Resilience in the wake of Hurricane Isaias

About one month ago Hurricane Isaias brushed our area with 70 mph wind gusts carrying an abundance of salt water onto vulnerable trees and shrubs. Our Red Maple Tree suffered a significant loss of foliage facing the east side.

BELOW: One week after storm, 8/4/2000

                       BELOW: Five weeks after storm, 9/8/2000 

Below: Normal view at this time of year, (from a previous year.) Original leaves would already have been losing color saturation.


Thanks for viewing.  Comments are always welcome. Zoom in for a closer look.  M 🙂 (The old car was included to show
something more interesting than an old tree!)

 

Seaside Heights – Impressive Sky

Recently, on May 20th, the late sunlit clouds over the Atlantic Ocean, were …awesome!

 

Of note …the actual sunset, a few minutes later, was one of the most dramatic we’ve ever seen. Clicking pictures while driving to the mainland, however,  was not going to happen.

Thanks for viewing and comments are always welcome. M 🙂

That Reminds Me of …Something! Hmmm

A while ago, I came across this curious gemstone-like proto-sand grain, lying by the ocean on Island Beach State Park in NJ.

Last week …I saw something that reminded of this while lying on the couch at home!

Orientated correctly, below, it is seen as one of the ceiling accent lights.

If nothing else, this exercise simply brought to my attention that I need to repaint the ceiling …soon!  🙁

 

As usual, thanks for viewing, and comments are always welcome M 🙂

The “Line Up” – Starlings With Nothing Better To Do

“Hey Oscar! Look over there… I think they’re planning a ‘LINE-UP’!”

“Yeah! Tell the gang!”

Minutes Later…

“Whooo… Here they come from all over!” as Oscar and Felix excitedly head to the pole.  Line-Up! Line-Up!

Felix: “We’ll direct from up here!” Then, shouting to the incoming Starlings: “Be courteous and make room!”

 

“Get your spacing, mind your neighbor…”

 

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Oscar, looking down: “You two go over there and fill in the spaces!”

 

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At left, Oscar is summarizing to Felix after the event:  “Not bad old friend! Almost perfect!”

Images were taken 9/16/18. Thanks for viewing and click on or finger stretch to zoom in. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂

Perspectives: The Lighthouse and the Osprey

Osprey Nest and Barnegat Lighthouse a few minutes before sunset last night, as seen from newly opened Berkeley Island Park on Barnegat Bay, New Jersey.

The Ospreys in this unusually tall nest are about a mile away (1.6km); while the lighthouse is about seven miles (12.5 km) further.

Thanks for viewing. Click on or “finger stretch” for a closer view. As always, comments are welcomed M 🙂

Outside Our Window as the Rain Fell Lightly

 “Cedar Waxwings” in a feeding frenzy, are seen thru the glass of our kitchen window today. Their colorful wing tips are remarkable, and they love berries… in this case from our Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus Virginian.)

From the rainy New Jersey Shore – thanks for viewing, click-on or finger-stretch for a closer look and comments are always welcome. M 🙂