The warm temperatures have really changed the feel at DeKorte Park.

    Plenty of waterfowl are back, in time for Friday's Great Backyard Bird Count nature walk.

    House sparrows are house-hunting — in the Tree Swallow boxes (at right), unfortunately.

    A killdeer just flew over the Administration Building. 

   The bad news: Now when we see a large bird in the sky, it as likely to be a gull as a raptor.

   We saw only one Rough-legged Hawk today, and only one Marsh Harrier.

    Redtails a-plenty, though.

    We'll have to see how long this premature Spring lasts…

  Owners of the land that includes cul de sac off Valley Brook Avenue in Lyndhurst — where birders like to hang out in hopes of seeing raptors of all sorts — have locked the gates, at least for the time being.
   The owners want to cut down on the illegal dumping occurring back there, and who can blame them.  The site will in all likelihood be locked at night.
  If the gate is open during the day, you should be able to drive into the cul de sac and do some bird-watching — so long as you stay near the road and do not trespass.
   If the gate is locked, you may drive over to DeKorte Park and park there, then walk (careful of traffic) over to the cul de sac.
   NOTE: It is illegal — and often dangerous — to park on Valley Brook, and you may be ticketed by Lyndhurst police.
  We expect to have a key to the gate so we can look for raptors on the Bird Walk on Friday.
   Questions? E-mail us.