seeks Breakfast (1 of 4)at Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in Galloway (commonly referred as Brigantine) New Jersey
I rose very early to drive down south to the wildlife refuge—112 miles from home—in hopes of capturing the start of the sunrise. The weather forecast had predicted that it would be a fine day with a mixture of sun and clouds, and very little chance of any rain. Well, as I reached the final 30 miles or so while on the highway, a thick blanket of fog consumed the view ahead, making the conditions quite hazardous, and shortly afterward, the rain began to fall, although rather lightly, nonetheless, precipitation. So, upon arrival, it was damp and foggy. The fog was not as bad as it had been on the highway, but enough to minimize the distant scenery. Then the winds started to roll in, dropping the temperature to a very chilly state. I did not bring an extra layer to wear between the shirt and light jacket, so the chill was rough to manage.
Anyhow, the usual stop, before the circuit drive was the raised boardwalk overlook. Barn Swallows were struggling in their flight, for the strong winds and rain made it difficult. Along the railings, at just about every opening, one could appreciate some really nice spider web art. Realizing that there was no sunrise to capture in such conditions, I left the park for a bit so that I could get some local breakfast fare. When I returned, the visibility was improved somewhat, and more natural light was available, albeit, not that great. The rain continued between light drizzles to some downpours. Luckily, visitors can remain in their vehicles, but the dirt roads now become pretty messy.
In recent visits, the Glossy Ibis flocks have been seen, but typically too far for decent shots; however, on this rainy day, not too far off the drive, was a singly Glossy searching for a morning bite in the marsh waters. It was occasionally accompanied by a pretty Snowy Egret in high color (see the 4t shot in the series).
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.