Mike Newhouse of the Meadowlands Commission had an Orange-crowned Warbler and White-crowned Sparrow Tuesday before noon at Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus — also had Red-shouldered Hawk on Disposal Road a bit later.

 
   John Slattery writes: "The reports that I have read state the Northern Shrike is expanding its territory beyond the Carillon area.

    "I saw the shrike further south on Disposal Road approx. 200 feet to the west of the rear of the Maintenance Shed (behind the Observatory) at DeKorte Park this afternoon. 

   "The shrike was in the short trees next to the road on the north-east side of Disposal Road (i.e., the side away from the park)." (Thanks for the report and the photo, John!)

    Doug Morel writes:  "Took a midday visit to DeKorte today and managed a good variety of ducks, a couple raptors and my target, the No. Shrike (2nd attempt).

   "The Shrike was observed singing away in treetops along Disposal Rd. not far fron the back end of the Commission's garage behind the Observatory. Thanks go out to another birder who directed me to it's location as I approached it. Heard song before sighting the happy bird.

   "Also seen: Am. Kestrel, No. Shoveler & Ring-necked Duck (my 1sts for 2010)
— Com. Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Gadwall, Canvasback (250+), No. Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk (having meal on utility pole)." (Thanks, Doug!)

    We saw these beautiful berries in DeKorte Park, and wondered why the birds have not noshed on them.

   What kind of berries are they?

   Click "Continue reading …" immediately below for the answer, and more about these berries.

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  Julie McCall reports: "I saw the Northern Shrike at 9:45am this morning, atop the highest branch of the tallest tree in DeKorte Park's Lyndhurst Nature Reserve (over the second seating area on the right as you approach Saw Mill Creek Trail from Transco Trail…) 

   "After two minutes or so, he flew over to the trees on the Transco Trail, then back across, and zig-zagged a few times.  He was in the area for about ten minutes, and then I lost him."  (Thanks, Julie!)

  [The bird was also seen in this locale on Thursday.]

   Julie McCall writes: "Went out before the rain this morning.

    "Although I did not get an absolutely certain visual ID on the shrike today, I definitely heard it "yelling" as it moved along Disposal Road, past the Carillon and toward the Transco Trail.  Given the scolding and the speed it seemed to be moving at, I assume it was a territorial pursuit. About a half an hour earlier, I saw a shrike-sized bird chasing a sparrow-sized bird from Disposal Road, across the Teal Pool. 

  "I left around 12:15. [Another birder saw the shrike in that vicinity 15 minutes later.]

  My personal highlights this morning included 2 belted kingfishers and a Ring-necked Pheasant."

   Click "Continue reading…" for Julie's full report and list. (Thanks, Julie!)

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   Ron Shields provided this photo with the following comment:

   "The business end of a Northern Shoveler, photographed at the Kearny Marsh."   (Thanks, Ron!)

    Greg Gard was nice enough to share some terrific duck shots he took at DeKorte on Saturday.  Love that lighting! (Thanks, Greg!)

   Above, a Bufflehead drake. Below, a Wood Duck drake.

  Click "Continue reading…" below the photo for Greg's shot of two Ring-necked Ducks.

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    Julie McCall writes: "Spent the day birding at DeKorte Park & Disposal Road.  It never warmed up to quite what the weather forecast had left me expecting, but a lot of the ice is melting.  The ducks are taking advantage."

   Click "Continue reading…" for Julie's full report.

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    Ray Gilbert took this recent shot of a Common Raven flying from a perch on Disposal Road toward Laurel Hill in Secaucus. The bird stopped on a utility pole to rearrange the stash of food in its mouth  — food that looked like chunks of rice cakes. (Thanks, Ray!)

    On Tuesday, we hope to see the raven and its mate over at Laurel Hill County Park on  our free Third-Tuesday-of-the-Month Bird Walk with BCAS .

    We’ll look for Ravens, raptors, waterfowl on the Hackensack River, and any other birds we can find. We meet at the big parking lot by the Laurel Hill ballfields at 10 a.m. 

    Or meet at the first parking lot in DeKorte at 9:20 (but don't dawdle or you might miss the trip).

   The walk is run by the N.J. Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society.

   To rsvp, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com
or 201-636-4022.