Mike Girone reports: "I was watching the American Avocet from the east-facing promenade on Marsh Discovery Trail late [Saturday] afternoon, when it took off with a small flock of sandpipers around 3:55 p.m.

"The avocet landed in deeper water about halfway between the promenade and the eastern end of the shorebird pool, while the sandpipers continued past Transco Trail.

"Shortly afterward, a juvenile Peregrine Falcon appeared from the tops of the Phragmites near the small bird blind, dropped to within a foot or 2 of the water and went straight for the Avocet.  The Avocet ducked under the water as the falcon passed within inches of it. The Peregrine buzzed it several more times, but the Avocet stayed in the water, and just kept ducking the falcon's talons as it drifted east. The Peregrine broke off after a few minutes and headed west along Transco Trail.

The Meadowlands Commission would like to thank the more than 100 people who participated in our second annual Kevin Karlson Day on Saturday. It was a great event — from the 8:30 a.m. bird walk to the 3 p.m. photography workshop.

We got some nice media coverage, too, beginning with Kevin's guest appearance on the New York Nightly News with Chuck Scarborough on Friday evening. The Record had some nice photos of the event ( View here), and NY1 did a real nice report on the event (link is here).

Kevin had a great handout on Birding by Impression. You can download it here and here.

Kevin and his fellow ace photographer Lloyd also had a handout at the photography workshop. You can download them here and here and here and here.  Semipalmated Plover photo from Saturday, below, is by Stephanie Seymour.  (Thanks to all!)

The NJMC's Gary Tomaro and Bob Sagro got this shot of a Bald Eagle at the Keegan Landfill in Kearny earlier this month. They have seen up to four at a time. (Thanks, guys!)