Monthly Archives: January 2010

Bird Report: Losen Slote Creek Park (from Saturday)

  Ken Habermann reports: "Went for a walk Saturday afternoon in Losen Slote Creek park in Little Ferry. I wasn't even really actively birding. Just getting some exercise. Still, I'm glad I brought the binoculars.

   "There was a nice mix of at least 5 Fox Sparrows, several Song Sparrows and numerous White-throated Sparrows. Also present were several Red-winged Blackbirds and 4 or 5 Carolina Wrens as well as at least 40 American Goldfinches feasting on gray birch catkins.

   "Nice surprises were a very vocal Brown Thrasher, a rather cooperative Gray Catbird and a male Eastern Towhee. This was topped off by a minor territorial dispute between a Red-tailed Hawk and a male Northern Harrier just as I was leaving."  (Thanks, Ken!)

Bird Report 011110: DeKorte and Environs

   Julie McCall reports: "Spent a few hours around DeKorte and Disposal Road Sunday, reaping the rewards of a new pair of binoculars.  I didn't get the shrike but Disposal Road brought me Northern Harriers, Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Mockingbird, White-throated Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Downy Woodpecker.

    "DeKorte had Mallards, Gadwall, Canada Geese, White-throated Sparrows, American Robin, American Goldfinch, Northern Harrier, Downy Woodpecker…

    "The biggest bird of the day:  adult Bald Eagle over the turnpike, circling for a few minutes then heading off toward Secaucus…"

    "The smallest bird of the day:  a Ruby-crowned Kinglet foraging in the shrubs in the Lyndhurst Nature Reserve."  (Thanks, Julie!)

  

New, Improved DeKorte Trail Guide/Map Is Here!

      The Meadowlands Commission is happy to announce that free copies of our DeKorte Cover for webnew and improved DeKorte Park Guide and Map are available at the Meadowlands Environment Center.

  Two minor changes may be of particular note to birders.

   First, we have now included Disposal Road on the map, so those looking for, say, a certain Northern Shrike or raptors can find them more easily.

   Second, we have included a second name for the "Kingland Tidal Impoundment." That huge expanse is now also referred to as "The Shorebird Pool," as it was popularly called back in the day.

   The map also includes all the major trails, and distances, in case you want to see how far you've walked.

   Click the following hypertext to see a copy of the map:  Download OnlineTrail Guidemap

Harrier, Wheeling

IMG_5643    If you want great views of Northern Harriers, Disposal Road continues to be the place.

  We got this shot one afternoon last week, parked alongside the road.

   The hawk appeared from over the crest of the former Kingsland Landfill, the hunted on the hillside.

   More on harriers here.

  

Bird Report 011010 (including Shrike)

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    Highlights from DeKorte & environs yesterday: the Northern Shrike (at the Disposal Retention Pond area, eating brunch, and chasing a mockingbird), two Bald Eagles (one attacking gulls, one soaring), Cooper's Hawk and the usual raptors, Canvasbacks and the other usual waterfowl) Fox Sparrows, and a Great Blue Heron (left) near the start of the Saw Mill Creek Trail, not far from the shrike.

Shrike Update Two 010809 w/New Photos

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    Ron Shields had the Northern Shrike at the back of the Retention Pond by Disposal Road from roughly 3:30 to 4 p.m. today. IMG_6069 Ron called me in time for me to take a lot of photos from across the pond, in not-so-hot light.

  One or two  — like the one above — sort of came out, at least enough to ID by…

   Best way to find the bird this afternoon — he was singing away, very loudly…

Shrike Report 010809 (Updated)

  The Northern Shrike continues on Disposal Road and now DeKorte Park.

  It was seen on the  Saw Mill Creek Trail this morning after it made a brief stop at the Cedars near the Carillon.  Chris Takacs says: "We noticed the bird when the local Mockingbird began to complain –something to  look for when searching for this guy."

   It was seen Thursday several times — in the morning, mid-afternoon and late afternoon.

   Chris reports: "At 3:15 we saw it on  the same trail much farther out. It flew towards the Osprey platform near the  "T" in the trail, much closer to the parking lots and buildings." (Thanks, Chris!)

  The bird has now hung around for 29 days.

   A big thank you to all the birders who have been looking for (and finding) this bird.  If anyone has good new photos, we'd love to post them.


DeKorte Park Named a Top Birding Hotspot

  Birdmagcover Birder’s World magazine has named the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission’s Richard W. DeKorte Park as one of its top places for bird-watching, calling the 110-acre park “among the premier urban wildlife spots in the country.”

   In a report in its February 2010 issue, the popular national magazine made special note of DeKorte Park’s abundant winged wonders – from owls and other raptors in winter to butterflies and egrets in summer – and also praised the park’s well-maintained, family-friendly walkways and trails.  The issue went on sale this week.

   According to the magazine, “the 30-square-mile area has undergone a reclamation of remarkable scope and success. Thanks to the work of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, what was once a national shame is now among the premier urban wildlife spots in the country.”

     Click here>>>>Download Birder’s World Hotspot- DeKorte Park to see the one-page article.

     Click here to explore the Birder’s World Web Site.

     Click here to read The Record’s story on the news.

     Click “Continue reading…” for more information.

Continue reading

Bird Report 010710 Part 2 (Shrike!)

   Chris Takacs reports: "Northern Shrike was seen along the Saw Mill Creek Trail at 3:30 Wednesday afternoon.

   "I saw it between the first two towers perched on a small bush. It flew toward the carillon as I walked out the trail."   

   "Red-breasted Merganser, 41 Buffleheads, 15 Green-winged Teal, 130+ Black Ducks,  2 Red-tailed Hawks, 3 Harriers, 3 White-crowned Sparrows were all seen from the trail or the AMVETS Carillon area." (Thanks, Chris!)