With the winter solstice around the corner (Tuesday, Dec. 21), we thought it would be helpful to mention that the moon will be full that very same day, about an hour after dusk. In fact, the moon will appear full on that Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Link to a site that gives daily sunset and moonrise times for Newark, N.J. is here.

Greg Miller writes: "Caught this guy swimming around out in the open with his Coot cousins this past Friday at Kearny Marsh. Figured I'd pass along a picture." (Thanks, Greg!)

These pics are among the latest DeKorte batch from Dennis Cheeseman. The above bird is a White-throated Sparrow. The meal is…?

  We have seen this bird a couple of times now in the district in the past week, including last Thursday, when we took this shot.

We are hoping that it stays around for the Christmas Bird Count this Sunday.

More on Orange-crowned Warblers here.