As part of a friendly competition among DeKorte Park, the Celery Farm Natural Area in Northwestern Bergen County and a buddy vacationing in Massachusetts, we thought we'd see how species of birds each group would see during an hour on Sunday morning. The other two groups counted from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. but stayed in one place, a la "The Big Sit."

Our DeKorte group covered about a mile later in the morning — from 11 to noon — but did not go much onto the Marsh Discovery Trail.

The Celery Farm crew, known as The Hour on the Tower, tied their all-time record with 41 species. We had 31 species. Massachusetts had 30. Congrats to all. It was fun, and — as one DeKorte participant observed, you become as aware of the birds you should see but don't (like the Snowy Egret) as the ones you do see.

The DeKorte List follows (including, at the end, birds seen before or after the hour).

DeKorte Park, Lyndhurst
Sunday, Sept. 5, 11 a.m. – noon

Am. Goldfinch
Mourning Dove
Mallard
Swallow Sp.
Great Egret
Greater Yellowlegs
Osprey
Short-billed Dowitcher
Chickadee
Starling
Greater Black-backed Gull
American Robin
Ring-billed Gull
Laughing Gull
Herring Gull
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Great Blue Heron
Double-crested Cormorant
No. Shoveler
Gadwall
Canada Goose
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
Northern Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Marsh Wren (heard only)
Tern Sp.
Mute Swan
Black Duck

Also seen, but not between 11 and noon: Pied-billed Grebe, Western Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Snowy Egret, Bald Eagle, Ruddy.