Birders take advantage of the mild weather and Head to Sussex County

When you head to Sussex County- You head home happy!

January has brought many days of exceptionally mild weather to Sussex County and has encouraged a migration to the great outdoors for hikers, bikers and birders who don't usually get to enjoy their favorite hobbies in January!

With miles and miles of trails and acres of state parks, Sussex County is a haven for outdoor recreation and year round enjoyment-but typically during the winter months, it's cross country skiers and ice skaters who are braving the elements to enjoy their favorite pass times. Not so this year.

Hiking, biking and riding trails throughout Sussex County have been dotted with visitors and birdwatchers who are usually spotted during the spring and fall bird migrations, have grabbed their binoculars and are headed to Northwest New Jersey. The beauty of the County's winterscape  has offered an added the bonus for birders- increased visibility. This is  making it easier to spot some feathered visitors who generally make a migration to the Jersey Shore, where food is more abundant this time of year.

Amazing photos are turning up on birding sites and even in the press and backyard birders are enjoying the activity around their birdfeeders.

Robert Sciarrino/The Star-Ledger captured this image. A Snowy Owl that has made the Merrill Creek Reservoir in Warren County her home for the past 7 weeks perches on a rocky slope by the reservoirs southern dam. Naturalist at the site say that the young female bird seems to be healthy and is feeding on what she catches in the area.

If you're a birding enthusiast or a backyard birder AND would like to share your birding photos, NaturallySussex.com invites you to email them to shopkeeper@naturallysussex.com. Include "Publish my bird photo" in the subject line of the email. If you photos is approved it will be added to our beautiful Sussex County photo gallery- a permanent feature on our website.
The photo must belong to you and have been taken in Sussex County.
We encourage young photographers to add their work BUT if you're under 18, we'll need a release form signed by your parent * see photo release section of our website
By submitting your photo, you are granting NaturallySussex the right to publish and use your photo on our site and in promotion. We'll always add photo credits to entries we use so be sure to include your name when sending us your favorite photos.