We are proceeding as planned with the Fourth Annual Butterfly Day at DeKorte Park this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  And it’s free

The highly popular, family-friendly event includes butterfly walks and talks, a scavenger hunt and butterfly costume contest for kids, and information tables.

The Butterfly Day schedule includes frequent butterfly walks and an hourly slide show and talk on the butterflies of DeKorte Park. A native plant walk is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. There are also Day-long scavenger hunts tailored for children.  Bring your own lunch and beverage.

This year the Commission has added a Butterfly Costume contest, inspired by the many children who have attended past events dressed in butterfly regalia.

Continue reading →

We had an eventful birding by boat trip yesterday — including a balky engine, an extremely high tide, and solid looks at a vehicle-carrier fire along the Turnpike.

Had lots of great looks at cool birds as well, including quite a show by hundreds of Semipalmated Sandpipers hanging out by the River Barge Park docks at high tide.

A link to John Pastore’s photos of the adventure cruise is here. (Thanks to John for the photo above as well.)

Stay tuned: A second “birding by Boat” pontoon-boat cruise is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 27.

Denise Farrell’s list of birds seen along the way follows. (Thanks, Denise!) Continue reading →

Rob Fanning was at DeKorte Park this morning, he reports:

* Black Skimmer–2 roosting on flat w/ Corms and Gulls

* Peregrine Falcon–sitting on tower–being dive-bombed by a Kingbird!

*Forster’s Terns–7+

* Semi Sands–250+

* Marsh Wren–1 seen, several heard

*Yellow Warbler–4

* BC Night Heron  (Thanks, Rob!)

Repairs to DeKorte Park’s  World Trade Center Memorial Cove — badly damaged by Hurricane Sandy  — are now completed. The area will get new plantings next.

An earlier post about the repairs is here.

Roy Woodford writes:

“It took me a few seconds to figure out why this little butterfly was suddenly sitting so still for the camera.”

Answer follows. (Thanks, Roy!) Continue reading →