Daily Archives: August 2, 2010

Kevin Karlson Day: Added Attraction

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   Kevin Karlson Day is Aug. 21, and we have an added attraction this year — a free, hour-long wildlife photography workshop led by noted bird photographer and shorebird expert and his well-known colleague, Lloyd Spitalnik.
   The workshop runs from 3 to 4 p.m., and includes a question and answer session.
   Kevin Karlson Day is brought to you by the N.J. Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society.
   To rsvp for the workshop or the full day,  contact Don Torino  of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-636-4022.

Observatory: August Schedule

   The William D. McDowell Observatory in  DeKorte Park begins a new month of programming tonight with free public programs at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. — weather permitting, of course. 
   Dress for the weather; with the dome open, you are basically outside.
   Each evening two major objects in the night sky will be viewed, plus one or two other celestial objects or events depending on the observing conditions. 
  
Pictured at left is the observatory's state-of-the-art telescope with a 20-inch mirror, housed beneath a retractable dome.
   The telescope, one of the largest in the area, is equipped with cameras to record the stars and planets. Special filters block light pollution.
    For detailed information and the complete August schedule, click here.

Peck’s Skipper

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   We first saw this butterfly on Butterfly Day, and it is still hanging around. It's a Peck's Skipper, easier to identify than many skippers because it is smaller and it has some beautifully distinct wing patterns.
   More on Peck's Skippers here.
   We also saw a Question Mark on Wednesday afternoon on the Transco Trail, near a Red Admiral — hadn't seen one of those guys since late June. Too bad it wasn't around on Butterfly day.