Daily Archives: December 29, 2011

Get Ready for a Meadowlands Big Year!?!!

IMG_3717The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission is working out the details for a Meadowlands Big Year competition, starting Jan. 1, so get you binoculars and spotting scopes ready.

Standard Big Year rules apply — all species must be seen with in the 30.4-square-mile district, which encompasses parts of 14 towns in Bergen and Hudson counties — with an exciting wrinkle.

Details will be posted on the blog as they become available.

Glaucous Gull at DeKorte

Dan Poalillo reports on Jersey Birds:

"Wednesday morning I got good looks at a first or second-cycle GLAUCOUS GULL at DeKorte Park in Bergen County while standing at the corner of the Transco trail near the Turnpike. 

"The bird flew in from the east (over the Turnpike) in the company of three Herring Gulls.  I could easily see its bicolored bill, cream-colored plumage and lack of black on the tail or wings as it flew just 20 feet over my head and continued east. 

"When it reached the landfill across the impoundment it parted company with the Herring Gulls and headed slowly north towards suburbia.  I lost sight of it as it approached the old transfer station.

I would assume this bird is hanging out in the area and may be (one
of) the same bird(s) reported by others early in the season.  Also present were approximately 60 Canvasback."

(Thanks, Dan!)  Would sure love for someone to get a photo!

More on Glaucous Gulls here.

2011 in Review: November


The year 2011 marked the dedication of a new riverside park in Carlstadt, lots of great nature sightings, and the continued partnership with Bergen County Audubon Society.

We thought we'd celebrate by looking back at 2011, month by month.

Here are some highlights from November:

Nov.1: License Plates that help the Meadowlands

Nov. 7: Bald Eagle W/Transmitter

Nov. 10: All about Mill Creek Marsh

Nov. 21: Skeetkill Creek Marsh Cleanup

Nov. 27: Long-tailed Duck at DeKorte (above)

Nov. 30: Nifty Eurasian Green-winged Teal Pix