Dave Rotondi writes: "Late last Friday, I was sitting in my Jersey City conference room looking out at the last remnants of snow gently fall against the NYC skyline when who decides to eavesdrop on my meeting but a male American Kestrel!
   "He perched on a rail 10 feet from the window out of which I was gazing with his brilliant orange breast faced toward me and his head turned east toward the skyline. 
   "At first, I thought it was an American Robin ironically heralding spring as the seemingly endless snow died off, but he turned his head west toward Jersey City to reveal his Elvis Presley-like sideburns.
    "It was a very pleasant surprise to see this beautiful bird on such an otherwise unpleasant day…and in Jersey City of all places – way east of the famed Disposal "Raptor" Road! 
   "It was the closest encounter I had ever had with a Kestrel not in captivity – too bad I didn't have my camera.  It just goes to show you, you can bird-watch from ANYWHERE."  (Thanks, Dave!)

 
  Just a reminder: This Sunday, the Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society are holding a free "Birding for Beginners" talk and walk at 10 a.m. at DeKorte Park.
    We'll talk about birding basics from 10 to 10:30 a.m. inside the Meadowlands Environment Center, then go for a walk around DeKorte and see if the Northern Shrike is still around. If you just want to go for the walk, meet us outside the MEC at 10:30 a.m.
  

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   We recently found this  artist's conception from the mid-1970s of what the Tidal Pool at DeKorte might look like. View is from the Transco Trail. The four-lane road on the right is the Western spur of the N.J. Turnpike.
   If you look closely, you'll see several viewing piers jutting into the marsh — but no Meadowlands Environment Center, Administration Building or boardwalk.
   Painting was by Dr. S. Birnback, dated 1975. If you know anything more about this painting, e-mail us.

  Several birders and photographers reported Killdeer on Disposal Road over the weekend.  Ron Shields took this shot. (Thanks, Ron!)
  Red-winged Blackbirds are also being seen.

    We finally got over to James J. Braddock North Hudson County Park in North Bergen on Tuesday to look for the Mandarin Duck and to check out this wonderful 167-acre park.
   The park features Woodcliff Lake (above) — the largest lake in Hudson County in its middle.
    We did not see the Mandarin but got nice looks at Northern Shovelers and female Hooded Mergansers.
    The park was named after boxer James J. Braddock, subject of the Russell Crowe biopic "Cinderella Man." Click here to learn more about Braddock and see his prizefights against Max Baer and Joe Louis.
    To get directions to the park, click here.   

   Just a reminder that this Sunday the Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society are holding a free "Birding for Beginners" talk and walk at 10 a.m. at DeKorte Park.
    We'll talk about birding basics from 10 to 10:30 a.m. inside the Meadowlands Environment Center, then go for a walk around DeKorte and see if the Northern Shrike is still around. If you just want to go for the walk, meet us outside the MEC at 10:30 a.m.
   For a nice writeup from a New York City blog about our twice monthly walks, click here.

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   Yes, we realize that the photo above looks like it was taken by Mr. Magoo, but heck — it was taken from a running vehicle through a mesh fence at a Kearny landfill.
   NJMC Naturalist Mike Newhouse thought it was worth photographing because its plumage was so white. What is this gull?

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