Monthly Archives: May 2016

Mill Creek Marsh Tuesday Walk Recap

 

MCM 5.17.16

Thanks to the folks who came out to Mill Creek Marsh yesterday morning for Bergen County Audubon Society’s nature walk. It turned out to be a great excursion with lots of birds to be seen. A complete species list, provided by Jim Wright, is listed below.

May 17, 2016 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.1 mile(s)
Comments:     Third Tuesday walk, BCAS/NJSEA
27 species (+1 other taxa)

15 participants

Canada Goose  X
Mallard  X
Great Egret  X
Snowy Egret  X
Semipalmated Plover  X
Greater Yellowlegs  X
Least Sandpiper  X
Semipalmated Sandpiper  X
Ring-billed Gull  X
Herring Gull  X
Great Black-backed Gull  X
Mourning Dove  X
Downy Woodpecker  X
crow sp.  X
Tree Swallow  X
Barn Swallow  X
Marsh Wren  X
American Robin  X
Gray Catbird  X
Common Yellowthroat  X
Yellow Warbler  X
Song Sparrow  X
Northern Cardinal  X
Red-winged Blackbird  X
Common Grackle  X
Baltimore Oriole  X
American Goldfinch  X
House Sparrow  X

On the Prowl

Great shot by Mickey Raine from this past Saturday at DeKorte of a Snowy Egret and Greater Yellowlegs, both apparently hunting for breakfast. Also included are some neat photos from Sunday of a chatty Marsh Wren, also at DeKorte. Thanks Mickey!

Egret and Yellowleg dekorte 5.14.16marsh wren mickey dekorte 5.15.16marsh wren dekorte mickey raine 5.15.16

What You Might See at Mill Creek Marsh Tomorrow Morning

Don’t forget tomorrow morning’s guided walk with the Bergen County Audubon Society at Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus from 10 am to noon. Lots of great birds and vegetation to be seen, and those Atlantic White Cedar Stumps. Mill Creek Marsh is located adjacent to the Mill Creek Mall. Park in the lot by Bob’s Discount Furniture. For more information email greatauk4@gmail.com or call 201-230-4983.

Mickey Raine had the walk in mind when he went to the Marsh on Saturday and Sunday. He sent these great photos as encouragement for people to come on out tomorrow. Thanks Mickey!

Yellow Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle

Wild Blue Flax

Wild Blue Flax

Semipalmated Sandpipers

Semipalmated Sandpipers

Catbird

Catbird

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwings

Cedar Waxwings

 

Mill Creek Marsh Walk This Tuesday!

cedars sunset

Join the Bergen County Audubon Society this coming Tuesday, May 17, on a guided nature walk of Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus. The walk takes place from 10 am to noon.

Mill Creek Marsh is a great place for birding and a site of historical significance. The marsh contains dozens of stumps of Atlantic White Cedars, the last vestiges of a primeval forest that once covered a third of the Meadowlands for hundreds of years.

The cedar stumps are popular perches for the birds to be seen at the marsh.The BCAS will be looking for  warblers, egrets, herons, shorebirds and other birds of interest. Mill Creek Marsh is located adjacent to the Mill Creek Mall. Park in the lot by Bob’s Discount Furniture.

For more information email greatauk4@gmail.com or call 201-230-4983.

Of Moths and Phillies

Polythemus Moth

Check out Jim Wright’s post about a Polythemus Moth and its tenuous connection to a former Philadelphia Phillies baseball player. You can read the post on Jim’s Celery Farm and Beyond Blog.

Speaking of moths, mark you calendar for the NJSEA’s annual Moth Night at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst. This year’s event is on Monday, July 25, from 8:30 to 10 pm. The evening includes a talk by Dr. Elena Tartaglia on these spectacular yet misunderstood cousins of butterflies. Industrial-strength lamps and white sheets will be set up in DeKorte Park and sugar bait will be used to attract moths for easier viewing. Register for the free event here.

Mill Creek Marsh Walk on Tuesday!

cedars sunset

Join the Bergen County Audubon Society this coming Tuesday, May 17, on a guided nature walk of Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus. The walk takes place from 10 am to noon.

Mill Creek Marsh is a great place for birding and a site of historical significance. The marsh contains dozens of stumps of Atlantic White Cedars, the last vestiges of a primeval forest that once covered a third of the Meadowlands for hundreds of years.

The cedar stumps are popular perches for the birds to be seen at the marsh.The BCAS will be looking for  warblers, egrets, herons, shorebirds and other birds of interest. Mill Creek Marsh is located adjacent to the Mill Creek Mall. Park in the lot by Bob’s Discount Furniture.

For more information email greatauk4@gmail.com or call 201-230-4983.

Don Torino’s Life in the Meadowlands – You Can Help the Monarch Butterfly

Courtesy Marie Longo

Courtesy Marie Longo

As we speak, the Monarch Butterfly is enduring its perilous and miraculous journey north. Sadly, in the past few years we have had Monarch butterfly numbers drop to a 20- year low. Although there are multiple reasons why this magnificent butterfly is threatened and being considered for the endangered species list, for the most part there are two main reasons why the Monarch is in deep trouble.

First is the lack of Milkweed, the only plant that Monarch caterpillars can consume. No milkweed, no Monarchs. It’s that simple and also that frightening. And the latest study also points to the lack of the available wildflower habitat, especially on their journey southward in late summer.

The good news is that over the last couple of years there have been many positive things happening. Government agencies and local community groups have been getting more milkweed into our environment. At schools, libraries, town halls, local businesses and wherever there is an extra plot of soil, milkweed is being planted and protected. Continue reading