This week's (rainy) Harrier Meadow walk featured a bird-banding demonstration by NJMC Naturalist Mike Newhouse and his band of banders.
   Highlights included male and female Red-winged Blackbirds (above) and a mysterious flycatcher thought to be a least.
   The walk itself proved to be Shorebird Central, including three –– count 'em, three — types of plovers (Black-bellied in breeding plumage, Semi-palmated and Killdeer), Spotted and Least Sandpiper, and Short-billed Dowitcher. The walk was sponsored by the Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society.

 
    Ron Shields writes:   "These are photos from an epic two hour battle between two manhole cover sized snapping turtles at the Kearny Marsh on Saturday. 
   "They must have had some beef with each other as they completely ignored my presence only a few feet away.
   "They splashed, rolled and floated at least twenty yards during the encounter resting for a few minutes in between rounds. 
   "Note the wounds on the head, legs and throat of the combatants.  There was no clear winner as both eventually swam away seemingly unharmed.  Needless to say, this marsh championship bout was exciting to witness and photograph!"
   We are wondering if this battle may have been a question of overly amorous turtles. Any theories?
   More pix follow on "jump."

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