We have been getting all sports of Kestrels, Redtails, Ospreys and Harriers along Disposal Road, but the guy in the photo above took us by surprise the other day.
We were at the beginning of the Saw Mill Creek Trail when this guy flew past, within 20 feet of us.
He flew down the trail and landed on a rock by the tidal impoundment on the right.
He is an accipiter, we figure, but need help. He (she) was fairly large. Any suggestions?
Monthly Archives: October 2008
MIGRATING FALCON UPDATE
That migrating Peregrne Falcon that was headed in our direction a week ago instead took a route to the east, flying over water to miss the metro area and later flying over the ocean again to take the shortest route south.
The falcon is now in the Florida Keys.
Read more here.
NORTH ARLINGTON: Going solar
The 42-acre Erie Landfill in North Arlington — between Disposal Road and Harrier Meadow — is about to get a new life.
The Meadowlands Commission announced this week that it is seeking information from firms interested in designing, financing and operating a solar array on the landfill. The 5-megawatt installation would be the state's largest.
Read The Record's article about the plan here.
Click on "Continue reading …" for more information.
HARRIER MEADOW: November walks announced
The Meadowlands Commission is happy to announce three free Harrier Meadow guided walks in November.
On the last walks we saw plenty of raptors and waterfowl, including the American Kestrel above.
BIRDING: Amazing Flickers
With winter approaching, these large migratory woodpeckers seem to be extra busy these days. We photographed this guy in the North Arlington.
Curious fact of the day: Northern Flickers have incredibly long tongues — the better to catch ants and other insects with.
More on Northern Flickers here.
TUESDAY TEASER 102108
Can you identify these birds?
For answer, click on "Continue reading…" immediately below.
For more Tuesday Teasers, click here.
BANDING REPORT: 101308-101708
Last week was another amazing week for bird-
banding in North Arlington, with 574 birds banded — including more than 150 Savannah Sparrows — a threatened species in New Jersey and a bird we at the Meadowlands Commission are especially interested in.
Click here for all bird banding reports.
Click "Continue reading…" immediately below for more information and this week's tally.
RARE FLYING FISH
We are thinking that this flying fish must have been taking a swim when it was snagged by an enterprising Osprey.
The pair were photographed over the Saw Mill Creek Trail in North Arlington. BTW, an NJMC naturalist said the fish in question is likely a weakfish. (And getting weaker by the minute.)
Click here for a couple more shots of the Osprey and his finny find.
INSECTS: Trifecta
We've had some nifty insects in North Arlington and Lyndhurst this past we
ek, including:
1. A praying mantis hanging out on the PSE&G substation fence in North Arlington.
He greeted several people last weekend as they returned from a walk in Harrier Meadow.
Click here for more on praying mantises.
2. We saw this muscular grasshopper on the Marsh Discovery Trail in Lyndhurst.
It had hopped out of the phragmites and was sitting on the boardwalk and sunning himself while his friend the ant was elswhere, storing u p food for the winter.
3. We saw this crane fly in the NJMC administration building. Someone had said there was a giant mosquito in one of the stairwells.
As it turns out, these guys are harmless do not bite. (And yes, we took it outside and released it,)
More on crane flies here.
MYSTERY POD
Can anyone help us ID this soft grape-sized prickly pod skin?