If you're planning on doing some birding this weekend, keep your eyes peeled for a Peregrine Falcon with a satellite telemetry unite on its back.
Click "Continue reading…" below for more information,
Monthly Archives: October 2008
LITTLE FERRY: Ruddy ducks
The days may still be on the warm side, but fall has officially arrived now that the ruddies are back on Mehrhof Pond in Little Ferry.
We saw more than 40 of the early arrivals there the other day.
A month from now, there could be 1,000 or more.
There is an entrance to the pond just before you get to the BCUA gatehouse.
These ruddies were a shy bunch, so a spotting scope would be ideal for viewing.
For an earlier post on Mehrhof Pond, click here.
HARRIER MEADOW: Wednesday’s walk
We once again had great weather for the guided public walk through Harrier Meadow. Highlights included this common buckeye butterfly above (can anyone ID the other bug?), as well as a nice variety of raptors and ducks.
The next Harrier Meadow public walk is Oct. 25. A couple of slots have opened up, first-come first-served. Watch this site for a list of November walks, or sign up for our e-mail list here.
Click "Continue reading…" for Wednesday's full list and a couple more photos.
NORTH ARLINGTON: The AMVETS Carillon
If you've ever walked to the beginning of the Saw Mill Creek Trail in North Arlington or gone birding along Disposal Road, you're probably familiar with the AMVETS Memorial Carillon.
Friday, Oct. 17, is the carillon's first anniversary, and the local AMVETS group is having a commemoration at the site at 11 a.m., followed by coffee at the Meadowlands Environment Center just down the road in Lyndhurst. The public is invited.
The carillon chimes on the quarter hour, with a lengthier anthem on the hour. Then first time you walk by when it chimes, it catches you by surprise but the pealing appealing once you get accustomed to it.
There are several AMVETS carillons nationwide, including one at Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, Va. For more information on the AMVETS Carillon program, click here.
RIDGEFIELD: Natural attractions
Ridgefield, in the northern part of the Meadowlands District, has several nifty attractions, from the restored wetlands of the Skeetkill Creek Marsh to the Monk Parakeets that nest under the highway bridge over the train tracks on Railroad Avenue.
But there's also the Ridgefield Nature Center, a beautiful wooded natural area comprising 5.4 acres off Shaler Boulevard by Ray Avenue.
The property was the source of the spring for the Great Bear Spring Water Co. from 1920 to 1975, at which point the land was sold to the Borough of Ridgefield.
Since then, the borough has been restoring the site, planting well-labeled native trees and plants and curtailing the invasive species. Those are labeled, too — so you'll know what to look out for in your own backyard and elsewhere.
Click "Continue reading…" immediately below for more information on the Ridgefield Nature Center.
TUESDAY TEASER 101408
Can you identify this bird?
For answer, click on "Continue reading…" immediately below.
For more Tuesday Teasers, click here.
PHOTO CONTEST: Deadline November 3
Attention: Meadowlands District residents:
The Meadowlands Commission is calling on local amateur photographers to “Show Us Your Meadowlands” in a 2008 photo contest.
Photographers can submit their images in three categories: Meadowlands economy, Meadowlands community and Meadowlands environment. Photographers can enter up to three black and white or color photographs for each category, as long as the prints are received by 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 3.
Click "Continue reading to download the contest rules and entry form.
BIRD BANDING: Week of 100608 – 101008
This week was an amazing week for bird-
banding in North Arlington, with 667 birds banded — including more than 200 Yellow Rumps and more than 100 Palm Warblers.
Click "Continue reading…" immediately below for more information and this week's tally.
HARRIER MEADOW: The first guided public walk
We had a solid turnout for the first guided walk at Harrier Meadow on Wednesday.
Eight birders and plant aficianados saw 33 species, including Kestrels, both kinds of Kinglets, a Green Heron 
and an amazing up-close view of a Redtail.
We also saw a tiny non-poisonous snake warming up on the path and a bunch of nifty fungi.
We still have space for a few more people on the next walk on Wednesday Oct. 15 at 12:30 p.m. The Saturday, Oct. 25, walk at 8:30 is wait-listed. We will announce more walks on this blog.
If you would like to have your name added to the e-mail list for future Harrier Meadow walks, e-mail us here.
For a full list of bird species seen and heard on the walk, plus a few more photos, click "Continue reading…" immediately below.
REPTILES: Northern brown snake
We know that some people get freaked out by snakes, or even photos of snakes, so we are posting some nifty close-ups of this snake — a northern brown snake, aka a Dekay's snake, thanks to Ray Duffy's ID) on the "jump" of this post.
If you do look on the jump, be ready for a surprise ending.
Click "Continue reading…" immediately below to see the snake shots.
E-mail Jim Wright if you prefer that snake shots not appear on "the front page" of the blog.