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Yesterday, I set out to hike along a stream to its headwaters, where the waters are crystal clear before iron and tannic acids start to build up. It was tough going in the lower half due to the heavy thicket and the extremely saturated swamps caused by recent heavy rains. Further up where the...

At times, when my exploring takes me to some old bogs, I'll bring along my 5' rod that breaks down into two pieces for easy transport. I've done well in the shallow bogs and deeper reservoirs. I even caught pickerel in bog canal systems. Some spots in the Friendship Bogs are so shallow, you...

On Monday, I spent a couple hours on a very flooded road within the Wharton section of the Pines. Having been on this road before, I knew what to expect, especially with all the hard rains we been having. It was somewhat challenging, but manageable, slushing through 2 to 8 inches of water...

This is new territory for me. I haven't been on Maple Island Rd. I drive a 4-door sedan. I have no problem driving up Sandy Causeway from Chew Rd to Maple Island. I hear it gets more sandy north of that. They are currently re-grading the roads in this area. They did Sandy Causeway from...

I have been roaming the Pines for the past ten years. Even though I've traveled to the deepest parts, I've done very little exploring on the west side of RT 206, south of Atsion Lake. For the past month, I spent much time there searching out numerous spungs and areas showing remnants of past...

It very well could be from decomposing plants, however if you do a Google Image search on bubble nest, it sure look like my photos. I only saw this in one particular spot in the bog wetland.

While out in the Pines on Monday, I came upon a wetland bog. As the bottom was hard, I was able to walk around in ankle deep water. I came upon what appears to be bubbles laying on the bottom. I never seen anything like this before. ( See attached two photos). With a little research, could...

The laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia) and shingle oak (Quercus imbricaria) are two different species. However, the shingle oak is also known as northern laurel oak. It must be the shingle oak found in Bass River SF since it is native to the Midwest states. The laurel oak is native to the...

Yesterday, in threatening rain that never happened, I went back to the area of my original post, however about a mile downstream. With damp, leaf matter, rotting materials on the ground under hardwood and pine forest, it makes a good habitat for mushrooms at this time of the year.

Guy, thanks for the update on the Gentian. I have 6 known locations, all recorded in bloom between 9/17 and 9/29. The one above will makes 8.

I left for the Pines this morning at 8:30AM, not even looking what the weather was suppose to be today. Driving out Route 38 toward Pemberton Lake, getting over to 4 Mile Rd, it looked like it was going to rain any second. The guy on the radio said rain. Well, I got home about 1:30 without...

My ancestors came from England to Boston in 1635 having a surname Farnham. Shorty, it was changed to Farnum. Later, some family members were the first pioneers of what is now the state of Maine. My G-G-G Grandfather was born in the wilderness in 1757. With bad record keeping, his last name was...

Al; I only found one of the Old Man in the Woods. However, the coral fungi was quite plentiful. I take a guess it is Clavulina cristata (Cockscomb Coral) since it turns dirty white or greyish in ageing. It appeared to be that way. (This is from my mushroom guide) Picture below is a small...

Yesterday morning, I took a walk along a stretch of the Bisphams Mill Creek in the 4-Mile area of the Pines. Weather wise, I've couldn't have picked a better day. A good variety of mushrooms/fungus were present in the area. Lichen, but it doesn't seem to be the one that I often see with a...

There is a sign that reads Cherry Hill Rd. About 50 to 100 yards in off of 206, there is a handmade wooden sign nailed vertically high up on a pine tree on the right side of the road. I've walked past it many times in the past few years and never saw it. You have to be a birder, and not one...

Guy; back on June 7th, a friend and I walked the whole distance of Cherry Hill Road from Rt 206 out to Batsto-Fireline Rd. Then back on Railroad Ave. What we experienced was the complete opposite of what you saw today. We probably picked the worst time of the year and the worst in many years to...

GermanG; I've been getting onto IBSP for free the past 10 years. Even more frightening; I don't have to purchase a NJ Freshwater Fishing License anymore. I'm just happy I can still do many things, including roaming the Pines. I always say 'I earned my dues', take the senior discounts when...

If we were in the upland forest, getting past these fallen trees would not have been an issue. You just walk around. However, these were cedar trees growing on the side of the dikes that were uprooted. They covered one side of the dike to the other. To walk around, you would had to barge...

Yesterday, I took two friends new to the Pines to visit the bogs at Friendship. We hiked a 2 1/2 mile planned loop at the lower end heading toward Hawkins Bridge. I've been in this area a good number of times over the years. In the past it was an easy walk following the network of dikes. But...

46er....that a good link that everyone should read if they wish to spot a snowy.. Of the little I read, it is the lack of food source up north. It involves the population of lemmings that they feast on in Canada. A record number of nests have been detected this year.. The young owls are...