NJMC Naturalist Brett Bragin took this shot and told us to save it for a rainy day. We couldn't wait. As a friend of the blog  pointed out about the earlier photo, there is a faint second rainbow to the right. (Thanks, Brett!)

Did a walk around part of Mill Creek Marsh this a.m. for about an hour this morning at low tide.

Highlight was a distant Bald Eagle and a bunch of Green-winged Teal — most of them feeding on a mudflat.

Yellow-rumps  and Ruby-crowned Kinglets still abound.

Full list follows.

Continue reading →

On Thanksgiving (Thursday, Nov. 25), all facilities will be closed but the park itself and trails will be open.

The William D. McDowell Observatory in DeKorte Park begins a new schedule of programming on Monday night with free public access at 8 and 10 p.m. — weather permitting, of course.

Dress for the weather; with the dome open, you are basically outside.

Each evening at least two major objects in the night sky will be viewed, plus one or two other celestial objects or events depending on the observing conditions.

Next Monday, for example, three planets — Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune — should be in view.

For the complete November schedule and more information about free public viewing nights, click here.

For a recent column by the NJMC's Jim Wright about the observatory, click here.

Dale Jankowski took this enchanting morning shot along the Marsh Discovery Trail. (Thanks, Dale!)

Prize-winning documentary film-maker Scott Morris is in the early stages of a documentary about the Meadowlands, and he has posted five short sample videos on his Web site as he pursues funding.

One of the videos is about the Marsh Discovery Trail (taken when the water levels were low in August, above). Another is on Harrier Meadow and Mill Creek Marsh. A third is on an NJMC DiamondbackTerrapin banding project, and two others feature the Hackensack Riverkeeper. Your feedback is welcome.

Link to the videos is here.

Link to Scott's website is here. 

This Nashville Warbler was one of the highlights from last week's (very busy) bird banding by the closed Erie Landfill.

Ron Shields writes:

"With the elections right around the corner, I've attached some early returns from the poles/polls at the Kearny Marsh."

(Thanks, Ron!)

Great Blue Heron shot follows.

Continue reading →