Regina Geoghan, a friend of this blog, has a new column on wildnewjersey.tv about nature’s bountiful and enduring gifts, and it features what sure look like a lot of photos from the Meadowlands.

Here’s a sample:

“As I think back over 2014, there is another kind of gift that I want to write about. They are gifts that might be expected or unexpected; gifts that are often not touchable or wearable or even easily describable.

“They are the day-o-day gifts that can cause me to fall asleep with a smile on my face or to wake up in the morning and bound out of bed in anticipation.

“They are the gifts that seem to never wear out or become out of date and that are remembered long after receiving them.”

(Thanks, Regina!)

The link is here.

What better way to start the new year than a trifecta Tuesday Teaser owl-pellet-palooza?

Can you identify the species of owls that coughed these pellets in the Meadowlands? (Click image to enlarge.)

We are certain of two of the three pellet producers, and have a hunch who the other coughivore was.

BTW, we are thinking that the two pellets in the middle photo are a former small mammal and a former small bird. All part of the food chain, folks.

Also, to be clear, the owls did not cough up the quarter or the ruler. They are included to give you a sense of size. That said, if you do come across any sort of an animal coughing up coinage, please let us know. We promise to put the money to good use.

Answers on Thursday.

Saw Mill Creek Tidal Impoundment had at least 11 duck species this dreary a.m., and the adjacent frozen Shorebird Pool had a lone Ruddy.

Here’s the list:

Gadwall, American Black Duck, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Ruddy Duck.

That’s why some call the place DucKorte Park.

First seen by Rob Fanning in the Saw Mill Creek Tidal Impoundment. Six Long-tails; two male and four female in distance. Scope needed.

NJMC’s Mike Newhouse also found the Orange-cowned Wreabler around 8:15 a.m. along the Transco Trail in vicinity of weather station,

To test our new polling software, we did a quick survey of folks’ favorite birding spots.

The winner was DeKorte Park (no surprise), but Disposal Road came in second and Harrier Meadow (typically closed to the public) came in third.

Interesting, to say the least.  Maybe we’ll try the same poll again later this month, now that we know the software works. Thanks to all who participated.

Don’t forget to enter our “Meadowlands Bird of the Year Poll.”  (Scroll down for the easy-to-use ballot.)