Wildwood Doo Wop on the Boardwalk

Doo Wop at Wildwood. Back in the 1950s as the country's economy was expanding after WWII, cars became more readily available and affordable as did gasoline. Families became intent on finding some fun and getting on the road. Wildwood, with the beach and boardwalk, was a prime place for development and expansion. The area focused on becoming the vacation place of choice with newly built motels, diners , casual eateries and family activites. It was a time of the start of the Doo Wop music scene and quirky 'modern' architecture.. Today Wildwood has a reputation for it's Doo Wop era establishments and maintains many of them such as this eatery along the boardwalk. The area also celebrates that Doo Wop musical icons of the day who made history there performing at boardwalk esstablishments, including Bobby Rydel, Chubby Checker and Bill Haley and his Comets.

Wave Swinger Wildwood N.J.

The Wave Swinger ride in action at Morey's Pier on the boardwalk at Wildwood New Jersey with the Big Wheel Ferris Wheel seen in the background. .

The Wonders of Wildwood - NJ shore

An eyeful of the colorful, choices and temptations that await visitors at Morey's Pier on the oceanside boardwalk at Wildwood, New Jersey.

Wildwood NJ - Boardwalk Pier

A view of the entrance to the Morey's Amusement and Water Park Pier complex. The first Wildwood boardwalk was installed 150 years ago at 150 yards long. Today the boardwalk stretches a little over two miles. It is lined with shops, games, arcades, fast food and other eating establishments and more. A huge draw though is this entertainment pier complex with over 70 rides for all age and bravery levels. Was only able to be there less than two hours and tried to capture as much of the fun as I could with my camera. Would love to get back another day.

Daisy Mums Pink, White and Yellow

A close up view of a group of bouquet daisy mums in lovely pastel hues of pink and white with a yellow-green center.

Pinklicious Rose on White

An outdoor portrait of a shell pink garden rose framed against a white building.

A Red Rose on Green

A close up portrit of a fully open, gorgeously rich red rose, one of many on a beautiful looming neighborhood bush.

Snowy Egret in Flight

A Snowy Egret taking a short flight from one fishing spot to another at Mill Creek Marsh, NJ Meadowlands.

Seafood Hor d'oeuvre

One of the first of the many fish courses that this Snowy Egret devoured whle I watched. . Unfortunately, a couple came along and got too close trying to get a mobile phone photo and the egret flew off before he was finished fishing for his dinner.

Snowy Egret Fishing for Dinner

A Snowy Egret fishing for dinner as the tide flows in at Mill Creek Marsh, NJ Meadowlands,

Rose Portrait in Creamy Coral

A close up view of a beautiful coral hued rose. This image doesn't do justice to the beautiful subject. It is one of the prettiest roses that I've ever seen with muted hints of pink and yellow in the coral colored petals. But the lighting and lack of great contrast in the flower made it difficult and the camera sensor just couldn't pick up those beautiful nuances.

NYC at Sundown with Fireboat Display

A sundown view of the New York Skyline and Hudson River with a fireboat putting on a display along the river. New York has a fleet of four fire boats. This one was named '343' in honor of the number of fire department members who lost their lives as a result of the 9/11 attacks.

Peony in Pink Perfection

A close up portrait capture of a pink peony blossom in perfect full bloom.

Heavenly Reflections N.J. Meadowlands Boardwalk

An absolutely beautiful June sky with awesome cloud formations and colors seen here reflected in marsh waters, along the boardwalk trail at DeKorte Park in the N.J. Meadowlands.

Marsh Boardwalk N.J. Meadowlands

A marshland walk on a beautiful day. This boardwalk in a section of a two mile loop of trails in Richard W. DeKorte Park in the N.J. Meadowlands. The half-mile boardwalk section passes by small sedge islands and along Kingsland Creek and Kingsland Impoundment.

Pink Rose Blossom Cluster

This array of small pink roses was a pretty sight while on a neighborhood walk.

White Ibis in Breeding Plumage

Along with the several varieties of herons and egrets, there were white and glossy ibis birds building nests. This is the only one that came close enough for a photo but loved getting to see the red in the face and colorful blue eyes. Not usually seen this far north, they have migrated from the South to nest and raise their young before returning to the warmer climate in the cold months here.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron Breeding Plumage

A Yellow-crowned Night Heron, in breeding plumage, with a bit of an attitude posture after a brief tussle with another bird over something - territory most likely or a lady that they were eyeing. Photographed at a rookery in Southern NJ.

Black-crowned Night Heron

A photograph of a Black-crowned Night Heron in breeding plumage photographed at a rookery in Southern N.J.. The herons, egrets and other waterbirds birds that are nesting at the rookery area are well protected. The location is in a section of wetlands below a causeway. Where the causeway dellines at almost its end, there is a fenced viewing area where one can stand and look across and down at the various trees and shrubs where the birds are nesting. Most of the nests are well hidden in the tree branches and can't be seen other than glimpses of the white or gray birds. When I was there, the time was mostly spent watching the birds fly out of the nest locations and back or to squabble with each other At times one would briefly perch close enough to get a close up photo. The two nest images that I posted were the only two that I was able to see. Camera with 150-600 mm lens was hand held and images are slightly cropped.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron Turning Eggs

A Yellow-crowned Night Heron on the nest carefully attending to and turning the eggs. Based on reports at birder forums, the first of the chicks have hatched .

Great Egret in Breeding Plumage

A view of a Great Egret in breeding plumage seen at a heron rookery in Southern New Jersey

NYC Thunder Storm Arrival

A view of the New York Skyline and Hudson River as the heavy, dense, dark clouds of a thunder storm move over the area and turn the world into a eerie palette of black and white. This is not a black and white post processing conversion - it's right out of the camera.

Nest Making Great Egret

This Great Egret was determined and worked very hard to dislodge the long branch and fly it back to the nest under construction. Eventually, it flew off without it but perhaps went back to try again after a work break.

Nesting Great Egret

A view of a Great Egret sitting in the nest at a rookery in Southern New Jersey. I assume that there are eggs in the nest but the egret didn't move much out of position so I didn't get to see them.